vB commercial themes
 

I'm doing a small research on sites selling vB skins.
I've came to the conclusion that the 4 most succesful are:
extremepixels.com
vBstyles.com
transversestyles.com
vBSkinworks.com
forumthemes.com

Firstly, which one do you believe is the most succesful? (not the one you like best, the one that is objectively most succesful, eg sold more themes)
Secondly, does anyone know a rough estimate on the income of such sites (not only the 4 mentioned)?
Thirdly, which one is the largest in terms of staff?
The 4 ones mentioned are just my personal opinion, and I might be wrong and there might be one more succesfull than these. Feel free to mention it.

Thanks in advance and I hope the matter is not a vb-taboo. :)

By far the most successful is extremepixels...

:) :)

I'd agree, extremepixels would be my choice too

First post updated. :) Thanks!

You forgot to list TransverseStyles.com - they have made quite an impact as well, however I see more styles from vBStyles.com used over any of those listed.

I didn't list transverse styles as I don't think is one of the most succesful ones.
The point is not to list all sites selling vb themes, but finding out which ones are the most succesfull.
I've also noticed the same thing about vBStyles SaintDog. Escpecially their skin "Element" is very popular.

I don't understand, by not listing my site you missed a *major* venue in the vBulletin skinning arena. In fact, we're so popular that you can see the resemblance of a site you mentioned above compared to my site.

I stand by me having the best customer area, too.

I started 2 years later, so it's like the coke/pepsi thing.

You are right Transverse Styles. I just visited and it appears to be more succesful than I thought at first. Although it appears to be more for IPB than for vB...
Btw, would it be too intrusive if I asked about the income that such a site generates? For instance how much do you earn per theme (average)? (you may answer via pm, if I was in your shoes I wouldn't answer in public). If you do not wish to reply at all, I fully understand. :)

More for IPB than vB? They are for both systems. :)

I just use IPB as my default forum since I was a former staff at IPS. :)

I've always thought of vbskinworks, transverse, extremepixels as the major players in the vb styling game.

Another source which I think worth mentioning is http://www.cinvin.com/ they've been around long enough and am sure they have a good solid customer base.

Haven't heard much about forumthemes. then what do I know about styling.

Shelley, if we start listing all sites selling vb skins we will never end.
The point is to find the top 2-3 most financially successful.
Btw you have a very nice theme in your site! Did you make it yourself?

Yes, that "Element" skin is very good. And it comes I saw before with all new graphic icons too. It really is a very nice skin that one. Just a pity though I feel that most skins don't also come with matching admincp skins also.

Would you pay more for a theme (eg $10 more) if it came with a matching admincp style? Cause that's inevitable if they made ACP styles as well...

Well lets put it this way, lets say I saw a skin I wanted to use as default skin. And it was sold at $30 or $40 with admincp skin. I'd personally pay the $40. So the whole site, including the Admincp which only I can see totally matched.

I would see that as worth paying the extra $10. And if you search around, you will find threads were people ask "is there any admincp skin for this theme". I think people do like the have both if they can. And there are very few skins that come with matching admincp skins, so I think it would be a good target to aim at if your thinking of starting a skin site. As that would make your skins different. because they all come with admincp skin also. And thats a niece worth capitalizing on to get more sales.

I'd say ExtremePixels, as well... and I'm not really too concerned with skinning the Admin Cp... that might be great, but it doesn't really matter to me as long as it's something plain and easy on the eyes.

I have a more innovative idea about making a difference :) I can't tell now but I believe it will be quite a success ;)
Anyway, it will take months to end the project and start selling, so don't expect anything shortly :p

Skinning the admincp as an added touch to compliment a commercial release is a nice touch. I wouldn't say it's going to grab customers in their droves but might attract the odd occaisonal client. I'm not into the buisness side yet but it's something I am going to pursue in the future though the buisness end of styling is something I'm learning everyday.

Again with the admincp thing, I wouldn't focus to much on this because it's not something the user will see and will only be viewed by a select few. Would it warrant an additional 10 dollars? My opinion, no.

I'm involved in with one of the most respected/succesfull vb styling sites and I found (and with the sales count) providing standalone graphic sets whether it's for default stock images (buttons, emoticons etc) this is defenitely a niche which can be exploited.

For example, A client loves that style you worked hard on but they are unsure about the button set you designed that complimented that style. Standalone sets gives the client the choice to pick from a variety of sets that may suit the style. I don't need to say that everyone has their own preference and judging by alot of styles (and I speak of some of the large sites) that some sets really don't compliment the style design.

Not sure whether this is relevant to this discussion. I'm just chucking some ideas on the table and to say that their are other areas which can be exploited to gain a larger customer base.

Edit: Missed your query, I did design the style and everything that you see on the forum. But I usually release images in my designs to the public so you'll rarely see any of the graphics that compliment my designs as being unique as most sets are released here first (before my own site).

I think you have a good point about the button sets, your right. I've looked at skins and thought nice skin, shame about certain images it uses. So your point is a good one. Like you say - some people have the view only they see the admincp skin, so what does it matter. But when your using a skin all the time like a dark skin, then you go to the admin panel and get blinded with a light blue skin that simply class together. Thats why some might want it matching none the less. I think it is a small market, but still a niece worth exploting.

I think most skinners just don't want the hassle of creating a skin and then having to work on an admin skin as well (which they feel they won't really sell many off. And most people don't complain because there not used to buying vB Skins with matching admin panels.

But then who says you have to charge only £10 for the admin cp skin, they could both be sold as stand alone products together for the same price. And once a person owns the forum skin, there going to be tempted somwhere down the line to buy the admin one as well.

Thanks for including us in your list :) I think one of the main business principles that seperates those who are successful from those who aren't is support after the sale. There are many ways to draw sales in, but what builds success is how you take care of those customers after they have spent their hard earned dollars with you. It is a difficult thing to do correctly, but brings many rewards...not all of them financial ;)

Well I just found something quite interesting. All I will say is go to this page and have a "very good" read: http://www.iamvica.com/services/index.php?p=portfolio

Here is one quote from that site.

I'm not sure I got your point...

I wouldn't be surprised...most commercial skin companies buy exclusive rights to many designs on the open market. There is a very large freelance design community and we are businesses after all ;)

I'd have to agree. As far as I can see they design styles and sell them off to the vb styling providers. There's a few styles on there that I have worked with and had to replace some images because they didn't have fully complete images to compliment the styles.

*waves to smacklan*

He has some great designs. The majority of the skins on the EP site are designed by myself. But... When I see a great design I will surely add it to our site as an offering. I purchased a few from him, basically tweaked them a little and coded them.

He's a very good designer :)

Yes, he really is good. I really love this one here. I like everything about it and it looks cool: http://www.iamvica.com/services/view.php?name=wf101&v=1

Unfortunately, it was designed for a sole customer with sole-rights to it. :confused:

A good list would be really useful though. I think I'll make one.

Thank you for the nice comment, and thank you for mentioning vbstyles in the list ;)

I never thought of including or designing admincp styles other than for personal use, but if the demand is there I'm sure that I can include them with future releases.

I included vbstyles on the list, lol :p

Congratulations Mone, personally I respect vbstyles more than any other site about vb skins :)

I have to admit the "element" series has always been a favourite of mine. :up:

thank you :)

Are you the owner of vbstyles? Because my ticket Created On: 19 Sep 2006 05:28 AM has not been responded.