Boston looks to set up online city tchotchke store

By adamg on Fri, 03/31/2017 - 9:03pm

Boston is soliciting bids from companies that want to build and run an online store on the city Web site to sell "official City of Boston branded merchandise."

In a statement, Mayor Walsh said:

"In the City of Boston we have so much to be proud of, and by sharing official City of Boston branded merchandise, we are inviting residents, visitors, and everyone to proudly represent and be a part of our City. I look forward to finding new and innovative ways to continue building our assets around the desire of our people.

The specific RFP (click on Online City Store) says the city is looking for a company that "can help constituents, visitors, employees and fans buy a part of Boston's history and its future" by buying Boston-branded products that are as "beautiful, delightful, and useful" as the city Web site itself.

This is not the city's first foray into selling branded stuff. Under the Menino administration, the "City Store" in the basement of Faneuil Hall sold a variety of city items, including old street signs.

The MBTA currently has a deal with a company that sells T-related merchandise via the T Web site.

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Comments

city store

By notadoctor on Fri, 03/31/2017 - 10:14pm.

was awesome.. I used to get the craziest stuff in there.. I still have a few blank Mass Pike ticket books that I use to take notes.. It was the weird little stuff like old school desks and street signs that made that store interesting. I can't see the web site being anywhere near as good..

The

By poster on Sat, 04/01/2017 - 12:41am.

City of New York has an official city store that sells similar items: http://a856-citystore.nyc.gov/

I can see one for Boston doing well, honestly, if it's marketed right and they give it a storefront where it's accessible to all of the tourists who pass through that area.

This sounds like a sneaky way

By Refugee on Fri, 03/31/2017 - 11:16pm.

This sounds like a sneaky way to get people wearing "Martin J Walsh, Mayor" shirts ahead of the election.

Well, who wouldn't want to wear a Marty Walsh shirt?

By MC Slim JB on Sat, 04/01/2017 - 12:21am.

The man has a certain ineffable je ne sais quoi. I took a picture of him to my barber, said, "Give me that", and he replied, "What am I, a miracle worker?"

Style icons: you just can't imitate them.

Mayor

By Jose Sr on Sat, 04/01/2017 - 6:33am.

The dude who still wears cargo shorts.

You gotta know how to ask

By tachometer on Sat, 04/01/2017 - 11:16am.

If you want the Marty Walsh haircut you should just ask your barber for a "boy's regular" and he'll set you right up.

That's a haircut?

By Sock_Puppet on Sat, 04/01/2017 - 11:28am.

I thought he got his head stuck in a jar.

Yes, I've been to a barber before. I even wore a boy's

By MC Slim JB on Sat, 04/01/2017 - 12:11pm.

regular back when I was five.

The question remains, what styling product does he use to get that zazz? Is it Brylcreem? Vitalis? Wildroot? VO5?

He's a Dapper Dan Man

By tachometer on Sat, 04/01/2017 - 3:59pm.

He's bona fide!

What's the story re the police commissioner's haircut!?...

By theszak on Sun, 04/02/2017 - 6:07am.

What's the story re the police commissioner's haircut!?...

The story?

By Waquiot on Sun, 04/02/2017 - 7:25pm.

It's AWESOME!

End of story.

Walsh 2024

By tachometer on Sat, 04/01/2017 - 9:45am.

Never Forget!

Yes at that point he'll have 10 years as Mayor.

By bulgingbuick on Sat, 04/01/2017 - 11:18am.

Something "I'm smarter than him" neo-liberals will find annoying.

Why not Cafepress or Zazzle?

By E on Sat, 04/01/2017 - 11:13am.

Why not Cafepress or Zazzle?

You too can own your very own

By anon on Sat, 04/01/2017 - 11:23am.

You too can own your very own hack.

can i get this as a fridge magnet/pillow case?

By Scumquistador on Sat, 04/01/2017 - 11:37am.

IMAGE(http://i.imgur.com/WtzBtsN.png)

(ty @CreatineAvenger)

Wally, trying to look badass. Actually seems more like

By MC Slim JB on Sat, 04/01/2017 - 12:00pm.

you bunted next to him in church, and he knows it was you.

I imagine Charlie is wearing his usual sunny expression because he knows you're about to get trapped on a dead Red Line train for an hour, which is what you get for messing with Boston.

That's a brilliant bit of work! Took me a minute to figure out that's the Moxie dude. A shame that Marshmallow Fluff never got an anthropomorphic mascot.