Hi everybody,
This is for anybody who performs or would like to perform the effect of object to sealed envelope, inside a wallet.
I have a bespoke envelope manufacturer on standby to make custom made self-seal envelopes that will fit inside a large Jerry O’Connell wallet. These will me ready to go as if you had prepared with copydex yourself.
I know that many of you already perform this effect, but in case any of you aren’t familiar with it, I’d better explain first. I will leave certain parts out to avoid exposure, but please email me if you need me to explain. These are envelopes that fit inside a Jerry O’Connell large wallet. (I’m presuming that they will fit other object to envelope wallets too), they fit inside a zip pocket and allow you to load an object into the envelope. As far as the spectator is concerned, you open your wallet, open a zip and pull out a sealed envelope with their card, ring or other object inside of it. They can examine the sealed envelope before they open it.
I used to perform this by preparing a sealed envelope in a certain way by tearing (many of you will know this method), but the problem was that I had to tear open the envelope myself to reveal the object, not the spectator, the envelopes that I used were just big enough to fit a card into. It was ok, but I wanted more and, because it was so small, it didn’t look good if I loaded a lady’s watch into it, which I sometimes do.
Martin Sanderson then suggested that. I use the envelope he uses from World of Envelopes (
http://www.worldofenvelopes.com). It is 124x94mm (product code 662) and I presume it is the same envelope that many of you are now using, it is a lot bigger and fits a watch in it nicely as well as cards, but is still a fraction too big for the Jerry O’Connell wallet as it overlaps the zip by about 5mm, which means the wallet never closes exactly in half (you’ll know what I mean if you already use these). You prepare these envelopes by ironing them open and adding copydex glue in a certain way. The copydex, once dry, will remain usable for up to 6 months.
Like many of you who already perform this, I am fed up with the tedious constant preparation. I currently use about 50 a week or 3000 a year, that’s an awful lot of my valuable spare time used up every week. But I love the effect, so wont give up on it; however, I know many of you have also said that you have stopped doing this effect because of the preparation involved.
About 2 years ago, I contacted a few envelope manufacturers but none of them could help me. But I recently decided to try again. After months of phone calls with every single envelope manufacturer in the country, (some abroad too) and after sending video demonstrations, photos and having meetings all over the UK, I’ve eventually found a company who are able to make them.
Because of the way they need to be prepared, each will be made by both machine and hand and will be prepared ready for immediate use by you. That means that the envelope will be made up and sealed, but one end will remain open, with latex self seal glue on the inside of each flap. So all you have to do, is load it, no folding, sticking, licking, tearing gluing …nothing, just load and go and I can’t wait!! …it’s been too long. The self seal on the envelope will last from 9-12 months, longer if kept in dry conditions. I’ve also made them very slightly smaller than the World of Envelopes envelope that I currently use so that it fits perfectly in the Jerry O’Connell wallet. The size is 110mm x 85mm and they are white.
The problem has been making it cost effective; because they are being made by both machine and hand, the price goes up considerably. As I previously said, I currently buy mine from World of Envelopes for £0.05p +Vat each plus delivery which works out at about £65.00 a thousand.
This company is able to make them for me for £0.12 each (£120 per thousand), plus delivery as long as I order a minimum of 20,000; this is why I want to get more of you involved. However, I am going to be honest, I would like to make a little something out of this for the time and effort I’ve already expended and because I will have to fork out the initial outlay and take the risk of not selling all of them.
I did speak to a Magic Dealer with the view in mass selling them through him and other dealers around the world. The problem was that dealers would also have to add enough to make their profit, but more importantly would have to add tax. The final retail cost turned out to be very high and would have had to be sold in small packets of around 50.
This method would have been easier for me, but then I would be bound to sell at the same rate as the dealers. After phoning lots of other magicians who perform this effect regularly, few were willing to fork out the price I would have had to charge. So here I am!
If you can order by the thousand I would look at selling them for £0.16p each (£160 a thousand), plus whatever postage is involved. In an average gig, I’m guessing you will use 10-15 envelopes. That’s £1.60/£2.40 per gig, not too much of an outlay for a great effect.
I don’t want to be going back and forward to the post office everyday, so I’d prefer to sell by the 1000, but I know many of you don’t work regularly, so if you want smaller amounts I would charge a little more and pricing would be as follows:
50 = £12.50 (£0.25p per envelope) plus P&P
100 = £21.00 (£0.21p per envelope) plus P&P
250 = £50.00 (£0.20p per envelope) plus P&P
500 = £95.00 (£0.19p per envelope) plus P&P
1000 = £160.00 (£0.16p per envelope) plus P&P
It looks like there might be enough interest to go ahead with this, if so, I will go ahead and make the initial investment and go for the 20,000 minimum order. After that, if people are buying enough, I can then place a bigger order next time and be able to further reduce the price.
If you are still unsure about them and would like a sample, I would be more than happy to send you a couple of the envelopes that I currently use. You can then try them out and see if you like them, they will be ready prepared just as the new ones will be, just a little bigger. Just let me know your address and I’ll pop some in the post.
If any of you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
If you would be interested in placing an order when I have them made, please drop me an email with possible numbers.
Many thanks and kind regards
Dave Bonsall