By offering hit movies, popular music, video games, rare comics, toys, and memorabilia, Joplin, Missouri-based, Vintage Stock has evolved into an entertainment superstore. Founded in 1980, Vinatge Stock started buying used “stuff” (their words) then resell the stuff at bargain prices through their retail locations. Each location offers a unique selection of DVDs, CDs, LPs, video games, game systems and accessories, comics, game cards, and collectable toys. On the supply side, Vintage Stock builds their quirky inventory by offering cash or trade for a wide variety of “lightly used” entertainment-oriented products. Practically everyone agrees that the enjoyment derived from a used game or movie com-pares favorably to one that is new.

From the consumer point of view, purchasing used but perfectly functional enter-tainment products is an idea whose time has come. But it is an undeniable truth that for many people, removing the shiny poly packaging on a new product is a uniquely enjoyable experience. The marketing team at Vintage Stock understood this facet of human nature and decided to make the “unwrapping experience” available to all their customers – even though the products were used. So, in 2006 the company began taking the additional step of rewrapping the merchandise in fresh, retail quality shrink wrap packaging.

There are several approaches to repackaging retail products, but one attractive method involves wrapping the product in shrinkable polyolefin film, sealing the package with an L-bar sealer and exposing the wrapped package to a heat source – usually a hand-held heat gun. The result is a beautifully clear, protective film sleeve; it’s the kind of top-quality packaging that is usually only available on a new product. While the re-sults are beautiful, the process is slow, tedious, and a bit dangerous (the heat gun gets very hot!), making that approach unattractive to Vintage Stock. Vintage Stock handled thousands of products each day using a shrink tunnel, but they needed more capacity. They had good results using a couple of old Clamco machines, but the packaging distributor they had worked with in the past was a bit unresponsive to their needs.

As Vintage Stock began their search for an alternative, they contacted Mr. Bruce Howell, Regional Sales Manager from Berea, Ohio-based Clamco (a PAC Machinery company). “Everybody likes to open a fresh, new package”, agrees Howell, “and I knew what Vintage Stock needed within five minutes of our initial conversation”. Bruce Howell recommended a new Clamco Model 120C Combo Shrink Seal machine. The Clamco 120C combines an L-bar sealer with a shrink tunnel in one robust, compact unit. The Clamco 120C refers to its 120V - 2,100 watt model, which is an excellent choice for a machine operating in a retail setting. For a manufacturing environment, Clamco offers a more robust system; the Clamco 240C, which is a 220V machine with a full 4,000 watts of shrink tunnel power. Both combo systems share a common, heavy-duty frame for unrivaled durability. Systems are engineered for quick setup, and smooth product transfer between the sealer and the shrink tunnel.

Shrink packaging puts a new shine on vintage products:Clamco 120C Combo shrink system is a big hit at Vintage Stock.

Using the Clamco 120C Combo, employees as well as customers can see the transformation from “lightly used” to “practically new” right before their eyes.

Customers speak.........

25 Tiburon St. San Rafael, CA 94901 • (415) 454-4868 • www.pacmachinery.comThe PAC Machinery companies: Packaging Aids • Vertrod • Clamco • Rollbag Systems • Converting Technology

We run a tremendous amount of product through the machines and they do get the job done nicely. We have several new machines but we have many machines older than 10 years that, with a little maintenance, just keep on going.

Steve WilcoxVice President

Vintage Stockhttp://www.vintagestock.com

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CUSTOMERS SPEAK.........

Vintage Stock employees need only place the product to be wrapped in the film envelope and lower the L-bar to seal the package. The parcel is then conveyed quickly and easily into the shrink tunnel. In seconds, a tight, clear, professionally wrapped package emerges from the tunnel. The results were beautiful regardless of the size and shape of the product. Vintage Stock realized this was the perfect solution; it was fast, easy to use and safe for the operator – and anyone in the store could learn to use it with minimal training. Another feature appealed to the folks at Vintage Stock: The machine came with an eco-mode feature, which enables the 120C to conserve energy when the machine remains idle for several minutes. The Combo Series includes standard features and unique advantages not found on competitive systems and at a compar-atively lower price. It is considered by many to be the best value in its category. The choice for Vintage Stock was obvious.

So certain that the 120C was the right choice, Vintage Stock placed an initial order for nine Model 120C Combo Shrink Sealer systems. Now Vintage Stock re-wraps in 50 retail stores. So happy with their purchase, Vintage Stock locates the safe, quiet, fast combo shrink sealers in the very center of their busy retail stores! Now, employees as well as custom-ers can see the transformation from “lightly used” to “practically new” right before their eyes. Commenting on their reliability, Steve Wilcox, Vintage Stock Vice President comments “We run a tremendous amount of product through the machines and they do get the job done nicely; we have several new machines but we have many machines older than 10 years that with a little maintenance just keep on going. We have recently made the decision to purchase seven additional Clamco Combo Shrink Sealer systems for new locations that were formerly operated as part of Hastings Entertainment Group.” v

Watch the Clamco 120C Combo Shrink Sealer in action: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1CiwS8rkAU&list=PLeSMMzuzpFpLPi3CViGqJnx-N73PpGIaFB

For more info about the Clamco 120C Combo Shrink Sealer, visit:http://www.pacmachinery.com/clamcopackaging/product/120c-240c-combo-shrink-wrap-system/

Customers speak.........CUSTOMERS SPEAK.........

The Clamco 120C and the upgraded 240C Combo Shrink Wrap Systems combine an L-bar sealer with a shrink tunnel in one robust, compact unit. The Clamco 120C refers to 120V and 2,100 Watts, which is an excel-lent choice for an entry-level machine. If you require a more robust system, the Clamco 240C is a 220V machine with a full 4,000 Watts of tunnel power and a motorized Power Take-away Conveyor.

I knew what Vintage Stock needed within about five minutes of our initial conversation

Bruce HowellPAC Machinery Regional Sales Manager

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