Some important stuff before the meat and potatoes of this update!
BIG BREW BASH IS LIVE RIGHT NOW!
We're not very far from the funding goal, especially considering just how...
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October
about 1 month ago
BAGS ON THE WAY! Giant plush, weighted teddies, manufacturing, and more!
Hurray! I got stuff to say at last! First off, the biggest thing I'm sure most folks are going to be happy to hear:
THE MAIN BAGS ARE ON THEIR WAY TO ME HERE IN THE STATES! T...
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October
2 months ago
Big shipping/tariff update, bags are in QC, more
You might remember from the last update that I said I was going to be switching to NextSmartShip for fulfillment due to tariffs! That is still the case. However now that I ha...
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October
3 months ago
IMPORTANT Update, please check it out! + Some final prototypes
Hey all. Lemme tell you, I've had a great week, just fantastic. Getting my right to vote stripped while my business gets dragged out back and ol' yellered by heinous tariffs?...
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October
3 months ago
Tariff troubles, mini bag prototypes, finalized pre-production bags, etc
So how about them tariffs huh? I feel like I need to say something now even though I don't have a finalized plan yet, just so nobody is left completely in the lurch. These ta...
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October
4 months ago
Add-On Arrivals, Production Continues
A bunch of the smaller add-on items have arrived! I took some photos, here are just a few. The buttons are also here and I am waiting until I can take video of them to sha...
We're not very far from the funding goal, especially considering just how high that goal is and the sheer scale of the plush being made! But we need some help to get there. If you're interested in big, cuddly plush please give it a look!
Now for said meat n taters, things are still chugging along! This is a very direct sequel to the last update since it is basically just "this happened as predicted" several times but I do want to keep you all informed.
The main bags have arrived! This includes:
Neon Dino 2-Bone
Neon Dino Haunch
Zebra 2-Bone
Zebra Haunch
Everything else:
Plush keychains will be arriving Wednesday!
Mini bags are still in production
Lanyards arrived but have a problem, so I have sent an email to everyone who ordered one to ask if you would still like the lanyards or if you would prefer a refund
Collab pin freebies have been brought to another manufacturer as mentioned and are currently in the mold making phase.
Everything else is in-hand and simply waiting for the arrival of other items.
Fulfillment will not be starting full swing until August due to convention prep and me being behind on some much more labor-intensive pre-orders from my shop. That just means we will be perfectly on schedule, not late! This also gives us some time for the mini bags to maybe wrap up and get here before the main bulk of fulfillment starts.
You may see these bags at Anthrocon before you receive your bag in the mail so please know convention pickup is not offered, and convention fulfillment is not something we will do.You will be turned away if you ask for your bag order to be fulfilled at a con.
And one last project for you all since I know you liked Bear Chow a lot,
... and Hook the Salmon made it in to the lineup as the chosen fish! This campaign won't be launching until December, so it is a long ways off still, but if you follow the teaser page you won't forget about it.
Hurray! I got stuff to say at last! First off, the biggest thing I'm sure most folks are going to be happy to hear:
THE MAIN BAGS ARE ON THEIR WAY TO ME HERE IN THE STATES! THAT INCLUDES:
NEON DINO 2-BONE
NEON DINO HAUNCH
ZEBRA 2-BONE
ZEBRA HAUNCH
I was told they were in Quality Check some time ago, but when I asked when they would be ready to ship, I didn't get an answer. I had to push, and just now was told most of them are on the way via express shipping now. I believe my manufacturer had some fires to put out since the tariffs definitely affected them too and our project fell through the cracks. Not all of the bags are on the way- I'm missing a solid 25% of some of the designs, in fact- but enough of each design to fulfill Backerkit orders are definitely on the way. I will keep you all updated when they hit customs, because this is going to be my first time receiving an order of this size in the wake of the tantrums tariffs.
If you prefer smaller plush you might be more in to my early 2026 project that is in the earliest stages, Deadweights, a collection of weighted, creepy-cute dead things. These teddy style plush are pretty different from my usual designs, they were a challenge to myself that I ended up falling in love with. Here's most of the designs! I just need to pick which red fish will be the one to make the cut- Dropsy the goldfish or Chum the salmon!
Hugs the Dead Lift Python
Roger the Dead Air Dove
Persephone the Dead Wrong Ant
Daisy the Play Dead Possum
Bullseye and Crosshair the Dead Center and Dead Set Calves
Switchblade the Dead or Alive Cat
PLUSH KEYCHAIN, LANYARD, PIN, ANDMINI BAG NEWS:
Plush keychains are also on their way in to the US! They had originally been redirected to a warehouse where they were sitting waiting to either be shipped directly from China or brought overseas. The full stock is now on the way! I am not sure when they will arrive, as this is my first time receiving a bulk order through Nextsmartship.
Lanyards are currently off manufacturing freeze to ship them to the US! I'd been delaying them being made because they are a low profit margin item that I would have been losing a significant amount of money on at first, and I was hoping maybe if I was patient I'd be able to bring them in at not such a significant cost. That paid off, and all 5 colors are now in the works to get them here ASAP!
Pins are behind. I had someone all lined up to manufacture the single collab pin design and it all looked good, but once money changed hands stuff started getting red flag-y. Eventually they were not answering my messages. That order has since been canceled and I'm still waiting for the refund to clear so I can bring it to a different manufacturer. I apologize, pins are not my area of expertise, so I'm not sure how much of a setback this will be. I'll update once I know!
T-Bone steak mini bags have been ordered! Their test prototypes have been made and they're currently undergoing safety testing before final production begins.
Egg mini bags have also been ordered!! It turned out to make more sense to get both bags instead of just one numbers wise (I was surprised too,) so they are also currently in the safety testing stage.
Some items are pulled, and some prices have been adjusted. This is of course in reaction to the tariffs. Orders that have already been placed should not be affected.
2-bone and haunch bags are also up on lairbrew.com! Since their manufacturing is complete and they are on the way, they're now up in my main shop. If you were wanting to combine them with some other plush that was not part of this Backerkit now you can! Here's some food-related stickers you can get there that weren't here for example:
All of this does mean I'm having to take the tariff charges for the project squarely on the nose, and for an order that is in the 5 digits, that is no small thing. I won't lie, we're hurting. It has been a 1 microwave meal a day kind of time for my wife and I for the first time since she was in college. The most important thing is not only do we still have that meal a day, we have a roof over our heads, running water, working electricity, and our critters are cared for. I can complain, but it is about comfort level rather than some of the worse scenarios. I'm putting my promises to Backerkit supporters and shop supporters first, so while it sucks to get this slowed down because everything became monumentally worse than we anticipated, things are moving forward. I really hope you all are doing ok and that your needs are being met. I've had a record influx of people writing in for particular things like address changes on all fronts, and I know that isn't a coincidence. I'm far from the only one having a hard time right now. Please be safe out there. I hope when these bags are finally in your hands that they'll give you a much-deserved smile. Until next time!
You might remember from the last update that I said I was going to be switching to NextSmartShip for fulfillment due to tariffs! That is still the case. However now that I have gotten to use it for fulfilling other orders I have learned a lot more about how it works. So I want to update you some on that:
Packages from China to the US will be DDP, meaning Delivered Duties Paid. Tariffs will be paid for as part of the shipping cost based on current rates at the time your package ships. This means the tariffs will be paid before you receive it so you don't need to worry about it. You will still be paying for this fee as part of your shipping cost, but it will be less hassle for you.
However there may be other fees associated with receiving China-originating goods in the US other than tariffs. If there are any other fees, be they from the government or the carrier, they will be your responsibility. This has always been the case for international customers.
I am not an expert, and I can not advise you on any charges. I don't know if even said experts could. I've seen anticipated fees that range pretty wildly from nothing to nuts, I have not been able to find an honest full list, and no one seems to agree on what the numbers are or what goes in to the calculations. Trying to research the subject is an exhausting slog sifting through propaganda to find what they actually mean instead of them just reporting on what the manchild wants it to sound like it means. This isn't surprising, but still very disappointing.
I received news today that the main bags are in QC after being finished, so I have to make any shipping decision changes very soon.
This is ahead of schedule. As it stands right now, here is what I can offer for fulfillment to those in the US:
You pay for the tariffs as part of your shipping, accepting that there may (likely) be more fees when it arrives, and receive the bags as soon as they are ready to ship at all.
You receive credit to use on lairbrew.com that is equal to what you paid for fulfilled-from-China items, and only pay for shipping for the fulfilled-from-US items (if any.)
You wait until our initially anticipated fulfillment window, and if I have not successfully imported the bags by then and tariffs have not been lifted, you choose from the options above.
You have probably noticed that a refund is not a part of those choices. That is because I can't offer one. Not only did I spend every cent on production for what this campaign promised (that is the point of a crowdfunding campaign after all) but this tariff situation has put me in dire financial trouble in other ways. I want to do as right as I can for everyone without ended up homeless, because that doesn't serve any of us in a good way. I can only give you what I have, and I don't have money. I'm extremely sorry it isn't in the simplest way, but you will still be taken care of! Don't worry.
Some prototype photos:
Steak interior
Steak front side
Back loops on the steak
I received the prototypes for all 3 bags! I really don't like the salmon chunk one so I am leaving that concept behind for now. However, I love how the egg and the steak turned out. There is one problem: they do not fit my newer phone in its protective case. I REALLY wanted them to have single-pocket-capacity but the shapes prevent that. These can still fit things like stickers, room keys, chapsticks, and business cards just fine, stuff you might struggle to find a place for when cosplaying or fursuiting. But a phone is a pretty essential item! Making them larger will make them unwieldy for their current purpose, too. A bit of a shame. Also the egg's yolk is printed mochi minky with mochi stuffing! It is fun to squish!
Egg
Egg
the photobombing fly in a single frame omg
I also received the prototypes for Mako Chow, Bear Chow, and Alley Chow, and OH BOY I CAN'T WAIT TO DO A PROPER PHOTOSHOOT WITH THOSE!! I have to model the bags so I always need to have my wife help out, but as soon as I have her able to help out on a sunny day before sunset I'm gonna. Bear Chow still turned out a little too big, but I couldn't be happier with the other 2.
Upcoming campaign plans:
I am moving final production for future projects out of China. This doesn't help with things that have already been ordered, but it does mean I can plan ahead. Because the money I use to order most projects without pre-order/crowdfunding required is tied up that means I'm going to have to switch to crowdfunding for, well. Everything.
While it doesn't revolve around a specific themed collection, it will be a project set up with the benefit of knowing the what, when and where of tariffs. The worst part about all of this in relation to producing designs has been the combination of not having the time or clear knowledge to properly react. If it becomes clear that something like this could happen again before the launch date, I will simply be pulling the plug.
Here are some completed prototypes that will be in the lineup, though this is not all:
Brown Kobold
Black Kobold
White Kobold
Grey Kobold
Slash the Piñata Kaiju
And the one I'm personally the most excited for, Udon the 6 foot long dragon!
