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
about 1 month 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
about 2 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
about 2 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
3 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...
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October
3 months ago
Wanna see something funny?
I got sent a few prototype photos last night, no mini bags yet, but Bear Chow + Alley Chow really went for it. I neglected to realize that the tail drooping down for...
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!
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? Spending hours trying to explain to my incredulous mum who's lived in this country since she was 7 that she needs to be careful about what she puts on facebook because she could get her green card revoked? Seeing that the shiverpigs on the leash of the guy who called me a figment of imagination are getting turned loose on "illegal ideas?"
(derogatory)
Never been better. Anyway. Any of you with the misfortune of living in the same country as me, you already know the shape and stink of all these fires, so I won't keep preaching to the choir. Manufacturing for the most important product of the campaign, the bags, has NOT been completed, and as such there is absolutely 0 chance I can get them staggered and shipped express to race de minimis. That means I need to adapt to the worst.
I am switching to a China-based fulfillment partner, specifically NextSmartShip.
Any goods that are not already stateside (lanyards, plush keychains, mini bags, neon dino bags, and zebra bags,) will be fulfilled by my new partners overseas. This is a fresh deal that I just confirmed Wednesday night and I am still in the process of being onboarded. What this means for anyone waiting on these items: Shipping mixed orders:
Domestic backers, you will only be paying for a single shipping cost even if some of your items are fulfilled by this fulfillment partner and some are received by me. I will be shipping you any second packages at my own cost.
International backers, I will be contacting you when fulfillment time comes if the tariffs China has placed on imports from the US are still in place. We will figure something out then. If those tariffs are lifted, I will be shipping stock to the China based warehouse so it can be included in a single package.
Paying tariffs:
EVERYONE WHO HAS BACKED OR PRE-ORDERED, your paid total will not be getting raised. I will not be charging you more.
International backers, you will not have to pay any tariffs pertaining to the current situation.
Domestic backers, whenever orders come in you will have to pay whatever tariff is in place yourself, if any, for the items you receive fulfilled by the China based warehouse.
Anyone who hasn't already backed, if the pre-order store re-opens it will be with adjusted pricing, but whenever your order is actually placed that pricing will be locked in for you.
I have still left cards uncharged for shipping despite locked orders, and I will be doing so for as long as is reasonable since this whole situation has been changing so rapidly.
With any luck by the time our fulfillment window actually arrives all this tariff stuff will be figured out and done, but I'm not holding my breath. Once manufacturing is complete, if tariffs are lifted or suspended with a believable certainty on how long it will last, I will be moving everything in the China warehouse to the US warehouse on my dime for domestic fulfillment to ease shipping costs or risks of tariffs being inflicted again. This won't be immediate because I know better than to think minds won't get changed, especially after a week like this.
If we reach fulfillment time and all this is still going on, all domestic backers with packages that would be fulfilled from the China warehouse will have 2 options:
Receive your order knowing that you are responsible for any tariffs incurred.
Receive a gift card for Lairbrew.com equal to your total.
This isn't me being greedy or selfish. I have seen a lot of creators promising their US backers won't be paying for tariff fees, but I beg you to please understand there is a huge difference in unit cost between a pin and a plush. As it is, with this project + the 800 kobolds I funded out of pocket on the way, I would currently be on the hook for over 30 thousand dollars that I do not have. That's minimum size orders for just 10 plush/bag designs. If I don't re-direct these goods to the warehouse they will sit unclaimed until they are destroyed. Even if I cancelled production right now we are far enough along that I would not be refunded for a single cent, so I can't just do that, blanket refund everyone, and close the project. This is me doing the best I can with the cards I have been dealt.
YOU DO NOT NEED TO MAKE A DECISION RIGHT NOW, AND IN FACT SHOULD NOT! Things are changing a lot and who knows what it will be like months from now! This is just the current plan, and it is worth thinking on a bit.
Now for another break from the doom & gloom, I've got some more completed prototypes for you to see!! Mako Chow was the first completed, but now Bear Chow and Alley Chow are done too!
ALLEY CHOW!
Smaller drip on one side
The embroidered lid
Trash goop at the bottom
Alley chow didn't turn out as metallic as originally intended, but lookit it standing by itself! Wow! I'm very happy with how this one turned out and am curious to see how big it is in person. It is made in the same manner as the other bags, but holds its shape a lot better.
This poor salmon looks a bit overfed
The meat front
Poor Bear Chow doesn't look too good without anything inside it. That is one of the downsides with these bags, they prioritize space over empty appearance, so they look a lil saggy with no filling. But I look forward to getting it in hand here at home and filling it up to see how it looks! The front is more of a preview of what it would be like without the effects of gravity weighing it down.
With those two all the bags currently in prototyping are complete! Poor Royal Chow was unpopular enough that I didn't send it in for this. With how things are I am holding off on placing an order for any of these just yet. I don't want to start production on anything new until stuff is more stable and we can better understand what is going on. I will be sharing if/when anything else goes to production because enough dust has cleared.
Anyway. Sorry for the long and gloomy update, y'all. Please be safe out there and make sure to take as many little moments of joy for yourself as you can possibly find. Thank you all for supporting the project, and I'm sorry that things are going to what they are. See you soon!
