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Post by blake on Dec 17, 2015 10:01:48 GMT -6
I have brought this idea up in the past on another forum, but I've been kicking this idea around again and would like some input from you guys. Right now subscription boxes seem to be wildly popular (loot-crate, dollar shave club, etc), and personally I feel I would be interested in this myself so surely someone else is. Basically what I'd like to do is put together a monthly subscription box for Christian metal for maybe $15/mo (the price of usually 1 cd) Each box would contain a few eps, demos or albums from indie or underground bands, an accessory such as a patch, sticker etc, and one less obscure release. Also I would try to get other Christian metal related business or stores to send me stacks of business cards so I could include assorted material from labels, distros etc. For example here is a prototype of what a typical box might contain (click link below): drive.google.com/file/d/0B4mLLwbpdeYmUHZaNktJazNWamM/view?usp=sharingSo here are the benefits to the recipient of these boxes: 1. You discover new, unknown bands each month 2. Great if you don't have time to dig the internet for new bands (we do the work for you) 3. Always get a higher value than you paid 4. If you get something you already have, re-gift it to an unsaved friend. This would also be beneficial to indie artists as well as we would be putting their music into the hands of people who otherwise wouldn't have known about it. So overall this benefits both ends. I would need to arrange wholesale prices with labels if possible and get this stuff in advance, probably would use my own stock for the first few orders until I had an idea of how much I would need. Obviously there wouldn't be a huge crowd for this and it would serve a small niche. The good thing is these subscription boxes are low risk. So what are your thoughts?
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Post by Kerrick on Dec 17, 2015 11:05:49 GMT -6
I would do it! I think it's a fantastic idea.
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Post by Kerrick on Dec 17, 2015 11:08:16 GMT -6
Would you just have one option or maybe allow for some customization. Example: wine clubs you can request reds over whites, etc. Would there be room to request/un-request certain genres? Such as:
Likes: Black Doom Death
Dislikes: ______-Core Thrash
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Post by blake on Dec 17, 2015 12:09:13 GMT -6
Possibly. It would be more work to obtain enough stock to cater to specific taste without over-investing in items I wont use. If I do this I might start out with it being general, and then depending on how things develop I might add that option.
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Post by Kerrick on Dec 17, 2015 12:18:26 GMT -6
Right on. What sort of time frame are you thinking for this? Are you pretty set on doing it or are you just trying to see what kind of interest there would be?
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Post by nocturnaliridescence on Dec 17, 2015 12:36:05 GMT -6
I really need to stop spending money on things, so I don't think I'll be buying these personally, but it's definitely a cool idea.
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Post by blake on Dec 17, 2015 14:09:18 GMT -6
Right on. What sort of time frame are you thinking for this? Are you pretty set on doing it or are you just trying to see what kind of interest there would be? That I'm not sure yet, I've had mixed responses with the people I've asked. I'm fully aware I might have less than 5 members but that's ok. I think of it as sort of a discovery box. And I feel its also supportive of the scene as well. As for timeframe I have no idea, because once I commit to it I will need to build another website for it (I don't think it will be connected to MBR), order some boxes in an appropriate size and stock up on a few items first. The first month or two might just be me sending out what I have at home, then eventually buying some wholesale stuff. What I really need is to get some accessories like patches, stickers, guitar picks etc.
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Post by blake on Dec 17, 2015 14:10:08 GMT -6
Also I considered that I might offer a subscription for say $15, or the ability to buy boxes individually each month for $20. something to that effect.
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Post by Kerrick on Dec 17, 2015 14:32:08 GMT -6
Cool. One thing that I think would make a big difference - though would make things more difficult on you - would be to do only/primarily new stuff, not CDs that were released five years ago. For most folks in the scene, I think we are relatively well-versed in what's out there already and have most of the albums we want (of those that have been around for some time). There are a ton of budget CDs available on distros that I just have no desire to own. Divine Metal Distro had a ton of budget CDs that weren't good sellers (some for good reason) but then would include those as free CDs during specials/sales and such. Sometimes it was cool, but oftentimes it was more space wasted on my shelf and in my computer.
But that creates another issue... Say SkyBurnsBlack is releasing a new EP from some awesome up-and-coming band. I'm super stoked for it and pre-order it. You have a deal with SBB and often include their stuff in your boxes. Now I just paid for a CD twice. So would there be any heads-up of what you're including? That'd in a sense defeat the purpose, though it may be helpful. I dunno!
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Post by nocturnaliridescence on Dec 17, 2015 14:41:56 GMT -6
Cool. One thing that I think would make a big difference - though would make things more difficult on you - would be to do only/primarily new stuff, not CDs that were released five years ago. I dunno, older stuff could be useful as well sometimes, like that Dormant EP, or that La Chambre Ardente album, the Phanerosis demo, Armageddon Holocaust's debut . . .
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Post by Thomas Eversole on Dec 17, 2015 14:46:17 GMT -6
I think it sounds like a great idea, except for this... 4. If you get something you already have, re-gift it to an unsaved friend. While that's a noble idea, that's sort of like subscribing to a magazine and issue #6 has 1/3rd the exact same pictures/articles as issue #1. If a subscription is being paid, it won't be excellent customer satisfaction to receive a duplicate - plus, that could be an album that goes to someone else paying a subscription who doesn't have it. If you run out of stock, you could always adjust the price or number of albums with a 6 month / year subscription. A digital subscription option would be a neat idea as well. You're not going to run out of stock.
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Post by Kerrick on Dec 17, 2015 14:55:26 GMT -6
Cool. One thing that I think would make a big difference - though would make things more difficult on you - would be to do only/primarily new stuff, not CDs that were released five years ago. I dunno, older stuff could be useful as well sometimes, like that Dormant EP, or that La Chambre Ardente album, the Phanerosis demo, Armageddon Holocaust's debut . . . For sure. I'd just want to avoid folks getting a box of albums they either a) already have or b) never wanted in the first place. Obviously you can't expect everyone to be super stoked every time they purchase a box, but there are ways to minimize disappointment.
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Post by blake on Dec 17, 2015 15:15:24 GMT -6
I think it sounds like a great idea, except for this... 4. If you get something you already have, re-gift it to an unsaved friend. While that's a noble idea, that's sort of like subscribing to a magazine and issue #6 has 1/3rd the exact same pictures/articles as issue #1. If a subscription is being paid, it won't be excellent customer satisfaction to receive a duplicate - plus, that could be an album that goes to someone else paying a subscription who doesn't have it. If you run out of stock, you could always adjust the price or number of albums with a 6 month / year subscription. A digital subscription option would be a neat idea as well. You're not going to run out of stock. Oh no I don't mean I'd be sending out repeats. I mean if a box included a CD you had previously purchased of your own accord, you could just re-gift it to a friend. Not saying I plan on rehashing the same stuff
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Post by blake on Dec 17, 2015 15:16:52 GMT -6
So would there be any heads-up of what you're including? That's not a bad idea, It might be reasonable to put a picture of the current month's box on the front page of the site
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Post by Thomas Eversole on Dec 17, 2015 16:11:34 GMT -6
Oh no I don't mean I'd be sending out repeats. I mean if a box included a CD you had previously purchased of your own accord, you could just re-gift it to a friend. Not saying I plan on rehashing the same stuff Ooooooooooh. I misunderstood! Maybe each month people could select from a series of titles? That might be a hook for those Christian metal collectors who already own a lot of titles. Subscribe to get what you're missing!
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Post by blake on Dec 18, 2015 8:09:24 GMT -6
I have been contacting some bands and I think I already already have a first box in mind if everything works out. I'm currently looking at Cloth and Godsfarm. Not sure if Godsfarm has any physical releases but waiting to hear back. About to buy some Cloth EPs though. I also already happen to have a handful of brand new copies of Frost Like Ashes - Tophet as well.
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Post by Kerrick on Dec 18, 2015 14:09:41 GMT -6
Nice! Cloth is spectacular and I don't think a whole ton of people know them. Their latest EP is excellent. I've never heard of Godsfarm but they're pretty interesting! And I've actually been meaning to pick up some FLA but never got around to it. Good choices!
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Post by blake on Dec 29, 2015 10:14:40 GMT -6
I think starting out, rather than a subscription service I may do a quarterly box with a preset, limited quantity. This way I don't run into overstock issues. First one will be only 5 boxes though. So far I've only confirmed Cloth (already being shipped to me). Godsfarm doesn't have physical media so I gotta keep looking. I've been looking at wholesale options at Rottweiler, Ulterium and Facedown though
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Post by blake on Jan 4, 2016 13:56:55 GMT -6
I got the Cloth EPs in the mail last week, they threw in one of their other projects, Aspiration. I'm looking into maybe getting 5 copies of the new Vardoger as well. That leaves me with one more band to acquire, and hopefully get the first quarter box for sale soon.
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Post by Kerrick on Jan 4, 2016 14:14:59 GMT -6
Nice! I've been cranking the new Vardoger and Aspiration pretty much non-stop. They're two of the best releases this year IMO.
Since I already have all of those, I probably won't be purchasing the subscription box... but I'll try to get the word out!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 4, 2016 14:30:46 GMT -6
I own the new Vardøger digitally but not physically and I don't have the new Aspiration EP or Cloth EP, so I'd probably pick this up.
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Post by barabbas on Jan 7, 2016 23:17:54 GMT -6
I don't have any of those three releases and would be interested.
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Post by blake on Jan 8, 2016 8:07:16 GMT -6
I think Vardoger is out this time, its just going to cost too much and it will increase the cost of the box too much. I have a few other ideas though. Looking at Mad Dragzter, this is some excellent thrash that kinda came out of nowhere. Incrave may be a fallback if that doesn't work out.
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Post by blake on Jan 8, 2016 9:37:11 GMT -6
Looks like Mad Dragzter is going to be the 3rd band. Despite the strange name these guys took me by surprise musically. I listened to a few tracks on youtube today and its surprisingly high quality thrash with an obvious message, and check out this album art: www.metal-archives.com/images/5/2/9/5/529552.jpg
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Post by Deepfriar on Jan 9, 2016 6:07:04 GMT -6
I probably won't do a subscription box. It's nothing personal I don't subscribe to any other boxes either but I have a friend that gets Nerd Block (I think that's the name) and Loot Crate and they seem pretty cool. I think I'm just more of a 'pick-what-I-buy' type of person. But it is an excellent idea and might breathe some new life into the scene and I hope it's successful. Who knows: I might change my mind in the future.
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