Protecting the Music One Case at a Time
Calton Cases Creates Community
Words By Tejal Thakkar Photo by Eric Morales
Upon entering the studio at Calton Cases, patrons are greeted by a team who feels like a group of friends who have come together to create something for which they are passionate. Their camaraderie shines through each beautiful handmade instrument case they create.
Keith Calton founded Calton Cases in 1969, and since then, the custom instrument case maker has garnered interest from an international audience of artists and musicians. Current owner Jeff Poss became the sole-owner of Calton Cases in 2017 and has been working tirelessly with his team to expand the company ever since. Even though the cases are luxury “lifestyle pieces,” the team is focused on making the brand accessible to artists of all backgrounds.
While the team saw their company nearly double in 2021, surprisingly, the hardest part about increasing sales is streamlining the production process. Each case is handmade and takes about 13 hours to build. Jeff explains, “We retooled the whole shop and figured out how to break up all the tasks.” The new process allows for specialization and more efficient production while still maintaining the integrity and quality of each piece they produce. Jeff asserts, “We really want the product to be handmade. We love that. It’s handmade in Texas, in Austin.”
“Nobody’s doing that level of high-end stuff. Nobody is crazy enough to do it, especially hand make it. We’re just having a lot of fun doing it. We have a new motto: Keep Austin Custom!”
Much of their success can be accredited to the culture of art and community that Jeff and his team have created at their Eastside warehouse. Jeff says, “When I took over, I felt like we needed to give Calton the love and space that it needed to run. Also, a bunch of the people who work here are Eastsiders. They are here for the same reasons: more affordable rent. Half are career artists, or band members, or bartenders, or servers.” Jordan Skye, Marketing and Artist Relations Manager, chimes in, “We just hosted a studio tour where we had our workers play music and sell their art, so it’s not an Amazon production floor. It’s creative, cohesive, and friends and family all together.”
It won’t be long before we start seeing the Calton name pop up everywhere, certainly in the music space, but in other industries as well. The team is excited to venture into the custom creation space for other products such as luggage, backpacks, and laptop cases.
Contact:
3412 E 4th St.
calton-cases.com
@caltoncases
