Background
Ever since the summer of 2015, Jimpy Designs has been producing high quality skill toys and EDC gear. Our signature product, ThumbChucks by Jimpy (TCs for short), are what put us on the map. TCs are a miniature nunchuck skill toy that combines three of the biggest skill toy concepts into one skill set. Techniques derived from begleri beads, balisong manipulation, and pen spinning created the foundation for TC tricks. What was initially a fun weekend project soon became a new breed of skill toy with an ever-developing art form. TCs were first made using broken pen parts and some paracord. Today, they are professionally machined from all sorts of materials including aluminum, delrin, brass, stainless steel, and even titanium. We have designed several TC models over the years with each one improving in both performance and ergonomics compared to their predecessors. The future possibilities for TCs by Jimpy are what drive us to constantly offer the best of the best to our fellow skill toy and EDC fanatics. Take a look at our Instagram account, @jimpy.designs, to see the evolution of TCs ever since their conception.
Aside from the development of TC models, the skill set which brings this flow toy to life is also growing. Masters of the TC flow continue to unlock new tricks, combos, and techniques which always make TCs fresh and exciting. If you want to see how the art behind the skill toy has changed, take a look at our TC trick account, @thumbchucks.official, as well as our Jimpy Designs YouTube channel.
About this Campaign
As mentioned earlier, Jimpy Designs has been offering a wide variety of products since 2015. We wanted to create our first Kickstarter campaign to help fund our most recent iteration of the TCs by Jimpy: the TC Gundams. The popularity of TCs has caused an increase in demand. In order to satisfy this demand, we need to produce a much larger quantity than ever before which requires a greater production cost. In addition, the Gundams are to be machined from 6AL-4V titanium. This material is more difficult to machine compared to other metals, and therefore, production expenses increase as a result. We are excited to add the TC Gundams to our lineup, but we can only do so by covering the expenses required to produce them. This is why we decided to reside to Kickstarter for this project. With your support, we can make the TC Gundams a reality.
The ThumbChuck Gundams
For starters, performance is a HUGE factor in any skill toy. Regardless of the skill toy, we want it to be designed for the specific skill set. It should allow us, the player, to perform tricks with ease and consistency. Having full control of the skill toy is an absolute must. Not only that, we also want something that’s built to take the abuse of constant play. In short, we want perfection! It was this notion which fueled our desire to create a set of TCs by Jimpy with a design so close to perfection that these needs are satisfied 100 times over. And thus, the TC Gundams were born. The TC Gundams feature super smooth play, light weight titanium handles, the simplest cord stringing method possible, and a few secret features which have never been implemented into any other TC model. The CNC machined titanium handles are fully tapered to achieve excellent weight distribution, ergonomics, and control. The handles also feature machined rings to act as a grip/finger placement marker on the top and bottom portions of the handle. If I’m being honest, there isn’t much else you could ask for. Regardless of whether you’re a beginner or an expert TC player, the Gundams are where it’s at! Here’s a summary list of all the features found in the Gundams:
TCs by Jimpy has been a project that has only been growing in popularity and potential since 2015 when it began its development. We have two main reasons why we still work on making them better and more known. One is they’re crazy fun! We want more people to get the chance to try out a set of TCs, and have a quality product that they can enjoy forever. Secondly, we want to build a community. We as people have a need to me accepted, acknowledged, and cared for. Everyone wants to find out who they are, what they like, and who they want to become. Much like joining a club or an organization, you get to surround yourself who enjoy engaging in the same things as you. You have people to socialize with, and everyone has each other’s back. You have a sense of belonging that can present itself as more valuable than the tangible thing that brought you together in the first place. In the end, we want to help people come together and enjoy life, and if a set of mini nunchucks can get people one set closer to happiness, then we’ve done our part. TCs are more than just a toy; they’re a key that can unlock a community of totally awesome people.
Campaign Plan
Currently, we have a prototype of the design, and we have been testing the Gundams to ensure they meet the expectations set by Jimpy’s Five Key Objectives: aesthetics, affordability, durability, performance, and satisfaction. You can see from the video that they play extremely well. They feel light, fast, and super comfortable in the hand while flipping. With some practice, you will be able to appreciate the thought put into the TC Gundams.
Our goal is to have the TC Gundams ready for shipment by early to mid 2020. Here’s the run down in an easy to read bullet point fashion:
As far as budget is concerned, the funding goal is set to cover all expenses. The handles, paracord, packaging components, shipping expenses, fees, taxes, etc. have been accounted for when determining the goal price. We already have a manufacturer who is eager to assist us in making this project a reality, and therefore, We are aware of the expenses surrounding the project. So with that said, if we raise the funding goal amount, you will receive your very own set of TC Gundams. That’s a promise!
Jimpy Designs has build a reputation on offering high quality products as well as excellent customer service. Being involved with manufacturing and product development for 5 years, here are some possible challenges that may arise based on our experience with past projects: 1. Manufacturing Delays Even though we think ahead and develop a plan for how we would like operations to run, it is impossible to account for unanticipated delays. Such delays can happen for a number of reasons all of which are out of our control. With that said, we have not experienced many instances where production scheduling is interrupted, and the instances we have experienced were not major. Please be patient if such inconveniences arise. And of course, we will keep all backers up to date with any notable news. 2. Order Processing Delays Jimpy Designs is a small team of passionate EDC designers and skill toy enthusiasts. If the number of backers exceeds our fulfillment capabilities, we will make sure to contact outside assistance to expedite the order fulfillment process. 3. Reaching Proper Funding As mentioned previously, we need to reach the indicated funding goal in order to cover the bare essential expenses associated with the TC Gundam project. The large order size required along with the expenses which come from machining titanium make up most of the expenses for this project. However, you as a fellow backer can help us reach the goal by sharing our campaign with people you think may be interested.