FAQs

Order / shipping questions? Please email concierge (at) fringefocus.com

1. Can I email you about your work, interviews, shenanigans?
Sure! My email is rob (at) fringefocus.com – But please email concierge (at) fringefocus.com if your message is regarding an order / shipment.

2. Where is Fringe Focus located?
Michigan (formerly in Chicago).

3. Why are you called Fringe Focus?
Nobody can spell my last name, Loukotka. So ‘Fringe Focus’ is easier to spell. Also I guess it has a bit to do with my wildly varied interests, bringing lots of stuff ‘into focus’. Yeah… something like that.

4. Are you that ACME Poster guy?!
Yes. $105,000 of posters was a lot of posters. They are currently sold out, but you can always subscribe to my newsletter to hear about new projects.

5. Are your products made in the US?
I go out of my way to source as many materials & tools as possible from local or close areas. Renewable American wood, American paper made from 100% hydroelectric power, etc. Fortunately most goods are simply paper, the light weight and packaging helps lessen Fringe Focus’s environmental impact. Orders outside the US are usually produced in Europe, to lessen the distance travelled (and to provide better prices).

Shipping

1. Is shipping free?
For all United States orders of $75 or more, shipping is free! And shipping is only $5.99 flat for US orders under $75. Shipping internationally, however, is $19.99 flat for most orders. Canada, we split the difference and you're $11.99 (and free after $125).

2. What shipping service do you use?
USPS Priority Mail (And USPS First Class for lightweight/small orders). It’s very safe and quick for all United States orders. If you’re ordering internationally, please note that the USPS hands off to your local post company for your country. Most Priority Mail orders (any poster shipped in a tube) take 2 days door to door (following several days for printing and handling). First Class orders (small packages or prints in small envelopes) take 3-4 days door to door (again, only after printing and handling). Any large poster will ship Priority Mail. Lightweight prints or small items that can be shipped flat may use First Class. International orders also use USPS International First Class, which has no weight limit. Some orders may use UPS.

3. How long does an order take to arrive?
Fringe Focus posters and housewares now ship automatically from a warehouse/printing company. Some orders ship in a couple days, some same day, some a bit longer. Location and item determine fulfillment time. For newly printed on demand orders: USPS usually takes 2-3 days to arrive to most of the United States, after that printing and fulfillment time. International orders can arrive in as little as two (2) weeks (for countries like Canada, UK), or 6-8 weeks for longer distances (Australia, New Zealand, Japan, etc.) It varies wildly by country, so just have patience and it will work out!

4. My poster arrived damaged / bent / covered in blood, can I exchange it?
Usually yes! Email concierge (at) fringefocus.com with a photo of the damage. I can usually mail you another! If that item is all sold out, then I can simply refund your entire purchase price. 99% of orders arrive safely. Open edition prints / items are usually very easy to mail replacements for. No problem!

5. What do you ship posters and art prints in?

Really sturdy shipping tubes. So it’s incredibly likely your art will arrive in great condition.

Smaller prints are mailed in various sturdy cardboard envelopes, which help keep the package flat.

7. My international shipping cost is $40 instead of $20, why? I have shipped thousands of packages to nearly every country on Earth. In doing so, I have found a few countries in which shipping First-Class International is not an effective option from the United States. Due to these high costs (often $50-$80), I have to charge $40 flat for any packages headed to:

• Brunei (Brunei Darussalam)
• Singapore

Please email concierge (at) fringefocus.com with any order / shipping questions.

Environment & Sustainability

Shipping Boxes

• As often as I can, Fringe Focus shipping boxes are 100% recycled material. They’re also usually recyclable (can be recycled again) or even biodegradable (easily decomposed).
• You too can source 100% recycled boxes from Eco-Enclose. Highly recommended.

Poster Tubes

• We recommend Yazoo Mills for poster tubes, but packaging may depend on printing location.

Packing Materials

• Pro-tip: There is a 100% recycled paper alternative to bubble wrap! It’s called ‘Greenwrap‘. Great for protecting frames & other fragile packages. Also available at Eco-Enclose.

Posters and Prints

• New orders are now printed on demand or mailed from warehouses in the US and EU. Much of the below information is for older orders, in case you are wondering about your older art.
• Some Fringe Focus posters are printed on cover stock from French Paper Co. in Michigan. This paper plant has run on 100% hydroelectric power since 1922! No fossil fuels are used making the poster paper at the factory! They also use recycled post-consumer fibers, but the percentage varies by color.
• While many of prints are on French Paper, a few prints need Mohawk paper which is technically 100% wind-powered. This wind power is purchased via credits post-production, thus good for the environment, but not as ideal as French’s solution.

Wood

• All older Fringe Focus wood artwork / housewares are produced on renewable hardwoods sourced from sustainable forests in the US. Currently most wood items are sold out or retired, unfortunately.

Printing Process

• Some Fringe Focus posters are screen printed sustainably by VGKids in Michigan. So inks on Fringe Focus posters are water-based and eco-friendly.
• VGKids does direct-to-screen writing. No films. Stops the usage & waste of TONS of plastic for exposing images. Hooray!
• Most artwork now is printed at a location closest to delivery for the customer, to ensure the shortest (and lowest emissions) route possible.