SIDEKIT: AFTER CAMPAIGN STORE

Tue Dec 6 '22 Announcement
over 3 years ago – Tue, Dec 06, 2022 at 03:44:12 PM

Update Summary:

In this update we received visual proofs of the Money Clip and Backpack. We provide a quick update on the tooling and manufacturing.

SideKit (Promotional) Backpack:

For those that purchased, these are proofs on the backpack. This not an original design by us as stated in the campaign, this was a promotional item provided by a backpack manufacturer. We actually just hope to break even on costs associated while it helps promote the brand. With that being said we were allowed to make some additions to the design at extra costs to us, but no extra cost to you. As a recap the original offered back pack had these features; water proof (600D material commonly used in laptop bags), USB charging access (Bottom right of the top photo), hidden zipper feature assist in anti theft while wearing (zipper faces toward back and not accessible or visible while backpack is being worn), and laptop storage for laptops up to 15" (bottom photo shows a 15 inch laptop being placed inside).   

All Features and Some additions:

• Side pockets and Front Zipper pocket added/confirmed.
• Exterior: 4 total pockets on exterior, 1 front, 2 side, 1 should strap pocket
• Interior: 1 laptop padded slot, 3 open pockets, 3 zipper pockets, 2 pencil/pen slots
• 1 Wired USB Outlet (Exterior) with USB cable connector for battery (Interior)
• Logo material changed to Reflective Material
• Logo moved to avoid rubbing & deteriorating while using pocket
• Zipper Commuter/Employee Card pocket added to shoulder strap
• Waterproof material (600D) Fabric, Reflective Logo, Hidden Zipper

We do plan for creating our own modern designed backpack from scratch in the future that will contain modular features and a little closer to what you see and feel from the Sidekit, but this is farther down the line as any future products are currently on hold until we complete fulfillment of our campaign.

Money Clip and Cable Tie  

We did receive proofs of the money clip as seen by the photos on the lower part of picture. There is a magnet custom concaved into the bottom part of the money clip. Our prototype actually had the magnet with a convex outward toward the bottom, change was made for better smoothness when used individually for sliding in and out of pockets. The logo's will actually be gloss black over matte black in production. We used the lighter color to confirm placement of the logos.   

Tooling Process & Updates:

• Parting lines from Injection molds identified and approved
• All gates (Injecting points) for injection molds have been identified and approved.
• Injector pin locations identified and approved.
• Drafting angles that needed changes were made and approved.

The creation of the injections molds are in progress. Current expectations are March/April next year for anyone who missed the last update for complete information please review the previous update. Please continue to address any concerns through [email protected]. 

Next Update: 

We plan to deliver the next campaign update around the 27th of December. Once again thank you for your time and patience.

Sun Nov 20 '22 Announcement
over 3 years ago – Sun, Nov 20, 2022 at 11:07:19 AM

Update Summary:

We met with management of our sourcing/manufacturing partner concerning project and project timeline.  We received a new timeline for project overall as well as tooling process and mass production. 

Timeline Update Tooling and Mass Production:

Manufacturing/Sourcing has assured us that we will be moving as quickly as possible with regards to our project but it will take time. We are now working with them in using the sample to create the injection molds needed. This tooling process is expected to start this week and extend into the first part of January. We will then move directly into mass production. 

Mass production will be interrupted by the Chinese New Year from Mid January to Mid February with some factories closing and employees taking off work during this 2-4 week time period. Because of this mass production is expected to be completed in the March/April timeframe. All other items will be in inventory and we will just be waiting for the Sidekit itself to be delivered so we can ship out our rewards.  

We are dedicated to bringing this product to your doorstep and understand you maybe frustrated with the progress. We have updated Indiegogo and Backerkit with this information on our new timeline and expectations.  Please reach out to [email protected] to address any concerns.

Updates to move to Bi-Weekly:

As we enter this tooling process, in order to avoid repetitive information being sent out weekly, we will spread updates back to once every 2 weeks until we get back closer to shipping. Thanks all for taking this journey with us and we will continue to support and back other projects as you all have supported ours. We plan to reach 20 backed projects by year's end.

Next Update to Include these items:

Money Clip Sample photos, Backpack photos, Tooling process update. 

Sun Nov 13 '22 Announcement
over 3 years ago – Sun, Nov 13, 2022 at 10:23:54 AM

BackerKit surveys are coming

Soon, you’ll receive an email from us with a special link to your BackerKit survey. It’s important to respond to your survey as quickly as you can since we need this information to fulfill your rewards.

You don’t need to create a BackerKit account to fill out your survey. When you receive the email with the survey, click the survey link to respond. Answer the questions about your reward preferences, provide shipping information, and purchase add-on items if you like. You don’t have access to this survey link yet, but it will be available soon via email!

After you respond to your survey, you can go back later and change your responses at any time before we close the surveys and get our final counts.

If you need to review your information or pledge status, you can return to your survey by clicking the link in your survey email or requesting your survey link under "Lost your survey?" on our BackerKit project page you will receive a link to in your email

Surveys are expected to be sent to backers in the next few days. 

Sun Nov 13 '22 Announcement
over 3 years ago – Sun, Nov 13, 2022 at 10:20:25 AM

Update Summary:

In this weeks update we have been provided with the sample photos and a tracking number for the sample that has been shipped to us. Also we will discuss our upcoming meeting with our Sourcing/Manufacturing partner, as well as our prototype vs sample. Survey Information in separate update.

Sample VS Prototype: 

What you see on our campaign is a prototype that had all the looks and functionality. But the prototype was not built or segmented in a way that manufacturing could produce, and when we added colors, it added an extra degree of difficulty because we did not what the interior color to be the same as the exterior color because of for fabric and other reasons. We needed the interior color to remain black with any color selected. The base and lid had to be segmented into multiple parts in certain places to allow this to happen without compromising the structural integrity. That process appears to be complete at this point.

The sample that is in route to us is meant to meet these standards and give us a reasonable idea of how the manufactured product will look although it will look better from the manufacturer.  Through the photos provided to us we have identified a few small things that will need to be adjusted during the tooling process. The current tracking on the sample has it expected to arrive on 11/16/22. 

Timeline for Production:

We have continued to promote urgency for our product completion, not to reduce quality, but we should be given top priority in front of other projects that have come to them after ours. We will have a meeting to discuss these concerns as well as a current timeline for production as it stands currently with tooling to began shortly after our meeting to discuss the sample.  (For anyone who doesn't know tooling is the process of creating the injection molds needed to make the parts for the SideKit). 

The tooling process will be time consuming for the amount of injection molds we need and because of this, it is not possible to be able to deliver before Christmas. This is very disappointing to us because when we teamed up with are sourcing and manufacturing company, our goal was no later than Christmas, and all of our original talks said they would make it happen, but they could not complete by this deadline. 

Our sourcing company as well as all the companies we have worked with at this point are all certified crowfunding professionals and we expect complete production of product. Once again we plan to get clarity on tooling timeline and production timeline on next meeting. We made a text update in campaign info and will be making graphic updates after meeting. Please reach out to [email protected] to address any concerns, we do sincerely apologize for those that were expecting this to be a Christmas present.

Fri Nov 4 '22 Announcement
over 3 years ago – Fri, Nov 04, 2022 at 03:13:30 PM

Update Summary: This weeks update is just an information update and we expect sample to be completed and shipped out as scheduled next week. Enough Quantity will be producted to cover all Indemand and previous campaign orders. Survey update next week as we start exporting Indiegogo indemand into Backerkit pledge manager. 

TIMELINE UPDATES 

Timeline for Sample completion was given to us below, as a reminder our sourcing partner is using multiple manufacturers to complete project. Sample was viewed through photos as they needed us to approve the microfiber liner placement inside of the case and lid. As soon as we get the case green lighted for production, we will be able to deliver shipping timeline expectations.  The smaller items are not a complexed as the case, so we will be able to video verify those items if they are not ready with the case sample as to not delay production. 

• SideKit Case: September 29th - November 7th (Exterior Coating & Interior Liner applied, Waiting on assembly and shipment to US for verification) 
• Money Clip: (Update next week)  
• Card Wallet:  (Update next week) 
• Cable Tie, Fabric Tag (Ready for production) 
• Badge Reels, Microfiber cloths (Received) 

*We reminded them that we have backers waiting for product and have requested expedited service wherever applicable, in response they will be trying to move things forward as soon as possible.

RECENT PROOFS/ITEMS RECIEVED

• VIP Perks (Shot glasses, bottle openers, badge reels, & microfibercloth received to inventory). 
• Microfiber Liner placement inside container was approved. 
• Packaging sample received and approved.

SURVEY STATUS

We are currently at 93% completion on surveys. Remember to contact us if you have not received your survey here or through [email protected]

Weekly updates will continue until all products are received and shipped: Thank you for your time and patience.