Whats tiny, handcrafted and expensive?
No, the answer isnt jewelry.
There is a vibrant community of dollhouse enthusiasts willing to pay top dollar for well-crafted miniatures.
Cierra Fillyaw creates spooky dollhouse miniatures including spell books, grimoires and crystal balls. Photo courtesy of Cierra Fillyaw
A one-inch scale stove can cost more than$250.
Are you a dollhouse fanatic looking to fund your addiction?
An everydayartistwith a penchant for fiddly, intricate work?
A zero-waster with a million ideas about how toupcyclea toothpick?
Selling miniatures could be the side hustle for you.
How to Sell Handmade Dollhouse Miniatures
Cierra Fillyaw got into dollhouse miniatures in 2020.
My husband said I should try selling them, so I did, she said.
No Interest Til Almost 2027?
Read more to learn the tips and tricks that helped her get there.
Miniature is not a standard measurement.
Dollhouses come in different shapes and sizes.
Did you know?
The majority of dollhouses are designed in this scale.
Theres also a big market for 1:6, or Barbie scale.
Finally, there are niche markets for 1:16, 1:18, 1:24, 1:48, and 1:144 scale.
Its up to you which scale (or scales!)
you choose to work in.
There are more buyers in 1:12, but fewer makers in other scales.
Whatever you do, make the scale of your items completely clear in the description.
That said, not all miniature buyers are decorating dollhouses.
Many of Fillyaws customers are decorating pet insect and arachnid enclosures.
My husband calls me a spider carpenter.
Can you stand out from the crowd by making something truly unique?
Ive always been the odd one out as far as dealing with the occult, Fillyaw said.
Now, the Occult Co. sells miniature grimoires, crystal balls and spellbooks.
Her expertise in the dark side has earned her loyal customers.
What kind of miniatures would you be excited to see?
Thats probably what you should be making.
If youre an art lover, print tiny Monets.
If youre a crazy cat lady (or lad), tuft some micro hairballs.
If it delights you, theres a good chance it will delight customers.
I just have a go at find stuff that I have lying around the house, Fillyaw said.
Her crystal balls, for example, are made of spacer beads and marbles.
Coffee stirrers become parquet flooring.
Gold candy wrappers become fire.
Overwhelmed rather than inspired?
you’re free to make miniatures out of conventional materials, too.
Wood, foamboard, and resin are popularoptions.
A good place to start is polymer clay.
Its a relatively quick, easy and inexpensive way to make miniatures.
More tech-savvy creators should consider 3D printing.
Set Up Shop
Dollhouse miniatures are available for sale in many different venues.
Which one should youchoose?
Etsyis a good place to start for any small handicraft business.
Customers searching for dollhouse miniatures can find you organically.
It can be tough at the beginning, though.
Buyers are often wary of Etsy shops with few reviews.
Expect a few months of slow sales before things pick up.
And once they do, you wont see all of it Etsy takes a cut.
Why not post your work there?
Well, two reasons.
One, people are more likely to haggle with you on an informal social media platform.
Still, its an easy way to get up and running.
In many ways, its a similar environment to Etsy.
The downside is that its harder for businesses to build a brand.
eBays storefront options arent as visually appealing or unique.
No middleman, no fees.
Payments, shipping and customer service are all your responsibility.
Its a big commitment with big potential rewards.
Check to see if there are any art fairs, dollhouse hobby meet-ups, or maker markets near you.
This can help you reach customers who arent plugged in, like the very young and very elderly.
Just be prepared to break out the folding table and stand around all day.
Pro:Reach offline customers, showcase quality miniatures
Con:Costs time and money
5.
Price With Care
Youre all set and ready to sell.
But before you post your listing, double-check your prices.
Miniatures are intricate pieces of art that take time and materials to make.
Calculate those costs before you lose money.
Fillyaw learned this lesson the hard way when she listed a pack of eight miniature skulls for $12.
Then a customer ordered four packs.
I had to make 32 of them.
And I make them fromscratchscratch, Fillyaw said.
It just became too time-consuming.
That doesnt mean you have to charge $500 per piece.
I want my stuff to be affordable and accessible to everyone, Fillyaw said.
No idea how to price your items?
First, check that you cover the cost of materials.
Then, log how long it takes you to make the item.
Say it takes you an hour to make a miniature charcuterie board.
You estimate it took you about $5 worth of clay and paint to make the item.
To pay yourself $20 an hour, you gotta set your price at $25.
Part of the joy of selling miniatures is getting them into the hands of people who love them.
By pricing your work fairly, you’re able to feel that joyandmake a profit.
Contributor Ciara McLaren is a freelance writer with work in HuffPost, Insider, and The Penny Hoarder.
you could find her on Substack (@camclaren).
It sounds appealing right?
Check it out here!
