Frequently asked questions related to the shop, products, and the animated series can be found below. For detailed shipping and order information, please see our dedicated Shipping & Order page.

Shop Questions

1. Where is the VALKOREY store based?
The VALKOREY store is based in the Netherlands.

2. How often do you release new products?
We have a new collection added every year. Smaller items, such as new stickers or new designs for an existing item, are sometimes released as part of a Shop Update.

3. Can I reserve a product?
Yes, paid Patreon members can reserve or preorder limited items for purchase on our Patreon platform.

4. Which payment methods do you accept?
Visa, PayPal, Mastercard, Maestro, Klarna, iDeal/Wero, Shop Pay, Google Pay, Apple Pay, MobilePay, Union Pay, American Express, BLIK, Bancontact.
You can also see all accepted payment methods listed on our product pages.

5. Can I pay in my local currency?
Yes. At checkout, you can pay in your local currency as it will be configured automatically.

6. Do you offer gift cards?
Not yet, but we will be adding them in the future!

7. What is a Shop Update?
Since we are not a full-time shop, we do not restock items monthly or keep our shop open 24/7. A Shop Update is when we restock our merchandise or reopen for orders. This usually pairs with discounts.

8. My favorite item is out of stock, will it come back?
Items are restocked per Shop Update, which happens after live events such as conventions, during our Summer Sale, Black Friday, and Christmas. Limited Edition items will never be restocked.

9. How will I know when there is a Restock or Shop Update?
By signing up for our Shanny’s Newsletter, you will receive a notification when the sales are happening.

10. Do you spam your newsletter?
No, we do not have the time to create many newsletters, nor do we want to push notifications to the point where they become annoying. Shanny only delivers her newsletter when it is important to her.

11. Who are Shanny and Banshito?
Our online store is run by Banshito the parrot, who handles most of the serious stuff like customer service and orders. Shanny is the pup who reads all of your reviews, hands out coupons, and delivers the Newsletter!

12. What if I want to buy everything?
That would make us very happy, and we will teach the real Banshito parrot how to say your name.

13. Do you collaborate with manufacturers, artists, or creators?
Yes, we have collaborated with manufacturers before. If you believe we should collaborate for merchandise, please reach out by email.

Products & Packing Questions

14. Are all products original?
Yes, we create all of the art and designs ourselves.

15. Are products handmade?
While most of our products require a printer, others, such as our VAL Sketchbooks, Drawing
gloves, and Keychains, require human hands to make. Our Drawing gloves are even pressed in our own studio!

16. Do any of your products use AI-generated images?
No, we do not use AI-generated or AI-assisted images in our designs.

17. Are any of your product photos AI-generated?
No, we take real photos of the products and edit them with Photoshop and Clip Studio Paint. Backgrounds may be photobashed with real (stock) images.

18. How should I wash my fabric items?
Since we use multiple types of fabric across our merchandise collection, you can find the washing information on the product page, as it varies by product.

19. What is the difference between Waterproof and Water-resistant?
Our Stickers are waterproof, which means you can use them outside, put them in the dishwasher, and soak them in water.
Our Art Prints are water-resistant, which means they block water for a period of time. They can handle splashes or rain without getting damaged, but water can still get inside if the print stays wet for too long or if you force it underneath the
water-resistant layer.

20. How do you pack my order?
Orders are packed with plastic sleeves and paper wrappings. We try to avoid bubble wrap and replace it with paper, but for items that easily break, we may still choose to wrap them in bubble wrap. All box orders receive a fragile sticker.

21. Why do you use plastic?
Sometimes packages face bad weather on their way to you. The environmental and financial costs of producing, packaging, and shipping a product to you, and then returning it to us due
to damage, are far higher than those of protecting everything with plastic sleeves or bubble wrap. This way there's a better chance your goods will arrive 100% safe, and you can recycle or reuse the plastic.

22. How do you protect and pack prints?
All of our prints are treated with a water-resistant layer and always come with a plastic sleeve to protect them. Large prints are rolled and shipped in cardboard tubes unless the order is large enough to be shipped in a box. If you order a print with a photo canvas, it will be packed
inside the canvas.

23. Where is my order packed?
All orders are carefully packed indoors in a clean, dedicated packing area. As with any environment, you may occasionally notice small traces of dust or similar particles on the outside of the packaging or products.

While no animals come into contact with our products during packing or storage, please note that birds and dogs are present elsewhere in the same building. If you are allergic, please contact us when you place your order so we can take extra care.

24. Can you mark my order as a gift for someone?
All of the products are already packed with a gift aesthetic. If you want to add a note, please contact us and include your wishes and order number.

25. How do you choose your manufacturers?
We find it important to choose ethical manufacturers who are transparent about their work ethic and production processes. We always try to choose products made with FSC-certified
or recycled materials and will never choose products where animals were harmed.

26. What products are FSC-certified?
Some of our products made with FSC-certified wood and paper are, but are not limited to:
All Art prints, VAL Sketchbooks, VAL Pencils, Stickerbooks, and packaging cards.

27. What products use recycled materials?
Our VAL Sketchbooks are made with 100% recycled paper waste. Our Tote Bags are made from 100% organic cotton and post-consumer recycled fibers. Some of our microfiber cloths
are made of recycled plastic bottles.

28. I have a shipping question that is not listed here. Where do I go?
All shipping policies and information are on the dedicated Orders & Shipping page.

29. I have an order question that is not listed here. Where do I go?
All order policies and information are on the dedicated Orders & Shipping page.

Series-related questions

30. Is this also the main VALKOREY series website?
Yes, this website acts as a shop and is also the main hub for series-related news.

31. How do I submit Fan art?
Submitting Fan art can only be done through our VAL Community Discord server. It may occur that Fan art is picked up by our community members and submitted in your name.

32. Is the VALKOREY series open for sponsorships?
Yes, however, we only accept sponsorships if they align with our work and our community. If you are a company wishing to set up a sponsorship collaboration, you can reach out through our business email.

33. Is the Animation Team available for other large-scale productions?
The Animation Team does not take on any new productions besides the VALKOREY animated series.

34. Does Valkorey, the artist, take commissions?
No, our series director is not available for commissions. However, some of the Animation Team artists may be available for commissions through our VAL Community Discord server or their own contact info.

35. When is the animated series releasing?
Episode 1 is currently in production and will be released on YouTube. No release date has been made public yet.

36. Why is there merchandise before the series is released?
Our community has been requesting merchandise since 2024, but additionally, since we are a fully self-funded and independent Animation Team, we rely on what the community gives us. Offering merchandise is a way for us to support our animators and our development.

37. Where can I receive updates on the animated series status?
If you sign up for Shanny’s Newsletter, you receive updates regularly, which also include series news. Our social media platforms are a good source for information as well.