Market query: Crosshair is considering a line of precut/fabricated LP/7" jackets

[crosshair]

I love records. I've always loved records. I love making record sleeves, and I know many of you do too.

While prefabricated, printable blanks are readily available both glued and unglued from a handful of vendors in kraft or white paperboard, there seems to be a void when it comes to custom/colored papers. All too often this results in DIY bands and labels ending up with tacky-ass folded-paper-in-a-baggie type LP's, like giant 45's.

I've always advocated printers working with diecutters to make their own pro-quality custom record jackets, but I recognize that this process can be intimidating and the capital investment involved puts it out of reach of many printers, bands and labels.

So here's the deal: I'm considering introducing a line of made to order blank sleeves; for LP, 2LP, 2LP gatefold, and 7" singles, glued and unglued, in a variety of specialty materials including French Paper's popular product lines. I probably can't compete price-wise with, say, Dorado when it comes to Kraft or white C1S paperboard sleeves, but for custom colors/materials, I may be able to provide a new option to the small printer, band, or label. Obviously full-bleed silkscreen printing services would be available as well.

So what I want to know is, what do people want? Printers, what are your clients asking for? What do you have easy access to, and what do you wish you could get? I don't have a timeline here, I'm just trying to figure out if something like this is viable.

[swampviking]

If you make them get ahold of me.

[crosshair]

boink

[robschwager]

i know some record producers who might dig this...

[ImJustRickG]

If you make them get ahold of me.

He's actually referring to a certain part of himself that he wants you to hold. Beware.

[ShhRecording]

A thousand times yes.

[strawberryluna]

I've been asked if I know someone who does this a few times. Perhaps now I finally will!

[exxxlonghair]

I would totally be into this. I've got three album covers coming up and I'm sick of the white and craft options. Keep me updated on what you decide to do.

[PedalPrinting]

Hey Dan,

We actually installed a huge 40x50" Thompson die cutter last year for record covers/vinyl stickers. Full line of blank/custom/silk screened record covers. It is tough to compete with inline offset & fully mechanized operations since a lot of them don't do the die cutting/folding/gluing all hand fed as we do. But for the boutique and short run market its nice to be able to offer options you can't get from the bigger guys. I don't know if you have someone local already worked out, but we have a full set of dies, and run these on site pretty often if you ever needed another source.

[crosshair]

I have a couple of tried and true local high-volume cutters I work with, one of which hosts my LP die. My big gatefold 2Lp die is presently in production at the other, and there's a release coming in February which will show it off. Stay tuned.