Idea for selling small wooden display bases

[miniDrake]

Hi all! only back into painting miniatures, I\'m a cabinet maker by trade and did some small display bases for the figures I\'m painting.

They are made from offcuts when we size table tops and would end up in the furnace. I was thinking of getting more made with the view of selling them on eBay.

I still need to cost them ie. cnc time and spraying along with green felt (off for 2 weeks for Xmas) but thought I could test the water and see if anyone would be interested in them. Knocked up some pics and text in photo-shop, tell me what you all think.

 

[matty1001]

I would be very interested...if the price is right of course!

 

[Rastl]

Even though I can see the joins from the boards these look rather spiffy.

Price \'em up and see what that does.

 

[Jericho]

Yeah offcuts of panelled wood are going to have those lines more often than not I think.

They look pretty decent though, and most people spray them black anyway. Hopefully you can keep costs low enough to break into the pre-existing market. There are a number of companies and eBay sellers that stock these already, and that\'s my big concern for you. I\'d hate to see you set up a webpage and make a bunch of bases only to see them collect dust.

 

[squidders]

your main competition would be from guys like this : http://www.woodenbases.co.uk/plinth_bases.php

But selling at a lower price or maybe even selling through a retailer like leisure games may be the way forward... either way I wish you the very best of luck.

 

[miniDrake]

Got the bases priced coming in at £7.50 for each one bloody CnC machines cost a arm and a leg to run and the spraying making up most of the cost. If I do them unsprayed its £6.00

Also knocked up some 45mmx45mm square bases 50mm high done with white wood £3.00 unsprayed or £3.75 sprayed.

Though at those prices and the little profit I would be making may not be worth the effort. May run up a batch of 20 or so each and see how they go.

 

[Gussy]

Originally posted by squidders
your main competition would be from guys like this : http://www.woodenbases.co.uk/plinth_bases.php

Those look really nice! But expensive.

 

[fieldarchy]

There\'s always a market for that kind of stuff. People like me who don\'t have the time or patience really to get wooden bases ready and together, this is a good option.

 

[miniDrake]

Yeah Gussy I was hoping for getting them knocked out at around £5 but have to pay for the CnC time which runs at £4 a base so selling them at £5 went out the window very fast best laid plans and all that .

 

[Dragon Forge Design]

Minidrake Ive been selling bases for over 5 years now..tried everything.. and to be honest Im still trying to figure out what people want..

I made square..they asked for round..
I did finished wood, they wanted painted black
I did them simple..they wanted fancy..I made fancy..they ask for simple.

the biggest issue is Price.. you and I may think $10.00 isnt much for a base..to the painter its a fortune.. also keep in mind the US dollar is work.50 of a pound..so your 5pound simple small base..is $10.00 .

All I can say is good luck.

 

[miniDrake]

Thanks Dragon Forge yeah price is the main sticking point for most people but I will just do a sample run and see if they sell if they don\'t not a big deal, can always use want I don\'t sell as a bonus when selling a painted miniature on Ebay.