Hello lovely people!
I'm sorry for the lack of clear updates the past 2 weeks - I know I estimated for the pre-orders to be shipped out by the second week of July, and I apologize for not making that deadline.
There has been a slight delay - but pre-orders should be going out this week for sure. The shipment arrived much later at the fulfilment centre - and I was going through all the submitted orders in the system to make sure that everything was correctly mapped (shipping methods, addresses, order details) before they were sent out. This is taking additional time but I just want to make sure that you receive your pre-orders smoothly!
I appreciate your patience as I sort everything out and decks *SHOULD* be going out this week and very soon!!!
I can't wait for you to receive the pandas!!
If you have any questions, you can use the Contact Me form to reach me! It gets sent directly to my e-mail inbox, so I'll see it for sure xo
Panda hugs,
KIm
]]>Hey lovely people! Thank you so much for pre-ordering Way of the Panda Tarot: Imagine Edition & Baby Panda Edition. The decks have finally arrived at the fulfilment centre, and will be shipping out by the end of this week!
Right now, I'm just taking some time to make sure all the order details are correct, and doing some final checks here and there so the fulfilment centre will process the orders correctly.
The pandas are excited to be traveling to you. Thank you so much for waiting!
]]>Way of the Panda Tarot is back...with an epic GLOW-UP!! Guys, I am so excited to introduce you to the new Imagine Edition - featuring a magnetic clasp box, colorful interior design, upgraded guidebook paper, dreamy bamboo matte edge, and a NEW exclusive bonus card, Imagination Station!! 😱
Ever since trying out lots of new paper options and box finishes via Spread Machine Cards + Oracle - the magnetic clasp box has now become my new standard. It opens like a story book and the satisfying magnetic "click" at the end....mmm! Heaven!!
On top of that, I am a sucker for a good box and this is one of the things that I really value when it comes to tarot decks. While the cardstock is still more important than the box itself, I find myself being more forgiving with the cardstock and other aspects of the deck when the box is well-done!
To find out more about the new edition and read about the upgraded specs, please go to this page for the Imagine Edition, and this page for the Baby Panda Edition!
A 3-day giveaway is happening over at my Instagram @fablesden from June 7 - 9 - be sure to enter the contest and you'll get a chance to win the ENTIRE PANDA FAMILY!! Which includes the new Imagine Edition, Baby Panda Edition, the Precious Paw Pouch, the Bamboo Moon Pouch, and the Book of Pandas: the official guidebook!
It's quite epic- you don't want to miss out!
Way of the Panda Tarot pre-orders are now OPEN! Throughout the weeks of June, you'll be able to enjoy a 10% off discount for either the Imagine Edition and/or the Baby Panda Edition.
All pre-orders placed in June will also come with a FREE CANVAS DECK STORAGE POUCH...oh yes. The Precious Paw Pouch is back, along with a new design, the Bamboo Moon Pouch! You get to pick and choose which design you want.
To activate the discount, please use the promocode COZY at the checkout screen to receive 100% discount on the pouch. Note: you have to add the pouch to the shopping cart first for the discount to take place!
The short answer is: pre-orders will ship the second week of July!
All the pre-orders will be processed and shipped out by a trusted fulfilment centre - and Way of the Panda decks are scheduled to arrive at the fulfilment centre at the last week of June. Ideally, shipping should commence within 2 days of their arrival (I'm told that they usually finish processing things within a day!), and I expect you'll be getting your decks much sooner than that. But since it's covid, and shit happens (LOL, I would know - the Spread Machine decks took forever to start production, finish production, ship, and pass the customs!)
But yes, starting this year, all Way of the Panda and deck storage pouch orders will be taken care of by ShipMonk, a s fulfilment centre based in the United States (their customer service team is truly exceptional!)
What does this mean for you? For one, you can expect to receive your package much sooner because of the efficient processing and productivity of the fulfilment centre. When I ship by myself, I only ship out orders once a week, and there's much administrative and organizational labor involved (such as importing/exporting orders, printing shipping labels, packaging, taping, and driving to the shipping depot to drop off packages)
Personally, I will miss putting the pompoms into every single package and being able to sprinkle in some extra love and cute vibes😭...but one of my goals for my business moving forward is allowing more ease and space to open up in my life...so I can focus what I love and do best: creating!
As an indie business owner, I wear all the hats in my business and I do literally everything myself, and while I love and appreciate what I do - it's honestly a relief to be able to generate more automated processes to help me accomplish multiple things at once! I have a world to conquer, after all, and there's so much more I have to give, still!
I am still shipping out Spread Machine decks and Sparkly Lenormand decks by myself! As in like, the rest of the decks are stocked in my house, and I'm literally sending them directly to you from where I live! Once this specific batch is sold out, I will be printing more and they will be fulfilled by Ship Monk as well. My goal is to eventually transition to a fulfilment centre fully!
Also, if you buy Spread Machine Cards + Oracle & Way of the Panda Tarot products together, I will be sending them to you myself! I have a tiny batch of panda decks with me in case of mixed orders like that.
If you're curious about what I'm creating next...hehe.
Ok, first of all, there are more pandas coming. I know I've been naughtily teasing you here and there, but there is going to be a Way of the Panda Oracle deck coming in the next year or two. I don't exactly when it will be finished yet - and I'd like to keep things flexible for now. I find that when I announce the dates too early, I stress myself out because I'm apparently constantly forgetting the fact that I am human and I don't have 50-hour days!!!
I definitely want to create more Spread Machine expansion packs - my original plan was to create 2 more for 2021 and make them available in 2022, but after a year hustling for Spread Machine, my body really needs a break. Plus, I pumped out 3 decks in less 7 months last year for the Spread Machine series (actually...4! Since I also made Sparkly Lenormand "by accident"...or is it technically 5? Or 6? Since I printed the Baby Panda Edition too, and another batch of Dream Edition in early 2020!)
I'm also working on a little tarot book. It's something that I feel the tarot world is missing, and I hope to add to myriad of wondrous voices in the tarot community by indie-publishing this book. It's technically not "new" new, but I'm beefing it up to the point of transformation...so I guess it's sorta new?
I'm keeping this book a secret for now, because I've learned that over-sharing at the beginning stages and promising dates or details stress me out to no end. I am someone who is really keen on keeping the promises I make and the dates I announce, and I just know that as soon as I blurt it out, I'll be pushing myself to complete it. And I've done that in the past 3 years. While I don't regret it, but I really need to take better care of my health from now on. I'm not in my 20s anymore. I is OLD!!! 😂😂😂😂😂
Anyways. My plan for the rest of 2021 is really just relax, and chill the fuck out. After 3 WHOLE YEARS of hard hustling, I think I deserve a few months break. I say break but I'm really still working 😂 because it's what I love! But no more intense big launches or projects due this year. Thank god!
Panda fist bumps,
Kim
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It took me a long time to make this decision - after all, I already moved site from Wordpress to my SquareSpace at one point, and I really didn't want to do it again! I considered moving EVERYTHING on my main Fables Den website to keep everything in one place, but decided that it was way too much work. Besides, I'll have to rewrite the ENTIRE site directory - mapping out links and where things are. It just wasn't worth the labour!
The reason why I am moving to Shopify is because Shopify is a platform that focuses on hosting e-commerce stores - and it has a lot of integration features that SquareSpace just doesn't have. For example, I am using Chit Chats to ship out my packages to y'all, and Chit Chats only integrates with Shoplify and Etsy and not SquareSpace.
Once I move shop to Shopify, I can import all of the order details and addresses with a few clicks of the button, instead of going through exporting order details, to organizing addresses on Microsoft Excel, importing again, and organizing...as a recovering workaholic and chronic traveler to burn-out-town, anything that helps me make my work easier is a blessing!
I know this is mostly behind the scenes stuff - so if you're just shopping, you probably don't really mind where you shop from. But let me just say that while I looooved my SquareSpace site, but I should have started with Shopify from the very beginning! (Why didn't I!? Oh right. I already had a site on SquareSpace. Figured I'd keep everything there!)
Another reason why I wanted to move to Shopify is because...*drum-roll for big announcement* I am beginning to transition from shipping everything myself to using fulfilment centers to fulfill my orders! I know many of you love the feeling of indie and knowing that the decks are passing through the creator instead of just being shipped out like a product. (I know you'll probably miss the pompoms I put into every parcel...I will too😭)
But partnering with a fulfilment centre will really help me streamline my workflow, and free up a lot of my time so I can focus on what I love most: creating. Besides, everything will be pretty much shipped out on the same day as you place the order - and if you'll also be getting your decks sooner because fulfilment centres tend to have better working systems and deals with shipping couriers!
Now that I don't have to worry about manually shipping out orders every week, I can focus on creating more decks, more courses, more resources, and more tarot-centric and level-up-life content on Fables Den! There is literally SO MANY things I want to create in the past year but have been a little bogged down by packing and shipping stuff. Don't get me wrong, I love every aspect of my work - but as I get busier and have more creative ambitions - I am constantly looking for ways to be more productive and expand my business! (Other than creating - I have a passion for free-spirited entrepreneurship, as well! I've never been one to follow orders or work for someone else 😂)
With all things considered, I think it's a win-win for all of us. :)
Right now, I'm still shipping out Spread Machine decks on my own + by hand - but the upcoming Way of the Panda decks will be pioneering for Fables Den as the first panda army to ever work with a fulfilment centre. The pandas are excited to be given new modes of transport - as they can get to you waaaay sooner and safer. :)
It took me a long time to get everything started and sorted out - let me just tell you how nervous and scared I was when I was picking fulfilment centres. I spoke to several and finally chose the perfect one for my decks and my business. I hope I didn't drive the sales reps crazy with all of my neurotic and super-detailed questioning and my back-and-forthing 😂
Anyways. That is all for now! I am truly excited for all the changes coming to Fables Den...I have so much more to give, to create, and to transform still. I love you all and thank you for your support, you love and your passion in what I do. I will always hold it in my heart!
Panda hugs,
Kim
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