In Japan, I found one of the most exciting things that I missed and before, didn’t get it. I realize the self-ecosystem was in full effect through the Akihabara anime / Otaku scene. I was always in Akiba looking for used computer equipment but didn’t put 2+2 together until I realize how to incorporate generative AI avatars into a product. I saw Harajuku and the opportunities for sistas, but did not see Akihabara for what it was and now my eyes are open now.

We are at a moment where you can create an avatar using generative AI, consistent character, and build a whole ecosystem around them like Walt Disney have done with his characters. This is a whole massive untapped opportunity and paradigm we are entering, adopting the patterns and practices to integrate our self-ecosystem.

In this article, we want to talk about the merchandising opportunities to create around your avatar. We are using the term avatar because once you establish one, then you can go in different directions such as social media personality, live streamer, comic book, music artist, modeling, DJing, sports figure, and so on.

But once you create the avatar, now you can start merchandising to create fan engagement with monetization. That’s what we here to discuss, let’s get going.

The Self-Ecosystem

In this example, a brotha created a race car driver and can add personality depth to him. The driver can be in a comic book, racing posters with 1970s Japanese sports cars, buttons, pictures of him on the track, driving GT, and traveling around the world. Or a short video of him working on his race cars himself doing detail maintenance on the engine, suspension, gearbox for the kids who are gearheads.

See the kind of runway any character from your self-ecosystem has? The possibilities are limited only to your unlimited potential.

You can stay anonymous, work your job and quietly have an avatar with merchandising selling like hotcakes throughout Latin America and Asia and Africa.

I want to show you how this is already happening in Japan:

This is an anime festival, typical of many comic-con or anime conventions where the vendor section sell their self-ecosystem, we haven’t looked at it that way before. Notice in the video, they point out these are people with regular jobs creating anime characters selling everything from photobooks and other merchandise.

Fan Merchandise List

What can you create for fan gear. Look at the videos and also what I gathered from my own observations:

Buttons, Patches, Acrylic Stands, Stickers, Journal Books, Canvas Bag, Wall Scroll, Plushies, Hugging Dolls, T-Shirts, Socks, Glow Sticks, Drink Bottles, Action Figures, Standees, Gatcha Toys, Trading Cards, Photo Cards, Photo Book, Calendar, Phone Case, Bracelet Charms, Keychains, Plate mats, Coffee Cups, Co-branded wine.

Most if not all of the things here can be created at home using craft building machines such as a fabric/paper cutter machine or heat press. Almost all of this is available on Amazon.

Two things to also consider and I’ve seen these in Japan. Cosplay Sewing Pattern so fans can sew their own clothing for cosplay events dressed like your avatar. Also, digital items such as rebrand the computer with wallpaper, mouse cursor, icons, sound effects after your avatar.

The VTuber Store in Akihabara

This is a store that should be considered because the cost of operation and profit margin appears lucrative. These stores are also called collection shops where VTuber can run their own section or just be on the shelves with everybody else.

One thing if your old school should realize this business store model is the same thing as a record shop like Tower Records or HMV. You bring in people who love shopping for music or their favorite artist.

To be honest, we want this business model in our hub structures we are setting up. Our approach to sell both local and global avatars.

One thing I like is the 6th floor that has meet and greet, someone was hosting one when I visited the store. This is an excellent way to promote local artists and again, this is exactly what music artists used to do with record stores – go to George’s music shop on the West Side of Chicago for their album release.

Leveraging AI

With AI, you can create a whole roster of AI, possibly hundreds and market your avatars around the world faster than a Barbie doll mold injection is cooled. You have to create a character, then create a model sheet from the prompt to edit feature. Always get the front, side and rear and definitely have a rear, because if you don’t have a reference, it will affect the consistency of your model in future prompts.

Then what you can do is create more AI prompts to create prototypes like this acrylic stand version of the avatar to see what it looks like. You want to do this for prototyping and proof-of-concept to see if this is something you want to take to market. See how fast it is to get this whole thing up and running?

That is why we are committed to this business model and going to be creating our own avatar stores and helping others create their own avatar store. This is the new baseball card trading shop model that going to pop-up in communities around the world.

Important Note: We can use these proof-of-concept to raise pre-order funding. Another win-win.

This is one of the best business models because it is very low-cost to build proof-of-concept using AI, can create content and fan gear from your home, can work with others on setting up an anime trade show, and sell at a fan shop. I really do not see much downside here because you can have a Japanese manga book section just like Barnes and Noble filled with content or you can sell this online like Booth

This is the best example of establishing Afroasiatic economies using the self-ecosystem + AI + N8N to build new ventures that will put money in everybody pockets. Yall better get your act together because I promise you 90% of the people even seeing this article are going to sit around, miss the boat, stay broke, have no income streams except a shaky job.

Meanwhile, the rest of you are proud of your dozens of avatars that you are selling around the world as merchandise and a brand representing your individuality as a proxy.  Living quietly in a 5-bedroom 4-story home in Da Nang, Vietnam for $1100/month away from the goofy folks back in the States.