Fancy Phone Cases makes back Roland LEF investment in just two months

When Luis Santiago's smartphone became scratched soon after he bought it he looked for a suitable cover, but found everything available was 'either ugly, boring, or poor quality'. Taking matters into his own hands, he founded Fancy Phone Cases.

Launching in 2013 selling cases decorated with cartoons of real sports stars, Luis soon decided to expand his Lawrence, MA business with highly bespoke products. Customers can submit photos of themselves, friends, family or pets – the latter option proving hugely successful – that can be turned into cartoon depictions and printed onto phone cases.

As a computer network systems engineer and self-confessed 'geek' who loves to research, Luis read articles, reviews and testimonials about suitable printers that could give Fancy Phone Cases the power it needed to meet growing demand. Enter the Roland VersaUV LEF-12 UV flatbed printer, a benchtop UV printing system perfect for customising phone covers and other small items. Running Roland ECO-UV inks, this system provided the capacity and punch he required.

“I made back my investment in two months.”

"After I got the Roland, that's when demand started to go through the roof. After buying one, I made back my investment in two months."

This demand is a result of word of mouth and social media, including mentions by online celebrities. "One Snapchat by a famous YouTuber gave me over 100 orders in four hours," says Luis.

“The LEF really got my business going. Without high quality prints that last I wouldn’t have this business.”

The recognisable style of printed phone covers from Fancy Phone Cases – cartoon likenesses of sports figures or customers themselves, on a clear background – have now won so many fans that a larger UV printer, the VersaUV LEF-300, has been installed at the US business.

"I needed more capacity to keep up with demand," explains Luis. "The LEF-300 is bigger and faster, with the same great quality."

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