Hey Caretakers! I apologize for the bit of delay on an update, i started the last chunk of my paternity leave right before GenCon and it ended last week, so now we're returning to a normal-ish schedule (where the toddler is consistently at school again). Nevertheless, a LOT has happened since, so this is going to be a bit of a story time, and sitting down to write it all down is going to take me a little bit.
TLDR. Essentially the manufacturer hadent started work on the accessories until last month. They did send pictures, but i wont approve anything until they're in-hand becuase of the series of issues we had with the other items. At this point still figuring out delivery schedule, since it sounded like they wanted to delay things, but i'm still pushing to have product before the new year. (hoepfully will see a purple swatch soon).
Ok...so lets get into what happened, So, as we were getting closer to GenCon, the manufacturer sent me what was supposed to be the final production copies of the product. This was hopefully going to solidify a bunch of feedback that I had given, and everything would be good. That...wasnt the case... Instead, I had to send a angry very concerned' email, since there was pretty much something wrong with every design (keychain and plush alike)...for instance: Owlbear plush shaping was off and feet werent level. Dragon turtle plush had issues with head shaping and spines looked squashed. Phoenix plush beak was waay too long. Owlbear keychain fluff was pretty long, and the beak was near non-existent. Dragon Turtle Keychain used had soft back spikes but looked like lumps. And pheonix keychain neckfluff literally looked like a garden-gnome beard. What was worse was that I was expecting to get airshipped phoneixes for GenCon, and if manufacturing had already begun, how much work had already been done on faulty product.....these were changes i did not approve of. (left, last best prototype - right was proposed production sample, see head shape and spines)
The concerned email was received and it seeemd like feedback was being taken seriously. I had some minor back and forth with them, and things were moving again (though phoenix keychain beard will come back). While at GenCon I was able to meet with numerous members of their team, (not the person who i was directly working with), but enough people who i could air my frustration and annoyance with them, so they got the message that things gotta get fixed. There, I had learned that the person who was managing my product initially was no longer there anymore (and guessing with how things are being picked up), it wasnt a transition.
At the end of GenCon i had a video call with the person managing my project, and they had some plush updates...overall things were good...but it felt like they kept pushing for approvals on fixes, without giving me time to really evaulate the changes. One thing I didnt budge on was the pheonix beards...they said they tried to fix it, and it didnt really solve the probem. Essentially (left was what i was expecting, and right was what i was being offered).
And they mentioned that since the materials for the phoenix keychain had been ordered, that it would be an additional cost for me for them to get new material and remake the phoenix keychains....I was non-commital on the pheonxies, and that left me writing ANOTHER angry concerned email, becuase... Not only had I paid for most the project, they were essentially manufacturing product that was outside of my approval, and not reflective of the approved product. And not only that, but they hadn't even started doing their evaluation of the accessories nor the owlbear colors (outside of brown), despite having my samples for the past 8 months! IN addition, their timeline was looking to try and split the accessories and purple owlbear later from the keychains...which kinda defeated the point of manufacturing everything together....
I had to aslo send in the pheonix keychain sample that I had, so that they could replicate it (despite sharing many pictures),. but whatever it takes at this point to make sure things come out right. ................
Friday, i get an email with the accessories they've produced, everyhting looks good (though at this point i cant hold my breath until i have the manufacture samples and see them for myself).
In addition, they reaffirm that new material needs to be ordered for the pheonix keychains, and that the ones they made are to be scrapped (though I did inquire if it was possible to save those, maybe i can hand cut the beards myself or something idk, or have beardy pheonixes with christmas hats or something). But I dont have numbers yet at what they're going to cost it out as...
at this point im going at their pace and responding as soon as i get information..
Not the way I would have liked things to go...but at this point, I think Pheonix Plushes have been manufactured...and nothing else? Still figuring that out, as things are getting finalized and made..
but yeah..main frustration has been every time they make a change a new issue appeared..and I hope that is not consistent here on out...I had even offered to take plush production away from them just because of the timeline...but at this point, its very difficult to do anything re:financial stuff since I've already paid vast majority of the project and they don't have a US company operation for me to legally pursue. So I'm stuck with working with them and doing everything I can to make things right.
Also: I know there are some support emails about being charged/ or those who backed both..when i locked out a backerkit pledge the screen annoyingly hides information, which i was hoping to utilize to QC information when people asked for help, so Ill be getting back to people in the coming days about those inquiries.
I think thats all for now... Hope everyone is having a great weekend, Caretaker Andreas
oh yeah! and on Tuesday we'll be launching the crowdfunding for the 2026 calendar...(produced in the US, and nearly done with all illustrations). Its a playful nod to video game nostalgia reflavored to fantasy and our favorite creatures. Follow the Campaign Page Here: 2026 Calendar
