Packaging Ideas and Industry Trends

Sleeves to Keep your Records Spinning Right Round, Baby, Round Round

Thursday, July 12, 2018

With the release of old classics and booming sales, vinyl records are back. So, why vinyl? You could say it's the sound quality or a clinging to the past. One thing we know for sure, you can't hold streaming music in your hands like you can a vinyl record.

From admiring the cover artwork to placing it on the turntable, there's something personal about taking in a record on your own terms. You can see, touch, and feel a vinyl record.

Vinyl records seem almost magical but need protection if we want them to last. If a beat-up Beatles album brings a tear to your eye, you already know the value of protecting your records inside and out.

We carry inner and outer sleeves to keep your records looking and sounding their best. Let's take a closer look at a few options.

Inner Sleeves for Your Records: Frosted and No Flap

When you see a record sitting on a shelf, the inner sleeve is invisible to the eye. This is the sleeve that protects the record itself. That paper sleeve or flimsy plastic cover used in the store will eventually yellow, fall apart, and do damage to your records. To make sure this doesn't happen, you can replace these initial sleeves with more durable poly sleeves.

We carry frosted inner sleeves for a polished look. The frosted material is beautifully textured and comes in 2 mil or 3.5 mil options. The thicker 3.5 mil sleeves offer superior protection and hold their shape as you slide in your records. A 1/8-inch lip makes it easy to find and pull apart the opening with one hand.

These sleeves feel sturdy yet are soft enough to hug your records to reduce scratches and dust. Our frosted inner sleeves are open ended with no flap and fit 7", 10" and 12" single records.

Outer Sleeves for Your Album Covers: No Flap and Resealable Options

Owning records wouldn't be the same without the cover artwork. Listening to your favorite song often makes you reach for the album cover. Maybe you want to look at the artwork that changed your life just one more time and make sure it's still there. Looking at album covers over and over just never gets old. As fewer records are made, preserving the cover art has never been more important.

Our outer sleeves fit over the album covers, which create another layer of protection if you also use inner sleeves. Sometimes called Blake Sleeves, these sleeves protect your outer jackets and limit dust from sticking to the vinyl. We carry sizes to fit 7-inch albums to double LP gatefold albums with thicker jackets - available in 2 mil, 3 mil, and 4 mil. Our styles include:

Sleeves with flap - has a resealable adhesive and opens from the top (protective closure)
No flap sleeves - no seal and open ended

Regular poly sleeves get cloudy or yellow over time. Our outer sleeves are made of crystal clear BOPP material to really let your covers shine. The more traditional no flap sleeve may be your preference. The resealable sleeve provides the best overall protection because it completely seals your covers without any opening to the air. This further reduces damage from dust and normal wear and tear.

These sleeves offer a snug fit and look aesthetically pleasing. There's no extra slack or material that hangs over the bag so records stand up nicely in a box or on a shelf. The spines are also clear enough to read, making it easier to organize or pick out your favorites.

It doesn't matter if you have new releases or worn-looking classics, either. It's never too late to cover your albums! The high clarity of these outer sleeves will make your covers look as good as new.

*******

All of our records sleeves are acid-free and archival safe. Storing your records in high-quality sleeves will protect them from humidity, light, dust, scratches, and outside elements and give you a lifetime of enjoyment. So, keep spinning those records. Just don't forget to protect them - this includes the records themselves and their outer jackets!

See the chart below for our selection of styles and sizes:

Record Style	Bag Size	Closure Type	Thickness	Color	Item #
7” Single Album Cover	7 ⅜” x 7” 7 ⅜” x 7 ⅜”	Protective Closure No Flap	2.0 MIL 2.0 MIL	Clear Clear	BLP45 BLP45NF
10” Record Cover (Inner Sleeve)	10 ⅛” x 10” + ⅛” lip	Open Ended	3.5 MIL	Frosted	BLPF10
10” Single Album Cover	10 ⅝” x 10 ⅜” 10 ⅝” x 10 ⅝”	Protective Closure No Flap	2.0 MIL 2.0 MIL	Clear Clear	BLP10 BLP10NF
12” Record Cover (Inner Sleeve)	12 1/16” x 12” + ⅛” lip 12 1/16” x 11 15/16” + ⅛ lip	Open Ended Open Ended	3.5 MIL 2.0 MIL	Frosted Black	BLPFS BLPBM*
12” Single Album Cover	12 11/16” x 12 ⅜” 12 ⅝” x 12 ⅝”	Protective Closure No Flap	2.0 MIL 2.0 MIL	Clear Clear	BLP1 BLP1NF
12” Double Album Cover	12 13/16” x 12 ⅜” 12 ¾” x 12 ¾” 12 ¾” x 12 ¾” 12 ¾” x 12 ¾”	Protective Closure Protective Closure Protective Closure Protective Closure	2.0 MIL 2.0 MIL 3.0 MIL 4.0 MIL	Clear Clear Clear Clear	BLPD BLPD2 BLPD3 BLPD4

*coming soon

DIY

Fourth of July Party Favor Candy Boxes

Tuesday, June 26, 2018

DIY

11 Easy 4th of July Favors to Light Up Your Life

Friday, June 22, 2018

Summer is here and you know what that means? School's out! With 4th of July coming up fast, we've compiled 11 favor ideas that are simple enough to do with kids without the stress but also fun enough to leave an impression on your guests. From bulk bin candy to non-food options, there is sure to be a craft for everyone. Planning on hiding in the air conditioning watching Netflix? We have a little something for you too! Read on to find your perfect 4th of July party favor!

http://www.the36thavenue.com/fourth-of-july-edible-firecrackers/

The 36 - Don't these edible firecrackers look dynamite? Free printables insure an easy to whip up craft!

http://eighteen25.com/2015/06/firework-show-fun-bags/

eighteen25 - Staying up late to catch the fireworks with your family? These bags make it easy to entertain children staying up past bedtime!

https://www.evermine.com/blog/4th-of-july-candy-favors-diy-twist-ties/

Evermine - What a way to say 'Thank You' for this great country AND your party guests! Simple bagged candy favors are sure to win over all your guests.

http://www.firsthomelovelife.com/2014/06/homemade-patriotic-chalk.html

First Home Love Life - Don't want to hop the kids up on candy? No problem! This DIY sidewalk chalk is sure to please and last all summer long!

https://www.happinessishomemade.net/patriotic-oreo-pops-for-4th-of-july/

Happiness is Homemade - Let your creativity run wild with these patriotic Oreo pops! The combinations are limitless and a fun way to let your inner baker out.

https://www.kristimurphy.com/blog/4th-of-july-smores

Kristi Murphy - What a combo! Beat the heat of summer evenings with a cold Coca Cola and when the sun goes down, indulge in some classic s'mores. These kits are sure to be a crowd pleasure.

http://www.makoodle.com/fourth-of-july-bag-toppers/

Makoodle - Bulk bin, bags, free printable. Nothing is easier than that! Mix it up with different stamps and you are good to go.

https://www.sprinklesforbreakfast.com/sprinkle-and-swirl-bark.php

Sprinkles for Breakfast - This is the perfect craft to do with your littles! Low mess but still allows them plenty of freedom to swirl and sprinkle to their hearts content. Taking some to a party? Toss a few pieces into each gusset bag and close with a festive twist tie! Voila, instant favor.

https://thecelebrationshoppe.com/make-an-easy-parade-shaker-let-freedom-ring-free-printable

Celebration Shoppe - Have you ever been to the Target Dollar Spot? It's paper straw central! Grab a few packs on the cheap and whip up these adorable parade shakers!

http://thecraftingchicks.com/4th-of-july-cupcake-gifts-free-download/

The Crafting Chicks - Planning on going the extra mile to celebrate America? A good cupcake will be the talk of the town the rest of the year. Make them special by popping them into bags adorned with a bow and gift tag.

https://www.twosisterscrafting.com/patriotic-popcorn/

Two Sisters Crafting - Maybe staying in away from the heat and crowds? Still be a part of the fun with the perfect combination of salty and sweet.

Customers

Featured Customer: Sweet Whimsy Shop

Tuesday, June 12, 2018

News and Events

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Tuesday, June 5, 2018

How to Package

How to Package Bread

Tuesday, May 29, 2018

Who doesn't love the taste of freshly baked bread? It's a universal delight. When bread is warm to the touch we want to eat it right on the spot. Bread baked for immediate consumption is often packaged in paper bags. As much as we enjoy bread, it's hard to eat a whole loaf in one sitting. When you want longer-lasting freshness, plastic bags are a popular choice for bread packaging.

Unlike paper bags, one of the benefits of plastic bread bags is that customers can see your bread from top to bottom or, in the case of a sourdough round, the whole circle. Bread, as we know, comes in all shapes and sizes. So, what bags are best for packaging all these different types of bread?

Well, that all depends on what you have. Do you have soft, pull-apart dinner rolls? A crusty artisan bread? Or, perhaps you have cinnamon rolls or a dessert bread? Bread not only varies in shape and size but also in texture. Aww, texture! Texture may be everything when it comes to bread. We have expectations about how bread should feel when we take a bite of a sponge-like cake or a crusty French bread. When it isn't right, it's pretty disappointing.

Texture is definitely an important factor when it comes to packaging bread. So, do you have crusty bread or soft bread? Let's explore a few packaging options that work best for these two very different textures.

Crusty Bread

What do sourdough baguettes, French bread, and Ciabatta bread all have in common? Besides being delicious, they are examples of crusty bread. Slice into this bread and you'll often see some leftover crumbs. This is the bread people like to tear off with their hands. Crusty bread is crisp on the outside and moist inside. So, what works best for this delicate combination of textures?

Micro-Perforated Bags

To keep this perfect balance of crunchy and soft textures, micro-perforated bags are the best choice for crusty bread. The micro-perforations provide a high oxygen transfer level, keeping your bread fresh for longer periods. These types of bags have pin-size holes that allow moisture to escape when the bag is closed, preventing your bread from going hard or stale. The pin-size holes provide aeration, so the air circulates inside the bag, releasing the delicious scent of baked bread. Made of crystal clear BOPP material, these bags also offer an enticing presentation for the eyes as well. Your customers won't be able to resist!

Micro-perforated bags come on wicket dispensers and are handy to use. The top and bottom of these bags are unperforated, so they are strong and durable to handle the weight of heavier, thicker loaves. Close these bags with twist ties.

Soft Bread

By and large, soft bread lasts longer than crusty bread. That said, you still want to make sure your bag has a low to medium barrier to ensure your bread stays fresh. Two great choices are poly flat bags and poly side gusset bags. Both of these bags work well for softer loaves, rolls, and dessert bread. What bag works best for you depends on your preferences. Let's see what these two bags have to offer.

Poly Flat Bags: Wide Selection of Sizes

Soft bread choices like dinner rolls, croissants, brioche, banana bread, and muffins do well in poly flat bags made of polypropylene material. These bags offer an excellent presentation and are available in a wide selection of sizes to accommodate many types of bread. The material is crinkly and a bit more stiff than the poly side gusset bags.

From single muffins to elongated loaves, you are likely to find a poly flat bag in a size that works for you. They also come in three different thicknesses (1.0, 1.5, 2 mil), from lightweight to more durable, and are reasonably priced for bulk, wholesale products. A crimp at the bottom allows slightly less usable space. These bags are designed with a double-sealed bottom and strong seams, making them a good choice for thicker, heavier loaves.

Poly flat bags come in an outer bag for convenient storage and are open-ended for easy packaging. Close with twist ties or a heat sealer.

Poly Side Gusset Bags: Extra Wiggle Room

When you need a little wiggle room for your baked bread, our poly side gussets will put your mind at ease. No worries here. Poly side gusset bags are designed for bulky products and are practically made for bread packaging. Their gusseted sides expand and allow extra room for soft baked bread, croissants, dinner rolls, brioche, muffins, and more.

Made of polyethylene material, these gusseted bags are well known for maintaining freshness and aromas. The material is a bit softer and less clear than the poly flat bags. Still, they offer high clarity and the expandable gussets make packaging long or bulky products more manageable. For added convenience, you can find these in a variety of longer-lengths to accommodate different types of bread and they are sold at bulk quantities.

Like the poly flat bags, poly side gusset bags have a crimped bottom and are bottom-sealed for added support. At just 1 mil thick, these bags are lightweight yet durable enough for heavy bread and rolls.

Side gussets are packaged in an outer bag with a round dispenser hole for efficient packaging, great for busy kitchens! While these bags are not heat sealable, they can easily be closed with twist ties.

We hope this information helps guide you through your adventures in bread packaging! Clear bread bags show your customers what they'll be missing if they don't pick up one of your loaves. Don't forget, you can easily add a bit of personality to these clear options by adding a custom design or a simple label. Please reach out to us if we can assist in your packaging needs. Until then, happy baking!

Customers

Featured Customer: Studio Duponchel

Wednesday, May 23, 2018

Sleeves to Keep your Records Spinning Right Round, Baby, Round Round

Inner Sleeves for Your Records: Frosted and No Flap

Outer Sleeves for Your Album Covers: No Flap and Resealable Options

Fourth of July Party Favor Candy Boxes

11 Easy 4th of July Favors to Light Up Your Life

Featured Customer: Sweet Whimsy Shop

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