Packaging Question (slightly off topic)

[dbssound1]

Hi Guys,


I hope you all can help!

Recently our company decided to stop printing booklets to go with our CDs due to the environmental impact. We have put all of the booklet online as a print ready PDF. We have had a lot of support from the public on this, however a numbers of reviewers and some radio people have bashed us for the move, and complained about having to download the booklets.

While I personally believe in our approach, I don't want to hurt sales in the process.

We are currently using eco paks with 6 or 8 panels so we can include the essential information, and making any additional information available online. These are all made from recycled cardboard.

I find much wisdom in this forum on a regular basis, so I look to you for it now!

Please let me know your opinion on the subject, and PLEASE go to our site and Vote so we can have real data to base our future plans on: Dorian Sono Luminus . Also, please ask anyone you know to vote as well!

Whether the decision is made to print booklets or not, at least I hope we are raising some awareness about the environmental impact of the industry.

THANKS!!!

[audio ergo sum]

Originally Posted by dbssound1

Hi Guys,


I hope you all can help!

Recently our company decided to stop printing booklets to go with our CDs due to the environmental impact. We have put all of the booklet online as a print ready PDF. We have had a lot of support from the public on this, however a numbers of reviewers and some radio people have bashed us for the move, and complained about having to download the booklets.

While I personally believe in our approach, I don't want to hurt sales in the process.

We are currently using eco paks with 6 or 8 panels so we can include the essential information, and making any additional information available online. These are all made from recycled cardboard.

I find much wisdom in this forum on a regular basis, so I look to you for it now!

Please let me know your opinion on the subject, and PLEASE go to our site and Vote so we can have real data to base our future plans on: Dorian Sono Luminus . Also, please ask anyone you know to vote as well!

Whether the decision is made to print booklets or not, at least I hope we are raising some awareness about the environmental impact of the industry.

THANKS!!!

I have a hard time believing that you stopped printing booklets for environmental reasons. Probably to save costs. But when people use internet, computers, time, expensive printers and ink/toner, their own paper etc., the ecological impact is probably WORSE than having the booklet printed in a specialized factory. No one can print booklets in bigger numbers more efficiently than the factory.

Add to that the aesthetic regression of home-printed booklets and I think you have entered the wrong direction. My 2 cent.

[fifthcircle]

For ecological reasons? Come on... How many people buy CDs (especially in the classical world) only to throw away the booklets? The hi-fi classical world is't exactly the iPod rock world...

Eco packs are fine, but I personally prefer the traditional CD packaging.

If you are honestly worried about the environment, come up with a way to package your CDs so that there is no wrapping that gets thrown away when the disc is purchased.

--Ben

[Petrus]

I agree with Audio ergo sum 101%! The total impact to the environment will be worse with all the computer and work time spent on printing and reprinting those darn booklets. Token gestures like yours do NOTHING, stop driving your car, stop flying, stop eating meat, stop heating & a/c your house...

Stop making CD:s... go live in a cave...

[BLP]

Yeah, just viewing things as a consumer, no booklet = not OK. If I bought a CD without a booklet/liner notes, etc., I'd be a bit unhappy. One great advantage to CDs in this age of the iPod is the artwork and information that comes with it; this has been a motivating factor in a few of my purchases, and I'm sure in those of other consumers as well.

[dbssound1]

Thanks for the feed back so far!

I assure you it is for environmental reason. Each Jewel case and booklet created releases 2.2lbs of carbon. Add to that (plus the added polution) printing thick classical notes and we are causing a problem.

Our studio sits on an 800 acre Organic/certified humane/predator friendly farm. I assure you that the environment is our top Priority.

Also, there is NO cost savings to the eco-paks. In Fact, depending on the number of panels and (generally 6-8) the ecopaks cost MORE.

Before you assume that something is done for cost, you should understand the real cost structure!!

Thanks again!

All the best,

[dbssound1]

Originally Posted by Petrus

I agree with Audio ergo sum 101%! The total impact to the environment will be worse with all the computer and work time spent on printing and reprinting those darn booklets. Token gestures like yours do NOTHING, stop driving your car, stop flying, stop eating meat, stop heating & a/c your house...

Stop making CD:s... go live in a cave...

Only if you choose to print the booklets.

[NorseHorse]

Being familiar with the goals of the farm you're at and it's owner (I hail from Philomont), I say GO FOR IT. You should make a statement.

However, I can say that I am still somewhat attached to having SOMETHING to hold on to, so I would support printing eco-packs. Perhaps the fact that it doesn't save you money ADDS to the weight of your statement.

[mixedupsteve]

I went to your site to vote and instead read some of the reviews. I also checked out some of the Artist info on your site.
It appears to me that many of your artists are very interesting and somewhat unique and I personally would enjoy more information than normal if I purchased a CD or played songs on a radio show. Maybe you could do a 2 page insert on recycled paper and the full download .pdf.

PM sent

[BlackestEyes]

The eco packs are cool, but I like having inserts as well.

For Christmas I got the Dark Knight soundtrack and I like the packaging that it came in. It is similar to an eco pack, but still has a spot for an insert for notes and things. I am not sure how environmentally friendly it is, but I think it may be something to look into. I'd be curious to find out how much of the 2.2 lbs of carbon was from the jewel case alone and not the insert.

[Remoteness]

I think is a nice effort and a good cause, but I wonder if it would really help our environment since we would be using more paper and ink printing out PDF files on 8X10 stock.

I wonder if there was a middle ground for this concern?

Furthermore, let us know how the voting percentages turned out?

All the best to you and your cause.

[Shadow_7]

I like having a booklet, or just a leaflet. It lets me know which CD goes in which case. I also know quite a few types that just take the CD and booklet and put them in an album and toss the jewel case. At a minimum I want something printed on the CD to ID the artists and tracks. Otherwise I'd be too likely to toss it with the 25 out of every 100 CD-Rs that failed to burn first time out.

[NorseHorse]

Results from the package voting poll.

70% of the votes were for full booklets printed and included.

28% of the votes were for essential notes included with full booklets available for download.

2% of the votes were for all of the booklet notes to be available for download only.

Here is a letter from the Managing Director of Dorian Sono Luminus on the results of the poll.
Click here to read the letter, and find out what the results of the poll mean to future packaging.

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http://doriansonoluminus.com/voting_...kagingmemo.pdf

[joelpatterson]

A "predator friendly" farm, huh.... the sheep take a lottery, who will have to spend the night outside the barn...