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PreOrders


Sleeves, Jackets & Other Supplies

Circle Stickers

Hole Punch

Artwork Templets




Great Lake Records: Empowering Independent Bands

At Great Lake Records, we know that independent bands often face significant financial hurdles. Our preorder system not only helps artists secure funding for their projects but also gauges demand for their music, creating a sustainable path to success.

Why Preorders Matter

  1. Upfront Funding: Preorders enable fans to support artists directly, providing crucial funds for production costs.
  2. Demand Insights: By tracking preorders, bands can better determine how many records to produce, reducing the risk of overstock.
  3. Community Building: Preorders generate excitement and foster a sense of community, with exclusive incentives like limited editions and merchandise.

Importance of Artwork for Preorders

  • Visual Appeal: Striking artwork captures fans' attention and embodies the artist's vision.
  • Brand Identity: Consistent branding strengthens your connection with your audience.
  • Marketing Tool: Leverage your artwork across social media and newsletters to build buzz.
  • Exclusive Content: Offer sneak peeks or limited editions to motivate fans to preorder.

How Preorders Work for Bands

Great Lake Artist Preorder System Breakdown

We offer a three-month campaign structure designed to help artists build anticipation for their lathe-cut vinyl release. Here’s how it works:

  • Month 1: Take Orders
    During the first month, we’ll start promoting your preorder campaign. This includes setting up your product pages, marketing the preorder, and taking orders from your fans.

  • Month 2: Make the Records & Ship
    After the first month, we will begin manufacturing the records and packaging them for shipment. The entire process—from the launch of the preorder to the shipment of records—typically takes 8 weeks (about 2 months). This ensures that your fans get their hands on your vinyl at the perfect time.

  • Month 3: Release the Song on Streaming Platforms
    After your records have shipped to fans, you can release the song on streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, etc. This creates a great opportunity to build buzz and engage your fans, as they’ll already have exclusive access to the song on vinyl before it hits the digital world.

Song Submission Requirements for Local West Michigan Bands

We’re looking for 1–2 songs that are under 4 minutes each and have not yet been released on streaming platforms. The idea is to create an exclusive pre-release vinyl that will allow your fans to own something special before your music hits Spotify, Apple Music, etc.

  • Song Length: 1–2 songs, each under 4 minutes.
  • Unreleased: These songs should not have been released on streaming platforms yet. This allows you to build anticipation and create a buzz around your music.
  • Why Lathe-Cut Vinyl: Lathe cuts are a limited edition, hand-cut vinyl that provide a unique, physical connection between artists and fans—something that digital streaming can't replicate.

Why Big Cartel?

At Great Lake Records, we’ve chosen Big Cartel because it’s a simple, affordable platform that empowers independent artists to sell directly to their fans. Not only is it cost-effective, but it also gives bands full control over their merch and preorder campaigns.

Here’s why Big Cartel is a great choice for your band:

  • Free for 5 Products: Big Cartel’s free plan lets you list up to 5 products—records, shirts, or other merch—without paying monthly fees. This is perfect for bands just starting out.
  • Low Fees & Full Control: Big Cartel’s paid plans are affordable and allow you to keep more of your earnings with minimal transaction fees.
  • Customizable Stores: Easily create a storefront that reflects your band's unique identity, no matter where you're based.
  • Direct-to-Fan Sales: Big Cartel allows you to manage your merch and preorders directly with your fans, giving you full control over pricing, promotions, and customer interaction.
  • Worldwide Reach: Big Cartel makes it easy for bands to sell to fans globally, with built-in shipping tools and worldwide access.

Why We Chose Big Cartel for Our Preorder System

We use Big Cartel for our own lathe-cut records and want to extend this same experience to all bands. Big Cartel offers a seamless, straightforward shopping experience for fans, and that's exactly what we want for your customers too.

Just like when you buy a lathe-cut record from us, your fans will have an easy, enjoyable experience shopping for your preorders through Big Cartel—from browsing your merch to securely completing their purchase. The process is consistent and professional, which helps build trust with your audience. By using Big Cartel, you and your fans will have the same smooth, reliable experience that we’ve built for our own products.

Local Bands Only: Great Lake Artist Preorder System

For local Grand Rapids and West Michigan bands, we’ve built the Great Lake Artist Preorder System using Big Cartel to host your preorder campaigns directly on the Great Lake Records website. This makes it easy for us to help local bands connect with their fans, without needing to set up your own website or storefront.

If you’re a local band, we’ll take care of the preorder setup, promotion, and fulfillment for you. But even if you're not ready to use our system, we highly recommend Big Cartel as a straightforward solution for all bands looking to sell preorders and merch.

Get Started with Your Preorder Campaign

Requirements for Local West Michigan Bands:

  1. Song Submission: Check our FAQ for details. (1 song - 4 mins)
  2. Album Art: 3.5" circle center label with a center hole of .3125".
  3. Band Bio: 25-100 words.
  4. Band Logo
  5. High-Resolution Band Photo.
  6. Social Media Preorder Press Kit: Include preorder artwork, instructions, and social media handles for promotion.
  7. Billing Information: Provide details for payment.
  8. Drop-Off Option: Bands can drop off their artwork, jackets, labels, and any other preorder items. This ensures everything is ready for shipping when fans place their orders.

Important Preorder Information

  • Exclusive to Our Website: All preorders are processed through our official website for a streamlined experience.
  • Priceing Structure: Pricing is open to negotiation and will be tailored on a case-by-case basis to meet specific needs.
  • Payment Structure: Bands will receive payment after records have shipped to fans; records are not sent to the bands.
  • Successful Campaigns: Bands will receive one additional artist copy for their efforts.

Shipping Details

7" Preorders will be shipped via USPS Priority Mail.

DIY Approach: Save Costs and Customize

Embracing a DIY approach can significantly reduce costs, allowing you to allocate more resources to your project. Here are some tips:

  • Graphic Design: Use tools like Canva or Adobe Spark to create your artwork, saving on designer fees and customizing your branding.
  • Custom Artwork Options: Choose the number of designs you want—stickers, labels, jackets—providing flexibility to control costs while personalizing your release.
  • DIY: local print shops, silkscreen, home printer, hand made, painted, recycled.

Breakdown for 7" Records

You can adjust your order based on album length and desired designs:

7" Records:

  • Single Side: 
  • Double Sided: 
  • Material Options:

Artwork:

  • Jackets
  • Engraved Logos
  • Jackets
  • Inner Slevees 
  • Outer Sleeves

Shipping:

  • 7" Vinyl Mailers
  • Media Mail/usps/ups/fedex

Payout:

Payments will be issued via check.