(SCROLL TO BOTTOM FOR ITEM STATUS AND SHIPPING ETA)
Hey everyone! Apologies for the slow update, as usual we ended up having more bad health days than accounted for 🥲. But we have  super exciting news, we finally have a centipede varsity jacket sample that we can show! 

Not sure why they used brown, but no worries! We’re having it corrected to match the concept artwork and putting it into production ASAP

We also have photos back for the first ladybug bag sample! In my opinion it could be a lot cuter and closer to the original sketch, so we’re going to have it go through another round of revisions

For the acorn weevil, we’re getting a lot closer to the colors but still not quite there. Hopefully this next one can be the finalized version!

Giraffe weevil is almost perfect! I do want the legs to be a bit different tho, they kinda look goofy here haha

I’d also like to share some photos of the embroidered keychains:

And finally, enamel pins have just completed manufacturing and are on their way to us now!

Beetle bags - manufacturing has began for all bags with a completed sample! (Includes: coconut beetle, rhino beetle, hercules beetle, goliath beetle, and stag beetle) Any beetle bags not listed here are still having revisions

Centipede Bag - manufacturing in progress

Plush pencils cases - samples in revision (no new photos yet, catch them in the next update)

Centipede Varsity - manufacturing will begin at the beginning of March! Final sample will have original grey colors of the concept art

Stickers - manufacturing in progress

✅Enamel pins - PRODUCTION COMPLETE

Embroidered keychains - manufacturing in progress

Beetle Beret - Sample was complete, but wasn’t exactly what we are looking for. Looking for alternative manufacturers (the search continues)

For items on schedule, refer to original graphic from the campaign!
However, we did end up having a lot more sample revisions than expected/accounted for initially. A lot of items got delayed since we want them to be as close to the original artworks as possible. Any product currently still in sampling has a new estimate of shipment starting in June/July and going through August-September. If you need help changing your shipping address at any time we would love to have you email [email protected]! 

Thank you so much again for your patience 🪲💖 Next update should include photos for the remaining sample updates/revisions and announce more items going into manufacturing! Let us know your thoughts on the current sample photos below :D

Beetle bags - manufacturing has began for all bags with a completed sample! (Includes: coconut beetle, rhino beetle, hercules beetle, and goliath beetle) Any beetle bags not listed here are still having revisions

Plush pencils cases - samples in revision

Centipede Varsity - sample in production (pictures are just around the corner!!!)

Stickers - manufacturing has began!

Enamel pins - manufacturing has began!

Embroidered keychains - manufacturing has began!

Beetle Beret - Sample was complete, but wasn’t exactly what we are looking for. Looking for alternative manufacturers

Now’s your chance for feedback on the current samples! We will be moving forward with all of the changes listed in the visuals, but are there any things we overlooked?

Due to the samples being somewhat delayed, we will move ahead on locking the surveys to keep on schedule for manufacturing the other items. However, we will allow you to change your selection on any item sample that wasn’t finished before survey lock! You can contact us [email protected] for changes after the surveys lock (or for any other questions you may have).

I do apologize for the delay on creating this update, my mom has breast cancer so we’ve been busy visiting and taking care of her. It’s made working a bit difficult (on top of the both of us being chronically ill already) but we are doing the best we can! Thank you so much for your patience <3

Surveys have now been sent out for you to make your item selections! As a reminder, we need you to fill them out as soon as possible to have the most accurate number of how much inventory we need to order for each item. Surveys do not lock until AFTER sample photos have been completed.

If a sample ends up becoming substantially delayed, we will move ahead on locking the surveys to keep on schedule for manufacturing the other items. However, we will allow you to change your selection on any item sample that wasn’t finished before survey lock! You can contact us [email protected] for changes after the surveys lock (or for any other questions you may have).

Speaking of, here’s a sneak peak of some of the sample progress!! I have quite a few revisions in mind for these already, so don’t worry we will get them looking as close to the concept art as possible.

Sampling can be a long process with many revisions until we reach the finalized version! For example, here were the first 2 versions of the Japanese rhino beetle. Will share more samples in future updates

You’ll be able to add new items to your order if you wish, or if you have a friend who missed the campaign they can check out the pre-order store! https://beetle-bags.backerkit.com/hosted_preorders
We were able to add the ladybug bag as a stretch goal in the surveys, and WOW they already unlocked! So the sample for ladybug bag will be put into production as well.

Anyway, don’t forget to fill out your surveys! You can check our previous update for a survey FAQ if you had any other questions regarding surveys/post campaign stuff.

The beetle bags campaign has now concluded!

In the next 2 weeks, the surveys will be sent out to your emails! The surveys will collect your shipping address, let you add new items to your order, change your pledge level, and select your items of choice. Shipping for your order will also be calculated, however it will not be charged until we are 1 month from fulfilling orders! Stay tuned to updates + refer to the shipping timeline chart in the campaign story to know when that will be.

What if the item I want does not have a sample yet?

No worries! The surveys will stay opened until all samples have been completed and shared in new updates. That way, you can make an informed decision on what items you’d like to get in your order! All items unlocked during the campaign are currently getting samples produced and will continue for the next month or so (depending on how many revisions are needed.)

When does the bulk production start?

Bulk production will start once surveys lock so we can know how many of each item to order! Please follow along with updates and don’t forget to take the survey, as a late submission may result in us having to refund your order if we did not produce enough of an item.

What if I move before shipping/fulfillment begins?

No worries! You can always email us [email protected] after surveys lock and we will make sure that is corrected for you. Please take the surveys as soon as you can, you can put your current address if you need but this is how we will know how much stock to order so it’s best to take it early!

We are estimating shipping to begin in March 2026 and continue through April 2026! Please keep in mind this is subject to change, as we are currently a team of only 2 people and this is the most backers we’ve ever had. If there are delays in an item’s production, we will also make an update to let you know the status + new estimates of shipping times. 

I know a lot of you are completely new to Backerkit, so hopefully this can cover some of the frequently asked questions to new backers. Thank you so much to everyone who supported, this has been our biggest collection yet and some of the coolest stuff we’ve had the chance to produce so far!! 🪲🎉

Hello, Celine. 
     From now on, we will not be doing polls again. Polls are a fun thing we like doing for the community, but they were unnecessary to begin with. We may post designs to gauge interest but no formal polls will be done.
     We've had people express discontentment before with designs and such, and have had no problems with it. We haven't had multiple people: comment and downvote on other's comments/ unrelated campaign updates, try to start arguments with us and other backers, and act in bad faith- until now, so we will not be doing them anymore. The purpose of them was a fun thing to foster community, and it has not achieved that purpose.

   The poll was live for all daylight hours of the day and ended at 11:59pm EST, and regardless of if you felt the poll was short we already had a pretty good idea the varsity would win due to the 70+ comments of people excited for it. It was in the lead for the entire duration of the poll, and running during night time hours would not have changed the outcome. I know there are people that preferred the other items, but if a chunk of backers are not going to be ok with losing a poll; we cannot continue doing them.

     As a reminder, us and any other creators on backerkit have the right to refuse you service.  If you have a concern, complaint, or don't like a design that is fine to express. We've had that before with no issues, and will have it happen again. We will not tolerate complaining on multiple unrelated updates, backhanded jabs, and starting arguments with us or other backers. If it continues to be a problem we will stop asking for backer input on items all-together. 

    We've run short polls before with no issues, and other creators also have run shorter polls with no issues. We are assuming the influx of people who are acting this way are from the new reddit ads we've been trying out, as they coincided with each other. Nobody who is an old member of our community has been an issue thus far. We usually like to leave Backerkits off on a high note, but it has to be addressed. Thank you to the majority of people for being positive and respectful.