29/02/2024
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ot7Zr8kkkPwLC02SjMwYMvJvgWeSSkZa/view?usp=drive_link
SP SABERS PROPS AND COLLECTABLES
Hi everyone, today is the day that I sign out for the last time. Firstly, I wan to thank everyone for the support in my decision over the last 2 months, it hasn’t been easy, I’ve been juggling work ana huge influx of orders coming in before the end.
Since beginning SP Sabers, many years ago, I have created over 1500 individual Sabers, 600+ display stands, countless accessories, totalled over 6000 Orders and served around 3000 customers. I want to say thank you to you for support my business and helping me to bring my passion to life.
Over the last 6-12 months I have found myself, falling out of love with the community, and the hobby itself. Leading to my inevitable decision to leave the Community and SP Sabers behind me.
The past many years have brought forward a lot of challenges but also have given me some amazing opportunities in which I have made many life long friends, and met some exception people.
I need to give special mention to the following people:
Michael – Michael is a local friend who has helped me out countless times when I have fallen behind, and especially during the last month with the increase of order through put, the help and support has been invaluable.
Jeremy (Solo Sabers LLC) – Jeremy has had my back in many an occasion, always been supportive of me, and honoured me but allowing me to bring his first saber project to life.
Sam (Shadow foil Props) – Sam I have worked with since very early on in my saber journey, when he was also new to the community, we worked on multiple projects together, but beyond that Sam has been an ear that always took the time to listen when I needed someone to talk to, saber related or not
Derrek (Phoenix Props) – Derrek pulled me out of the water when it seemed my first project, the PP the Light conversion looked like it would failed, production the parts who the factory I had contracted, pulled out after months of lies. We went one to make one of the favourite sabres the Empress Regent and I will be forever grateful for the starting boost that I had working with Derek.
Mark (Artist) – Having met mark around 2 years ago, during one of his visits to Rockhampton, we instantly hit it off with our shared passion for the original props from the Original trilogy, we have spent many a time, discussing is to much detail prop variations, Mark has been an inspiration to me, due to his own passion and simply for being a scholar and one of the most decent people I know
Leon (Jawas Junkyard) – Lastly and most importantly my dear friend Leon. Leon and I met through Saber Building, both being in Australia though thousands of kilometres apart, we hit it off and in 2022 Leon flew to my hometown and we did Capricon together. Leon has become one of the best mates I’ve ever had, he has been there for me supporting the business and personally beyond anyone else over the years. Thank you mate.
Today 29/02/2024 Marks the end of the line for me as SP Sabers, Props and Collectables. I wasn’t to say a final thank you to the community as a whole, the good and the bad, you’ve taught me a lot over the years.
Housekeeping
Website- the website is now offline to customers
Facebook – I will be logging out of the page today for the last time, I still don’t have admin rights so the page will remain but it will lie dormant.
Contacting me – If you need to contact me regarding an existing order you may use :
“https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdFDbK8sLgI3Ef1SGKUBGOlYga7CikDOoVmAAjFpjEmOv4nfA/viewform"
Please fill ALL the information in and I will get back to you, I will be checking this form approx. once a week, until I’m satisfied its no longer needed at which time the form will be taken down.
Left Over Stock - I have some remaining left over stock, you may use the form above to request anything you need for a time, if I don’t reply to you request I means I don’t have it. This will be strictly limited time.
Personal Facebook – This one is important, I have many saber community members as friends on Facebook, for the time being this will remain unchanged, but I will be going through and culling this back, please don’t think this is anything personal, but it is something I need to do in order to have the space I need. Please DO NOT use my personal Facebook as a means to contact me regarding anything SP Sabers, its not appropriate, I will not reply, and I will more then likely delete or block repeat offenders.
ShaunP Props – should you wise to keep up to date with what I’m doing as far as personal projects you can come and follow my other page. This is not a store, more a place I will share random stuff, and my own personal builds that I have neglected for years.
Outstanding Orders – the store is closed, but the orders are still rolling out and will do until they have all hit the post office. There isn’t many left to go wit the majority of remaining orders to ship, display stands or Shroud of the Darkside Hilts.
Final thoughts
This is something I have debated including but I feel it need to say it, as it is very important for the survival of Businesses like the one, I’m leaving behind. A lot of us as 1-man teams, who rarely have any help, we design, manufacture, customize, QC, Pack, Ship, Communicate, all while often having another full-time job. Being patient and respectful, taking this account when you feel like sending a snarky message or email to a business.
While we work to serve our customer, we do not work to cope abuse or threats from customers, who refuse to listen or care. Treatment like this will see the death of small business, because regardless of whether it’s a profitable venture or not, the tax on our mental health quickly outweighs the positives. Don’t be an as***le
If you get a product and you like it, share it, show you appreciation in the groups, share a photo, this not only helps use with sales to continue making products, but we feel appreciated, and want to keep on going, 2 years ago groups would be flooded with builds and purchases, now you seldom see a new purchase, unless from the familiar names that share everything.
Understand and accept that we are humans, we can make mistakes, I am guilty of this on more occasions than I will admit. I have messed up badly, used poor judgment and I’ve been deservedly called out on this. Mostly though in a respectful way, and I was given a chance to improve, which id like to think by the end I have been doing a lot better than I was.
And finally, Enjoy the hobby, don’t become like me where it consumes you negatively to the point where its borderline distressing, have fun with it, be a Star Wars fans, make some friends in the community and have a blast.
This is SP
Signing Out
May the force be with you all, and maybe we will cross paths again one day.
Shaun
SSP Sabers, Props and Collectables
