If you're a UK record store or vinyl distributor, chances are you've come across SoundDrop. They've been around for a while and they're currently the closest thing to a competitor we have. Since launching Crateful, almost every conversation we've had with stores and distributors has included the same question: "How is this different from SoundDrop?"
Fair question. Here's an honest breakdown.
The Short Version
SoundDrop is an enterprise platform for the music retail industry covering EPOS, stock management, website integration, ordering, and more. Crateful is deliberately focused on doing one thing really well: making the ordering workflow between distributors and stores faster, cleaner, and actually enjoyable to use. We're built on modern technology, we're more affordable, and we think the industry deserves a fresh approach.
Built From Scratch on Modern Tech
One of the first things you'll notice if you compare the two platforms side by side is the experience.
A lot of platforms in this space are built on top of purchased template systems, generic admin dashboards that weren't designed for the music industry and are then adapted to fit. Sounddrop's interface, for example, is built on a third-party "Premium Multipurpose Admin & Dashboard Template." It works, but it comes with the constraints and limitations of something that wasn't purpose-built for what stores and distributors actually need.
Crateful is built entirely from scratch on a modern tech stack. Every screen, every interaction, every element has been designed specifically for how distributors and stores actually work. It's fast, responsive, works cleanly on any device, and we've obsessed over making it intuitive from the very first login. No training manual required, no onboarding calls to figure out where things are. You log in and it just makes sense.
This isn't about aesthetics for the sake of it. A cleaner, more intuitive interface means less time figuring things out and more time actually getting orders placed. Stores have told us that a better experience on their end tends to mean quicker and more complete orders coming back to the distributor, which benefits everyone.
Focused, Not Bloated
SoundDrop positions itself as "The Complete Enterprise Platform for the Music Retail Industry." That's a lot of ground to cover: search, pricing, ordering, stock management, EPOS, website integration, and more. It's the classic enterprise approach of trying to cover every base.
We've taken a different route. Crateful is laser focused on the ordering workflow, the thing that every store and distributor we've spoken to struggles with most. Upload a spreadsheet, map the columns, publish a stock list. Stores browse, pick quantities, submit. Distributor gets one clean export. Done.
We'd rather do that one thing brilliantly than spread across six different modules that each work at 60%.
That said, we're not standing still. We're building out an inventory module for stores to track their full stock, monitor what's selling, and see revenue at a glance. We're also developing a companion mobile app where stores can scan physical stock via barcode straight into their Crateful inventory. But these additions are being built properly on a modern foundation, not rushed out to tick a feature list.
Who Pays? We Think There's a Better Model
Here's something that's always puzzled us. Most existing solutions charge the stores. The retailers, the ones with tight margins who are already spending money buying stock, are the ones paying a subscription to order that stock more efficiently.
We think there's a better way.
With Crateful, the distributor pays the subscription. They're the ones sending out the spreadsheets, benefitting from streamlined orders, and saving hours of admin compiling returns. Their stores access the platform completely free. No subscription, no setup fees, no barrier to entry. A distributor signs up, invites their stores, and those stores are ordering within minutes at zero cost.
It's a simple principle: stores shouldn't be paying for the privilege of ordering more efficiently. The distributor benefits most from a smoother process, so it makes sense for the distributor to foot the bill.
For Stores Without a Distributor on Crateful
We know what you're thinking: "That's great, but what if my distributors aren't on Crateful yet?"
That's exactly why we built Crateful for Independents. It lets you upload any distributor's spreadsheet yourself and use the platform as your own order management tool. Browse everything in a clean interface instead of endless rows in Excel. Filter, search, select what you want, and export your order or push it straight to your Shopify, WooCommerce, or Discogs store in one click.
The independent plan is priced at just £19.95/month + VAT once we leave beta. Right now, during the beta period, it's completely free with no payment details required. We'd imagine that's less than what most stores are currently paying for alternatives, and you're getting a modern, purpose-built tool designed specifically for this workflow.
Direct Line to the Developer
With most platforms, when you need something changed or a feature added, you're submitting a request into a queue and waiting.
Crateful is built and run by one person: Curtis, the founder and sole developer. That's not a limitation, it's a genuine advantage at this stage. When a store says "I wish it did X," it gets built. Not in six months after a roadmap review. Not after a committee discussion. It gets done, often within hours.
Every piece of feedback, every feature request, every bug report goes directly to the person writing the code. No support tickets disappearing into a queue, no generic auto-responses, no waiting for the next quarterly release. Just a direct conversation with the person who can actually fix or build what you need.
Several stores have already shaped features in Crateful through exactly this kind of direct feedback. That's not something you typically get with a larger platform.
The Tech Matters
This might sound like inside baseball, but the technology a platform is built on determines how fast it can evolve, how reliable it is, and how good it feels to use.
Crateful is built from the ground up on a current, modern tech stack. That means we can ship new features weekly, the platform is fast and responsive by default, and there's no technical debt holding us back. When stores ask for something, we can scope it, build it, and deploy it without battling against older infrastructure.
For stores and distributors, this translates to a platform that feels alive. Constantly improving, constantly adapting to what the industry actually needs rather than what was planned out years ago.
The Bottom Line
We're not here to discredit anyone. SoundDrop identified a real problem in the industry and built something to address it. But we believe the music retail supply chain deserves a modern, focused solution that's affordable, intuitive, and built on technology that can keep pace with what stores and distributors actually need today.
That's what Crateful is.
If you're a distributor tired of chasing spreadsheet returns from dozens of stores, or a store owner drowning in email attachments from multiple distributors, we'd love for you to take a look. Free during beta, no payment details, no commitments. Just log in and see if it clicks.
Crateful is currently in beta. Distributors can join free of charge during the beta period. Stores connected to a Crateful distributor always access the platform for free. The independent plan for stores managing their own spreadsheets will be £19.95/month + VAT after launch, free during beta.