By now, all of you should have had your payments processed. 
At the time of writing this update, we have roughly 33 errored pledges affecting roughly $2k in our funding pool. Fortunately, this is within my project budget "buffer" % and should not affect any of our unlocked items. 
Please do your best to remedy your payment method as soon as possible.

As a reminder, after 14 days, if I do not hear back from you that you wish to keep your pledge (and need the full 14 day extension to pay), I will process your pledge as cancelled, and any special promotional offers and prices in your pledge will be forfeit.

If your payment has processed successfully: YAY!🎉 Here's what to anticipate next. 

⚠THIS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT!⚠
For those of you who have never backed a crowdfunding campaign before, this is the most crucial step of your pledge order as this is the only way I can fulfill and ship your rewards. It is imperative that you fill your survey out to completion upon it being sent to you via email. Failure to do so heavily affects our final inventory count and prevents me from fulfilling the campaign efficiently, so please fill your surveys out to completion when you receive yours.

Roughly 14 days after the campaign ends, a 'smoke test' will go out to select backers to help me verify that the survey form is working correctly. I anticipate sending all backer surveys around February 28th or slightly sooner.

In Summary:

If you were following the campaign and missed out, you can now preorder via our backerkit store.
⚠IF YOU HAVE ALREADY BACKED THIS CAMPAIGN AND WISH TO ADD ITEMS FROM THE STORE TO YOUR ORDER, please wait until you receive your survey! 
You will be able to add items then. Making a new order via the backerkit will create 2 orders and while I am able to combine them, it does cause confusion.. So, please just sit tight and wait for your survey to be issued before adding more goodies!

Post-campaign add-ons and preorder store will close March 5th or if we reach 350 backers.
 Payments for additional items and all non-campaign preorders will begin to process March 6-7th. Shipping fees will be collected closer to May when I know when fulfillment is to begin!

At the time of sending this campaign update, there are just shy of 5 days left in the campaign.
The next 'steps' of the campaign are pretty crucial, so please allow me a moment of your time if this is your very first time backing on Backerkit. I am very detailed, but I will try to add a section of summarizing the steps towards the bottom of the update.
 
DETAILED EXPLANATION:
First: Payment methods will be charged February 13th starting at 3pm CST when the campaign concludes. From my experience, this charge can take up to 5-6 or so hours to occur. Compared to Kickstarter, which is instantaneous.  Please do not panic if your card isn't charged right away.
The payment processor backerkit uses is Stripe, so you will see a charge for Stripe / KityCrylics etc.

2nd: This initial charge is for your backerkit order only, not your shipping fees, or any additional items you wish to add post-campaign. More details on post-campaign further down.

3rd: If your payment method fails, don't worry. You have up to 7 days to remedy your payment method. Previously, I was under the impression that failed backers would be dropped from the campaign after those 7 days.
To my current knowledge, you will be able to have your order held and sent to you via the post-campaign store. So if you know for a fact you do not want to miss out, but you just need a few extra days to pay, just let me know.
 I am extremely accommodating where I can be, all I ask is that you communicate with me so I can help set you up for the best success!
However, if I am not notified you wish to keep your pledge by the 7th day, I will anticipate cancelling your survey and giving your spot to the next person 'in line'.

"What is a post-campaign store?"
This is often referred to as a 'backerkit store'. It is the post-segment of the campaign where backers will be sent a 'survey' to fill out their information for their rewards, shipping details, and you will be able to make any last minute add-ons that will be charged separately at a later time.
This is also usually where any last minute crowdfunding occurs for items that did not get 'funded' during the main campaign. If you missed the main campaign, this is also where you will have the opportunity to preorder last minute before we 'close' the campaign completely.
Backers should anticipate receiving their surveys roughly 14-16 days after this campaign ends. I will have a more detailed update going over the survey segment at a later time.

"When is Shipping charged / How much is shipping?"
Due to the unpredictability of the USPS price rates, I opt to collect shipping closer to when rewards/orders are about to ship. Currently, I anticipate that Noops should land here around June. This is assuming we do not have any major hurtles that delay the final production. I will communicate with everyone along the way and give backers a heads up when I anticipate charging for shipping. Estimated time frame is around early/mid May.

Shipping varies based off the final size/weight of the package, and your Country. On average, shipping domestically is between $6-10, Internationally is between $16-29USD. Closer to fulfillment, I will have a 'chart estimator' generated. 

✅ SHORT EXPLANATION:
1: Payment methods will be charged February 13th for your backerkit order only. Not including shipping, or post-campaign add-ons.
2: If your payment method fails, you have 7 days to remedy it. If you need additional time after that, please let me know and I will hold your 'order'. If your payment method fails and I do not receive communication by the 7th day, I will mark your pledge as cancelled.
3: post campaign (backerkit store) will open for those who missed out on the campaign, or who had to cancel and wish to 'come back'. This will only be open for a short period of time.
4: Backers will receive a 'backerkit survey' to fill out their reward selections, input their shipping details, and make any last-minute add-on selections.
5: Shipping will be charged closer to May, fulfillment is estimated to take place around June.
I will have a 'shipping rate estimator' chart created closer to that time frame.

If for any reason anything is confusing to you, please don't be afraid to reach out. I'm always willing to help re-iterate or explain things where needed (I have a complex brain and overcomplicate things due to my learning disability)


BACKERKIT POST-CAMPAIGN STORE ITEMS:
I anticipate adding a couple items to the backerkit store that backers can have a chance to add to their orders. These items will also be available on my website, so do not worry if you cannot order them at the time of your survey going out. This is just a way to let backers order and combine everything into 1 spot. However, if you order via my website, these items will ship separately from your backerkit order.

PHEW. Okay. 
Sorry for the huge long post, but these are important next steps that I want to outline for backers! 
I'll be back in a few days with the next update! ^__^!

This is a casual update, as I've received some messages asking to get more of a look at my process.

Honestly, one of the aspects with being an indie designer/producer not often talked about is the privilege to be able to take a vision in my mind and haphazardly replicate it on my programs, on paper, and sometimes even being able to make an actual physical prototype with what few resources are available to me.
I found some mini cd keychain blanks and managed to order a few to do tests with and I am so excited to share the first prototype.

As a note of transparency: These are just for demonstrative purposes, and the final 'product' will be much more clean, as I intend to have the CD part UV printed, and the paper itself will be higher quality. Additionally, I am still finalizing the art and positioning. But I was just too excited and wanted to share the look so far!
 
On the inside of the CD case is a scannable code that will take you to Vaders Playlist. This is in no way sponsored and just something I wanted to experiment with as I love music, love sharing music, and regularly listening to Synthwave (my favorite genre of music) has really helped me to keep my seasonal depression at bay. In theme with a lot of my other designs, there is a special message on the backside.
 

We are almost to the needed funding and backers to be able to allow backers to choose whether they want a Rue with YELLOW or ORANGE ear lining. By default, Rue plans to be produced with YELLOW ear lining. However, we've had some requests for the orange, and I want to do all I can to make it a possibility for you guys!

Assuming we have our final ending funding (the amount after all payments process and all dropped / cancelled pledges) over $18k, I should be able to negotiate this option with my representative, Steven.

Nooptendo3DS Charm Updates:
I recently received the samples of the Nooptendo3DS phone charms, and I am so happy with how they turned out. Our Noop Troop community did so amazing on these designs, and we have had such tremendous support for this product. There is 1 design missing from the lineup that I plan to have available at the end of the campaign, so please do not be alarmed if you see a design missing from our campaign lineup!


Phew! Still 10 more days left in the campaign!

I should have one more update closer to the end of the campaign to let backers know what they should anticipate for the next steps. That one is going to be important, so please don't miss it! 

xo
- Ash 

Today's campaign update brings some exciting new items added to the campaign.

I'd love to get us to 300 backers, and absolutely blow our objectives out of the water!
Here's the new items (currently). You're welcome to add them to your existing pledge as add-ons, but they will also be available post-campaign via the backerkit store too if you needed to wait!
🎉ALL BACKERS WITH AT LEAST 5 NOOPY PLUSH IN THEIR PLEDGE WILL RECEIVE 1 DANGLE KEYCHAIN FREE!

DANGLE NOOPY KEYCHAINS!
Thank you to everyone who participated in the Poll!
The community feedback voted to KEEP Noopy's magic stars in the design!
I still may make some minor tweaks to the final charm, but for the majority, this is our completed mockup!
Special Campaign Exclusive Price: $14
Featuring fanart by Ghostly Delights!

Made with ultra soft velour velveteen material!
2 styles: Pastel & Dark!
Campaign exclusive price: $10
Featuring fanart by Aerohail !

BonBon 4" Acrylic Standee
Campaign exclusive price: $13
Featuring fanart by SLURMP


Let's try to get this cutie patootie unlocked! 
We all need a little silly man in our lives!

Hello Noop Troop!
I've got some fun and adorable WIP's to share with you all today! 

 

There is a poll going on now to help me vote whether or not I should keep or remove Noopy's stars on the star charm.. I'd love it if you helped me by voting on the poll linked below!
A ginormous thank you to Ghost for drawing these for our campaign! They are just TOO CUTE!!!



Voting will close in about 2 days, and from there I will make the final decision and get these cuties added to our rewards for folks to add-onto their pledges!
Currently, my plan is to include 1 FREE with all backers who purchase 5 or more Noop plushies. Stay tuned for the final announcement! <3
xo
- Ash/Kity