I was a leathersmith for 10 years. Awhile back (during beta of MO1) I offered SV the option of making replica vambrace, armours, and specialty goods (like a leather bound blank books with the logo, or other clade symbols, burnt or tooled into them...
Thought it would make unique merchandise to help SV stand out from the crowd. Nothing came of it. Maybe it was that my product wouldnt have been good enough? Not sure. I have made stuff for individuals from multiple countries who had looked me up to request custom work, and won multiple competitions with my creations (Comic con competitions, car shows for my work with a rat-rod company), and had many pieces in a pilot project trying to get onto SyFy network).
I dont smith, anymore... but had always thought that taking a unique approach to merchandising could really help SV.