samantha_twin

International Shipping for Merch + Personal Update

Published: March 5th 2025, 11:10:39 pm

Hello!! ^w^

I'm officially starting international shipping for my merch, and I have my catalog ready! I may still add a few new items, but first, I want to know your opinion x)

Before we start, I want to update you on my current situation. If you want to skip this part and go straight to the merch catalog, please keep scrolling until the "Merch Catalog" section x)



So, as many of you already know, things didn't go great at the Hatsukoi. In part, it was probably because of a series of bad decisions on my part, like investing way too much money and time in it despite it being just my first convention, getting in debt to get the merch done, and such. Things got worse because of my mom's health issues at that time (She's completely recovered now), and because I wanted my first convention to be perfect, I focused so much on it that I got delayed on everything, both personal projects and commissions that I needed to earn some extra money. Because I haven't posted many relevant things, I start loosing support on Patreon (and it's just natural, I'm sorry for not being great at creating new things u.u) Then the Hatsukoi comes, and I didn't sell as much as I expected, which was foreseeable because most of my followers are not here in Mexico. I get a double-depression episode (It happens every year around December, but it came early and harder this year), which was worsened by the bad results of the Hatsu; now I feel useless, that I'm deceiving everyone, I'm not doing anything relevant, I can barely get a slice of cake for my birthday, etc.

Finally, by the end of January/start of February, I start being mildly functional again, which is nice ^^ But the damage is already done. I'm really struggling to pay off debts; my credit score is ruined, and everything I earn goes towards those debts, which I increased in December by asking for more loans because of the reduced income and because I wouldn't take more commissions given that I'm already pretty delayed with them. I didn't want to ask for donations or help because I don't think I deserve anything more from you. You've already been too patient with me ^^'

Even though I'm doing things now, it's slow because writing and drawing take time, and having trouble focusing and having responsibilities at home doesn't help much x) I'm doing what I can, which is rarely enough. But hey! I just had another convention last weekend! It was at my home city of Toluca, Mexico x) It was called Anigamers Fest, and I didn't have to spend much on it because of course, I still have a lot of merch from the Hatsukoi. And it was nice! We didn't sell a lot, but enough to recover the cost of the booth and just a bit more. Also, one of my friends helped me a lot with a "purchase" x) But what's more important, I'm starting to make myself known here and among other local artists.

I started shipping my merch within Mexico and sold a few items. Still, most of my audience is from other countries, and some items are starting to run out of stock. But, thanks to the artists I've met both at the Hatsukoi and Anigamers Fest, I now have a much better idea of how to ship internationally and keep the prices low. Shipping with private companies like DHL, FedEx, UPS, etc. would cost over $50 USD, more than any item in my catalog. So, I'll be using Correos de México (Mexican Postal Service) which is A LOT cheaper, once it's outside Mexico, it would arrive to you via your national postal service. For what I've been told, it's usually around $10 USD to most contries. Of course, this depends on the destination country, weight and size of the package, etc., but seems to be safe and most important yet: Cheap.

Now this is where I want to ask for your help:

Merch Catalog

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Q7NbhRE_NyUMtab4CwHxm8hs78skqm4-?usp=sharing

This is the merch I have available, more or less. Some items are out of stock, but I planned on making some sort of "pre-order" so you can pay for the items, and I'll get them made on demand instead of probably making too many of them that won't sell. This means some items have a waiting time. Once I have them ready, I'll just ship them to you ^^ However, things that are actually in stock won't have a waiting time, and I'll send them to you a couple of days after the payment. Once I've sent the package, I'll let you know the shipping cost, which would be the last part of the payment.

I hope this can work for you ^^ As I didn't want to come empty-handed asking for help, but I really could use the money to invest in this business so I can get some more money moving and I won't have to take a ton of new commissions, because they mean extra work and time I can't dedicate to my projects, the reason you all are here. I may make a couple of exceptions every once in a while, but I seriously can't keep depending on commissions if I aspire to write and draw a full story, make animations, etc.

Please don't feel obliged to buy anything, but for those of you who want to get some merch, this is your chance!

I'm also planning on making a couple of new items I really wanted to make for some time, but I'd like to know if you'd be interested in getting them, or if not (Which is totally okay, seriously!) and if I should discard the idea for now and leave it for the future x) Also, just so you know, I'm bringing several NSFW sketches and illustrations this month. I need to post a lot for my Supernova patrons because you've really been amazing and patient with me and also because I really want to x) I have several ideas in mind and in progress.

Getting back to the new items for the merch, (these are not yet on the catalog, as I still need to finish them, so sorry it's just a sketch for now) the first is based on a video I really like, "Pure Pure" by CASTSTATION for the song "Rabbit Hole" by DECO*27 (This also was the reason I wanted to draw Lizzy and Lynn in bunny suits xD and if I had the chance, I'd love to make my own version with Lizzy. This was a popular trend last year xD)

(If the images won't load, please reload the page! I think Patreon especially has issues showing pictures in the app)

Those are acrylic stands with a spring. it would look something like this: (Photo from a different person, just for reference)

I'm also adding a badge with text saying "I survived testosterone poisoning" and a couple of bookmarks for Lizzy and Lynn that would work similar to the ones I have for Luna and Estelle. Two separate bookmarks with the same concept between them (different to Luna and Estelle's) and sell them together.

(Text for the Luna and Estelle bookmarks is from "Fear of the Water" by SYML.)

This image is so you can get a better idea of how these bookmarks work if you put them together, they form an "eclipse" in the back, and Luna and Estelle are facing each other but in the opposite direction, kinda like moving around a barycenter.

And for the prints options (Tabloid, A4, A5), I'm also adding Flowers and Mine to the list ^^

  and all the NSFW illustrations, though I'd require you to be over the legal age in your country to buy those.

Anyway, please let me know your thoughts, and if you're interested in buying something, send me a message here, or an e-mail to [email protected]