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Sunday, March 31, 2013

twinkie tush Fan of the Month!


We are so excited to announce a new feature that will be part of this blog and our facebook page: twinkie tush Fan of the Month! :)  Here is what you need to know:

The twinkie tush Fan of the Month (FOTM) feature gives us and our community the opportunity to get to know each other better!  For the next few months we will try out this feature and if it’s as fun and rewarding as we believe it will be it will become a twinkie tush tradition!  We reserve the right to tweak it as needed over the next few months of course! :)

The first week of each month we will open for entries!  Anyone interested in being considered for twinkie tush Fan of the Month can email info@twinkietush.com with the following information:

- Your name

- The last twinkie tush diaper you received (can be purchased from us directly or in the second-hand market, a gift, or a trade!)

- A little bit about yourself, your relationship with twinkie tush, and why you would like to be FOTM!

Entries will close after the first 7 days of the month, and by the 15th of the month we will choose the next month’s FOTM!  If you are chosen we will then contact you via email to let you know you have been selected and to ask you to answer some fun and relevant questions.  We will also ask for a photo of you with your child(ren).  We will need this photo and your responses back within 7 days.  This mini “interview” will be posted on our blog in a monthly spotlight post and/or on our main facebook page.  We may also choose to use your photo on our facebook page or blog! :)

If you are selected as Fan of the Month you will receive an Ultimate Dibs Pass that must be redeemed during your month. :)  Details about the Ultimate Dibs Pass can be found here!

Entries for May’s Fan of the Month will open tomorrow morning and will stay open through April 7th!  We can’t wait to get this fun new feature launched!! :)  Please let me know if you have any questions, and thank you so much!

Monday, March 25, 2013

March Group Custom drawings! :)

We will be drawing Groups very shortly for March 2013 Group Custom slots! :)  Even if you are experienced with our Group Custom process please read through this post as there are some big changes this month!

*If you are new to twinkie tush, welcome!  Please note that this is not the only way to purchase one of our diapers. ;)  Read this page for lots of basic twinkie tush information!

Additionally please note that this process is as complex as it is only in order to meet the needs of customers, both new and returning.  It is designed to be fair, and we feel that with the latest changes, outlined below, it will be more enjoyable for everyone!


The major change for the month is that we will not be posting an entry thread on facebook!  No need to be at our FB page at a specific time and rush to get your entry in!  Only an email is required this month, and it can be sent at any time over the course of 3 days!  *We strongly recommend sending it on the early side so that you can confirm with your group(s) that all entries have been submitted, with the process being so different this time around.

So here’s what you need to do to enter your group:

Once we open for entries (this month the entry timeframe will be the wee hours of Wednesday March 27th through midnight eastern on Friday March 29th), please send an email to groupcustoms@twinkietush.com. The email subject must read something like “March Group Custom Entry: Team Name (eg The flying whizbees)”. Your team name and the words "March Entry" or "March Group Custom Entry" must be included in the subject line of the email and all Group members must be cc'ed on this email.

The email must contain a link to a google spreadsheet or an attached Excel spreadsheet (please do not C&P in the body of the email) containing the following information for each Group member:

1 - Full member name
2 - Member name as it appears in paypal account
3 - Member contact email
4 - Member paypal email
5 - serged or turned preference.
6 – sizing preference (one size, little tush, or teenie tush)
7 - individual choice of cotton velour or organic bamboo velour (more info on this below)

If any of those elements are missing (no team name in subject, any info missing from the spreadsheet, missing team member cc's, etc.) your Group will not be eligible to obtain the slot. (This is just to keep things fair.)  We recommend reviewing your spreadsheets before sending them in to double-check that everything is present.

*Please do not write “TBD” for your sizing, finishing style or cv/obv preference unless you want me to decide for you!  :)

Once the entry time has expired, we will review all information and announce the eligible Groups for the month. That list will be posted Saturday March 30th by noon eastern.  We will then hold drawings from 2 lists as follows:

List 1: Every team that has entered for at least 3 months, including the current month, will be placed on this list.

* Each team in this drawing will receive one entry slot for each month they've entered. That means if you've entered for 3 months including the current month, your team is given 3 entries. So for example if there are 5 eligible teams for this drawing and they all have entered for 3 months, with the exception of teams Abby and Darkside who have each entered 4 times, the entry list would look like this:

1 - team Abby
2 - team Abby
3 - team Abby
4 - team Abby
5 - team Boyish stripes
6 - team Boyish stripes
7 - team Boyish stripes
8 - team Cat Lovers
9 - team Cat Lovers
10 - team Cat Lovers
11 - team Darkside
12 - team Darkside
13 - team Darkside
14 - team Darkside
15 - team Elliot
16 - team Elliot
17 - team Elliot


List 2: Every team who successfully submitted their information in full will be placed on this list.

* For this list, all teams receive 1 entry slot regardless of the number of months they've entered, giving an equal chance to all who are enter whether they are brand new or have been entering for several months.

Please note that even an attempted entry counts when tallying your Group's number of entries. In other words if your Group got the email and FB comment in within the alloted time for a given month, it counts even if some info was missing and your Group wasn't entered in the drawing(s).


Once we have our confirmed 2 lists, we will perform the drawings via random.org. Once we have completed the drawings, we will post all winning Groups on Facebook.  Those lists will be up Saturday evening between 8pm and 10pm EST.

The information below covers general Group Custom policies to keep in mind as you are forming your Groups.  Please note that some of this has changed in recent months, specifically payments for Group Custom diapers:

* If your Group is selected you will then receive a confirmation email in response to the email you sent in.  That email will contain a link to purchase your Group Custom diapers.  There will be drop-down menu within the payment link for one size/little tush and teenie tush options where applicable.  It is important that you choose the correct option based on your preference as stated in your Group spreadsheet.  Group members will purchase their own diaper, including shipping, at this time.  This means that Group leaders no longer have to collect the payment for the diapers, a significant change from previous months.  However, Group leaders are still required to handle the purchasing of the Group fabric and sending that in (or having it sent directly from a vendor) to twinkie tush.  Group members will have 1 full week from the time they receive the payment link email to purchase their diapers.  Any diapers not purchased within the week timeframe will not be made and there will be no exceptions to this policy.  We feel a week is plenty of time to complete payment. :)  As mentioned above, shipping payments will now be included with the diaper purchase.  You will not receive separate shipping payment links.  Please select your shipping preference when purchasing your diaper! :)

*Anyone from the Group can email us, as long as they are willing and able to serve as Group rep (the person who coordinates sending the fabric to twinkie tush and communicates with me about velour preferences, etc.) The Group rep is also responsible for forwarding information from us to the Group as needed and assuring that the Group is aware of payment deadlines, etc.  Please do not email on behalf of your Group unless you are willing to take on the Group rep responsibility.  If we receive multiple emails from the same group we will reply to the first (but for the sake of our record-keeping we would appreciate if Groups just sent a single email! :)

*All members of the Group must be copied on the initial email so that we can reach individual members if needed.

* If there is not sufficient turnout for a Group we reserve the right to cancel production, at our discretion. We will flesh out this policy as we see how the new process runs.

*Once we receive your Group’s fabric, assuming all diapers have been purchased and/or the one week purchase period has expired, we will put your diapers into production.  Group Custom diapers will ship 4-6 weeks after fabric is received (again, pending payment).

*After securing the slot, the Group leader will send us (at the Group's cost) adequate yardage of the chosen print fabric and all diapers will be cut from that yardage (please see the fabric requirement chart at the end of this blog post).  All other materials will of course be provided by twinkie tush.  For members choosing obv we will use the natural color as opposed to dyed obv, and for cv I will choose a color that coordinates with your print.  Only one color of cv will be used per Group (in other words please don't designate specific individual colors on your spreadsheet). It is fine for a Group rep to share a Group's velour preference (eg "we'd really love aqua cv if it works" or "we definitely don't want black" or "something light as opposed to dark") but please note that final cv decisions will be made by me.  If you express a preference for a color that doesn't work well with the print I will not proceed with it.  However, if you say "we definitely don't want X color" I will of course honor that.  I will always do my best to accommodate velour color requests!  Any requests made by the Group must be shared with us BEFORE we receive your fabric.  If you have not made a request by the time we receive your fabric, I will choose the color that I feel works best with your print! :)

*Please do not ask for specific snap or thread colors as we are not able to accommodate these requests.  Thank you for your understanding!

*All fabric submitted for Group Customs becomes property of twinkie tush and may be used at our discretion (for stocking, drawings, giveaways, charity events, or anything else we deem appropriate) once the Group order is fulfilled.

     - Please note that we will price diapers made with remaining Group Custom fabric according to the cost of the fabric (based within our current pricing structure).  This is something that has been requested of us by previous Groups and we recognize that it is the most fair way to handle pricing.

* Group size can range from 5-15 people. Each Group member will choose between a serged or turned diaper.  For Groups using woven fabrics all diapers will be turned. The price will be $36 + shipping per each one size or little tush diaper and $28 + shipping per each teenie tush diaper.  Please note that serged/turned and sizing preferences must be finalized *prior* to entering your Groups.  We will make copies of Group spreadsheets via screenshot after winners are drawn and all diapers will be made as dictated by the spreadsheet screenshot.  If your Group secures a mid-month slot (ie payment links will not be sent out for a couple of weeks) you may make changes up until the day before payment links are sent (so the 14th of the month).

*Should a Group member leave a Group post-drawing, you may replace that member at the Group’s discretion.  However you may not add Group members beyond the number who entered the drawing.  If a member is swapped after screenshots have been taken, the new member’s diaper will be made according to the original member’s specifications.  Please make sure to alert us to any changes in the member list by sending an email to groupcustoms@twinkietush.com, ccing all accurate (including new) members.

*For Groups pursuing twinkie tush night-nights: the fabric requirement chart at the end of this post shows how much velour you will need to send in to cover both inner and outer velours.  The cost per person in that case will be $40 plus shipping.  Should you prefer to only send in outer velour fabric and have us supply your inner velour, the cost per member will be $45 for cotton velour and $47 for bamboo velour.  It is important that you specify that preference in your Group spreadsheet so that we can set up payment links accordingly if your Group wins a slot.  Night-nights are only available in our one size (OS) pattern.

*Please make sure to note that, as indicated on the chart below, special cutting needs must be directed to me before you send in your fabric. If you require any sort of special cutting at all (centered bum cuts, a fabric element right side up OTB, more floral OTB, etc.) that constitutes special cutting and will require more than the standard amount of fabric. We do our best to keep the fabric requirements low and reasonable so that you aren't spending extra money on extra fabric that we won't need. But that means that we can only work with what you send in and while we always try for amazing cuts, our focus is on fulfilling your group order with an appropriate buffer. If you are concerned about getting a specific cut of any kind it is important that you reach out to me so that I can tell you how much fabric we will need in order to make that happen. And of course if there are any questions about this at all please reach out to me at info@twinkietush.com! :)

*Again, all diapers will ship out to Group members 4-6 weeks after we receive your fabric (or once the 1 week invoice period is completed, assuming the fabric arrives before then).


We hope this new entry and payment process provides a smooth, comfortable, and easy way for everyone to participate in twinkie tush Group Customs! :)  As always, please let us know if you have any questions about any of this, and thank you so much! 


Friday, March 1, 2013

March 2013 Photo Contest!


Good morning! :)  Here are the promised details on our March 2013 Photo Contest!! :D

We are holding a photo contest this month – it begins today!  Photo contests are one of my very favorite things!  There is nothing like seeing the diapers that we so recently made by hand now being loved by you and your beautiful children!  Thank you in advance for sharing that love by sharing your photos with us!!


Here are the photo contest details:

The contest will be open for submissions from today, 3/1, through Sunday 3/24.  That gives you just over 3 weeks to get your entries in!  :)  The winners will be announced on Wednesday, March 27th, at 10pm EST. Please read below for important details on how to win. There will be a first place and a second place winner as follows:

- First place takes home their choice of:
(a) a FREE custom twinkie tush diaper of their choice (based on availability of desired fabric, and SYOF is of course an option as well). Shipping of the diaper is also free. (Please note that the custom diaper will ship 4-6 weeks after a final print decision is made or SYO fabric is received.)
                OR
(b) an ULTIMATE Dibs Pass, which entitles them to select a single diaper during previews and take it home FREE, with free shipping as well.  This ULTIMATE Dibs Pass would be valid on any preview day in April 2013.  (Please note that occasionally there is a print offered that is not able to be claimed by a dibs pass.)  More info about Dibs Passes is below.

- Second place winner will be given the opportunity to choose between:
(a) an individual custom slot (priced at $36 for SYOF or within our normal pricing structure for an in stock print, with FREE shipping.  (Please note that the custom diaper will ship 4-6 weeks after a final print decision is made or SYO fabric is received.)
OR
(b) a standard Dibs Pass which will allow them to select a single diaper to purchase at regular price on any one preview day in April 2013 without having to attend the stocking.  This prize also includes free shipping! (Please note that occasionally there is a print offered that is not able to be claimed by a dibs pass.)  More info about Dibs Passes is below.

- We will also draw an additional standard Dibs Pass winner at random from all photo contest participants at the close of the contest!  (This random.org Dibs Pass entitles the recipient to claim a diaper during previews and purchase it prior to stocking at regular price and with regular associated shipping costs.  This random.org Dibs Pass will be valid on any one preview day in April 2013.)


So now that we’ve covered prizes, here is the process:

To enter, simply submit a photo of your little one(s) in a twinkie tush diaper or twinkie tush wool. Hair clips and headbands by Hello Charlotte James for twinkie tush, twinkie tush/Hazelbee dress collaborations and/or T shirts by Peanut & Pumpkin for twinkie tush are of course welcome to be part of the photos, however a twinkie tush diaper or twinkie tush woolies must be featured.

Feel free to be as creative as possible - extra consideration will always be given for creativity! (Try to play off the "theme" of your diaper or woolies - you can use accessories and props to really amp it up - a guitar, an alien toy, a bouquet of flowers....) A simple approach is fine as well - creativity is just one of the things that will be considered.

Photos can be sent to photocontest@twinkietush.com. By submitting a photo you are giving twinkie tush permission to use your photo to promote or represent twinkie tush diapers and/or twinkie tush wool on this blog, the twinkie tush shops on Hyena Cart and Big Cartel, twinkietush.com, twinkie tush advertisements on HC and elsewhere, and the twinkie tush facebook pages.  Please do not submit a photo if you do not agree to these terms. :)

Submissions will be closed on Sunday 3/24/13 at 11:59pm EST. On Monday 3/25 we will upload all submissions to a photo album on the main twinkie tush facebook page called "March 2013 photo contest!" At that point, the contest really gets exciting!

First place will be awarded to the photo *in the " March 2013 photo contest" album* that we feel best reflects the spirit of twinkie tush and the spirit of the individual diaper(s) pictured. Creativity, photo composition, brand reflection and of course FUN are some of the things that will be considered. :) Mike and I will choose the first place winner, and we will announce the winner at 10pm EST on Wednesday, March 27th.

Second place will go to the photo in the "March 2013 photo contest" album that receives the most "likes".  Please note that "likes" on photos outside of the specified album will not count as votes for that photo. You, and your friends and family, may "like" multiple photos if you choose (you don't have to pick just one). Comments are welcome of course, but will not count towards a photo's "tally". Since it is possible to "like" and then "unlike" something on facebook, we will go with the count as it is at exactly 10pm EST on Wednesday, March 27th.

An important note: you cannot win both first and second place ;) While the number of "likes" a photo has will neither ensure a first place win nor preclude it from taking said prize, fan feedback is something that Mike and I may take into consideration to at least some extent in making our decision on a first place winner. In the event that we choose the "highest likes" photo for first place, that photo is no longer eligible to take a second place win. In other words if photo A has the highest number with 200 likes and photo B has 199 likes, and we choose photo A as our first place winner, second place will go to photo B. If we choose photo B, or any other photo in the album, as our first place winner, second place will go to photo A.  Please feel free to ask questions about this if it is at all unclear! :)

Please note that only one (1) first place and one (1) second place prize will be awarded.  Should you collaborate with another family to enter a submission you would need to settle the allocation of the prize between yourselves in the event that you win.

Please note that you may enter only one (1) photo per household for this contest. Also note that photos must clearly show your twinkie tush diaper(s) and/or twinkie tush wool and must not be offensive in any way (obviously). Please send full size/high res images rather than "email" or "thumbnail" sizes.

If there is a problem with your submission you will receive an email response with suggestions on how to resubmit if applicable. If your submission is accepted you will receive a confirmation email within 48 hours. If you do not receive a confirmation email within 48 hours please email again to confirm receipt, in case for some reason your initial email did not come through successfully.

We are looking forward to your submissions! Thanks so much!! :)


More about Dibs Passes

How do you use your Dibs Pass? A Dibs Pass is a way to bypass the stocking itself – you need only comment on a preview photo on facebook by 10pm EST on preview day with something to the effect of “I am going to use my dibs pass for one of these diapers”, and then follow up with an email to info@twinkietush.com so that we can show you specific cuts and/or velour options, if applicable. You will then check out with a private link. (Certain prints may not be claim-able via Dibs Pass or Ultimate Dibs Pass and that will be stated during previews. Additionally with certain prints only one Dibs Pass may be used, on a first come first served basis. Again that will be stated along with the preview photos. )  Standard Dibs Passes offer no discount on the claimed diaper.  The retail price and associated shipping costs will be due upon checkout (unless free shipping is specified along with the prize).  A Dibs Pass entitles you to claim a single diaper for purchase within the date parameters given above.

About the Ultimate Dibs Pass:

The Ultimate Dibs Pass is like a regular Dibs Pass, but entitles the winner not just to claim a diaper for purchase, but to take it home for free.  The process for using the pass is the same, but rather than checking out with a private link you will simply supply your shipping address.  An Ultimate Dibs Pass entitles you to claim a single diaper at no cost within the date parameters given above.

Dibs passes are non-transferable and hold no monetary value.