Preparing for Production + Failed Pledges + $5 Freebies Tip Jar
Hello Softies,
I hope everyone's having a great week so far. This update is just a quick (but meaty) one, so sit tight!
For those who aren't familiar with Backerkit, all fu...
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Jupy
5 days ago
Post-Campaign Updates! + Sticker Sheet Poll + Preorder Store OPEN!
Hello Softies!
I hope everyone had a restful weekend, and if you are enjoying a day off today for President's Day, make it a good one by treating yourself to a bit of R&R! ...
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Jupy
9 days ago
WE DID IT, SOFTIES!!! + Important Next Steps!
Hello Softies!
WOW!!! What a way to end the campaign! Thanks to all of you, my very first crowdfunding campaign was a huge success. I wouldn't be where I am without every ...
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Jupy
9 days ago
1 HOUR LEFT! + IMPORTANT Preorder Store Reminder!
Hello Softies!
I almost forgot to tell everyone something EXTRA important. Please read the following very carefully.
If you are an existing backer by the time the campaig...
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Jupy
9 days ago
3 HOURS LEFT!!! Pledge NOW for Freebies + Discounted Prices!
Hello Softies!
Wow, I'm pretty blown away. This was my first-ever crowdfunding campaign, and we're almost at $14k and 200 BACKERS!
To recap, Channelle is UNLOCKED, whic...
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Jupy
11 days ago
24 HOURS LEFT TO PLEDGE! + NEW SOFTIE REVEAL!
Hello Softies!
We're down to the FINAL 24 HOURS of our campaign! All pledges must be made before the campaign ends, or else you may miss out! YES, Channelle will be part of ...
I hope everyone's having a great week so far. This update is just a quick (but meaty) one, so sit tight!
For those who aren't familiar with Backerkit, all funds for this campaign are not released to me until February 27th. This means that I'll be taking everything into production early March. As we're waiting, I've already begun to contact all my manufacturers, and they are aware of this holding period, and have begun formatting all of my files as well as preparing all plushies for production. We're getting there!
As of this update, there are still 14 failed pledges that are awaiting fixes. Please make sure your payment method is correct. Should your pledge fail, and you are unable to resolve the issue by the time surveys are sent out, your pledge will be considered canceled, and all freebies associated with your order, if any, will be canceled as well.
Finally, I have some bad (but not *that* bad) news: the sticker cost of production for McMadmissile's vinyl stickers are very expensive. I was surprised by the price tag! I had originally wanted to give everyone a whole set if we could raise enough money through the Tip Jar (an option in the survey), but unless we can raise several hundred dollars more, I may be only able to give each order a couple of stickers as opposed to the entire set. And, even if I can give everyone an entire set, it will be while supplies last, as I do not have infinite funds to print hundreds of each design. Of course, I will print slightly more than the number of final orders I have, so please rest assured. I am talking about those who preorder once the deadline for locking orders closes, or those who purchase in-stock plushies by the time I have them in my hands.
Surveys are estimated to go out March 1st, and will lock on March 15th.
When surveys go out for backers, you'll see this option listed below. Please consider adding it to your order if you'd like a whole set. For those who missed out on pledging and want to help chip in through the Preorder Store, you can add it here along with the rest of your order. It helps me bolster my funds just a bit. I appreciate everyone's support!
IMPORTANT: You will NOT get a set of stickers if you only select the Tip Jar. All freebies are only included with a physical item order.
This item will be available in the Preorder Store as well as on everyone's surveys. Note that every dollar for the Tip Jar will go towards funding these freebie stickers. These stickers are valued at $30 for the set!
I hope everyone had a restful weekend, and if you are enjoying a day off today for President's Day, make it a good one by treating yourself to a bit of R&R!
First off, thank you everyone who made sure your payments went through! We're still missing 17 people's payments, so if you can, please check your emails and/or your Backerkit account to see if your pledge was successfully processed! Below, you can see the step-by-step on how to check your pledge on Backerkit's website.
Please remember that if your pledge payment is not successfully processed, your order is considered canceled, and you will no longer receive any freebies associated with your order if you re-place it down the line.
Now, onto the next update. Wristies! I was able to finally get the wristies updated, and now, they all have their little stretchy bands attached to them. I've asked my manufacturer to ensure the bands are just the right length so they attach firmly onto your plush's hands. Here is an update photo. The pie's whipped cream is also fixed, so instead of looking like a snowman, it now looks like a dollop!
The whipped cream is fixed! Hooray! Now it's no longer a strange-looking snowman.
Image above shows the placement of the holding straps. Trixie will come with TWO (2) pompoms.
In addition, the Preorder Store is now OPEN! Remember, if you pledged to the campaign, you DO NOT want to use the Preorder Store to add anything to your pledge. You will wait for your survey to do so, which will happen in around 10 days. The Preorder Store is for people who missed out on the initial campaign but still want to get something at campaign prices. Please note that once preorders close, items will increase in price, so don't miss out on your Softies merch!
Finally, I have a poll for everyone, so please be sure to vote, because this determines the type of stickers you will receive! You will be voting for HOLOGRAPHIC or NON-HOLO sticker sheets. Before voting, please read the pros and cons of each type:
Pros of holographic effect: Bright and flashy, eye-catching Cons of holographic effect: Artwork can be obscured by the additional glittery effects
Pros of non-holographic: Artwork is vibrant and clear, colorful, true to original image Cons of non-holographic: No glittery, bright effect
If this will sway your choice, please note that the additional freebies made by McMadmissile will already have a prismatic holographic effect on select areas of the artwork. My suggestion is to keep the sticker sheets non-holographic, as the artwork will better shine through, but the choice is ultimately yours. In the event the poll results are too close to call, I will make an executive decision.
Thank you all, and feel free to comment and let everyone else know your thoughts, too!
WOW!!! What a way to end the campaign! Thanks to all of you, my very first crowdfunding campaign was a huge success. I wouldn't be where I am without every single one of you. Thank you so much, from the bottom of my heart!
Now, what's next? Let's do a quick recap, and keep these things in mind for the upcoming weeks:
The campaign may be over, but the Preorder Store is now open! If you are an existing backer, however, please DO NOT buy anything from the store unless you want to be charge double for shipping costs. The Preorder Store is for NEW CUSTOMERS who did not back during the campaign, but want to get something now.
Existing backers will be sent a survey in 14 days. This 14-day period is for us to ensure your payment went through for your initial pledge. Sit tight and relax for now!
What is a "survey"? For those new to Backerkit, it's an email you'll receive that will allow you to pick out what you want in your order! For example, if you ordered two (2) Very Huggable Softies plushies, you'll be able to pick out which ones you want. As well, the survey allows everyone to add more things to their order, and pay for total shipping costs together.
For now, please remember that we have an official Very Huggable Softies Discord server. You can chat with other backers, hang out in a cozy space, and chat with me, too! This server is also useful for staying connected, and others may even be able to answer questions you may have at any time.
Your best bet to get in touch with me would be via the Discord server. You may also email me at any time at [email protected]. Please note, however, that I am working my hardest and it's just one of me managing this entire campaign, so I respectfully ask that you please give me at least 48 hours to respond to your inquiry. Please do not spam or harass me or anyone else. Your understanding, kindness, and patience is greatly appreciated as I navigate through everything.
Thank you so much once again, everyone. For now, I will go sleep for a day or two. The entire campaign has been INTENSE! Drink water, eat healthy, and be safe, everyone!
We're down to the FINAL 24 HOURS of our campaign! All pledges must be made before the campaign ends, or else you may miss out! YES, Channelle will be part of the lineup at the very end, so this means ALL Very Huggable Softies will be available. Please pledge to your heart's content.
Please also be aware that PRICES WILL GO UP after preorders close (e.g. when items are in stock and ready to ship). Take advantage of the lower prices during this period!
Now, the moment all of you have been waiting for: NEW SOFTIE REVEAL!!! You voted, and Annie May is the winner! She, along with four new friends, will launch in Very Huggable Softies 2! Get to know Annie May below:
Annie May is here! Doesn't she look adorable? Hmm... I wonder what she's inspired from...
And below is her plushie concept art! Look, she has a half-eaten toast with jam on her tummy! Could it be the age-old "I'm late for school!" trope?
Annie May, along with four other friends, will be available in a future campaign. Very Huggable Softies 2 is slated to launch in Fall 2025, so stay tuned!
We are now down to less than 24 hours before our first campaign ends. I want to give everyone a HUGE shoutout and congrats. Y'all are legendary, and my project would not have come this far without you! Please continue to share my project with everyone until the very last moment. Remind your friends that once the campaign ends, no more pledges can be accepted, so PLEDGE NOW OR FOREVER HOLD YOUR PEACE!
Once the campaign ends, you will be hearing from me once more about surveys, what they are, how to fill them out, and then some. For now, let's sprint to the finish line! Make sure your payment methods are good to go, and won't get declined! If there are any issues or if you have any questions, I will be more than happy to assist as well. You can find me on the Very Huggable Softies Discord server, as well as on socials and via email. You can find my entire list of socials here. Please give me at least 48 hours to respond, and don't spam messages or emails, as I'm only one person handling this massive project.
