Happy December, everyone! I have been working really hard on finding a new manu and experienced many fails, HOWEVER I'm happy to finally share some good news!!
Mynew book manufacturer is officially locked in ใฐ I met with them at LightBox Expo, saw their neon prints + hardcover samples in person, and they offer DDP so there wonโt be surprise costs at my door. The bright orange and blue hues in this book are going to look so beautiful!!
I have a backup plan ใฐ Because of the tariff fiasco, I also lined up two backup manufacturers: one international rec from Heather + Leigha (my amazing cross-collab partners!) and one local in Philadelphia. Their samples and test runs went so smoothly and they are still high quality, so if anything goes wrong with my primary manu, I can immediately pivot to keep us on track.
My plush + pin manufacturers are here to stay ใฐ Iโve worked with them for years so I'm happy that weโve figured out a fair agreement to tackle the tariffs together. I tested it with a shipment of 100 plushies and 3000 enamel pins (that's 10 huge boxes) and everything arrived perfectly. So all the plush and pin merch for this campaign are good to go.
And now, our updated timeline ใฐ December 2025 - Finalize files, submit order, begin prototypes January 2026 - Submit orders for all merch add-ons February 2026 - Approve final prototypes, make adjustments, send out surveys April 2026 - Books + merch arrive, QC begins, shipping starts May 2026 - Campaign wrap-up (Actual dates will continue to be updated in realtime on the main page under "Timelines")
I know the projected shipment deadline feels so far out but this is honestly the best that I can do in this situation, so.. I'm sorry ๐ญ Facing all these setbacks publicly has been really hard but finally finding the right manufacturer honestly reignited my creative spirit and gave me so much relief. The last thing I want to do is rush a new manu relationship and send you a low-quality product, so thank you for trusting me and being so patient ๐
Lastly, I donโt post updates often because I get overwhelmed by emails and Iโm a slow writer, but I always update when it matters. I hope this gives you clarity, and thank you again for sticking with me! You're all the best!!! Wishing you warmth and love this holiday season ๐ฅฐ
First off, Iโm really sorry this update is long overdue. I want to reassure you upfront: you will receive what youโre owed, but delivery is going to take much longer than expected.
We ran into two major setbacks this year: unexpected increases in shipping costs and the 125% tariff, which has put my business at risk. Right now, thousands of dollarsโ worth of already-produced and non-refundable merchandise and samples are stuck in China because I canโt afford to bring them in under the new tariff. These include magnetic plush toys, plush pouches, epoxy keychains, enamel pins, special stickers and prints, socks, and tote bags. On top of that, my remaining store inventory is running low, which makes it even harder to generate the cash flow I need.
I held off on sharing this because I was hoping to find a solid workaround first, but most of the alternatives I explored are either unreliable or financially risky. So itโs just time to make a decision and share where things are right now. Hereโs what weโll do moving forward:
Printed materials are moving ahead. We plan to work with a manufacturer in the UK and if that falls through, weโve found a local bookstore in California that can step in. Hardcover books are still being tested since that's a lot harder to produce locally.
Socks and tote bags will no longer be available in your survey. I know these were exciting stretch goals for us and I'm really sorry for the letdown. Iโll keep looking for alternatives, but now isnโt the right time to chase them.
Iโm still committed to producing/receiving magnetic plushes and enamel pins. In the worst-case scenario, if my manufacturers canโt find a better workaround and I have to absorb the tariff costs, Iโll prioritize small batches of these items. Since this is a relatively small campaign, that should be manageable. Your add-ons are still secure, but offering extras in the survey is still to be determined.
Surveys will go out once I have a confirmed merch plan/timeline and final book samples in hand. I know itโs not the usual crowdfunding process, but with the economy so unpredictable, I want everything to be clear and simple when you fill it out. (No fixing and no extra reading and logins~) Iโll keep the timeline updated and share real progress as it happens. For now, I don't have a set date.
TLDR: Socks and totes are being removed and surveys + fulfillment will be delayed until further notice.
Iโm really sorry for how messy this has become and for not having a better solution with final deadlines by now. I hope youโll still stick with me bc Fishโs story is still one I believe in deeply, especially in times like these. Thank you so much for your support, and please feel free to reach out with any questions at โจ[email protected]โจ.
Thank you as always for being here.
P.S. Since 2018, Iโve worked with many suppliers in and out of the US, but my current Chinese manufacturers are the only ones who consistently bring my vision to life. Their quality, care for their teams, and reliability are unmatched and they charge more for it (rightfully so). I hope to see strong U.S. options in the future, but for now, these partners are the reason my products exist. Let's extend some grace to everyone navigating the impact of these trade wars. Thank you!
Hello, my friends! Before the year ends, I wanted to clarify some confusion amongst some of you~ First off, this book is still being worked on and we won't see test prints until early next year. The final books will start shipping in Spring 2025. You can always click on this campaign's TIMELINE SECTION to see what our deadlines look like. I will be adding specific dates as soon as I know them and emailing updates for any major milestones or delays.
Second, my Backerkit account is connected to all my crowdfunding campaigns, so I accidentally made an incorrect response to one of you about timelines/shipping, thinking it was another project. I'm not sure how many people saw that comment, but I'm just confirming that all the products related to The Blue-Eared Fox will not arrive in my studio until Spring 2025. Please disregard any other comment that says otherwise. Thank you so much for your patience as I continue to learn how to use this platform!
Lastly, surveys have not been sent out yet due to the new add-ons and the late shipping date! I am still working on the unlocked products with new manufacturers and I want to make sure I am not under- or overcharging for products and shipping. And since shipment is expected to occur in the Spring, I figured we can hold off on any address changes/needs so you and I can spend less time making changes on Backerkit.
Please comment below if you have any questions for me + I'll be sure to address them asap. Otherwise, no action is needed from you right now.
Thank you again for supporting my creative process!! I'm excited to show you final pieces of my book in the new year. Happy holidays and happy new year, everyone. I'm here if you need me โจ
And just like that, this campaign is now over!! ๐ Phew, I really had to muster up the courage to present this book to you through crowdfunding and I honestly didn't think enough people would support this story. After, again, finding no luck with publishers and agents, I was afraid that maybe they might be right, you know?? But the book is 419% funded!! I feel so much relief and encouragement seeing this response from everyone here.
So thank you for giving me this chance to make this book, to publish it as my own, and to share it with the world. I think we can do some real good with The Blue-Eared Fox and I'm so grateful for this new path you've granted me.
Thank you again and again!
So what's next? I am working on smoke/test surveys and will begin to send them out next week. After those surveys get approved, I'll send out the real surveys, which will give you the option to add on more products (like our newly unlocked tote and sock favorites!), specify your package wants, share your shipping addresses, etc. Please sit back and relax while I do all the tedious admin work~ More specific updates soon. โจ
AHHH we raised enough money to make socks and totes!!! I can't believe how quickly you all were able to help me get here, what!!
After this campaign ends, I will make an add-on option in your survey so you can purchase socks or totes to your order! I'll also create special discounts just for you bc you helped make this happen but I'll have more details about that later ๐
We have 5 more hours to go! Can we make it to bucket hats?? IDK BUT thank you so much for supporting this project. You all rock ๐งก
