The Napier Jigger: A Vintage Cocktail Measuring Cup
Created by Rachel Eva and Shawn Michael
We're back with another great addition to your cocktail kit: the Napier Jigger, a reproduction of a vintage design from the golden era of cocktails.
Jiggers are also often called pourers, measurers, or measuring cups. A good Jigger should:
- Accurately measure cocktail ingredients
- Account for commonly used measurements
- Be easy to read and use
- Never break
- Bring delight and satisfaction
We've done it all - and we think you'll fall in love with the Napier as much as we did.
Latest Updates from Our Project:
Backerkit Credits & June 22nd Survey Deadline
over 6 years ago
– Thu, Jun 14, 2018 at 01:07:40 AM
Hi Backers,
Thanks for all your great feedback on the last update, posted Monday.
If you haven't yet read Update #14, in it we discuss some important news, including 2 new options, and important changes to Gold, Silver, and Copper rewards. We've also broken it down into a few short videos - so go watch now!
This is a follow-up update to:
1) Remind anyone just hearing the news that surveys will close on Friday, June 22nd. So please go make any changes, update your address/payment method, and add-on any additional items in the next 10 days! It is especially important for anyone who is expecting to receive a Copper, Gold, or Silver Jigger to understand the changes in Update #14, and make the selections you want from the new options available. Update your Survey Now.
2) Update Backers on the way we're issuing credits.
So grab a cocktail and, if you care about the nitty-gritty of how to use credits, read on.
-
Backerkit Credits
In our last update, we discussed two changes that result in our offer of credits to backers. You'll receive credits if:
You backed for a Copper Jigger
You backed for a Silver Jigger and have NOT upgraded to Authentic Silver Plating (because you will be receiving a Stainless Steel jigger instead)
In the lengthy conversations we had with Backers on the comments boards for the last two days, we learned that many of you would like to use your credits NOW via Backerkit, rather than at a later date at standardspoon.com. It makes sense, we listened, and have come up with a solution where most of you can either use your credits now for Backerkit Add-Ons, or save them for later (store credit at standardspoon.com never expires).
We said yesterday that one challenge with issuing Backerkit credits is that it's a little messy on the back-end, depending on how rewards and add-ons are set up, but we would do our best. We've been able to issue credits for almost every situation, with the exception of the "pledge level" rewards for Earlybird Backers, which we explain in detail below. So skip to the section that's applicable to you - we'll start with Copper.
COPPER JIGGERS
(RECAP from Update #14):
Because we are not able to make a solid copper jigger with handle, we are instead offering Copper backers two options:
#1: Copper-plated jigger with handle
#2: Solid Copper jigger - no handle
If you have backed for (or added on) a Copper Jigger, and make no changes, you will receive option #1, the Copper-Plated Napier Jigger with handle. As with all of our plated tools, we're applying an extra-thick durable copper coating, so it should hold up well with proper care.
If you'd rather have option #2 (Solid Copper Jigger with NO handle), please log in to Backerkit now to change your selection. You have until Friday, June 22nd:
The solid copper jigger without handle will retail for $25, and the Copper-plated jigger with handle will retail for the original price, $30. However, since the handled version is not SOLID copper, we're offering a $5 credit to backers who pledged for a copper jigger, regardless of which copper option you select to receive.
Backerkit credits have already been applied (both at the pledge level and to your add-on pricing). You can use credits toward Add-Ons, or if you've already added items in Backerkit, you'll see a reduced balance due to the issued credits.
If you do not use your Backerkit credits by June 22nd, they will be issued as store credit at standardspoon.com. Store credits will be emailed to you after surveys close, and never expire.
SILVER JIGGERS
(RECAP from Update #14):
When we were exploring alternatives to Authentic Silver plating, for those of you who didn't want to opt-in to the $5 cost share solution, we found that the Silver Alloy alternative (imitation silver) looks identical to the high-polished Stainless Steel Napier Jigger, but would be more expensive to produce and require more care. So we have two options for backers at the Silver Jigger level:
#1 - Stainless Steel Napier Jigger with handle: $20
#2 - Authentic Silver-Plated Napier Jigger: $32
If you have backed for (or added on) a Silver Jigger, and make no changes, you will receive option #1, the Stainless Steel Napier Jigger with handle. It's a beautiful piece, has a high-polish finish, and will be a no-fuss jigger to care for and clean.
If you'd rather have option #2 (Authentic Silver-Plated Napier Jigger), please log in to Backerkit now to opt-in to Authentic Silver:
If you do not opt-in to Authentic Silver, you will receive a Stainless Steel Jigger. Since stainless steel jiggers are priced at $20, not $27, we're issuing a $7 credit to all Silver backers who have not opted-in to Authentic Silver. You'll notice that any Silver Rewards or Add-Ons that are not Authentic Silver have now been changed to reflect the Stainless Steel default, and the price has been reduced accordingly.
Backerkit credits have already been applied (both at the pledge level and to your add-on pricing). You can use credits toward Add-Ons, or if you've already added items in Backerkit, you'll see a reduced balance due to the issued credits.
If you do not use your Backerkit credits by June 22nd, they will be issued as store credit at standardspoon.com. Store credits will be emailed to you after surveys close, and never expire.
Earlybird Backers
The one exception to Backerkit-issued credits is at the Earlybird Backer level. Because of the way this pledge level is set up, we are not able to issue Backerkit credits for the original, "Pledge Level" reward. So if you are an Earlybird Backer, and you answered your "Pledge Level" survey questions to receive either a Copper or Silver Jigger (and have not opted in to Authentic Silver), your credits will be issued as store credits at standardspoon.com after surveys close.
Please note: If you are an Earlybird Backer and have added-on additional Earlybird Jiggers during the Kickstarter campaign, Backerkit credits HAVE been applied for all add-ons. It is only the initial, "Pledge Level" reward you indicated in your survey that we are unable to issue credits for in Backerkit.
Just to be extra-clear: all Earlybird Backers who will be receiving a Copper Jigger or a Stainless Steel Jigger (as an alternative to Authentic Silver) as their "Pledge Level" reward will still receive their credits, but the only avenue to deliver them will be as store credit at standardspoon.com.
Optional work-around if you want Backerkit Credits instead of store credit: If you've selected multiple Earlybird Jiggers and finishes, make your base jigger (at the "Pledge Questions" level) an Authentic Silver or Gold Jigger, or a Gold Alloy Jigger, and make your Add-On jiggers Copper and/or Stainless Steel (as credits are available in Backerkit for Earlybird Add-Ons, just not for the "Pledge Level" reward)
What's Up Next
Backers have another 10 days to opt-in to Authentic Gold and Silver plating, use Backerkit Credits, update addresses and payment methods, and Add-On other tools.
We will also be sending individual emails to any Backer who is receiving a Gold, Silver, or Copper jigger, just to make sure we are doing all we can to communicate about these changes. If you receive multiple communications, please have a little grace for our redundancy. Not all Backers receive (or pay attention to) Kickstarter Update emails, so the extra email (from outside Kickstarter) might help tip them off that they've got some decisions to make!
As we said to a few backers already:
We know that this might be frustrating or disappointing news to some of you. If you'd like to emote or engage with us about these changes, please join us on the comments board. We really value your feedback, and have already offered a lot of the back-story behind the challenges and decisions that we've made in response to Backer Comments. Please join in!
Scroll to the bottom of the page where it says "Want to Review Your Survey Responses?" and click the button "View Confirmation"
Click the button "Edit Pledge Questions" or "Edit Add-Ons," depending on which items you'd like to edit.
If editing Pledge Questions, make the selection you'd like. If editing Add-Ons, you'll see them appear on the right side of the screen.
Click on the one you'd like to edit. (In some cases, as with the Copper Jigger Add-On, you may need to delete the one you have in your cart, and add the new item you'd like to your cart.)
Make your changes to the item (measurements, style, and/or finish)
High-Fives! You did it!
***If you can't access your survey or run into any issues, send us a message. We're happy to help (though if you can manage it yourself, please do - it allows us to focus on other things ;)
VIDEO UPDATE: Important News + Last Chance to Make Changes
over 6 years ago
– Tue, Jun 12, 2018 at 12:39:56 AM
If you have backed for a GOLD, SILVER, or COPPER Jigger, please make sure you understand the important changes that have taken place, and update your survey to reflect the new options that are available. Please watch or read on for the latest.
(this includes NEW information for SILVER and COPPER Backers).
(If you prefer to read instead of watch, all the same stuff and some additional details are below)
Production Samples #2
Last update we showed you the first production samples, and identified some things we wanted to revise. The factory worked on the changes, and we're really happy with the results! The font has been updated to our preferred font (the first production samples had another generic font that didn't quite have the character we intended) and fixed alignment issues with the exterior measurement markings.
The biggest change was that we wanted a nice sharp angle at the 2 oz measurement line, rather than the soft curve the first production samples featured, and they nailed it:
They'll also be ensuring all jiggers have that nice sharp 90 degree angle on the handle.
With the second samples correcting the few items that we wanted to make sure were right - we authorized the factory to go ahead and begin production! They've received our funds, are procuring materials, and will be soon making thousands of jiggers. We'll have an updated production schedule in the next week, but it looks like they'll be finished end of July, and shipping out in August.
NEW ITEMS:
Now available:
Copper Industry Jigger (no handle, solid copper) - $25
Stainless Steel Napier Jigger (with handle) - $20
Because of some of the changes we've had to make to our original product line-up (see below), we actually had some opportunities to provide two new options, either as alternatives to your original choices, or as add-ons to your pledge.
If you want to add-on either of these items, or swap out your current selection, make the change in Backerkit by editing your survey response. You do that by logging into your survey via Backerkit. Once you log in, scroll to the bottom of the confirmation screen, hit the "View Confirmation" button, and then "Edit Pledge Questions" or "Edit Add-Ons" depending on what you've got selected already.
Speaking of surveys....
June 22 - Last Day to Make Survey Changes
With the start of mass production, we'll be locking down surveys in two weeks on June 22nd. So you have two weeks to make address changes, change or add any add-on products, use any Backerkit funds or credits that you haven't used yet, and update any survey responses.
Log in to Backerkit to make survey changes here: UPDATE MY SURVEY
Once we lock-down surveys, we will be charging credit cards for any add-ons. So just to be clear, if you've added anything to your original Kickstarter pledge (additional tools, shirts, upgrades to jiggers, etc), the credit/debit card you have on file with Backerkit will be charged in about two weeks time.
If your credit/debit card may have expired since you filled out the survey and added your add-ons, this would be the time to go update your payment information to ensure you receive the additional things that you've ordered.
If you've kept up with past updates, you know that if you've pledged for Gold or Silver jiggers, you MUST opt-in (by modifying your survey selection) in order to receive authentic precious metal plating in Gold and Silver.
REVIEW: Precious metal plating is much more expensive than we were originally quoted, so we are doing a cost-share opt-in for backers who really care to have the real thing. We are covering most of the cost increase (and yes, prices have gone up since the last update), but if you want authentic plating, it's +$5 for silver, and +$10 for gold.
SILVER BACKERS (new & important information)
If you don't opt in for precious metal silver plating, our plan was to do an imitation silver alloy. When we received that sample with the alloy plating, it was visually identical to stainless steel. Imitation silver won't tarnish in the same way that authentic silver will, so there's no real benefit to applying a silver alloy finish if we can achieve the exact same visual look with high-polished stainless steel.
We decided that for those of you that do not opt-in with our cost-share solution for authentic silver, you'll receive a stainless steel jigger with handle.
Silver alloy (imitation) plated jigger on the left. Polished Stainless Steel on the right.
This was not originally an option for our jiggers (all handled jiggers were to be plated in gold, silver, and made from copper). However, with the cost issues for precious metal options, as we began to explore alternatives, a simple stainless steel version started to make a lot of sense.
The great news here is that stainless steel is super simple to care for, and if it's un-coated, there's no risk of a finish flaking or coming off - you can really bang it around. Of course, if you abuse it, it'll still dent and scratch, but it won't flake, and you won't have to fuss with not using abrasive cleaning agents and all that jazz.
Because the stainless steel jigger will retail for less than what you pledged in the Kickstarter campaign, we're offering all backers who don't opt-in to authentic silver (and therefore will receive polished stainless steel) a $7 store credit at standardspoon.com as a peace offering. Credits will be issued via email after surveys are finalized and locked down, and never expire.
GOLD Backers:
We promised you a finish-comparison so you could decide between the authentic gold plating upgrade (+$10) and the imitation alloy gold plating. We haven't yet had a sample made with real gold on the jigger, but we have this little piece of flare that the factory provided which is plated in the real deal, so you can see the two side-by side:
Gold Alloy (imitation gold) on the LEFT - sample with authentic (precious metal) Gold plating on the RIGHT
As you can see, the imitation gold alloy is a little more yellow-gold; it will match other gold barware that you may have in your collection (remember that pretty much all 'gold' barware on the market is imitation gold, unless it specified the karat in the product listing (e.g. 14K, 18K, 24K Gold).
Some things to be aware of with authentic gold:
We are plating to a durable finish, though please be aware - this doesn't mean you can abuse the jigger and expect it to stay pristine. Gold plating is very sensitive to getting knocked around. You should always hand-wash these jiggers, and NEVER use abrasive materials (no brillo pads, not even the scratchy side of the sponge, and certainly no grainy cleaners). If you take care of this jigger, it should last you a while. Just don't throw it in the bottom of your backpack!
We are plating this jigger in 24k Gold; the plating factory is only set up to do the best, so though we also explored options for 14 and 18k gold, which tend to be a little more durable (though a little less pure), we're going all the way with this thing.
OK - so with all the gold and silver challenges we've been communicating about, up to this point there have been no changes with copper. Until Now.
The Good News:
We are now making a solid copper industry jigger (that's a jigger with no handle). This was a popular request from backers, and we originally held off to avoid having too many SKU's starting out with this product, but now that we've committed to it - we're really excited about it!
The Challenging News:
During this last round of sample-making, we found out that the factory ran into limitations with the copper materials when attempting to weld the handle onto the jigger. This didn't come out during the discovery process with the first production samples, because they hadn't procured the large quantity of copper material required for this job yet. Because of the heat conductivity properties of copper, the factory is unable to weld a solid copper handle onto a solid copper jigger body.
We were pretty upset (I'd say angry) when we were informed of this, and pushed back hard for them to find a solution. We explored everything from riveting the handle to modifying the design in order to provide better welding structure. The factory and their team of experts explored a dozen different solutions, but when the dust settled - there's no way around it without seriously compromising our design (and completely re-tooling for a Frankenstein version of the Napier).
We can't make a solid copper jigger with a handle.
Our solution:
For those of you that really care about the "SOLID" property of this jigger, we're making a solid copper jigger with no handle.
For those of you that really care about the design element of having a handled copper jigger, we're making a stainless steel jigger that will be copper plated. As with all of our plated tools, we'll be ensuring a durable plating thickness (not the flash-plating process that many barware manufacturers use, which just deposits a thin coating for coloring purposes only).
The copper-plated version with handle, even with our durable plating finish, will still be more susceptible to wear and tear than if it was made out of solid copper, so be aware of this as you make your choice. You'll have to be careful not to use abrasive materials when cleaning, and don't throw it around your bar. But with proper care it should hold up nicely.
Because we're not able to make a handled version out of solid copper, we're offering all Kickstarter Backers who pledged for or added a copper jigger $5 store credit at standardspoon.com as a peace offering. Credits will be issued via email after surveys are finalized and locked down, and never expire.
What's Next?
Kickstarter Fulfillment
With mass production underway, we are working on finalizing packaging for the jigger, and getting ourselves ready to bring these beautiful tools to the broader barware market. We're also working on streamlining our fulfillment plan, and crunching massive amounts of backer data to ensure that nothing falls through the cracks when we start shipping rewards.
Indiegogo Pre-Order Page
Once we lock down surveys on June 22nd, we'll shift any additional pre-sales over to Indiegogo, and be launching a 2-month pre-sale campaign while the jiggers are manufactured. We're doing this so that folks who still want to pre-order the jigger over the next few months have an avenue to do that, as Backerkit orders will be closed.
So if you have a friend that's a little more risk-averse than you, our brave Kickstarter partners, but also really wants to get in early on beautiful barware that's (now) fully vetted, send them over to the Indiegogo InDemand Pre-Order page. We'll be running a new referral campaign, so log in to your Indiegogo account and share the page link from there, and you'll automatically be eligible to receive free rewards (shirts, jiggers, and more of our tools).
Make More Cocktails
If you missed Negroni Week last week, don't fret - you can always make one at home! Here's our most recent cocktail feature: The Negroni truly is a classic of classics. You can read all about it (including variations that use Bourbon and Mezcal) on our blog: The Negroni Cocktail.
Thanks, and Cheers,
Rachel Eva & Shawn Michael
First Production Samples
over 6 years ago
– Thu, May 24, 2018 at 10:14:24 PM
Hi Backers,
We're working on problem solving a few production challenges, so we apologize for getting these photos out to you later than we intended!
First Production Samples of Napier Jigger
We received these beauties in early May, and were very impressed. Typically with manufacturing, it's rare for the factory to nail it in the first try, but ours came really close.
Our primary task was to measure the accuracy of the jiggers, which we spent a lot of time doing! We have a set of volumetric cylinders that we used to test the volume accuracy of both the stepped measurements and the internal markings that we've added to increase functionality:
Below is a close-up of the metric jigger (in the gold alloy finish). You can see the internal markings for the 40ml and 50 ml lines in the top two sections.
How We Measured:
For those of you that are nerdy about testing, measurements, and accuracy, we measured two ways:
First, we poured colored liquid into the jigger (as we would if we were making a cocktail), filling to the step or line that we wanted to measure. Then we poured that liquid into the volumetric cylinder (making sure to get every drop), recorded the data, and took another two measurements at the same marking on the jigger. Those three measurements vary a little, usually by a ml or two, due to human error (we're always less accurate than the tools we use - go figure!). By taking the average of the three measurements, we are able to get a fairly good idea of how closely the actual jigger measures volume.
Second, we cross-tested by pouring colored liquid into the volumetric cylinder to exactly the volume that the step or marking on the jigger should represent, and then poured that exact volume into the jigger to see where it reached. All measurements but one were spot on.
ML v OZ Measurements
The structure of the body of the jigger is the same for both the metric (ML) and imperial (OZ) jiggers. The ml and oz measurements that we have built into the body are so close to one another on a conversion basis, it didn't make sense to make two completely different body designs. At the upper limit, 2 oz = 59.14ml, and we're aiming for a measurement of 60 ml (which, conversely, is 2.02 oz). That 0.02 oz or .86ml is such a small volume - it's really just a few drops! When we were doing our average measurements, human error alone is many factors larger than the discrepancy between oz and ml conversions.
However, we did build what we think is a neat little guide into the structure of the jigger. Since each step represents 0.5oz, 1.0oz, 1.5oz, and 2.0oz AND 15ml, 30ml, 45ml, and 60ml, and since there is a minuscule discrepancy when converting from oz to ml (or ml to oz), we had a natural solution in the physical construction of the four stepped measurements. If you're really concerned with accuracy - by - the drop (and you're not a molecular mixologist wielding an eyedropper to measure drinks), fill to the bottom of each step if measuring for ounces, without letting the meniscus of the liquid spill over the step. If measuring for milliliters, fill just until the liquid begins to buckle with surface tension and break into the section above. That's about equal to the conversion discrepancy between oz and ml in this jigger :)
For those in-between measurements ( 1/4 oz and 3/4oz on the imperial version; 10ml, 20ml, 40ml and 50ml on the metric), the internal markings are laser-cut at the precise measurement in each variation of the jigger.
Industry Jiggers
With this round of production samples, we are able to show models of the industry jiggers (with no handle) for the first time! They are beautiful, and a pleasure to use.
NOTE: You can split your Industry 2-pack into one ML and one OZ jigger if you want both. We still keep getting this question, and the answer is YES! Just log into your survey, and make sure you've got one of each selected.
And here's a photo that demonstrates the stacking feature of the Industry Jigger. They stack just as we designed them to, and it's so gratifying to see:
Sample Revisions Needed
Measurements: Everything was really accurate in the measurement department except for one internal line (the 40 ml line on the metric jigger). We've provided that feedback to the factory, and it's an easy thing for them to move that line marking down a millimeter or so to get a more accurate 40ml measurement.
Markings: There were a few alignment issues on the external ml and oz markings, with inconsistent vertical and horizontal alignment on several of the samples. The manufacturing team saw this right away and informed us that it's because the markings were applied manually during the sample process, and during mass production this will be corrected and standardized with machines. Here's a snapshot of the visual feedback we provided to the factory:
Handle Shape: On a few of the samples, the handle didn't have a strong angle on it, as designed. The factory will be ensuring that all handles are strongly angled like the the gold alloy version on the left:
(Emoji are great for communicating right / wrong in China!)
Top of Jigger Flare: the uppermost measurement (2oz / 60ml) didn't have a strong angled transition from the straight-sided body to the top flare of the jigger, so the factory is working on correcting this with the current Production Sample #2. Here's an image of the vintage jigger, which we based our design on (left) and the first production sample (right). It's not terrible, but it's just a little too weak for our taste on a jigger that features strong lines and owns its angles:
We provided the feedback to the factory, and they are already halfway done with Second Production Samples, which will correct the top flare, the 40ml line, handle shape, and alignment issues. Samples should be done first week in June.
We'll be ready to begin mass production as soon as those samples are finished.
In the meantime, we're rapidly problem solving some other issues that came up, and we'll need some backer input for certain rewards. We don't have all the information yet, but should in the next few days. When we have a complete picture and know our options, we'll send out another update (next week is likely).
Cheers,
Rachel Eva & Shawn Michael
Quick Update - Awaiting Production Samples
almost 7 years ago
– Fri, Apr 20, 2018 at 07:08:02 PM
Hi Backers,
First off - my apologies to those I haven't responded to via messages; I haven't received KS notifications for the last month or so and didn't realize it!
As a reminder, for those of you that need to update your address, you can do that by logging in to your survey here with the email address you use for Kickstarter:
Project Correspondence
I know that Production Update I mentioned is a bit overdue, and thanks for your patience. The short update is that the production samples are taking much longer than anticipated. Almost daily I send check-in/process inquiries to our manufacturing team, watch my inbox like a hawk, and pounce like a panther every time I get an update.
To give you a little inside peek at my inbox, to date we've had 196 emails back and forth with our manufacturing team about this project in the year and a half since we began speaking with them about the Napier Jigger. Of those 196 emails, 110 of them have been just this year.
That's 110 emails in 110 days. It's a lot to stay on top of. Here's a screenshot of one email thread as a visual reference (there are several threads happening simultaneously re: gold/silver finishes, packaging design, and other specifics)
Sometimes it's hard to know how much and how often to share that information with Backers - there's no earthly way I could keep you updated on the day-to-day and stay sane. (You'd probably start blocking my emails, too if they came that frequently!). So we tend to wait until we can gather enough information about one segment of the project. That way, when we do send out an update, it not only recounts some of the last month's journey, but we've been able to reach some kind of milestone and share that news with you.
Production Sample Update
We've almost got our hands on production samples. This part of the project is always the most unpredictable. It's the first chance you have to see how well plans were communicated and interpreted, what manufacturing limits or challenges might not have been anticipated, and how competent the factory is at moving things along quickly when you need to iterate on the design.
This sample process is taking longer than others, for a few reasons:
1). There are a lot of different elements to this project. The factory under-estimated the time to complete the samples, and we also added on an extra two finishes midway through the sample-making process, which extends the timeline. This project requires a mold for the body, tooling for the handle, tooling to use when welding the handle to the body, two different measurement molds (oz and ml), tooling for the logo, and 4 different plating processes.
2). Because of the different measurements and increased plating finishes, we're receiving multiple samples at one time, rather than just one. That means that if one sample is delayed - all of them are. Turns out that the gold alloy plating is taking an extra-long time; the other samples are apparently done and just waiting for the gold alloy to be finished so they can ship to us.
3). Revisions. When we received the photo of the first sample that was finished, it was obvious that the factory had transposed two measurements - the top lip of the jigger was ENORMOUS (see below). The great news here is that we are able to do a quick remote review, and we immediately stopped the process before they got around to plating and finishing it. We had the factory correct that main body issue before moving forward. Revisions take time, but are absolutely critical.
Here's a run down of our correspondence with the manufacturing team about the sample-making process:
3/01 - Lunar New Year over, sample making commences.
3/16 - Samples expected to be finished 3/20, plating/finishing by 3/23
3/23 - Samples finished, obvious flaw in jigger body (above); instruct to correct.
3/28 - Revised body finished (above), but tooling to weld the handle delayed.
4/01 - Body samples polished, errors in mold of logo and measurements. Expected to be done on 9th.
4/09 - continued delay relating to logo mold and need to revise handle.
4/16 - Logo done, issue with measurement justification. 7 days needed for gold alloy plating.
Right now we're waiting on the final plating finish (the gold alloy) to be completed; then they'll ship all the samples to us for review.
One thing I want to be sure to say is that our team over there is really responsive. But sometimes there are just so many different things to get right, and getting it right just takes time.
Samples Delayed = Project Delay
There's no easy way to say it. We're going to be shipping late. You KNOW how disappointing this is for us (especially because we originally built in a TWO MONTH time delay cushion - we needed that, and we need more).
But we will always have the position that we would rather delay a project in order to get it right, rather than rush to meet a deadline and deliver something inferior.
Here are the latest photos we received of the samples:
Sorry for the low image quality - Shawn Michael isn't over there taking pictures (lament!) We will post some good ones once we receive them in person.
These have been polished but not plated yet. As a reminder, we'll be plating them in a titanium alloys (both gold and silver imitation), authentic gold, and authentic silver. The copper jigger will be made out of solid copper, not stainless steel. The Industry jigger will be like these above, but with no handle.
We can see right away that there are a few things that we'll want to modify, or at least communicate clearly about when we revise our quality control documentation. For instance, the measurements are not center-justified on the OZ jigger, and the handle doesn't have that crisp, 90 degree angle that the metric jigger does. We'll test the liquid measurements, and if there are errors, we'll need to go back and have the mold for the body adjusted. We'll make sure the jigger sits flat, isn't off-balance, and the measurement lines inside are clearly identified. We're on the fence about the size of the logo on the bottom (it's a little disproportionately large compared to what we'd envisioned).
So, we'll need to provide feedback, and have a second round of samples made. This will also take time.
At this point, I'm estimating another 3 weeks at the earliest before we receive revised samples (and that's if these ship on Monday and we get our feedback turned around by Tuesday). Then it's a 65-75 day production timeline. That means (drumroll please).... the jiggers will be coming off the production line earliest in Mid-July (ouch).
So realistically, this project will be delivered at it's current earliest in August 2018.
COCKTAIL BREAK
Because a beautiful photo of a mouthwatering cocktail always helps to break challenging news like Kickstarter delays....
The Clover Club Cocktail - on the Standard Spoon Blog
Let's remember again why we're doing all of this. Because we all love cocktails. And we (Shawn and Rachel) want to support the ritual of cocktail making in as many ways as we can. So we make beautiful tools. We also write about cocktails, and have started to make some short how-to videos that we think are creative and fun. The Clover Club is a long-lost classic cocktail from 1901, and it's as delicious as it is pretty.
ThisBlog Post is a good read. It has history, technique, and recipe variations to make it easy and delightful to make one at home.
PLEASE double-check your SURVEY
If you need to update your shipping address, you can do that by logging in to your survey here: https://napierjigger.backerkit.com/
We'll leave surveys open for as long as we can to give you time to make changes,
To you who have backed or pre-ordered GOLD or SILVER Jiggers, please update your selection if you want to opt-in to the authentic gold and silver finishes. Not sure what I'm talking about? PLEASE READ UPDATE #11 NOW.
We'll try to respond to your messages as soon as we can. There is still a bug with one or two of the backer levels to opt-in to authentic gold and silver jiggers, so if you're running into any issues, send us a message and we'll make sure it all gets sorted.
Thanks for hanging in here with us!
Cheers,
Rachel Eva & Shawn Michael
Special Update: Gold & Silver Jiggers
almost 7 years ago
– Thu, Mar 29, 2018 at 01:41:05 AM
Hi Backers,
If you missed our last update, we recommend you get the backstory on the challenges we've had with Gold and Silver plating by reading Update #10 now (especially if you have pledged for a Gold or Silver Napier Jigger).
Because this update is going to be long, I'm going to put the Summary and Next Steps up here first. But there's a lot of great stuff in the following sections, so read on for details!
SUMMARY: Survey Conclusions
Last Update we informed you about our challenge with the Gold and Silver plating options, and asked for your feedback via a special survey. A few things are clear from your responses:
1. Enough Backers care about the authenticity of the silver and gold plating that we are going to make real gold and silver plated jiggers in addition to the gold and silver alloys.
2. Of those backers who care about the authenticity of gold/silver, the majority are willing to share costs with us to be sure we can make real gold and silver jiggers.
84% of Gold Jigger Backer respondents who care more than a little bit about gold authenticity said they would upgrade for $12 each Jigger
80% of Silver Jigger Backer respondents who care more than a little bit about silver authenticity said they would upgrade for $8 each Jigger.
Most of you (84.4%) are either Satisfied or Very Satisfied with the way we are handling this challenge. About 11.1% are neither satisfied nor dissatisfied, and 4.5% of you are not happy. Read on below for some responses to the critical feedback we received.
Plan of Action
We will be manufacturing authentic gold and silver jiggers for backers who care about getting the real thing. We took another look at our budget, tried to save some funds in other areas, and came up with a cost-share solution where backers who want authentic silver can add $5 per jigger to receive it, and backers who want real gold can add $10 to receive it (rather than the proposed $8 and $12 in the survey).
If you want to upgrade to REAL Silver (+$5) and/or REAL Gold (+$10) jiggers instead of the alloy versions, you must log into your survey and update your selection in Backerkit to reflect the change.
We will also be manufacturing the alloy versions for backers who want something that is still beautiful, is dishwasher safe, and requires less maintenance.
If you have pledged for a Gold or Silver Jigger, and you do not update your survey, you will receive the alloy versions by default.
How to Upgrade to Authentic Gold & Silver
Login with your Kickstarter email to opt-in and upgrade: Survey Log-In
When you log in, you'll see a page with updates, social feeds, and a bunch of other stuff (if you've answered your survey).
Scroll to the bottom of the page where it says "Want to review your survey responses?" and click "View Confirmation."
Find where your Gold or Silver Items are listed. They will either be under "Pledge Items" or "Add-On Items," depending on whether you pledged for them or added them on.
Click on "Edit Pledge Questions" or "Edit Add-Ons"
Under the "Finish" drop-down menu for the item you want to upgrade, select "Authentic Gold/Silver"
Then go ahead and complete the process by updating your payment.
If you are an Earlybird Backer, the process is the same for you. You'll still receive the Earlybird savings, but if you want Authentic Gold or Silver, we've provided options for you to upgrade your Earlybird Jigger for +$5 for Silver and +$10 for Gold.
Next Steps
I'll be posting a separate update soon about the overall project and what we've been working on. For those of you trying to make a decision about Gold and Silver jiggers, here are a few quick things to consider:
We will be receiving our first round of samples in the next week or so, and I've requested samples of both alloys and both precious metals to take photos for a visual comparison, as I understand this is important to some of you in making a decision
I'll have to work on getting in touch with all Backers who've pledged for gold and silver jiggers via emails and messages, because we know not everyone reads the updates (thanks to you who do!)
We will be approaching our survey lock-down date in the next month or so. I'll send a reminder before we lock down surveys, but if you know now that you need to make any changes (either to your items or your address), don't procrastinate - just do it now.
Thanks to all of you who took the time to provide us with feedback as we problem solve real gold and silver plating v. the gold and silver alloys. In the spirit of transparency, we're sharing all of the results (including comments) from our backers.
We had 285 survey responses. Of those, 40 Backers who are receiving a Gold Jigger and 135 Backers who are receiving a Silver Jigger weighed in. We also had a good portion of backers who are receiving neither gold or silver contribute feedback, which is great!
For the purposes of this survey, we really wanted to know how important it was to those who had pledged for Gold / Silver jiggers, as these segments of backers are the ones most impacted by our challenge with gold and silver plating.
Gold
40 Gold Jigger Backers said this about Gold Plating:
To be clear, the options here were:
I wouldn't upgrade, I'm fine with the way it is
I would add $12 to my pledge (for each Gold Jigger) to get a 24k Gold Jigger
Other Responses or Comments:
I understand the increase in cost and oversite. This is a gift, but will be worth the backing.
I don't believe it's appropriate to pass inaccurate pricing on to your backers. Sometimes businesses face a loss to cover their commitments and price appropriately going forward.
I may switch to another jigger
I would consider raising my pledge but this burden shouldn’t be for the customers to bear only. I’d like to see that you are accepting some of the blame and swallowing the cost increase at the loss of profit. $35 for a tiny cup + $12 for gold plating sure sounds like you’ll be profiting from something that the community is funding so you can profit in the future.
A huge factor for me honestly is the fake gold dishwasher safe? If so go with that
Silver
134 Silver Jigger Backers said this about Silver Plating:
To be clear, the options here were:
I wouldn't upgrade, I'm fine with the way it is
I would add $8 to my pledge (for each Silver Jigger) to get a real silver plated Jigger
Other Responses and Comments:
Sure i would up grade $8 or more
Fine either way, as long as the "fake silver doesn't look cheap"
I'm fine with the alloy but can it be made so that it's not super shiny? Maybe brushed or matte finish?my The photo of the gold alloy that you posted looks kind of cheap. Regardless, I'd prefer the alloy to keep cost down.
If you need more $ for the real silver or copper finishes i am willing to pay
Would not upgrade but 24 k gold is just softer why can’t you use 14k gold instead. Real gold but cheaper
I would rather have a refund
As the price is likely to increase I would like a refund as you cannot deliver the project on the price that was requested in Kick starter.
Undecided
I'd switch to the gold titanium.
But if the only option had been for "Silver Alloy" I would still have backed it. The tarnish that real silver gets, however, is important to me.
Backer Satisfaction
And of all our survey respondents, 269 of you responded to how we're handling this challenge:
Backer Responses and Comments:
I'm worried about many other projects BUT NOT YOUR PROJECT ... you have earned trust & respect
Satisfied provided that I can upgrade to silver plating.
Much better than other folks that have hit a snag - good luck!
happy to see that you are talking any aspect very seriously. Mediocre attention to details makes a crappy product
Dissatisfied/unknown. If the majority of the group decides to add the $8, do we (people who don't want to pay extra) have to pay for the silver?
As a community funded project you need to accept some of the cost. Not just pass it along to your funding source.
Neither sat/dissat: Frustrated, and hopeful that you'll follow through. Without the authenticity, I am unsure that I would recommend the product after release.
Wondering what sort of research was executed prior to pricing gold/silver on Kickstarter. Not clear how it could be "WAY higher."
disappointed this wasn't fully vetted initially. it's a big miss.
Reaching out to the backers directly with the dilemma, detailing how it happened and including suggested fixes is fantastic, wish more folks on KS did this
(Yes, I put a photo of myself reaching for a cocktail in here, partly to provide a visual distraction, and partly because after writing this long update, I'm going to want to make one!)
FAQ & Responses to Critical Feedback
Why did this happen?
Read our last update, Update #10 for the backstory.
The short story that I'll repeat here is that real gold and silver plating is MUCH more costly than alloys. Due to a manufacturer's mis-quote, our Kickstarter prices were based on alloy prices. Real silver plating is 6x the cost of silver imitation alloy, and real gold plating is 11x the cost of gold imitation alloy. Another way to think about this from a cost perspective is that to plate the jiggers in real gold and silver will cost us more than to actually make the jigger - by a factor of 3-4 times as much as the manufacturing cost of the product.
Why so expensive?
Well, precious metals are (yes, even though it's a precious metal, that cost is surprising to us too, as the alloy is priced much more economically). Also, because our quality standards specify that any plating project we take on must use plating that is 3-4x as thick as the industry standard. Most bar and kitchenware these days is plated to the minimum thickness that provides color coverage, but not to a level that also creates a durable finish. If you're going to put real gold and silver on something, you'd better spend the money to make sure it sticks.
Why this approach?
We had a few backers provide critical feedback about our approach to ask backers to help fund the increased costs for gold and silver. They expressed that they felt we should take the blame or some level of responsibility for this oversight, and didn't like the idea that we would be profiting off it. We had a few other backers express dissatisfaction that we should have caught this during the planning process, and not make promises we can't deliver on.
I'd like to offer a few responses:
We acknowledge that we know a lot more about silver and gold plating now than we did when we launched the Kickstarter. And we apologize to our backers for not being as well-informed and savvy about what real gold and real silver plating should cost when we reviewed our original quote from the manufacturer last summer. We rely on certain experts to help us vet this information, and even they missed it. Had we known then what we know now, the pricing they gave us would have thrown up a big red flag. Most barware on the market currently that appears gold or silver is plated with an alloy, so we had little to no opportunity to gain perspective on the costs associated with precious-metal plated bar or kitchenware when planning this campaign.Yes, it was a miss, and we're sorry.
We acknowledge this challenge may be very disappointing for some of our backers. Believe it or not, but it it's probably WAY more disappointing for us than for most of you, because we care so deeply about integrity and transparency and making sure we get things RIGHT, especially for our backers.
There is no profit in it for us to deliver these real gold and silver jiggers to our backers. If we were pricing these to be viable retail products, they would cost $40 for Silver and $55 for Gold. So at $32 and $45, we are assuming a big part of the cost increase. It's also cost us dozens of hours of problem solving, re-budgeting, communications, and re-quoting, and will continue to cost us many hours of administrative work to make sure the backers who want real plating will get it. Unfortunately, we just aren't able to cover a 6x and 11x increase in plating costs out of the contingency fund we set aside. If we tried to do that, it would be fiscally irresponsible and could jeopardize the project.
The solution we are proposing is an opt-in, cost-share option. It's a collaborative approach that enables us to still deliver real gold and silver jiggers to the backers that care about authenticity, and also deliver an alloy version for those that would prefer not to have the care and maintenance of precious metal. This approach also enables us to complete the project, which ultimately is our main goal.
This is also the perfect time to remember why we are all on Kickstarter together. We come to this community with an idea, looking for partners to help us bring it to life and share in the experience and rewards of creating something new. Part of that partnership is dealing with the challenges that inevitably come up. It's always been clear that there are risks associated with crowdfunding campaigns, and we were very upfront about that. This challenge happens to be a bigger one than we anticipated, so that's why we've asked for your help in solving it. Yes, this is a community-funded project: you are co-investors with us, and part of the Kickstarter journey is being willing to be flexible with independent creators as we navigate new terrain.
The vast majority of you are satisfied with this approach, and we thank you for feedback and teamwork. For those of you who are not satisfied, we can only remind you that we promised to communicate openly about any challenge we faced, and work with you toward a resolution.
If this resolution is not satisfactory, you have the right to request a refund. Refunds will be given to any original Kickstarter Backer who pledged for or added-on a silver or gold jigger during the Kickstarter campaign. If you added a jigger via Backerkit after the campaign was over, you can change your selection at any time. If you don't want a refund, but do want to switch your jigger out for a different item, you can do that in Backerkit too.
One Last Thing...
Things like this can be really stressful, especially when we take integrity and communication so seriously. We're trying to do something different, and trying to do it right, and during a bit of a crisis like this, we can get a little discouraged.
Thanks to all of you for reading the updates, providing your feedback, answering supplemental surveys, and sending encouraging comments and messages. We're getting there together!
