Steve Holub

Hello friends, I’ve joined the new modern age and have started to produce short form video content related to vinyl records and albums in general. There’s a tiny bit of product placement in the video series at the start and end of the segments, but it’s mostly just a quick little narrative of the featured album in question, with an emphasis on the album cover art if at all possible. I’m planning to release a short video everyday for as long as the project is enjoyable, and they’ll be available on Youtube, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

So far, it’s been fun learning some new creative skills, and to look deeper into a bunch of albums that I love. I’m even discovering some new records along the way, which is the best part. Anyhow, the links are listed above in this post if you want to follow along. Let me know if you like them, or if there’s anything else I should cover.

All the best, Steve

This is long overdue. I made the first version of this site back in 2010, and then updated it in 2013. But it’s been 10 years, so it needed an overhaul, and here it is. The main change I made was to simplify the whole site, moving most of the content to the footer. We’ve got a new checkout process which is more streamlined, which is nice. But the main reason for the update was to make the whole experience more mobile friendly. Ten years ago, that wasn’t the primary target for web design, but now it most definitely is..

I was a bit rusty getting my website chops going again, but I think it turned out well. With this new design, I plan on adding some more content here in the blog, but mostly on my social media channels. Links can be found in the footer. Thanks for stopping by! Regards, Steve

I was clearing out my basement the other day and I came across a DVD with a clip from a TV show called ‘I Want That’, that features unique products. One of the segments featured this vinyl record frame and aired in 2014 (or so) on the DIY network. I think it was well made – definitely more professional that the video clips I’ve pieced together over the years. Here is the TV segment:

I’ve had many emails over the last few years asking when the product will be available overseas (Europe, etc) again. I’m happy to announce that you can now place orders for the vinyl record frames in Europe. However, the shipping costs leave a fair bit to be desired, because orders will be coming via airmail from Canada.

Maybe a little backstory will be helpful. In 2013, I ran a successful kickstarter campaign to fund a manufacturing run in China. I produced a bunch of units, and started fulfilling orders directly from China to Europe, Australia, and the rest of the Eurasian continent. However, even then I felt a little apprehensive about the project. It seemed odd that the shipping costs from China to Canada were cheaper than if I were shipping within my own country, and they were a fraction of the rates if I were to ship to Europe.

Those shipping prices, along with offshoring manufacturing (which had always been done in Ontario, Canada) made me reconsider this method of business. Sure, I could sell more units and supply more people with this simple little product, but it went against some of my personal principles. Specifically, the overseas shipping rates from China drastically harms domestic industry. Here’s a quick interview with an industry expert, if you’re curious.

So for these reasons, I never made a second manufacturing run in China. I’m not a big corporation with share holders to answer to. I don’t have to play the game if I fundamentally believe the rules of the game are harmful to my community.

The rates posted on the site are below what I actually pay for the airmail. People have become used to Chinese goods shipped basically for free, but those low rates are largely being covered by domestic postal services. This is wrong, and it must stop. China and international business has taken advantage of a program to help the world’s poorest countries, and used it to crush our domestic industries. I will not be complicit.

I’ve had so many great customers over the years of promoting this simple frame for vinyl records, but the story I’m sharing today has to be my favorite so far. It really is a gift to be connected to music fans all over North American, and the world, and it is my privilidge to introduce you to Cherie Spaccini.

Cherie contacted me in March of this year about getting bulk pricing for a special display she was putting together. Her father had passed away from cancer in December and left her a large collection of vinyl records. Her father was a passionate music fan, so Cherie thought it would be a fitting tribute to put up some of his records on display. I was fortunate enough to be a small part in this loving project, and for that I am grateful. Here’s a picture of the 70 frame display:

It was already amazing to see this tribute to her late father come to life, but Cherie even went so far as to record the installation process and send me a short time-lapse of the project, which I share with you below. I’m always so impressed by people who really take charge and get things done. There’s nothing better.

Cherie, I can’t thank you enough for letting me a part of this tribute, and for sending me all this amazing footage. As a father myself, seeing this really gets to me. I hope one day I can share a similar bond with my daughter and sons.

There is one more picture for this blog post, and it’s by far the most important one. Father and daughter:

Thanks again for letting me share your story, Cherie. It’s beautiful.

Kindest regards, Steve