Essential information: today is the Preview Day where you look at the mugs and plan your purchase. We uploaded mostly what people asked to be replaced and some new stuff.
If the mug you want is not available or is in the wrong size, please comment below and we will add it. So if you want a latte mug with Here Kitty, Kitty or a 20 oz mug with the BDH designs, let us know.
All orders will automatically go into production in 1 hour. Be sure you have the correct address and the correct email.
If you made a mistake, we can sometimes get in there and edit things before the item ships, but it’s not a guarantee.
Some mugs will arrive broken. We are using a vendor who ships them in cardboard because we don’t want to make more plastic garbage than we have to. If the mug arrives broken, snap a picture and email us through the store. The vendor will replace it at no charge to us.
The store opens on Saturday.
For those of you who would like to understand more about merch, the pricing, etc, please prep with a caffeinated beverage of your choice for this merchandise saga post. This will be long.
Background
The last time we opened the store, one of the vendors quit midway through. Unfortunately, the orders were already in, so we had to spend three days going through each order manually, and refunding the cost of that item and the portion of taxes and shipping that applied to that item only. The amount of stress and work this generated broke me for a bit.
The plan was to abandon the merch ship. I deleted all the merch items, and we reopened as an ebook only. Best laid plans, ha!
A while ago, people in the Facebook fan group lamented that their mugs broke, and there was no way to replace them. Coincidentally, at that point B.A. Bookish approached us and asked if we could license them to produce merchandise.
License in this case means that we gave them permission to use some of our images and quotes to get them started. The idea was that they would produce merch, pay us the industry standard 15% of the profit, and everything would be fine.
This has proven to be a bit of a disaster through no fault of B.A. Bookish. For some reason, some people thought that their store was our store. The fact that they are not us is just not landing. This makes me extremely reluctant to enter a partnership with anyone else, because some portion of the BDH refuses to acknowledge that we do not have full control over what that vendor may design.
This is probably due to the fact that most of the people don’t know how much merch costs and how licensing works, which is why I will break it down below.
Also, B.A. mugs are metal and cannot be microwaved, so we haven’t solved the broken mug issue.
With that in mind, we are reopening the store with mugs. Today is the Preview day, meaning, you can look at the store, comment here to make requests for the mugs of a certain design and size, and plan your purchase so you don’t have the morning-after regrets.
Tomorrow the store will officially open. It will remain open semi-permanently. It may be periodically paused for a couple of days, if we need to make adjustments or wait for the money to catch up, because we don’t get the payments immediately. PayPal often sits on it for like 45 days or something. But the plan is to keep it mostly open, so please don’t panic buy. Please.
How it works
My philosophy for the merchandise is that it is fan service. We are not mug sellers or T-shirt sellers. We don’t even want to sell books, to be honest. We would rather just write and let someone else handle the selling part.
Nobody is owed merchandise. Fan service, by definition, is an extra. However, merch is nice to have, and it makes us happy. This is my happy merch:
The girl on the left is Umaru-chan. She comes from an anime about a girl who is perfect and poised in school and turns into that funny version at home, where she wants to play video games all day, eat steak and chips, and drink Coke. I love this because Kid 1 gave her to me. We watched the anime together, and looking at Umaru-chan makes me happy. Also, Kid 1 is totally Umaru-chan.
To me, merch should meet several requirements:
- Be of decent quality. These are not heirlooms, but they should look nice.
- Be somewhat affordable. Nobody wants to pay $30 for an 11 oz mug on top of shipping.
- Must not take up a ton of our time
- Must not land us into a financial hole.
We cannot maintain inventory. We cannot spend time shipping a lot of small orders. All of this costs too much money and time. This is why we are going with drop shipping, which is basically Print On Demand. We provide artwork and the vendor makes the item and ships it. Because of that, they charge more for shipping and production.
We have 3 sizes of mugs available: 11 oz, 15 oz, and 20 oz. In addition, some mugs are white, some are black, and some have a color interior. We also have latte mugs, which are at 12 oz. All mugs shipped to the US will have free shipping.
Funny story about this: one of the readers measured the volume of the latte mugs and informed me that it was not quite 12 oz. I asked if she wanted a refund. I don’t remember how we resolved the slightly less than 12 oz issue, but no merch can stand up to that level of scrutiny. If you are expecting a high end item, this is not it. These are mass-market produced standard mugs. They are microwavable and dishwasher safe.
The price of the mugs is calculated as follows: cost of the mug (what the vendor charged us to make it) + shipping + $5. We need to make at least $5 off a mug to make up our costs. We pay annually for the store website and the bookkeeper to file taxes stateside, and we pay EU people to file our VAT and taxes. And we must recoup design costs.
Most of the mugs follow this pricing table:
- 11 oz – $15.99
- 12 oz latte – $19.99
- 15 oz – $19.99
- 20 oz – $25.99
Some of the mugs are more expensive. The black mugs cost more to make, for example. But I want to highlight the artist mugs.
This is one of those mugs. It is a 15 oz that retails for $21.99.
We’ve worked with a lot of artists over the years and we have access to beautiful art. However, licensing art for merchandising means extra fees. Some artists do not want to do it, because they prefer to retain control or they simply don’t want their artwork on a tote bag.
Some artists ask for a very high fee. I’ve been quoted $2,000 per image before. A quick calculation: how many mugs do we have to sell to make up $2,000?
When you buy a mug, we don’t get money immediately. We pay the vendor immediately, however. So for every $5 earned, we must first put $15.
To make up $2,000, we must sell 400 mugs and invest additional $6,000 into production on top of the $2,000 we paid. And we haven’t broken even at this point. We still have all the costs I mentioned above and we haven’t paid ourselves for labor. This is for just one design.
In an effort to not land ourselves into a financial hole but still provide you with pretty mugs, we are doing a split. The artist mugs are priced higher – we are making $7 instead of $5 – and we are splitting that $7 50/50 with the artist. So when you buy a mug with Helena‘s art or Candice‘s art, they get $3.50 or however the split happens to land.
In the past, we would approve orders manually. We cannot do that now. It takes too long. To reiterate:
All orders will automatically go into production in 1 hour. Be sure you have the correct address and the correct email.
If you made a mistake, we can sometimes get in there and edit things before the item ships, but it’s not a guarantee.
Some mugs will arrive broken. We are using a vendor who ships them in cardboard because we don’t want to make more plastic garbage than we have to. If the mug arrives broken, snap a picture and email us through the store. The vendor will replace it at no charge to us.
UK, AUS, EU
We are planning to make all mugs available to the territories above. We are waiting for the service that collects VAT to sort us out, because physical products are different from ebooks. (We paid VAT before, but I deleted everything when I removed the merch.) So the international store will open a little later. But we have mug vendors lined up.
Canada
Working on it.
Phew. Okay, I’m going to go kill Maggie now, and you have fun looking at the store and making evil plans.
happy Friday to all!
First mug of tea!☕
The store is coming! Big tea and coffee mugs! Larger mugs are a necessary need. Thank you!
Thank you again for doing this! I know I appreciate it and I hope everyone else does too. the entitlement, I hope, is not the voice of the majority!
+1
you are too good to the BDH
you guys are so good to us! I can’t wait for the new merch – that Inheritance mug looks gorgeous. thank you for dealing with all the logistics so we can have pretty things!
I hear the roar of the Horde looking at all the pretty mugs in the store.
This is one time I’m skipping the store. Yes, yes, gasp, wheeze, moan, and groan. I have more than enough mugs in my kitchen. The one I use a lot is the Roman one from Sanctuary. The saying is so true. 😁
Thanks, Ilona, from taking time away from killing Maggie to post all that info for the store.
I want to thank all of you at HA for being so extra good to us.
(I have many coffee mugs but there is always room for 1 more, right?)
I would love the here kitty kitty one since I missed that the first time around.
+1
Happy friday BDH!
is it suoer annoying to have an option for 20oz Beast Business and Inheritance mugs? I’m a tea addict and love my giant mugs
Hi Faith, which designs of Inheritance and Beast Business please? The covers? The tiger baby butt?
Thank you!! Appreciate all that goes into this. Thanks for doing the preview!
I will now go drool over the cool mugs and plan the acquisition of mugs and contemplate being chalant when the store opens.
Pacing myself, per instructions, like a good Horde-let.
All the chalantitude.
Just chalanting away over here.
Sooooo chalant.
Just breathe through the grabby hands.
Was there a Call Me Kate mug? I’m trying to replace my Call Me Kate shirt.
There was a Call me Kate mug 🙂 Would you be interested?
Only mugs in the store, at the moment 🙂
I still want a Curran For Beast Lord ’24 campaign mug. One day…
Hope the shop runs smoothly for you and doesn’t interfere with the all important writing!
I know the store has been a massive headache in the past. I really hope this new attempt sticks well. I have bought from the B.A. Bookish (one of the signed Beast Packs) and really look forward to when it arrives but yeah – the lack of microwaveable mugs I’m so glad you were willing to overcome.
My mugs are precious and when I take them home to be washed in the dishwasher. I’m currently using my “Evil Enough” mug (not in the store atm) and have a “my ability to even” for next week <3
I will refrain from panic buying more 😀
I’m so excited to grab a few mugs! I missed it last time. Is there any chance of getting the “if the sky could dream it would dream of dragons” design on a 15 oz mug? I can’t insert a picture here but I’m hoping you know which one I mean! I’ve seen a picture but don’t know if it was actually ever produced as a mug.
We do know 🙂 Have logged it 🙂
Thank you thank you!
It was. I bought one.
Unfortunately it was not dishwasher safe and I did not realize that.
The design came off and I now have a nice white mug.
This is *totally* my own fault and I expect nothing but ridicule.
However, if it ends up in the shop, I will buy another one and take better care of it.
(Currently, I am using Tervis mugs in honor of 10 month old Maine coon kittens. Those enormous paws, about the size of my palm, are not as careful as I would like. Plastic works.)
Yay – your dedication to the BDH and Mugs is outstanding!
Mine requests (after looking through the Preview) are both The Innkeeper Ceramic Mugs. #1 “First Guest”, 20 oz. (white mug preferred). #2 “Welcome to Gertrude Hunt”, any size (prefer design on black background on a white mug; Preview shows design on a white background; I can send a photo if needed).
Oh, and the new Inheritance mugs are a must buy. So pretty!!!
I hope the headaches are kept to a minimal. This is really appreciated!
Team metal rose mug for shipping to the uk please!
I love the Beast Business and Inheritance mugs, and will surely get at least one of them once the evil conspiracy that is EU bureaucracy is sorted out 😀
Somebody mentioned the “I can’t even” quote. I don’t remember that design anymore, but it would work great as an office mug, me thinks. It’s been like that lately…
15oz would work fine for me, I guess. Anything smaller that that is an insult to tea drinkers.
First of all thank you, I enjoy and appreciate all that you two do. I also appreciate the people who help you.
I own your books, and a lot of merch. I love telling people (some who ask, some just because I see them looking) what the merch is about, and what book/series it’s from.
I would really like a 15 or 20 oz mug with the Chalant image on it (if possible), whenever you open the store to Canadians.
Is there any possibility of a chalant design mug??
Have added to list 🙂
Thank you, you’re amazing! I’ll wait very chalantly.
Thank you for offering 11oz. mugs! They are fiendishly difficult to find. Ability to Even and Rippercushions are the ones I want. Also thank you a million times for avoiding plastic shipping materials. Reducing that footprint is important to me.
I shall get five (but I’ll wa*t a few weeks 😀). we have boring mugs and my collection of IA mugs from the previous store openings. my family always goes for the IA mugs! i’m getting both latte and 15 oz-ers, so i’m happy with the variety.
Would it be possible to get the “Here, Kitty, kitty” black mug with the lion back in? That was my favorite, but it sadly peeled away. Thanks whether you can or not! =)
Already on the request list 🙂
::sending many happy vibes to all:: =) Thank you!
Ya’ll are amazing. Thank you. I would love a 15oz BDH fun print mug. I even looked up my original order to make sure I was asking for the right thing. Mine met an untimely death when my partner was washing dishes. He shall be forbidden from touching the new mugs. I’m also totally grabbing the Beast Business cover mug! Also, people are silly. It’s obvious that the B.A. Bookish is its own store.
I believe that’s the same one as Chalant 🙂 Have put it in under both names, just in case 🙂
The mugs are so beautiful thank you! I managed to snag a mug last time and it’s my favorite mug to drink tea out of. Thank you!
Hi! If it is possible I would love it if the magic clams mug was added to the store. Mine broke and I would love to replace it! If not that is ok. Thank you for everything you do ❤️
On the list 🙂
Thank you, thank you! Can you please add the “Official Member of the Book Devouring Horde” 15 oz mug? It was my most used mug and the handle broke off in my dishwasher. ( Would love to get another one! I am so excited for all the lovely mugs.
Seconding this!
20 Oz inheritance mug! I’m new to the BDH so was not here for the previous run of mugs. Much appreciated. I’d love a here kitty kitty mug when they become available.
thanks! Big tea drinker…20 Oz please.
Hey Cheryl,
There are two Inheritance designs – the cover (in purples and blues) and Ada with Jovo and Bear at the anchor (sandy tones).
Which ones are you referring to, please 🙂 ?
Happy Friday. I was lucky enough to get 1 of the I can’t even mugs and I use it almost every day. I’m happy to be able to order more
You guys treat us so well!! Thank you!!
My request:is it possible to get Cutting Edge in a 15oz regular mug?
Im seeing 3 I want…
The “ability to even”, “I like home”, and the “cutting edge ” mugs! I’m not sure what size I use… I will have to go measure my favorite mugs.
But if the “hello kitty kitty” mug is added I will swap out one for that!
I love my mugs!!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you. I drink tea every morning and I always smile as pick out my HA mugs! You spoil us!
Woohoo more mugs!!!