BOISE -- Got a great idea for a Bronco-themed product that you're sure will make you rich?
Boise State is making it easy for you to do just that with a new crafter's license. The program, which began in September, provides crafters with an opportunity to use their creativity without infringing the university's trademarks.
Chris Hessing and Celena Moncur were one of the first participants. They create Bronco-themed jewelry.
"It's been successful, yes," said Hessing with Doodle beads.
Hessing said the idea to create watch bands and bracelets with Boise State colors began while they were making other pieces of jewelry.
"We were just making and we were talking about BSU and we thought, we should make a BSU band," said Hessing.
From there, the two friends held an open house and invited friends.
"And we had ladies say 'oh we want one, we want one.' And we thought, oh we've hit the mark," said Hessing.
Rachael Bickerton, the director of Trademark Licensing and Enforcement for Boise State, says the crafters license is great for up and coming crafters.
"This has proved to be a very good starting point for many crafters who think they want to see if there's a market for their product. For a lot of people, this is just a part-time thing or some people have been laid-off and they want to be entrepreneurial and this has also proved successful," said Bickerton.
Bickerton began the crafter's license program after hearing from local crafters who wanted to sell their Bronco-themed gear at farmers markets and craft fairs, but the licensing process to legally do so was too cost prohibitive.
To license a product through the Collegiate Licensing Company, crafters would have to join a fair labor association and have product liability. Start-up fees would average about $800 to $1,000.
Now for $100 a year, in-state crafters can obtain a crafter's license through BSU. But there are some rules to follow.
For example, the crafter's license is available only for in-state crafters and items must be made at home, not commercially manufactured.
Bickerton is surprised at what crafters have made.
"We will often look at things and go 'that will never sell,' and that's inevitably the thing that will really sell," said Bickerton.
Local crafters have made men's and women's belt buckles, earrings, doorbell knockers, hood ornaments, bookends, and do-rags.
"That's one of the items we were amazed sold really well," said Bickerton.
"It was good for us to be able to get our feet wet to see, before we spent that time and money, to see if it would really work for us and if our products would sell well, and they have and it's been really good," said Hessing.
Hessing and Moncur said the hours spent working out of the house has paid off. Now they see their jewelry on other women and are thrilled to know they made it.
"It's fun when someone calls and says 'oh I saw this on someone and I want one,'" said Moncur.
Moncur and Hessing said they are now taking orders for team colors from local high schools.
For more information about Moncur and Hessing's jewelry, go to www.doodlebeads.com.
There are some rules and guidelines for the crafters license. It's only available for in-state crafters. Also, items must be made at home, not commercially manufactured. Sales may not be conducted through retail stores. A crafter's license allows for sales to individual consumers only, not via wholesale or a third party retailer.
For crafter's license inquiries, e-mail licensing@boisestate.edu
