Thinking of a new business: Family Dolls
Feb. 26th | Posted by Nicky
15 comments
I have quite a few jobs.. some careers, some whims and some small businesses. Jrock and I were talking in the last while about how we’re going to pay the bills while I’m on mat leave. At least we’ve figured out the part-time work! after that is finished, but the mat leave is quite a challenge. (Living in Kelowna – not so cheap.)
Anyway, I have a business idea that I want to run by some of you adoptive parents (as you would be my first target market… before I expand and take over the WORLD!) lol. It would work well to do in evenings and weekend afternoons.
I am interested in making cloth dolls with made-to-order features to resemble different members of your family. So for each 10″ or 14″ doll, you would specify big/small person, skin colour, hair colour and style, and eye colour. The dolls would be made with cotton, filled with organic wheat (so that you can stick them in the microwave for a minute and heat them up) and be decorated with painted eyes, nose and mouth. They would wear very simple clothes (a dress for girls, pants and shirt for boys) made of “recycled” fun fabrics. Just like my other businesses, 5% of the proceeds would be donated to charity: probably the Stephen Lewis Foundation in this case.
Here is a very basic sketch of what they would look like… (I sew better than I draw!)
Can you guess which family this is??? Hint: they have a link off my blog 
Anyway, the idea is that not only would your kid have a doll that looks like them, but that they could have a family of dolls that looks just like your family.
-
So I ask you… good idea? Dumb?
-
Are the dolls too simple?
-
Do you like them filled with wheat or washable, instead?
-
What would you pay for one doll?
-
What would you pay for a family of four dolls? (2 14″ parents and 2 10″ kids, for example.)
-
Any other suggestions?
Thanks for your feedback!
Nicky
Nicky,
I just have one thought. I like the idea of the dolls, but having a personality that likes to wash my kids toys when necessary, I would prefer them washable. Kids get sick, toys get grungy.
I think that is R and little M. Am I right?
Justine
Thanks for the feedback, Justine!
Keep guessing on who the dolls are….
Love them!!!!!!!!!! I would TOTALLY buy 6!!!!!!!!!!!! I was just saying to Jason that I needed to find some brown skinned dolls for the girls… at least that is something that I could buy before referral…
Ok, no, not too simple, simple is best…
I like the wheat idea, although with barfing issues I do like washable as well… it’s a toss up there for me…
Cost, I don’t know… by do I get a discount for 6?
Keep us posted! Love this idea
Sandi
Louise and Nathaniel?
And no, I don’t think they are too simple, simple is good. So is washable.
I love the idea. Sign me up!
[I don't have a very good sense about how much these things cost or should cost - guess it depends on how long it takes for you to make each one, how much the materials cost, etc.]
Happy researching.
Karen
Nicky,
I think they are a great idea! I am also in agreeance with them being washable.
I think the 2 dolls are louise and her little man!
If I’m right do I win a prize, lol??????
Ricki
I just sent you this really long comment with suggestions and feedback on your great idea but wordpress does not like it so it is lost I think. Can you maybe e-mail me and I can e-mail you back since I think it’s too long for here. Thanks.
The market research progresses….
Ha ha Sandi – of COURSE there would be a family discount
So the winner of the first person to guess who the family is, is June, followed by Ricki! Here are Louise and Nathaniel
http://myethiopianadoption.blogspot.com/
Ok, so, sofar I’ve learned
simple – good
washable better than wheat
Any other feedback? Has anybody bought simple dolls for their kids (to give me an idea of a reasonable price?)
Thanks!
Hey Nicky,
I too love the dolls and given the age that my kiddos are at right now- washable would be best. As well because my kids are young I wouldn’t give them something that I could microwave… nor something that would spill out small parts if they should become torn. That being said- once my kids were out of the toddlerhood, I would probably really like the comfort of a heatable doll. So it’s a toss up! I’m not sure what a reasonable amount would be- perhaps check out etsy and see what dolls are selling for on there.
HAHAHA roflmao that is toooo cute!!! Hey there Ricki…don’t I get a prize.
I would totally be buying these. I am actually getting one from Sebrina… but would totally get more!!!
price…for one I think around 40??? I know that they would cost a bit to make. In terms of simple dolls in the store..well the cloth bodied ones easily run 20 +
Simple is good…but i don’t know I love the idea of warming it up..but washable makes sense too!
I may suggest instead of painting eyes, lips..what about some thread and just make the shape of the eyes and lips..just really simple.
Louise
I think this is a great idea!!
You may want to check out http://www.joyswaldorfdolls.com to get an idea about pricing. I realize this isn’t exactly what you are doing (and that is great – so far the only nice brown dolls I have seen are the waldorf ones, and some variety would be nice!) but it may give you a price to work from…
I think it’s a great idea! I’m knitting mine, and it’s time-intensive (because I’m such a slow knitter. And, well, a procrastinator also.) I’d totally go for something like this!
I love the cloth dolls (sooo tired of all the plastic dolls out there!). I would totally buy one. I love the wheat idea for heating them up, but I agree that washable might be better. There are some dolls on etsy.com Have you ever looked there? It’d be a great place to start out selling them. I’ve seen some dolls on there for $40. One in particular that is selling them to help raise money for her Ethiopian adoption. You should check it out!
That’s an awesome idea. I’m always so envious of people who have crafty talent. I have absolutely none!
You can certainly mark me down as a future customer…just don’t know if I will want a boy or girl doll??
Barb
Your two are almost the same as the ones I sewed about a month ago as little diaper bag toys for when our kids come home (but they were only about 5 inches tall). However, one has already gone missing in my boys room and I found the other in my daughter’s bed… My latest ones are much bigger and I find that as soon as they come out of the sewing machine, they are being loved! Soft fabric dolls that are simple are wonderful and very easy to love! All the best on this adventure!
Ramona