The following is a Question and Answer session in a Discord chat with one of the Co-Owners of Twin Tail Creations (Stripe) about their recent acquisition of Frisky Beast
Location: Discord chat SiliconeSummoningCircle https://discord.gg/ZTtc5E
Usernames have been removed for ease of reading
TTC = Twin Tail Creations
FB = Frisky Beast
I want to apologize in advanced for the jumbled nature of the following; this has been copied down mostly in the order the questions were asked.
I have also sent this to Stripe to correct anything that may have been misconstrued, mis-copied and incorrect. This has been approved for posting after fixing some wording and spelling errors.
NOTE FROM STRIPE:
I still cannot guarantee 100% accuracy, though. Answers given are to the best of my awareness at the time of replying.
This Q and A may be updated as necessary if it is discovered to have errors.
Discord Question: is TTC now responsible for orders that Thero and Felicity failed to deliver? Who do we go to to either get money back or actually get a product in a queue
Stripe’s Answer: They are still responsible. We will be taking over certain models – meaning we will have original Frisky Beast molds at the Twin Tail workshop. The goal of this is to offload their workshop, so we get to fulfill some of the orders they would otherwise have gotten on those models. This frees up additional hours to work on the backlog every week.
Q: So [Frisky Beast is] still responsible for order fulfillment?
A:
Of orders made prior to acquisition, yes. By taking over new orders for a part of their library, we will be able to help offload them. They will still be responsible for new orders made through the Frisky Beast store. These orders are added to their order queue regularly.
Q: So will the models that you move over to the TTC workshop be ordered through TTC or ordered through FB still, but fulfilled through you guys?
A: The models that are moved will be orderable through the TTC store, crafted by us, and fulfilled by us.
Q: Will you be taking over all of their models eventually? And will Frisky Beast still be in charge of their own stuff, or will TTC be in control of that
A: We will be fully in charge of managing FB, but being caught in a bad cycle doesn’t mean they don’t have a lot of experience and skills. For most management decisions, we will definitely take their wishes into account – but it will ultimately be up to us what happens.
Q: Will you be offering the FB models at the same prices, or will you need to adjust them to fit TTC’s pricing schedule or do you know yet?
A: Prices will be adjusted to market value. Setting prices too low can cause uncontrollable demand, resulting in a long backlog. Prices will also be adjusted to include our signature customer service.
Q: I’m still confused, Even if FB has less models, they can still get in the same shit they got in before?
A: We have safe-guards planned to prevent this.
Q: Can you give us a general idea of your plans for beginning the merger?
A: As mentioned in their statement, we will create a new storefront for Frisky Beast. The new storefront will contain updated prices, but still be fully conneted to the Frisky Beast workshop. Some models will be transferred to the Twin Tail Workshop, to offload the Frisky Beast Workshop while the backlog is being worked on. This is step 1 of our roadmap.
Q: Will there be any reprinting of their notoriously sandpapery models?
A: It is likely for Step 2, that new prints and/or molds will be made for existing Frisky Beast models, yes.
Q: Will there be a press release about when it happens
A: For any models that are re-released, you can trust we will make a fuzz about it.
Q: Will people banned under their neglectful paypal policy still be banned while FB is under TTC’s management?
A:
This subject has not been finalized yet. Chances are bans will be reset for the most part, but security notes may be shared with us within the limits of the Frisky Beast TOS valid at the time.
Q: Will we know when FB’s backlog is taken care of? I know they mentioned they hope to have it all done by January, but I was wondering if there might be an announcement of “all clear” or not. how likely would backlogs be under the new management system?
A: It is not yet finalized whether or not there will be an announcement regarding the backlog once it is near its end. I do not presently have a complete view of it. It will be decided internally. The initial goal of our roadmap is to shift the workload off of the Frisky Beast Workshop, to reduce the influx of new orders, allowing a more efficient workflow in addressing the backlog. New backlogs are less likely as a result. As part of Step 2 or Step 3, which we cannot go into detail about just yet, we are also planning a safeguard measure to prevent future backlogs.
Q: A formal Q&A form might be a good thing to do! Though maybe already planned?
A: We are still considering how to go about this. It is possible that an FAQ might work better.
Q: Will you be announcing which models are going directly to TTC, and will they be availble for purchace before the backlog is complete?
A: The way model transfer is handled is currently planned as follows: The Twin Tail Workshop is equipped with copies of molds for transfered models. New orders through the Twin Tail Creations website are added to the TTC order queue, produced with our copies of the molds, and served like any other Twin Tail Creations order. The Frisky Beast Workshop will still have molds for these models – but they will be used mainly for Backlog work and possibly pouring inventory to finance the silicone for backlog toys. The latter will normally only be the case in off-hours, to keep the mold up-time high. It will no longer be possible to custom order toys of the transfered models from the Frisky Beast workshop.
Q: Oh I see, so they will continue on backlog, while TTC works on new orders?
A:
Correct. And we will make it easier for them to do so by taking over new orders for a number of their models. These models will be removed from custom ordering at the FB storefront, and added to the TTC store instead – so the only way to custom order a Croxic for instance, will be through the Twin Tail Storefront.
Q: Will the FB separate toys use the same silicone as TTC? I think their scale is a bit different.
A: This is a good question. We will address this on an internal meeting, but my best guess as of right now will be that firmnesses will be changed a bit to more closely resemble what we currently offer. This is because we prefer to offer our own toys as a reliable scale for other Twin Tail Toys.
Q: 1) Are you gonna try to keep FB signature colors or do your own for them
2) Are you gonna offer suction cups on any original FB models that could support it
3) Is TTC going to continue to offer vibe cavities on fb models (and ttc models?)
4) Is TTC going to continue to offer/eventually offer bitty beasts, specialty eggs, & sticky paws
A: 1) For signature colors, we do not yet have a decisive answer. There is a risk we may experience an overwhelming influx of orders once we offer Frisky Beast models for fast and reliable production. For this reason, it’s most likely that custom options will be introduced slowly, starting simple.
2) Yes, we will most likely offer suction cups on Frisky Beast models that are highly suitable for this feature. It is not finalizaed yet, though, and will be taken up on an internal meeting this week.
3) Vibe cavities is on an experimental stage, and while we have done them in the past, we would like to refine it further before making it a standard option. Unfortunately this is not high priority R&D with the other challenges we are currently taking on!
4) It is unknown which accessories will be offered at which workshop, currently. This will be taken up at an internal meeting.
Q: For [conventions] FB is already scheduled to attend, will they still be making an appearance?
A: Yes, they will still be making an appearance. This will help fund the ongoing effort for improvements across the board.
Q: Since TTC is effectively the boss of FB now, if someone has an issue or wants to ask a store ban be lifted, could they approach TTC with that issue?
A: Technically any existing blacklist will be reset. But orders may still be cancelled if they are suspected to be placed by users who could be a security risk. This may depend on which security notes that are shared. At this point, that detail is not yet apparent to me. This will not affect ability to purchase from the Twin Tail Website And also not ability to purchase Frisky Beast models from the Twin Tail Website. That has already happened.
We think Frisky Beast is an impressive achievement, and we would both like honor its creators by keeping the brand, but also by revitalizing it and getting it back on track.
Q: Will it affect the ability to purchase from the new FB storefront?
A: Best answer I can give is: Probably not. I am personally building the new FB storefront as we speak.
Q: Are there any plans for black friday events from either store? Or is that far too close a date to manage, considering you’re trying to help their queue
A:
It is a tight fit, but we are planning to host a solid Black Friday sale at both stores, with lots of inventory to grab.
Q: Does TTC now own the rights to all of Frisky Beasts models, past, present and future? This would include models that are in the works but not released yet.
A: Yes and Yes.
Q: Are there plans to release the Orion and Sagittarius as of yet?
A: To my knowledge, we don’t currently have access to those models. But it is definitely something we will consider looking into. Right now, we have some more concrete plans, though, and they are plenty of work as it is! This is by no means a 1 or 2 month project, but we will work towards a concrete goal from this point.
Q: What about retired models, such as sauropod? Will they be rereleased?
A: This cannot be ruled out. If it’s a valuable asset that will help advance and expand the company, chances are, yes.
Q: Is there an eta of when TTC will have their molds for sale?
A: It depends on several factors, but chances are there may be Black Friday inventory available for some of them.
Q: Are you (TTC) [Theropod and Felicity’s] boss now
A: But yes, TTC is their boss, technically.
Q: Is Frisky Beast’s modeler going to continue working for TTCs? What about their silicone pourers?
A:
It is not unlikely.
Q: Will tickets about existing orders be answered by TTC staff or FB staff? There are many people who are unable to get a response to their tickets from FB.
A: The new Frisky Beast store will be accessible by all TTC staff. Regarding staff, we have hired both [Felicity and Theropod].
Q: Will TTC be offering L and XL models from Frisky beast?
A: We’re wanting to expand, but more opportune business decisions keep getting in the way. We are planning to attempt an XL release this year, as we’ve stated earlier, but we cannot guarantee it, with the current events. However, after our roadmap, it is more likely that we will have a size and user base that allows us to reach that segment more reliably. We thought XL models would be a high priority, but then Alto happened – and working with Chibity as a guest designer has been an incredible ride.
Q:
You guys have a ton going on right now, so I think most people will understand if XLs don’t get done by then!
A:
Some also won’t understand, and that’s fine. We’ve clearly been too ambitious with some things, and it’s our fault for not recognizing it sooner.
Q: On the Frisky Beast storefront, will they close it down and stop taking orders while they make it through their backlog or are they still consistently going to be taking new orders while still trying to get through the myriad of orders they still have to get through?
A: Yes, they will still be taking limited orders.
Q: Won’t there be a long wait?
A: Yes, there will be a long wait.
Q: Will they adjust their wait times in their FAQ.
A: I am currently building a new FAQ for the new Frisky Beast store. It will contain updated information. It’s important to remember this is not an immediate solution. It’s a rebalance to get the ball rolling in the right direction.
Q: Will you (TTC) correct wonky measurements? the mosasaurus in particular stands out as obviously inaccurate
A: Most likely. We always aim to keep our website information up to date, and when we receive a complaint that details may be off, we regularly work towards fixing it right away. For models that are transferred to the Twin Tail Workshop, we will make our own measurements by default. In other words – if you send in a ticket about it, I will make sure it is fixed.
Q:
Will any Frisky Beast account for their website be merged over to TTC so it can be used on both storefronts or will we have to order with a TTC account?
A:
Future Frisky Beast orders will need a new account on the new Frisky Beast storefront. TTC orders, for original TTC toys, and for transferred FB toys, will still require a TTC account.
Additional comments from Stripe at the end of the Q & A
Do note, however, that there may be a slight delay on everything following the acquisition. We will still attempt to maintain our goal of replying to all customer service contact within 48 hours. This may not be initially possible with Frisky Beast support contact. Tickets are not yet hooked up to Twin Tail. What you send to Frisky Beast now, I won’t see.
I cannot guarantee 100% accuracy since we may find that our plans need to be updated, but this is what we expect at the moment.
The Dicktionary 
