Quick Shipping Update
9 days ago
– Tue, Nov 12, 2024 at 10:21:50 AM
Hello all,
I have a very brief update about shipping. I got confirmation that the products will arrive in the US on November 19th. Then, it will take 7-10 days to process through customs and finally get in our hands.
So, it's safe to say that we will begin the 2nd wave of order fulfillment on December 2nd. My goal is to have all orders shipped before December 13th.
Once the labels are scanned in with the carrier you will receive an email confirmation with the tracking number.
Everyone in the first wave has their orders now and we're super excited to have Smootheeze in the wild!
Thanks,
Ross
The First Orders Have Shipped
17 days ago
– Sun, Nov 03, 2024 at 04:44:58 PM
Hello, I have a quick but exciting update...
The first batch of inventory arrived very quickly and we're shipping those out Monday, Nov 4th.
Check out this video for more info:
We packed up the first wave of orders this weekend and they will be dropped off with the shipping carriers tomorrow (Nov 4).
Once they are scanned in, those backers will get an email, and your shipping status will be updated in BackerKit.
I hope to have another update sometime this week or at the beginning of next week with a more precise shipping timeline for wave 2.
Thanks!!
Ross
Update: Smootheeze Sets Sail! 🌊
22 days ago
– Tue, Oct 29, 2024 at 05:07:24 PM
Hello, amazing Smootheeze backers!
We have some exciting news: Smootheeze is officially on the move! The trays have been packed up and left the factory as planned on October 26th. They’re now in the process of boarding a ship and sailing the high seas to meet all of you smoothie lovers in North America!
🛳️ The ocean journey and processing through customs will take about 30 days, so we’ll keep you posted as they make their way across the waves. I’m also coordinating with a local trucking company for delivery to our warehouse.
We’ll be able to provide a more exact arrival date in about two weeks, but for now, we’re still looking at everything arriving here the last week of November. Since we'll have to coordinate all of that around Thanksgiving, I'm still thinking we'll be able to start shipping orders to you around December 2nd—just in time to kick off the holiday season with some smoothie magic!
Shipping in Two Waves
As I mentioned in the last update, I was able to arrange air freight for a small batch of 40 tray sets. This way, we can start fulfilling orders ASAP, beginning with our early backers who ordered one of each tray. Prioritizing fulfillment this way helps us work through orders efficiently and ensure everything flows smoothly through BackerKit. So if your backer number is between 1-100 and you ordered one of each tray, you will likely be in this first batch going out around November 11-12.
You will receive an email once your order ships, so be on the lookout for that confirmation email. If you don't receive one, that means you are in the second batch.
The second shipping batch will start around December 2nd and we'll work our way through the remaining orders by backer number.
Action Needed
Final Shipping Address Update
Now is the time to make any updates to your shipping address. You’ll have 48 hours to make any updates through the BackerKit survey. Once that’s done, we’ll lock addresses to finalize fulfillment. If anything changes after the lock, just send me a direct message or email, and I’ll be happy to update it manually.
Missing Surveys
There are still about 50 people who have not completed their surveys. So if you're seeing this update and don't think you've done that, please go to https://smootheeze.backerkit.com/ and do that as soon as possible. We will not be able to ship your order until you've provided all of these things – your address, tray selection, and payment information for shipping (if applicable).
We’re so close now, and I can’t thank you enough for your incredible support and patience. The next update should have some even closer-to-home news, so stay tuned and get those blenders ready!
Cheers, Ross
Shipping Update: Slight Delay in Shipping Timeline
about 2 months ago
– Tue, Oct 01, 2024 at 02:46:13 PM
Hey everyone,
We wanted to give you an important update on our shipping timeline for Smootheeze. First off, we want to apologize for the slight delay in getting your trays to you. We completely understand the anticipation and possible frustration of waiting for your orders to arrive. Your support has meant the world to us, so we want to be super transparent. There are some unknowns in launching a new product and working with a manufacturer that takes time to work through. But overall, the process has been very smooth and we are well within the average expectations of delivering on a product launched through Kickstarter.
The good news is that manufacturing officially started on September 20th! However, we were initially given an incorrect timeline regarding how long it would take to inspect and test the product. It turns out that this process requires more time to ensure everything meets the quality standards we set with the factory.
Here are some photos of the lid being made
The silicone is mixed and made into sheets
The material is placed into the compression molds, heat and pressure make the silicone conform to the mold.
They are removed after it finishes curing. There is always a bit of excess material that needs to be trimmed by hand and each piece is visually inspected to ensure there are no defects.
Additionally, we weren't aware of a national holiday in China during the first week of October when all factories shut down for the week, which wasn't included in the original timeline.
That being said, we’re still making solid progress! All the details for inspection and packing have been finalized, and the factory is contractually obligated to ship the product out by October 25th.
New Timeline:
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October 25th: Products will leave the factory.
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Around November 11th: The first batch arrives at our warehouse, and we’ll begin shipping to the first 90-100 backers that week.
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Last week of November: We’ll receive the remaining inventory and will begin shipping all orders ASAP (Thanksgiving may affect things slightly).
We're really sorry for the shipping timeline shifting again. This is our first batch of production, and we’re making sure we get it right with the quality and standards you deserve.
Thank you so much for your continued patience and support. We're giving you the most accurate information as we get it from the manufacturer, and we can’t wait to finally get Smootheeze in your hands so we can all start blending up some amazing smoothies!
With this timeline in mind, we will process payments on October 10th for anyone who ordered additional trays or needs to pay for shipping.
If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to reach out. Thank you again for being a part of this journey!
Warmly,
Ross & Tess
Production Update - We've Got Samples!
2 months ago
– Fri, Sep 13, 2024 at 03:44:27 PM
Hello! I'm excited to share a few progress updates.
Production
The manufacturing process is rolling along and we're hitting our major estimated production milestones. I received what they call the golden samples at the beginning of the week. These are the final production units used as the reference sample that all other units must meet in terms of quality. They look amazing and function perfectly. Check out some photos
I'm now working with the factory to finalize the quality control process and make arrangements for FDA product testing. Production of all the units should be completed by the end of the month.
Shipping
I don't have an exact date yet for when I will start fulfilling orders. I need 1-2 more weeks to coordinate with our logistics partner to get all of the details on importing the products. But I still expect to fulfill your orders in two batches starting mid-October.
I plan to receive an expedited shipment of a limited amount of product to send out the first batch of orders around October 15th. I will fulfill orders by backer number. So if your backer number is 1-90, expect to receive your order the week of October 21st.
The second batch of orders will start shipping around October 31st. I'll update everyone in a couple of weeks when I know more.
Order Surveys
There are still a small number of backers who have not completed your order surveys. I will send out individual reminders, but if you know you have not done that please search for your BackerKit survey email or go here to request a new link: https://smootheeze.backerkit.com/
This step is required to receive your order since I don't know where to send it without your address.
If you purchased additional trays or need to pay shipping, your card will be charged once I get confirmation from the factory about a more precise shipping timeline. Expect that to happen around September 23rd. I will send out a brief notice before doing that.
Please reach out if you have any additional questions. As always, I truly appreciate your support and patience in getting Smootheeze off the ground.
Talk again soon,
Ross
