Short update to share that we have received final versions of the pins from the manufacturer. They look amazing!
Soon we will start the process of preparing and packing the pledges and pre-orders to send. Then we will do the charges (including shipping), and close the surveys. The packages with your pins and stickers will be sent over in early May.
The pre-order shop will be open only until end of April. After that, getting these pins will be a lot harder. Visit the Fluffypede pre-order shop in Backerkit to get yours!
Surveys are going very well. Only 6 people left to fill theirs! If you are one of them, remember to complete the surveys. We will still send a few reminders about it.
Froggy is, so far, the most requested pin. (Not a surprise: it is sooo cute!!)
We are still on track to send the pins early May. And, although we left them open a few extra weeks, we plan to close surveys (and the pre-order/late-pledge store) soon: before the end of April. So if you want to change anything in the surveys or you missed the campaign and want to buy some pins or stickers, you still have a couple of weeks!
We are also close to unlock Vampi as a Pin. It is available in the surveys and our pre-order store.
If you were still undecided, you can see how the pins will look like from our manufacturer digital proofs:
They look so cute!
We have added those images to the items on our pre-order shop and surveys.
Hey guys! Everyone who reached out to me regarding shipping their bag out early has been shipped, and those who ordered split shipping have been sent out as well! All I am waiting on now is the plush toys to finish production, and then the bulk shipment of Conpanions to arrive within the next few weeks. I'm hoping they come while I'm still home because I have conventions the next two weekends haha. If you have your bag/will be receiving your bag for Metrocon and Otakon, I have booths at both shows! So if anybody compliments your bag or asks where you got it, you can direct them to my booth! My booth is called Art by Kino and I'll be at Metrocon booth V124 and Otakon booth B404 (My partner Jesse will be proxying for me at Metro but I will be at Otakon myself). I will be taking pre-orders for leftover Conpanions at those shows to be shipped out after all the BackerKit peeps get theirs.
Once you get your bag and deck it out, you can show it off and tag me on Instagram @itskinotastic or Bluesky @kinotastic.bsky.social !! I look forward to seeing your Conpanions all decorated!!
As always, if you have any questions or need anything from me, I will do my best to help you! You can email me at [email protected] with your name and backerkit email and your request.
I calculated that there's about 65 man hours worth of grading for the ~1150 Conpanions being delivered next, so I'm trying to recruit some of my local friends to help me quality control them so it goes by faster. That being said, it's going to take me at least a week to grade all the bags I need to send out, so I'm really hoping I can start shipping the bulk out mid-August. As I mentioned in the previous update, if you need your bag by a certain date, please email me and I'll see what I can do!
That's all for now, I'll update you guys when I have new information for you!
Hi everyone! As of this last week all packages that do not have an outstanding balance or address issue have been packed and dropped off to the post office. Yippee!!
Thank you all for supporting my project, I would definitely like to do more things like this and am already scheming on some new pin designs for the future. This update is short and sweet but if there are any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to shoot me an email ([email protected]) or message me here.
That being said, I have updated my storefront with the leftover pins and they are all available for purchase now!
Hey guys! I've begun shipping out bags for those who opted in for split shipping. The enamel pins have been stuck in Memphis customs (why Memphis? I have no idea LOL) for the last week and it's making me super anxious but hopefully they'll be here soon. For anyone who needs their bag by the end of the month for a con like Metrocon, Otakon, Gen con, etc. please email me at [email protected] with your name and your backerkit email address and I'll see what I can do! If you haven't already paid for split shipping but you want your bag asap I'll just send over an invoice via paypal so I can get your bag on its way, and send out your smaller items when they arrive.
I ordered over 900 boxes to be picked up locally at a warehouse but some of the boxes were the wrong size?? And I'm still waiting on larger boxes so I can send out the packages for those who ordered double bags or a conpanion + a coffin bag. The thing about bulk boxes is if the store doesn't have the size in stock they have to order it in, and that can take longer than I'm willing to wait so I am just as antsy as you guys haha.
Sending out the first 80 or so bags for the split shipping orders will take me a couple of days to pack up, and that's making me realize just how large of an undertaking sending out another 800+ backpacks will be. I'm going to try to have my local friends help me pack so it goes by faster, but what I'm most worried about is when the rest of the 169 boxes of Conpanions will get here--ETA is the end of the month, but since I have Metro/Ota from July 30-Aug 3rd, and then immediately after that I have Fan Expo Boston from August 6-10th, I REALLY hope the shipment gets here before I leave. Shipments will mostly likely start when I get back from Boston.
Anyway, I just wanted to let y'all know the state of things! If you have any questions or need anything, like I mentioned earlier please send me an email at [email protected] and I will do my best!! Thank you everyone for your awesome support and for your patience!
Hey guys! I'm happy to announce the first batch of backpacks are here! Well... 33 boxes out of 202 haha. The other 169 boxes are being sent out now, so they'll hopefully be here in 3-4 weeks. I'm quality controlling what I can so I can start sending out backpacks to those who paid for split shipping. Also, the alien backpack inserts were printed at a really low quality for some reason so those inserts have to be remade. I won't be able to send out any alien backpacks for that reason until I get the new inserts in. The enamel pins haven't come in yet, so I can't start sending out backpacks to anyone else. I have a convention next weekend (Anime Blues Con for anyone around the Memphis area), so after that is probably when I can start sending out Conpanions! In the meantime, I'm going to lock addresses so we can start getting ready to ship. You will have 48 hours to update your address, after which the address you submitted will be locked and that's what I will be mailing to!
33 boxes
One more thing, I think I forgot to mention that we decided to go with a white handle for the unicorn backpacks so it better matches the trimming! I think it looks nice!
Hi everyone, I wanted to thank you for being so patient while I gathered everything to ship the pins and other goodies!
Addresses are now locked on backerkit, if you need to change your address please shoot me an email or message on Backerkit ASAP as I am starting shipping this next week! For now, here are some pictures of everything.
I just received the big ol' box a few minutes ago so you know that means its finally time for pin grading! Thank you all for your patience here. I know I'm behind the schedule I was hoping for since there was some manufacturer back and forth that set production back. Regardless they'll be on your way to you soon! I hope you're excited and ready to show them off. And if your friends are jealous... the extra A-grades will be on my Etsy, while B-grades will be available first on my independent store page ;)
Final reminder this will be your last opportunity to make any changes to your address. Please reach out to backer support if you need to make an adjustment. Let's say you have until Friday before I officially start shipping Saturday.
Ideally this will be the last update for this project so this is my final "thank you" for supporting the campaign! Thank you! Lets create another enamel pin set together for Pintopia 2027!
Hey guys! I wanted to reach out and let everyone know first that tomorrow (June 9th EDIT: JUNE 10TH) I will be charging the cards on file for your shipping fees and any other add-on fees. I won't be locking addresses until probably sometime in July, as I get ready to ship out rewards. As a reminder, if you have plush in your pledge, you're welcome to add split shipping if you want me to ship out your backpack as soon as possible once I get them in while we wait for the plush to arrive at a later date. Also, I should have clarified earlier (and that is entirely my bad), but this is only for domestic shipments (within the US). Any international shipments WITH PLUSH will not go out until I receive the plush so you only have to pay customs/duties on just one shipment.
QUICK EDIT: I have locked orders with a 48 hour notice, so you have 48 hours to make any changes to your pledge. After that, it will automatically lock your orders, after which I will charge the cards on file on June 10th!
That's all for now, keep an eye out on June 10th for your cards to be charged for shipping costs and whatever you added onto your pledge. Thanks guys!
