Custom Packaging
7.06.2008
Well, this is turning out to be a lot tougher than I imagined.
And, as usual, I've got no one to blame but myself.
So it started off with this idea to do custom packaging. I've been using blank Tyvek mailers for the last 2 years, and although they're ideal for shipping (lightweight, strong, and cheap), I've begun to feel the itch to customize this step of the process (as I'm gradually doing with everything).
The first idea was simple - the LF logo stamped on the face of the package. Easy. Done. Practical, simple, and a good way to make the name a bit more prominent, but... Boring. And a little lame. My next idea was to do a pattern. Initially this was going to be the same pattern that I've got on the header for the store banner, but unfortunately I lost the high res version of this when my hard drive crashed a few months ago, and it'd be a super pain to redraw all the pieces...
And what about boxes? With more and more folks ordering more than just a single tee, it's become sensible to start shipping things off in something bigger. And boxes mean more sides to design/print on.
With this in mind, I set out to do a package design that'd make full use of the 3-dimensionality of a box. I'm gonna keep the actual designs veiled until the whole packaging line is released (probably September), but in the meantime, you can get a little hint from the pic.
Labels: packaging
posted by Mr. Linty @ 10:34 PM,
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Taking over the world... one torso at a time!
4.02.2008
I'm very pleased with my decision to do new releases on the 1st of each month. It's a great way to build interest since people can count on it every time. The thing is that it makes my 30th, 31st, and 1st of each month crazy hectic with getting everything set up. It really pays off though - 8 tees and 6 belts went out yesterday! Crazy!
But yeah, hopefully in the future I'll be able to stock them earlier and have things set for release at midnight.
And, I'm out of space! I gotta go get some new shelves from Home Depot today since the Epidemic shirts are coming in Friday and I've got nowhere to put them. I should just bite the bullet and buy myself a nice sturdy shipping table where I can fold shirts and pack up orders and stash stuff under, but (a) I have no space for such a monstrosity and (b) I'm trying to use all LF money for new products. Later (possibly in the fall) I'll take the plunge for all that other stuff, including a scale and a label printer. I'm at the post office every day now and I'm pretty weary of it.
Oh, and regarding that Collaboration design that I did with J3 - this morning I bought his half of the design from him, so I now own it in full and can do whatever I like with the art. I'm thinking that doing allovers are out of my league right now (minimums are like 300 pieces!), but I believe I can simplify the design for a shirt. So that should be out sometime in the summer. (Hopefully in time for the show, but that's doubtful) I know this kind of goes against my vision of designing everything 100% myself, but by the time of its release it'll contain almost none of the original elements of Jared's design, just his style. And it's a cool style and gets along well with the LF vibe I've got goin!
What else... Ah yes! Custom packaging! I was on the phone with Jimmy the other day and we were brainstorming about ways to do it. I'm thinking I'm going to switch to paper mailers so that I can print with regular plastisol ink on screens (just like my tees are done). They'll be patterned similar to the header banner at my store and the one I did as a collab, but it's going to have a comic strip feel to it with a graphic narrative and stuff. If I have time I'll start it tonight.
In a few months I also want to release cardboard gift box mailers. Basically it'll be an item that can be purchased in the store for $5 or so, and it will enable people to send their friend LF goods in a special LF box with custom designs and even a personalized note card that they can fill out at checkout. 
ALSO (goodness, is there no end??!), I just bought this awesome clothing rack from Amazon for only 21 bucks! Crazy! I ordered some new American Apparel goods, too, like a collared shirt and a wallet, because I want to analyze them and see what kind of designs I can work up for them in the future. Oh, haha, and I just got word back from my printer that he's got some badical glow in the dark ink now available for experimentation... Hm...
Finally (to save the most delicious for last) - last night I made some Chinese dumplings (from scratch!) and goodness gracious. They were pretty stinking scrumptious. I'm having them again right now for lunch! Man, fresh food makes me so happy.
Labels: belts, business, business plans, dumplings, packaging
posted by Mr. Linty @ 10:56 AM,
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