WordPress Theme Store

I’m a WordPress guy. I’ve been working in WP for over 2 years, theming and scheming my merry way. In many cases the theme designs go hand-in-hand with some level of customization, plug-ins or CMS-y PHP work. Strike that, in every project I’ve been a part of this has been the case. Which is one of the things that concerns me about WordPress’ announcement regarding a Theme Marketplace. The emphasis seems to be on theme visual designs, not the site design, not plugins, not customization, not CMS. I’m concerned that this marketplace will be a clearing house for low-budget, low value visual skins rather than giving users resources and tools to build compelling sites. The 50/50 split seems steep to me as well, a further step in devaluing design ala design contests and spec work but making the ‘agent’ rich in the meantime.

I’ll happily wait it out before I get snippy, WordPress (Matt et al) haven’t let me down in the past, and I assume their model can benefit the community. I just hope users are satisfied in getting what they pay for. Something funny happens when money is exchanged, the expectations are quite different than running to a WordPress free theme site and downloading a cool design. We’ll have to wait and see how this ‘marketplace’ handles cranky clients and designers, they will be accountable whether they want to be or not; considering they are getting 50% of the client’s cash.