diff --git a/HellionChat/HellionChat.csproj b/HellionChat/HellionChat.csproj
index 0d048e8..cfe8103 100644
--- a/HellionChat/HellionChat.csproj
+++ b/HellionChat/HellionChat.csproj
@@ -75,6 +75,9 @@
         <EmbeddedResource Include="Resources\HellionFont-OFL.txt">
             <LogicalName>HellionFont-OFL.txt</LogicalName>
         </EmbeddedResource>
+        <EmbeddedResource Include="Themes\Builtin\example-theme.json">
+            <LogicalName>HellionChat.Themes.Builtin.example-theme.json</LogicalName>
+        </EmbeddedResource>
     </ItemGroup>
 
 
diff --git a/HellionChat/Plugin.cs b/HellionChat/Plugin.cs
index e5e7770..6cb47f5 100755
--- a/HellionChat/Plugin.cs
+++ b/HellionChat/Plugin.cs
@@ -291,6 +291,8 @@ public sealed class Plugin : IDalamudPlugin
             // v1.1.0 — Theme-Engine init. Custom-Themes liegen in
             // pluginConfigs/HellionChat/themes/, lazy geladen beim ersten Get.
             var customThemesDir = Path.Combine(Interface.ConfigDirectory.FullName, "themes");
+            Directory.CreateDirectory(customThemesDir);
+            SeedExampleThemeIfEmpty(customThemesDir);
             ThemeRegistry = new Themes.ThemeRegistry(customThemesDir);
             ThemeRegistry.Switch(Config.Theme);
 
@@ -675,4 +677,36 @@ public sealed class Plugin : IDalamudPlugin
     public static bool InBattle => Condition[ConditionFlag.InCombat];
     public static bool GposeActive => Condition[ConditionFlag.WatchingCutscene];
     public static bool CutsceneActive => Condition[ConditionFlag.OccupiedInCutSceneEvent] || Condition[ConditionFlag.WatchingCutscene78];
+
+    // v1.1.0 — wenn der themes/-Ordner leer ist, schreiben wir die embedded
+    // example-theme.json als Vorlage rein. Bestehende User-Customs werden
+    // nicht angefasst (existing JSONs lassen den Block überspringen).
+    private static void SeedExampleThemeIfEmpty(string dir)
+    {
+        if (Directory.EnumerateFiles(dir, "*.json").Any())
+            return;
+
+        var examplePath = Path.Combine(dir, "example-theme.json");
+        var resourceStream = typeof(Plugin).Assembly.GetManifestResourceStream("HellionChat.Themes.Builtin.example-theme.json");
+        if (resourceStream is null)
+        {
+            Log.Warning("Themes example template not found in assembly resources; skipping seed.");
+            return;
+        }
+
+        try
+        {
+            using var fileStream = File.Create(examplePath);
+            resourceStream.CopyTo(fileStream);
+            Log.Information($"Seeded example-theme.json into {dir}");
+        }
+        catch (IOException ex)
+        {
+            Log.Warning(ex, "Failed to seed example-theme.json; user can create custom themes manually.");
+        }
+        finally
+        {
+            resourceStream.Dispose();
+        }
+    }
 }
diff --git a/HellionChat/Themes/Builtin/example-theme.json b/HellionChat/Themes/Builtin/example-theme.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1f547f7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/HellionChat/Themes/Builtin/example-theme.json
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+{
+  "schemaVersion": 1,
+  "slug": "example-custom",
+  "name": "Example Custom",
+  "author": "You",
+  "description": "Starting template — duplicate, rename, edit colors and reload.",
+  "colors": {
+    "primaryDark":   "#0097A7",
+    "primary":       "#00BED2",
+    "primaryLight":  "#4DD9E8",
+    "primaryGlow":   "#00BED299",
+    "accentDark":    "#E85D04",
+    "accent":        "#F97316",
+    "accentLight":   "#FB923C",
+    "identity":      "#0097A7",
+    "windowBg":      "#070B12",
+    "childBg":       "#0C1220",
+    "frameBg":       "#141E30",
+    "surface":       "#1A2538",
+    "surfaceHover":  "#22303F",
+    "border":        "#00BED266",
+    "textPrimary":   "#E6F4F1",
+    "textMuted":     "#8FA3B5",
+    "textDim":       "#566273",
+    "statusSuccess": "#5CB85C",
+    "statusDanger":  "#D9534F",
+    "statusWarning": "#F0AD4E",
+    "statusInfo":    "#00BED2"
+  },
+  "layout": {
+    "windowRounding": 4,
+    "childRounding": 3,
+    "popupRounding": 3,
+    "frameRounding": 2,
+    "grabRounding": 2,
+    "tabRounding": 2,
+    "scrollbarRounding": 2,
+    "windowBorderSize": 1,
+    "frameBorderSize": 1
+  }
+}