Michael Jackson. The King of Pop. The guy we all grew up with. The man many of us loved, danced to, raised eyebrows at, and shaked our money makers to. I know I personally grew up listening to his tapes, bobbin’ my five year old head to Beat It, watching my brothers attempt to immitate the Moonwalk. I remember being fascinated by watching the making of his video Thriller and marveling everytime I saw him dance. It is a very personal loss for many… we have lost an icon, a comfort, a memory of our childhoods and lives.

He has made us laugh, cry, our jaws drop in wonder, and our minds scream, “What the hell is WRONG with you?” He was a legend, a revolution. And he’s gone.

In his memory, I will be having a 50% off sale at my Exodi main store only (SLURL) — and all proceeds (100%) will be donated to the Make a Wish Foundation, a charity that Michael Jackson openly supported. Since 1980, the Make-A-Wish Foundation® has enriched the lives of children with life-threatening medical conditions through its wish-granting work. The Foundation’s mission reflects the life-changing impact that a Make-A-Wish® experience has on children, families, referral sources, donors, sponsors and entire communities.

The sale will run for one week, from July 25th to July 3rd again at the main store only. Shiloh and Eden Gen2 skins, shoes, shapes, eyes, clothes and jewelry are all included in the sale.

Rest in peace, Jacko.

I read this post Tenshi Vielle made today over at Shopping Cart Disco today, and I have to say: there are very few things that will set me off, but being a DICK and generally disregarding the fact that you are WRONG and trying to write it off like it was nothing, yeah — welcome to my own personal inner circle of hell.

To sum up: The PhotoLife studio booth at SL6B was (I’ve no idea if they still are) hosting AND selling (for $1,000L!) walls of photos they had admittedly lifted from their Flickr group, without permission.

A few choice lines from the public local chat conversation (at the exhibit in SL6B) between Greg Paslong and Darkley Aeon (the PhotoLife user whose work was lifted, and inquired about it) – you may read the whole conversation, and I encourage you to do so just to get the full breath of WTF that I did, at Shopping Cart Disco:

[3:17]  Darkley Aeon: why wasnt i asked? everyone else seems to have been
[3:17]  Greg Paslong: they weren’t
[3:17]  Greg Paslong: want your photo off the wall?

This is Greg admitting to the fact that no one was asked for permission to use their photos from Flickr in the PhotoLife booth.

[3:18]  Greg Paslong: want it off?
[3:18]  Darkley Aeon: i dont mind it being there
[3:18]  Greg Paslong: then what’s the problem?
[3:18]  Billy Tammas: I don’t think that is the issue Greg, I think it’s the fact that copyright law has been broken and no permission was asked
[3:18]  Darkley Aeon: its that i wasnt asked, and was uploaded from flickr without my knowledge
[3:18]  Darkley Aeon: and its set for 1k
[3:19]  Greg Paslong: it was an oversite
[3:19]  Darkley Aeon: others were asked
[3:19]  Greg Paslong: most of the shots on that wall were taken off of FlickR
[3:19]  Darkley Aeon: thats copyright infringment
[[3:20]  Darkley Aeon: mine are all set ‘all rights reserved’ its the default setting
[3:20]  Greg Paslong: NP Darkley………let me remove your shot now……then we have no issue
[3:20]  Darkley Aeon: there is an issue
[3:20]  Darkley Aeon: you have a full perms copy of my copyrighted work, without permission

This is where Greg decides to not only NOT apologize for his admitted “oversight,” but also try to simply cover up his wrongdoing by just removing and forgetting about it. No acknowledgement that it was used without permission, know “I’m sorry,” absolutley NO consideration for the concern of the photographer in question or her rights to her intellectual property. Basically – this is where I started to get mad.

[3:21]  Darkley Aeon: why was it set for sale?
[3:21]  Greg Paslong: if you’d read your chat…..it was an oversite
[3:22]  Darkley Aeon: its copyrighted work
[3:22]  Darkley Aeon: and given a copy inworld
[3:22]  Greg Paslong: OMG Darkley…..who would want that wall?
[3:22]  Darkley Aeon: if i had been asked, i would have said ok
[3:22]  Darkley Aeon: thats not the point
[3:23]  Greg Paslong: well……you weren’t…..and many others weren’t either
[3:23]  Darkley Aeon: but some were

And *THIS*, ladies and gentlemen, is where I actually got pissed off.

First off, where the hell do you think you get off talking to people, YOUR OWN CUSTOMERS, like an uncaring, nonchalant, DICKHEAD? AT WHAT POINT did you learn in your customer service experience that having an attitude is the best way to solve a confrontation? At what point do you think that insulting the work of ALL of your users (quoted above, “Who would want that wall?” – the photos were actually grouped together in a wall of photos from 12-15 photolife customers) was a GOOD IDEA? And more importantly, at what point did you think that selling other people’s work without permission was OKAY? Darkley even tried to cover your ass FOR YOU, Greg, by insisting that in fact SOME people HAD been asked, but she personally had not. While you just kept insisting that no one was asked.

And my personal favorite quote:

[3:26]  Greg Paslong: I made a mistake…live with it

I pretty much would have had one thing to say at this point: Fuck you.

At no point was Darkley arrogant, rude, obnoxious or DESERVING in the way that this man treated her. She was simply a CUSTOMER trying to determine how her work came to be used without permission, along with others. WHAT RIGHT did you have to give HER attitude? What right did you have to treat her like SHE was the one at fault here? Quick note to any store/service provider in SL: There are several surefire ways to lose customers in Second Life, and this is definitely one of them: being an ASSHOLE is never a good customer service tactic.

Later, PhotoLife General Manager Colleen Criss stepped in and spoke with Darkley as well, also attempting to disregard the fact that her work was used without permission and that since the wall was no longer for sale, there “was no issue”:

[5:00]  colleen Criss: ok. did he removed the photo?
[5:00]  Darkley Aeon: yes both of them
[5:01]  Darkley Aeon: 2 photos
[5:01]  Darkley Aeon: thats not the point though
[5:01]  colleen Criss: ok what is the point you want to make?
[5:01]  Darkley Aeon: illegal uploading of copywrited material
[5:02]  colleen Criss: let me ask this Darkley
[5:02]  colleen Criss: had you displayed your photos on Team Flickr, or submitted either of them for contests ect?
[5:02]  Darkley Aeon: yes, that doesnt change their status from ‘all rights reserved’
[5:03]  colleen Criss: when you amke your photos available to the group … I think that it does.

For one, trying to cover your ass AFTER you are confronted by posting a “you give us permission to use your photos for promotional/teaching purposes” message in your Flickr group discussion pool is ABOUT the most tell-tale “oh shit” reaction you can make. Secondly, submitting a photo to a group on Flickr DOES NOT remove the COPYRIGHT on the photo, nor does it give you permission to just download it without first asking the creator. Creative commons licenses, sure, I can understand that assuming the CC gives the proper licensing for the use you intend. However, I know for a FACT that AT LEAST two photos used at the exhibit are All Rights Reserved, with no CC attached. Meaning – you either ask, or you don’t use.

And now the real garbage starts flying. The following is a classic case of “you hit my teddy bear, so I’m taking my balls and going home”:

[5:11]  colleen Criss: Since you have tak this issue further them it needs to be and I do not wish to have any further problems. I am asking you you leave the pL group and I am going to remove your app from CP and ask you to take your things from the public Flickr group.
[5:11]  Darkley Aeon: ok Colleen, I havent been looking for trouble, i’ve been trying to protect myself, but ok, ill do that
[5:13]  colleen Criss: Darkley you have at this time made trouble …
[5:13]  colleen Criss: thank you
[5:13]  Darkley Aeon: i did nothing wrong
[5:14]  colleen Criss: you filed that report because you were mad at Greg
[5:14]  colleen Criss: now
[5:14]  colleen Criss: you carry it out and do what it takes to make you feel better
[5:14]  Darkley Aeon: I filed abuse report because it was valid
[5:14]  colleen Criss: but I wish you to end all association with pL.
[5:14]  colleen Criss: then thats fine
[5:14]  colleen Criss: do what you need to do
[5:14]  colleen Criss: and now I am as well

PhotoLife AND it’s staff obviously have no idea how to provide customer service, how to solve conflict, how to admit when they’re wrong, or how to treat the people that spend money on their products. And I, personally, could never and would never dream of being involved in ANY kind of business transaction or relationship with people who simply have NO respect for their customers, the money they spend, OR their work. Flickr photos being stolen… you know what? That happens every day. I’m used to seeing that happen. I typically say nothing anymore, as it’s not worth my time or effort – and usually the photos are removed, and a slap on the wrist is given, which has happened here.

No, what pissed me off is the fact that you really are just blatantly rude, disrespectful, appear to have no desire to apologize NOR admit wrongdoing, and you are PAINFULLY arrogant. And frankly, if I were going to spend the $10kL on a photo studio, I would DEFINITELY want to know these little facts first — so that I could steer full clear of your “world class photographer” egos, and spend my money elsewhere. No one likes an asshole, and you guys are DROWNING in shit with the way you treat your customers.

Over and out.

Creve Coeur (blog, slurl), a new boardwalk full of awesometastic shops (including mine! :D), is hosting a three day event called Creve Coeur Carnivale for their (belated) Grand Opening and it’s happening NOW!

Introduction from the blog:

Welcome to Creve Coeur at First Meta!

Creve Coeur is an all new eccentric shopping district located in SecondLife.

We both encourage and welcome you to check out the shops lining the streets and alleys and to also explore the imagination and brainchildren of builders Babyhoney Bailey & Waverly Kline.

The city offers an escape from complete realisim, catering to the rose colored glasses way of life, where the streets are named for poets and ravens observe your every move.

If you’re looking for an incredible shopping experience, look no further! Creve Coeur hosts the following labels: AOHARU, ATOMIC, AXEL, BOUTIQUE, CNS EMOTION, EL’N, EXODI, FUKMI CLOTHING, FEAR & CLOTHING, MALT, MINETTES, MISERIA, MUDHONEY, MODD. G, NAITH SMITH DESIGNS, PIDIDDLE, PIG, +PLUS, PRETZEL POSES, PUNCH DRUNK, ROMP, SHIT LUCK, SN@TCH, SUBTLE SUBMISSION, TINY BIRD, THE OBSCENE, URBAN DYSFUNCTION

Make sure to watch this space for upcoming events and promotions!

The carnivale is FULL of fun and games (as you can see from the pictures here on SCD… omg!) and while the event is running there will be a balloon hunt for freebies and cheapies!

Go on over, hunt for balloons, throw knives at your friends, and have a blast! Oh, and check out Exodi while you’re there too. Mwahahaha. *shameless plug*

Take the limo!

That’s right! No more textures… now introducing the Beck Bucks CARD (huzzah!!!)!

Step 1: Get a Beck Bucks Card!
Visit the :: Exodi :: Main Store and click the Beck Bucks kiosk. This will give you a Beck Bucks card! Wear it to register your card, and start earning Beck Bucks! Every NEW Beck Bucks cardholder will receive 10 Beck Bucks just for activating their card!

Step 2: Buy!
As of June 1st, 2009, Beck Buck earning is now AUTOMATED when purchasing any Exodi merchandise! If you are a Beck Bucks cardholder, purchasing from Exodi will earn you points that you will be able to redeem for FREE products! For every $100L you spend in Exodi, you will earn at least 1 Beck Buck.

Step 3: Collect!
Collect Beck Bucks from your purchases and redeem them for :: Exodi :: merchandise! Every Exodi merchandise purchase you make will add to your Beck Bucks balance.

Step 4: Redeem!
To redeem your Beck Bucks, click on (or right click and select “Card…”) any Exodi merchandise item. A dialogue menu will display with menu options. Selecting “Beck Bucks” will give you the Beck Bucks option menu. Click “Redeem” to redeem your Beck Bucks for the product you’ve clicked! It’s that simple!

IMPORTANT NOTES

If you CURRENTLY HAVE Beck Bucks *TEXTURES* (from the old Beck Bucks system) and would like to apply them to your Beck Bucks card, please visit the Exodi Main Store for instructions on how to do so!

1. Once you are a Beck Bucks cardholder, you are *not* required to wear the card in order to gain Beck Bucks from purchases OR to make Beck Bucks redemption purchases. However, keep in mind, you will also not be able to keep track of your Beck Bucks total! It is recommended that you wear the card, if for no other reason than to see how pretty it is (I worked hard on that thing, dammit! :P)!

2. Beck Bucks cards ARE NOT transferable. You may not give away your card or available Beck Bucks.

3.  If you *LOSE YOUR CARD*, you may pick up another one from the Exodi main store Beck Bucks kiosk.

PROBLEMS, QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, CONCERNS, ISSUES, COMPLAINTS, ETC… Direct to Ryker Beck (or drop in the blog comments :P)

Want a deal on a skin fatpack, but hate paying full price for lots of skins when you might not wear all of them? Have no fear! The Build Your Own Fatpack Card is here! :D

To use your card:

1. First, you must purchase a Build Your Own Fatpack card from the Exodi main store. For the price of any other pre-made fatpack in the store ($5,000L), you will INSTANTANEOUSLY gain access to ANY 8 skins in the store. That’s right! ANY 8 skins, INSTANT access. No notecards with skin names, no coupon transfers, no prepaying, NO WAITING!

2. Once you have purchased a card, wear it to activate it.
** NOTE: If you have purchased more than one card, you MUST WEAR all of them in order to activate them. Each card you purchase will add to your fatpack point balance.**

3. When your card has been activated, left click on any Exodi skin vendor (or right-click and select “Card…”) to receive menu options.

4. From the menu, select “Fatpack”.

5. Click “Redeem” to redeem one of your points for the skin!

6. Enjoy!

NOTE: If you are a Beck Bucks card holder at the time of your card activation, you WILL EARN 50 Beck Bucks for the purchase of a *new* BYO Fatpack card! Replacement cards do not carry any Beck Buck point value.

IMPORTANT NOTES

1. Once you have been purchased your card and have been registered as a BYO Fatpack Card holder, you are *not* required to wear the card in order to redeem your points for skins. However, keep in mind, you will also not be able to keep track of your points total! It is recommended that you wear the card, if for no other reason than to see how pretty it is (I worked hard on that thing, dammit! :P)!

2. BYO Fatpack cards ARE NOT transferrable. You may not give away your card or available points.

3. If you *LOSE YOUR CARD*, you may pick up another one from the Exodi main store BYO Fatpack Lost & Found Kiosk.

4. Equipping an already-used BYO Fatpack card when you are not a currently registered BYO Fatpack card holder will result in a disabled card. If you have never purchased a BYO Fatpack card and would like to, please visit the Exodi main store to obtain your own card.

5. BYO Fatpack card points are STACKABLE. This means, if you purchase more than 1 BYO Fatpack card, wear each of them to activate them, and your points will stack together for your grand total on ONE card. For example… purchasing three cards and wearing them each to activate them first, will result in a total of 24 points to redeem for 24 skins (for the price of $15,000L!).

PROBLEMS, QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, CONCERNS, ISSUES, COMPLAINTS, ETC… Direct to Ryker Beck (or drop them in the blog comments :P)

First, let me explain the name change… As of June 1, Genesis is now named Exodi (SLURL). The reason for this is kind of long and complex and, well… personal. So I’ll just leave it at that. Goodbye Genesis, hello Exodi! All mainstore landmarks should still work, have no fear! I will also be setting up an Exodi-specific update blog so I can continue with my regular blogging/tutorials/etc on RykerBeck.COM. When that is up, I’ll be sure to announce. :)

Next, let me introduce you to the two latest additions to the Exodi main store… Shiloh and Eden Gen2.

Both the Shiloh and Eden’s bodies (click the photo below for a larger view) have been a labor of love over the last month and a bit. I tried to make them much smoother and more natural than were the bodies on my last release, Candace.

For now, both skins feature 8 makeups per skin tone. Additional makeups will be released in 8-makeup lines as I’ve been doing with Candace (I think it’s just easier that way LOL!). I’ve got some GREAT makeup ideas in the works, so don’t miss out! For now, you can check out the makeups available on each line right now by clicking the images below (as you can see, Shiloh comes in 5 skin tones, Eden Gen2 in 4, both skins feature dark and light brow options):

I am really excited about everything I’ve been learning since becoming a skin creator, and I hope you’ve been enjoying it with me! All of my Plurk and Flickr friends that have given me feedback, all of the bloggers that have given me their honest input, all of you are invaluable to me and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for being so open and contributing to the development and my learning as much as you possibly can. You guys rock!

Along with the Shiloh and Eden Gen2 skins releases, there have also been 3 shapes (made specifically for the Eden, Shiloh and Candace skin lines) released at Exodi named Leila, Callie, and Danali. All shapes will be sold mod/copy and with complete style cards. I really look forward to making more shapes as further skin lines develop at Exodi. Shape creation is something I’ve always wanted to play with, and this definitely gives me the opportunity to dabble!

Another new release to go along with the new skins are the Vetro eyes, which you can see below:

That’s all for this post! Here’s the limo to Exodi. And keep an eye out for post #2 coming up here shortly where I tell you all about the Build Your Own Fatpack and Beck Bucks card systems… believe me. You won’t want to miss it. ;)

Current Blog Coverage: (for your reviewing pleasure, updated as necessary)

• Gorgeous Yongho on JuicyBomb
• Willow Zander on What IS Willis Talkin’ Bout?
• Gabby Panacek on Couture Conundrum
• Ana Lutetia on AnaLutetia.COM
• Freyja Nemeth on Oldfashioned
• Nissa Nightfire on Magpie Universe
• Farah Palmer on Fabulously Free

Just one week to go! Don’t miss out on over $50,000L worth of prizes!

Click the photo above for a larger version!

Announcing the inaugural contest for :: Genesis :: Designs!

The Contest:

Run Dates: 16 May – 1 June
Winners Announced: 3 June, Midnight
Subject Matter: :: Genesis :: Candace Skins

Store Location: SLURL

I will be picking 5 images from the pool at the end of the contest to display prominently in my main and satellite stores (when possible)! I’d love to see what you all can do! Be funky, be wild, be elegant and classy, be demure, be sexy, be vixenized… be you. Do what you feel is right, make a splash, get creative! Wow me with your awesomesaucetasticness!

Note: It is NOT mandatory to be fully nude in the pictures, however keep in mind that showing the essence of the skins is vital!

Prizes:

Grand Prize:
$15,000L cash
$10,000L gift certificate to :: Genesis :: Designs

First Prize:
$10,000L cash
$7,500L gift certificate to :: Genesis :: Designs

Second Prize:
$5,000L cash
$5,000L gift certificate to :: Genesis :: Designs

Third Prize:
$2,500L cash
$2,500L gift certificate to :: Genesis :: Designs

Honorable Mention:
$1,000L cash
$1,000L gift certificate to :: Genesis :: Designs

The Rules:

You are only allowed to enter TWO PICTURES maximum into the contest!

1. Entrants MUST be wearing a :: Genesis :: Candace skin. No exceptions. Entrants not wearing a Candace skin will be disqualified.

2. Entrants may choose to also wear :: Genesis :: jewelry as well, but it is not mandatory.

3. Entrants must tag entries with CandaceSkinsContest.

4. Entrants must add their entry to the :: Genesis :: Designs by Ryker Beck Flickr group. This is the pool from which I will be choosing winners! If your entry is not in this Flickr group, you cannot win!

5. Entrants must be willing to provide me with a high resolution copy of their final poster for use in :: Genesis :: stores. Your name will, of course, be added to the poster. Images may or may not be cropped to adhere to poster size necessities.

6. Post processing is allowed!

Thank you, and best of luck to everyone! :D

Note: Genesis will be rebranded to Exodi come June 1!

If you don’t already know, FilterCam is a revolutionary in-world photography HUD created by my dear, dear friend CodeBastard Redgrave. With this HUD, you are able to apply various effects to your snapshots with just a few clicks of a menu button. And not only that… you can also create your OWN effects by making your own filters for the FilterCam! That’s what this blog is about today. How do you make your own filters? I’m glad you asked. ;)

The first thing you need to ask yourself is are you making a standard screen or a widescreen filter? The difference is not huge, but it can be significant to those of you with a touch of OCD (like me). For example… this picture was taken using a widescreen monitor resolution, while this one was taken in a standard resolution. Notice the difference? One is slightly wider horizontally while the other appears unstretched.

To put it simply… creating FilterCam filters is easy! But start with your basic building block first. For best results, if you are designing filters for a standard monitor screen (1024×768 for example) start with a canvas that is 1024×768 px. For a widescreen filter, begin with 1024×640. Because Second Life has a texture size limit of 1024×1024, the filters will automatically resize once you upload them, however have no fear! The filtercam will display them properly regardless.

Click here to download blank, pre-sized PSD templates (Photoshop files) for the FilterCam: Standard / Widescreen

Now that you have your canvas all sized up and ready to go, let’s get down to the fun stuff! Allow me to walk you through making your very first FilterCam filter. I will be using Photoshop CS3 Extended to show you the ropes, but if you are using an earlier version, I wouldn’t worry… I am fairly certain that many of these steps will remain the same.

1. Either create your own or open one of the pre-sized PSD FilterCam templates (linked above). For the purposes of this tutorial, I will be using the Widescreen template.

2. You should have a blank canvas with no background at all. If there is a background layer (usually plain white), delete it. This is very important. Because the FilterCam displays on a HUD and is meant to add effects to your in-world photography, it is very important to understand that the ONLY thing that should be showing on the filter when you upload it is your intended effect. For example, if you want to create a filter to add blood droplets to your screen, when you upload your filter, the only thing that should be showing is the blood droplets and a transparent (see-through) background – no white or black backgrounds, nothing else but the blood droplets. This will allow you to still see your avatar and in-world surroundings while still applying the FilterCam effects to your screen. Example here: Notice the three effects displaying on this image. The blood, the scanlines (horizontal lines across the screen) and the cinema screen (the large black bars on the top and bottom of the image). All three of these effects are individual FilterCam filters which you can apply to your HUD to create snapshots such as these.

3. Let’s make a bubble screen! Download and load these brushes into your Photoshop brush palette. Once you have them loaded, choose any brush and begin painting on your canvas. It can look however you want it too… it is your filter, after all!

4. Once you are done painting, make sure you have the layer you’ve painted on selected in the layers list. In your Photoshop client menu, press Select > Load Selection. This will select all of the bubbles you’ve painted onto this layer at once.

5. Select the Channels tab next to the Layers tab. There is a button at the bottom of this that looks a bit like a post-it note which says “Save Selection As Channel”. Making sure that your bubbles are still selected, click this button. This will add an alpha mask called Alpha 1 to your list (an alpha mask will let the file you save when we’re done know what you DO want to show in the image you save and what you don’t — in this case, the alpha mask is saying “Show the bubbles, but nothing else”).

6. Once you have done this, pat yourself on the back! You have created your first FilterCam filter. Now to save it properly.

7. To save your filter in a format that Second Life will be able to render properly, select File > Save As. From the Format dropdown menu at the bottom, select the TGA file extension option and hit Save. A window (”Targa Options”) will pop up, asking what resolution you would like to save your file in. Select 32 bits/pixel (you MUST select 32 bits/pixel in order for the Alpha mask to properly save).

8. Once you have saved the file, upload it to Second Life and add it to your FilterCam!

Once you have the basics down, you are free to create all sorts of FilterCam filters for yourself and to share with others via the FilterCam group on Flickr. Check it out for all sorts of neat things you can do with the FilterCam, post your own FilterCam filters, and check out the FilterCam contest!

Click the photo above for a larger version!

Announcing the inaugural contest for :: Genesis :: Designs!

The Contest:

Run Dates: 16 May – 1 June
Winners Announced: 3 June, Midnight
Subject Matter: :: Genesis :: Candace Skins

Store Location: SLURL

I will be picking 5 images from the pool at the end of the contest to display prominently in my main and satellite stores (when possible)! I’d love to see what you all can do! Be funky, be wild, be elegant and classy, be demure, be sexy, be vixenized… be you. Do what you feel is right, make a splash, get creative! Wow me with your awesomesaucetasticness!

Note: It is NOT mandatory to be fully nude in the pictures, however keep in mind that showing the essence of the skins is vital!

Prizes:

Grand Prize:
$15,000L cash
$10,000L gift certificate to :: Genesis :: Designs

First Prize:
$10,000L cash
$7,500L gift certificate to :: Genesis :: Designs

Second Prize:
$5,000L cash
$5,000L gift certificate to :: Genesis :: Designs

Third Prize:
$2,500L cash
$2,500L gift certificate to :: Genesis :: Designs

Honorable Mention:
$1,000L cash
$1,000L gift certificate to :: Genesis :: Designs

The Rules:

You are only allowed to enter TWO PICTURES maximum into the contest!

1. Entrants MUST be wearing a :: Genesis :: Candace skin. No exceptions. Entrants not wearing a Candace skin will be disqualified.

2. Entrants may choose to also wear :: Genesis :: jewelry as well, but it is not mandatory.

3. Entrants must tag entries with CandaceSkinsContest.

4. Entrants must add their entry to the :: Genesis :: Designs by Ryker Beck Flickr group. This is the pool from which I will be choosing winners! If your entry is not in this Flickr group, you cannot win!

5. Entrants must be willing to provide me with a high resolution copy of their final poster for use in :: Genesis :: stores. Your name will, of course, be added to the poster. Images may or may not be cropped to adhere to poster size necessities.

6. Post processing is allowed!

Thank you, and best of luck to everyone! :D

In my own response to the freebie “debate” that has somewhat overtaken the blogosphere of-late, I have decided to incorporate my own idea of “customer appreciation” into my store.

While I agree that the freebie market has gotten out of hand, I do think that, when used appropriately, they can be a powerful marketing tool. Now, I do not typically offer freebies at :: Genesis :: (SLURL). Usually, every once in a blue moon (typically, every three-six months) I’ll offer a freebie to my SoM for a limited time. I realize that most people who are considered “freebie seekers” will never purchase from my store. They will TP in, grab the freebie I offer every once in a long while, and TP out. That’s fine with me, considering how little I actually do give freebies, and whether I like to admit it or not, the last freebie I offered was INCREDIBLE in boosting my SoM numbers. It literally tripled the number of my subscribers over the course of a week. While I understand, again, that maybe about 10% of the people subscribed may actually be paying customers, I DO find it valuable that I can now reach three times the number of people I would’ve before.

However, where does true customer appreciation fit into that?

I appreciate my customers. I truly do. You all inspire me to continue creating, to be the best that I can be, and to constantly try to make the next creation better than the one before it. I value that kind of inspiration and when I occassionally get the odd IM telling me how thankful someone is for the products in my store, or how beautiful they think my work is… I really do just want to THANK them. You know? And sometimes saying, “Thank you so much!” just isn’t enough.

So that’s where the Beck Bucks come into play.

As of the 8th of May, Beck Bucks have been placed in all available :: Genesis :: merchandise. Most smaller items carry $1 Beck Bucks, while larger fatpacks carry $5 and $10 Beck Bucks. The idea is simple, really. Customers, upon purchasing an item, will receive Beck Bucks to collect and redeem for :: Genesis :: merchandise!

Let’s say you’re running short on lindens, and I have just released a shiney new jewelry set. You have been waiting for this release… but simply cannot afford the lindens right now! However… you’ve been a loyal shopper at :: Genesis :: and have Beck Bucks to burn. So you stop by the main store, grab a Beck Bucks Redemption Package, and redeem your Bucks for bling! Being rewarded for your patronage never looked prettier, right?

Everything in :: Genesis ::, from hoop earrings to gift certificates, can now be purchased using the appropriate amount of Beck Bucks.

Interested in learning more? Teleport on over to :: Genesis :: and read all about it, and don’t forget to pick up a Beck Bucks Catalogue! And thank you. Really.

Thank you.