eko by ekowareusa

Premium Core êkö Kits & Clip-in Accessories Shipping! Ti-Ultra tooling underway.
over 3 years ago – Fri, Jun 18, 2021 at 04:44:33 PM

Hello Everyone,

Happy Summer Solstice! We received the first production batch of êkö Clip-In accessories and will be shipping soon bundled into Premium Core êkö Kits or separately in sets of two for those who got them as add-ons.   These and other add-ons are still available at https://ekowareusa.backerkit.com/hosted_preorders and be sure to use discount code EKOFRIENDS2021 (or other codes mentioned) at checkout.  These should arrive in time for summer adventures near or far.  

êkö, at its core, is designed as an ultra-portable sustainable alternative to single-use flatware, first and foremost. We hope the Clip-In's add value to that.  Our goal is to help decrease the consumption of single-use products that inevitably harms our world now and for future generations; #globalclimatechange #biodiversity #cleanwaterways #pollution #oneplanet

Ti-Ultra êkö metal hardware tooling refinement is taking a bit longer in account of the harder titanium material and remote sample review/iteration/refine collaborations with our supplier teams along with the overseas shipping times.  We'll keep everyone updated on this as we move forward. 

Here's how the new clips work:  

Here's the video of the sequence from "transport mode" to "eating mode":   

Premium Core êkö Kits will include Clip-In Accessories attached and bundled inside pouch for shipping. 

The Clip-Ins are made of a sturdy, reusable, and recyclable ABS material which should be hand-washed along with the pouch/napkin as needed.  The metal êkö hardware is machine-washable.  As we grow we hope to offer these modular Clip-In accessories in different colors, materials, lengths, and shapes.  

It's been a great journey bringing êkö to life and it couldn't have been done without your support.  For this we are eternally grateful.  We can only hope that we can grow more in helping make a more sustainable, inclusive, and eco-friendly world. 

Thank you,

EKOwareUSA Team

www.ekowareusa.com

IG: @ekoware.usa 

Production & Fulfillment Updates
over 3 years ago – Fri, Jun 04, 2021 at 05:00:20 PM

Hello Everyone,

We hope this message finds you all well!  The global pandemic has effected us all and we're doing what we can to promote a more sustainable world moving forward stronger and more connected.  It's been a bit more challenging to manage international remote production and logistics but we've been making good headway.  We are thankful for your support and excited to deliver on your pledges. 

We should receive the Clip-In Accessories in Mid-June and will ship them along with Premium Core êkö Kits soon after.  Tooling for the Ti-Ultra êkö is being prepared for production with some small revisions due to the harder titanium material.   Once we confirm the off-tool samples of the titanium version it will take 15 days for production; we'll do an update with photos of Ti-Ultra's at that time.  We expect this new production batch of Ti-Ultra êkö to arrive by July 4th, hopefully. 

Core êkö Cutlery Kit Backers:  Your kits have already been shipped, received,  or they're in transit.  Please message us if you hadn't received your Core kits or have any questions.  If you'd like Clip-In Handle Extension Accessories please use the coupon code EKOFRIENDS2021 for and additional $5 off at checkout. Credits were also enabled to your accounts depending on Pledge Level.  

Based on your feedback and the requests from retail partners we went with dark gray Pantone 425C for the color of the Clip-In Handles for this first production batch.  We'll choose additional colors in the future.  Here are a few very recent pictures of the T2 Production Units from our factory: 

A draft of instructions on how to use the Clip-Ins:  To Remove the Clip in Transport Mode, Press Release Button and push Clip through Handle Slot.  To Attach the Clip for Eating Mode hook the front of Clip into the Handle Slot pivoting Clip down into slot until it "Click Locks" into place.  Repeat.   This is show below with the T1 off-tool sample (no color or texture to confirm function only) testing unit below: 

Please message us if you have questions. 

Thanks Again!

John & EKOwareUSA Team

Core êkö Kits shipped or shipping! Clip-In & Ti-Ultra Production Updates
over 3 years ago – Wed, Apr 28, 2021 at 12:17:30 AM

Hello Backers,

Batches of Core êkö Cutlery Kits have already been shipped with more on the way; International shipping may take a little longer to arrive to your location.  Pledges with Clip-In Accessories should be ready to ship together with Core êkö and Premium Core êkö Kits by the end of May.  Titanium material for Ti-Ultra êkö Kits have been sourced and planned to be ready in June. 

If you have any questions regarding your pledge please message us on KickStarter.  

Thank you.

EKOwareUSA Team

____________________________________________________

Tooling has been kicked-off on the Clip-In Accessories.  

We have to pick one color between 

1. êkö green 

2. light gray 

3. dark gray.  

Please comment your choice if you'd like.

Packaged Core êkö Kits have been shipped or in the process:

êkö wooden phone stands (that can attach to keyrings) work like this: 

BackerKit Cash Credits, Gift Rewards, Reduced Shipping Charges, & Bug Fixes
over 3 years ago – Sat, Apr 03, 2021 at 06:20:44 AM

Hello Awesome Backers!

We've worked-out some shipping, pledge-level segment, and logistical bugs on our end after hearing your comments and got very acquainted with the (new to us) BackerKit platform to make it work for us. That said, here's what we've done:

1.  In appreciation to our Backer Community, we assigned each Pledge Level a complimentary Cash Credit reward and/or êkö Wooden Stickers and/or Keychain Phone Stands. The Complimentary Credit can go towards Add-Ons/Pre-Orders of your choice. For example, Ti-Ultra 4X Backers get a $20 Credit for Add-Ons/Pre-Orders and they'll get a set of stickers & stands. You can redeem Cash Credit and see your Gift Reward from your Survey Response or access it with your email address here: https://ekowareusa.backerkit.com/

2. Switched to weight-based shipping across all pledge levels and created special shipping profiles to reduce shipping costs.

3. Assigned a special shipping profile for the Clip-In Accesories, Wooden Stickers, and Keychain Phone Stands so they'll cost $6USD to ship internationally using flat registered mailers; not $15USD using 1st Class USPS we have to use for êkö Cutlery Kits.

This has all been put into place so let us know how it goes!

Many Thanks,

John & EKOwareUSA Team

BackerKit Surveys, Production Updates, Add-Ons, & Pre-Orders
over 3 years ago – Wed, Mar 24, 2021 at 12:59:29 AM

Hello Backers, 

Happy Spring 2021!  We received pledge funding last week via KickStarter and sorted-out our BackerKit Add-On/Pre-Order offers,  fulfillment tools/materials, and a production/delivery schedule.  

BackerKit Surveys are being sent out this week which will ask for your shipment information and give options to any Add-Ons and/or Pre-Orders you'd like.  We are required to send just 5% of surveys to backers across all pledge level at first to ensure things run smooth before all surveys are sent soon after. Your Kickstarter Pledge includes shipping cost so all you have to do is add your up-to-date and correct shipping address.  If you'd like additional Add-Ons and/or Pre-Orders, however, the new item cost along with shipping rates will apply.  More information on our Pre-Orders and Add-Ons below. 

Core êkö Cutlery Kits (304ss) are ready-to-ship and will be sent soon after we receive your survey responses.  Add-Ons (except for additional Core êkö Kits, êkö Stickers, and êkö Wooden Phone Stands) will take some production lead-time to be shipped.   You may add to your pledge at this time or later but please note the additional item cost and lead-times.

That said, tooling was kicked-off for our Clip-In Handle Extension Accessory with a target delivery date of June 2021 and will be compatible with both Core (304ss) & Ti-Ultra êkö Cutlery Kits.  This accessory is sturdy injection-molded ABS material (color TBD) that can be clipped-in both eating and transport modes with a button release feature.  Pre-Order this Add-On Accessory for your Core êkö Cutlery Kit and/or have them included with Premium Core êkö Cutlery Kit (304ss) and/or Premium Ti-Ultra êkö Cutlery Kits:

Titanium for our Ti-Ultra êkö Kits is currently being sourced; we found out recently from our manufacturing partners that titanium worldwide has become more in-demand by larger-scale industries this year.  And so we're diligently solving the problem on our end to find material suppliers to meet your pledge expectations.  We'll keep you updated on this.  

 If our Ti-Ultra êkö target ship date may have to be pushed back further because of this unfortunate titanium supply problem, we'll offer Backers who pledged for Ti-Ultra êkö Kits the option to swap for Premium Core êkö Kits (304 Stainless Steel sets +Pouch WITH Clip-In extensions) at no additional product cost.  This exchange would be of equal value to your original Ti-Ultra êkö Kit pledge but please know that we do plan on following-through on making Ti-Ultra êkö Kits available ASAP  this year and, again, will keep you updated in this regard.  Premium Core êkö Kits with the Clip-In Extensions will be available by June 2021 so please consider using the $5 Coupon Code "EKOFRIENDS2021" for this Pre-Order Add-On.

•  Core êkö Cutlery Kits, stickers, and phone stands are ready-to-ship 
•  Ti-Ultra êkö Cutlery Kits are targeted for a June/July 2021 Ship Date as we solve this titanium material supplier problem so possibly later. 
•  Clip-In Handle Extensions: Tooling kicked-off for a June 2021 Ship Date (pushing for earlier) and offered as an Add-On to Core êkö Kit Backers.  These will complete the Premium Core êkö Cutlery Kit and Premium Ti-Ultra êkö Cutlery Kit also offered as Add-On Pre-Orders via BackerKit. 
•  BackerKit Surveys will be sent within a week for your shipping address details and make available Add-Ons & Pre-Orders. 

Our adventure in creating êkö has been an insightful journey with friends, collaborators, and supporters. We are super thankful and inspired to build something substantial, special, and sustainable moving forward.

 Thank You,
EKOwareUSA Team
 On IG @ekoware.usa

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