April Goodies, May Goodies, and CHANGES.

THE GOODIES HAVE BEEN DECIDED! Also please note the merch pictures are from the manufacturer rep so they aren't fantastic, I'll have better pics when I have them in my hands!

April's goodies, as you probably noticed me mention several times, are the Socks the Skunk shaker charm(complete breakfast tier) and a clear sticker of Socks holding a clover(sticker tiers)!

May's goodies will be SHEENA STANDEE!!! And of course a Sheena sticker that I will design this month.

Oh also the Spamton shaker charm(that i am in love with) is gonna end up in my shop. The borders were too think to utilize originally so I ended up making a quick background based on the Cybercity switch background! Also please, NOTE THAT DOLPHIN CLASP HEHEH.

NOW LET'S TALK ABOUT THOSE CHANGES!
Forgive me for this text wall but I'll appreciate a read through!

I've been trying my best to fight these changes off, but it has to happen. I think over all it may be for the best? 

MAY'S COMPLETE BREAKFAST REWARDS ARE THE LAST BIG MERCH PATREON REWARDS

The sticker tiers will still be active of course.

I plan to message every "Complete Breakfast Tier" about these changes TWICE in May. Once in the beginning of the month, and once at the end of the month so nobody misses out.

Don't feel bad about cancelling/lowering your pledge over this. I'm a consumer too, so I get it hahaha. (Though if you do cancel your pledge over this, you should totally lie to me and say it's for financial changes in the exit survey even if it's not to avoid breaking my fragile heart lmao)

NOW FOR THE REASONS WHY

I can't keep up with them, in multiple ways. I let my enthusiasm run away with me, but between figuring out the merch every single month and the actual cost of that merch, and the shipping of that merch to ME, and the time and cost of shipping of the merch to Patrons, and the taxes of my Patreon earnings, I end up barely breaking even for all that work. I know it's my fault for picking pricey kind of merch. and "always wanting the best for my Patrons" It's a nice thought but another example of my enthusiasm carrying me off.

To keep myself afloat I've had to take extra outside work. This created a Patreon that was pretty much based in merch design for merch half the Patrons aren't even getting due to being in the smaller tiers?

There's also the factor of trying to figure out ahead of time how many of a merch I'll need and how many extras I should get due to manufacturing errors and always getting extras to make sure I have enough, then also being stuck with many extras afterwards.

Then the final fact of it all:

I have a store.

It seems silly to be struggling month to month on Patreon merch when I have a perfectly good Etsy(though I may move to a different platform soon) that I can add to when I have good ideas for merch. I think this is probably for the best too, since that removes some of the Patreon FOMO and folks who want multiples of the same goodies have the option.

Also

This will let me ship out stickers in the beginning of the month since I won't have to worry much about upgraded tiers and whatnot!

Now for the understandable question:

"What's the point of being in Complete Breakfast Tier after May's over?"

My plan is to make the "visible" add to the tier an extra vote in suggestion polls. HOWEVER!! I do plan to do special things with the generous folks who do stick around in that tier. It will be different things at different times since I don't want to make promises that put me in difficult situations. So pretend it's just an extra vote and be surprised when I surprise you!

"What about the international tiers?"

I'm unpublishing that tier as soon as May is over. There really is no point to it if I'm not shipping anything!

Honestly, for a little bit I was considering closing my Patreon entirely, but it seemed kind of silly to do when I could just remove the piece that was giving me grief.

I want to get back to REALLY drawing fun crazy things again and not having to stress the "merch time limit". Not to say my merch isn't fun crazy things, but I want more freedom for more wild shenanigans! Now that my Patreon merch plate is (mostly)clear I already have many fun ideas that I want to do with you all. The $5+ tiers should keep an eye out on April 1st for something fun.

Thanks so much for reading this wild wall of text, I know it's a lot.
And as always
Your kind support and understanding is so very appreciated.