Collar order are open! 

Black Friday Discounts start now and are automatically applied in the following tiers: 

• $10 off $100+ orders
• $30 off $200+ orders
• $80 off $400+ orders 
• $150 off $600+ orders
• $250 off $800+ orders. 

 

Terms of Discount: 

Price is determined based on subtotal, before shipping cost and applies automatically. Discount will show AFTER you hit checkout, not from the cart page. If the discount does not apply correctly, please contact us. If the order goes through with more discount than listed, we reserve the right to cancel your order. Coupons cannot be combined with sale except for VIP discount. VIP shipping discount has been extended for those who it applied to previously. Sale ends on Black Friday at midnight or it will be closed if I have hit a limit on what I can complete within this turnaround estimate.

Discount is only good for collars listed on the website. Custom collars are closed, there are Made to Order options available. If you would like something non-custom but not available on the website, send me a message or email to find out if I can do it during this opening, but it will not be discounted. 

Turnaround for collar orders is 10-20 weeks

Here is what you need to know:

Due to health issues, I have created an adjusted schedule that will help me fill the most number of orders without pushing myself too far. It's based on efficiency and the least amount of jumping between tasks. All orders placed during this sale will be done together in one large batch. Orders placed outside this timeframe (November 17th to November 27th) will have a turnaround discussed separately or the regular turnaround. I do work two other jobs at this point in time, both are flexible but my adjusted schedule takes this into account. The estimate I have is used is based on the step breakdown below. I anticipate Panel only orders to ship around week 10 and all item to ship by week 20 using a breakdown that has me working an average of 2 regular workdays per week using the limitations I've been dealing with to determine how much a single work day can entail. If I can do more than this, the turnaround may shrink, but the goal will be to work more some weeks and less others to keep me healthy. 

Crate tag, t-shirt, and other items will have the regularly posted turnaround unless a collar is ordered with it. Items ordered with the collar order will be made ahead and can be shipped separately for an additional shipping fee. 

I will be updating this page with order updates and when I move between steps of the process. Orders with less steps will ship sooner than orders with more steps. For example, a collar set with padding will take longer than a panel only order. I will be completing each stage before fully moving to the next step. For example, I may partially move on from cutting but not finish the cutting stage if I am waiting on a supply order. 

Supply order issues: I have enough stock of almost all items to be able to complete this sale without reordering BUT I anticipate running out of very specific things, like specific leather colors. I have checked most of my suppliers and believe reordering will not be an issues. HOWEVER, there may be certain things I cannot get more of. If that happens, I will contact you in that stage to discuss modifications. Most items that have had issues such as discontinued stone colors or hardware, I have a large back stock of since I haven't been actively making collars. 

Progress:

Order updates and steps are below. Steps will be checked off as they are completed. Exceptions to any steps will be notated. Most recent general updates will be posted here. Important updates or changes to the turnaround will be posted and emailed if needed. 

Both Leather and Biothane Steps

[ ] Prepping Orders

This stage includes "translating" what you've ordered into the vital information and prepping the pieces for cutting and stone counting. It also includes prepping the UV print files for the printed Biothane. 

[ ] Counting Stones

Once the orders are prepped, I will be able to count out the stones needed for each order. Using a very complicated system of small jars and sticky labels, I will count out all the stones for each order and label which hardware they will need. I have a huge stock of over $15k in genuine stones that I placed before the shortages happened. Any stone requests that I cannot meet or need clarification for will happen during this step. I will be avoiding ordering new stones due to my large inventory.

[ ] Setting Stones

Setting stones is the process of putting each stone into a rimset and securing them. Each stone is held within the setting so it does not fall out if the rimset is damaged. Reducing the chance of losing a stone and also the "noise" of loose stones on a collar. This is a time consuming process that is often done while I watch TV etc due to the tedious nature. 

Leather Only Steps

[ ] Cutting Leather

Cutting out all the leather items on our large format Laser. This step will also include ordering any leather to meet the demand of the orders placed. Ordering leather will wait until all possible items have been cut to make sure we don't miss any colors or quality issues not caught right away. 

[ ] Edging and Skiving Leather

This step includes a variety of things including beveling the sharp corners left by the laser, dying the edges, burnishing these edges smooth, painting the edges on pigmented leather, and skiving the buckle areas for a tighter turn at the buckle. 

[ ] Setting Studs and Stones 

This step is adding the set stones and studs into leather. This step can take a white but is when the collars start to really come together. This can be setting into the panel, base, or single layer collars. 

[ ] Finishing the back

This is the act of folding the backs of the stones and studs flush behind the collar or panel. I have this separated because while I will ideally finish at the same time as setting them, I will often add all the stones and studs first and then work through the backs all at once. It is also a step that taxes my back more than the previous steps due to the repetitive motions. 

[ ] Shipping Panel only orders

Orders that are done up to the current steps will be shipped at this point. If your order includes more than one step, part of your order would be done at this point but will not ship until all items are completed. 

[ ] Adding buckles and panels to bases without padding

Bases without padding are done once the buckles are added but those with padding have a few more steps. Adding panels can add up quickly when there is a larger group of them. 

[ ] Shipping collars without padding

Before shipping, I try to take photos of all finished collars, only excluding easy order/ditto designs but I do try to get group shots including those. Packing and shipping will also include prepping the shipping supplies as needed including things like extra screws and any freebies or stickers I include. 

[ ] Sorting and cutting leather for padding

Sewing Padding to bases and single layer collars
Bases with padding will be sorted and pieces cut (upstairs) and then sorted by leather or stitch color and brought downstairs where my industrial sewing machine resides because it never made it upstairs due to it's weight. This step can go through easily or if issues happen, it can get delayed quickly. Each trip upstairs can reduce that amount of work time available per day. (But boy does padding level up the collar, so worth it!)

[ ] Shipping all remaining Leather collar orders

This step will include quality check and photos of all collars as mentioned earlier. This group of shipping will likely take longer than all the previous shipping steps combined as orders with multiple items or types of items will all be waiting to ship together here. I will print all stamps together but shipping may not be for a few days or more. I can print the stamp when I pack the order, however it does take 2-3 times longer to do it this way. 

Biothane only steps

[ ] UV Printing Biothane

Biothane orders have a separate track than Leather orders. This stage covers going to the UV printer I have access to thanks to where I work and volunteer. I have to reserve the time to do this, however it means I do not have to order from a supplier. I have full control over the design and printing process. 

[ ] Sorting Biothane straps 

Before I can begin assembly, I have to cut the straps for the collars. This is when I am able to concretely determine that I have all the colors/widths I need or may need to order. 

[ ] Trimming and finishing edges

At this stage I will cut the edges and finishes them with flame or seal the edges. More precise measurements happen here as well as marking of holes. 

[ ] Setting Stones and Studs

Unlike leather collars, all stone and studs holes must be placed manually, I do not typically separate this step out and do each collar fully from punching the first whole to folding the backs in. Note, that I have found the stretch of Biothane collars does require additional care with the back to avoid catching on fur. 

[ ] Punching holes

Each Biothane collar typically has 12-18 holes and I try to do all of these at once to make it most efficient. 

[ ] Assembly

If all steps worked perfectly, this step is very easy but can be time consuming. Riveting the pieces together and doing the quality checks. If everything is correct, it will be ready for shipment. 

[ ] Shipping Biothane Collars

Once all parts of an ordering including Biothane are done, they will be shipped. As Biothane will be worked beside the Leather collars, the point in which they will finish compared to the leather collars is unknown. But check back with this page for updates.