care2: the petitionsite
Dollmakers and miniaturists on Etsy need a category to house their items. Help us get admin to understand our need for a better section to list our creations.

Dolls and Miniatures Need a Real Home on Etsy

Target:
Etsy Admin
A number of doll artists and miniaturists on Etsy are frustrated by the lack of category for listing our dolls. We'd like to see Etsy admin make a top-level category called "Dolls" or "Dolls and Miniatures" to give the artists a clear place to list their items and their buyers and collectors an easy way to find what they're looking for.
A number of doll artists and miniaturists on Etsy are frustrated by the lack of category for listing our dolls. We'd like to see Etsy admin make a top-level category called "Dolls" or "Dolls and Miniatures" to give the artists a clear place to list their items and their buyers and collectors an easy way to find what they're looking for.
We, the undersigned, would like to see a Dolls category added to Etsy. We feel that the addition of a Dolls category would benefit Etsy on all levels by providing the various doll artists and their buyers with a specific, easy-to-find location within Etsy for their particular kinds of dolls. This would also alleviate some of the frustration in the Art category since adding Art Dolls under a Dolls category would remove those listings from this already bloated section.

Dollhouse miniatures, art dolls, and reborns are just a few of the types of dolls available on Etsy with no proper category to list in. Our non-Etsy customers regularly tell us that they cannot find our items easily on Etsy without a direct link to our shops. Non-Etsy dollmakers frequently comment on how they think Etsy looks like a great venue for handmade items but they don%u2019t see the benefit of setting up shop here because there is no category to house their items. Etsy is losing a huge market by continuing to ignore the needs of these artists and buyers.

Here is a suggested breakdown for a category of Dolls. Subcategories have asterisks in front of them and subsubcats are in parenthesis:

Dolls [& Miniatures]
*Art Dolls
(OOAK)
(Editions)
(Fantasy)
(Primitive)
(Characters)
(Goth & Horror)
(Ball-Jointed Dolls (BJD))
(Babies & Children)
(Anthropomorphic)
(Animals)
(Altered Dolls)
(Assemblage)
*Toys (is it possible to have this as a subcat with all the bleeding that goes on here? Maybe dolls for kids? Playables?)
*Miniatures
(Animals)
(Art)
(Books)
(Figures)
(Houses)
(Fantasy/Spooky)
(Food)
(Furniture)
(Needlework)
(Plants)
(Pottery)
(Turnings)
(Other)
*Reborns
*Paper Dolls
*Artist Bears
(jointed)
(miniature)
(real fur)
(recycled fur)
(mohair)
(plush)
(felted)
(teddy bear friends)
*Plush
*Amigurumi
*Clothing
*Accessories
*Supplies & Tools
*Soft Sculpture
*Needle-felted
*Waldorf
*Recycled & Upcycled

Art Dolls as an art form have been growing in popularity for several years now. There are a number of magazines specifically devoted to non-toy dolls, including Art Doll Quarterly (http://www.artdollquarterly.com/) which has been in print since 2003 and is still going strong. Just browsing through their website will give you and idea of the broad range of artists and styles included under the description %u201Cart doll.%u201D

There are several artists on Etsy who have been featured in Art Doll Quarterly and a number of others that expressed interest in joining but wouldn%u2019t because of the lack of category for listing their items. Quite a few buyers have expressed to sellers here their frustration at not being able to find art dolls on Etsy easily. Having a separate category for art dolls will alleviate these frustrations and result in more sales, bringing more income to Etsy.

Here are a small handful of websites that exhibit some of the incredible art dolls being made today:
http://www.hellmangallery.com/
http://www.niada.org/
http://www.artdollguild.net/index.php
http://www.dollartists.ca
http://www.pmcdesigns.com/
http://www.creagers.com/
http://www.mad-sculptor.com/
http://www.scottradke.com/marionettes.htm
http://www.lisalichtenfels.com/
http://www.dabida.eu/

Many of these dolls, as you can see by checking their websites, can sell for over $1000, some for quite a bit more. A number of these artists sell on eBay and would probably be very favorable to selling on Etsy, as well, if there were a category for listing their dolls. None of these dolls can be considered toys (although some can be played with, see www.chomickmeder.com). Many, if not all, can fall under the art category and that's where many of us list currently, but most would list under Dolls: Art Dolls if that were an option because that%u2019s where many of our buyers/collectors look for items like ours.

Dollhouse Miniatures have been made and collected by thousands for decades. This is a well-established and recognized art form for it's intricate details and incredible representation of life in miniature. Miniature artisans and guilds can be found worldwide and are usually very active in collecting and purchasing.

Dollhouse Miniature sites that exhibit the incredible artistry of some miniaturists:
http://www.acquistosilver.com/
http://www.artistryinwoodminis.com/mini.htm
http://www.byannemariedolls.com/
http://www.kateadamsfineminiaturequilts.com/
http://www.tinypots.com/
http://www.miniplants.com/
http://www.autumnleafstudio.com/
http://www.pierceartanddesign.com/pages/miniatures.html
http://www.nantasyfantasy.com/ajs-creations.htm
http://carol-wagner.com/
http://www.igma.org/recognition/fellows.html

Art dolls and miniatures are only two of the categories of non-toy dolls represented here and on Etsy. There are a large number of dollmakers who needs are being ignored by Etsy because we have no logical place to list our items.

While eBay is not necessarily the standard we suggest basing everything on, it can provide some good statistics regarding art dolls and their popularity. This is, by no means, comprehensive statistics since these numbers were simply pulled out today and not averaged over a period of time that would include higher sales seasons and lower seasons.

Ebay has an overall "Dolls and Bears" category with over 125,000 listings at present. While some of these are resale items of collectible and mass-produced dolls and supplies, there is a very real presence of handmade dolls, plushies, reborns, and miniatures there--over 13,000 listings between dollhouse miniatures, art dolls, and reborns alone, not including plushies, bears, paper dolls, or any of the other non-toy dolls.

Completed listings over the past two weeks, in art dolls and reborns alone, include the following sales:
Character doll: $3,383
Mermaid: $1,726.08
Fairy: $899.99
Reborn: $820
Ball-Jointed Doll (BJD): $530
Santa: $950
Total of these highest priced Art Doll sales on eBay from the past two weeks = $6032.07

And those were just the top six picked to show a variety of the types of sales generated by art dolls.

We appreciate that there are a lot of aspects you have to consider before deciding to add a new top level category like this but this is something that has been requested for well over two years. We believe that you are losing a huge market by continuing to discuss the idea rather than implementing it.

We thank you for your consideration and look forward to a quick resolution to our concerns.
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We signed the "Dolls and Miniatures Need a Real Home on Etsy" petition!
# 704:
5:44 am PDT, Sep 4, Debra Dale, Kentucky
This should have been done ages ago! Dolls and miniatures deserve a category!!!
# 703:
10:11 am PDT, Sep 3, Sophie Pearson, Illinois
I just joined Etsy so that I could sell and promote the Art of Dollmaking. Having a category for Dolls and/or Minatures would certainly help do this. I applaud Etsy for making it possible for crafters to sell their products. Now just one more step of adding a Doll and Minature category to the site would greatly help us to be a part of this great Community.

dollsetc.etsy.com

# 702:
3:54 am PDT, Sep 3, Danielle Lindqvist, Australia
Please give us an adult collectors category! Not all toys are for children and collectors shouldn't have to wade through childrens toys to find something intersting.

www.mylittleoogabooga.etsy.com

# 701:
10:30 am PDT, Sep 2, Kerry Hedges, Virginia
I collected minis when I was a child and I knew even then they were not toys and should not be regarded as such. Unlike my toys, my carefully handled minis are still around, admired to this day as the collectibles and art objects they truly are,. unlike my used and abused toys. Please give them their own ategory. It's the safe, logical, and responsible thing to do.
# 700:
4:29 pm PDT, Aug 30, Sandy Copeland, Georgia
My miniatures are not toys and should have their own category. The miniature 'hobby' is big business and a growing phenomena, and a unique art form.

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6177061

# 699:
10:21 pm PDT, Aug 29, Arban Severin, United Kingdom
ART DOLLZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.SugarSkullz.etsy.com

# 698:
11:09 am PDT, Aug 27, Heather McLaughlan, Massachusetts
# 697:
10:15 am PDT, Aug 27, Cynthia Lim, Singapore
The talent of the doll artists and miniaturists on Etsy is awesome. I have bought a few dolls from extremely talented sellers and fully support this petition.
# 696:
8:37 am PDT, Aug 26, Charlotte Purvis, Australia
ABSOLUTELY! A site supporting handmade without a dolls/miniatures category is almost blasphemous!!!! I am frustrated trying to search for miniatures - for jewelry and for my hobby of making dollshouses and shadowboxes. If you can justify the categories which currently exist.......................
# 695:
7:28 am PDT, Aug 26, Amber Walker, Tennessee
I make and collect miniatures in mulitiple scales, both the standard 1/12", playscale, and even the tiny half-inch scale. Many of these items are fragile and are NOT toys, a category that I always find irritating while listing on etsy. I don't care for being forced to type "not a toy" in both my descriptions and my tags.

http://www.lovenestdesign.etsy.com

# 694:
4:58 am PDT, Aug 26, Maura Canavan, United Kingdom
Some of the artistic talent and workmanship among this group of sellers is amazing. Is it really that difficult to create another category? I hope this gets resolved for the DAM folks soon - and especially in time for the Christmas market.
# 693:
8:04 pm PDT, Aug 25, Alexza Violet, Illinois
I would love to list my Miniature Artwork... Etsy please consider giving us our own category, Thank You! :)

www.MysticalArtStudio.etsy.com

# 692:
7:49 pm PDT, Aug 25, Krista Allison, North Carolina
Please give us our own category! Dolls and Miniatures are not always Toys, nor always for Children.

canoo.etsy.com

# 691:
4:01 pm PDT, Aug 25, Kimberly McKinney, Georgia
Keep children safe. Keep buyers happy. Keep miniaturist proud.
# 690:
3:10 pm PDT, Aug 25, Kathy McDonald, Canada
I have waited and waited, please make this happen Etsy admin.

www.adornyourself.etsy.com

# 689:
3:08 pm PDT, Aug 25, Cindy Jerrell, Georgia
It would be SO helpful. I love art dolls, and I love to buy things for my little niece - two very different categories.

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5311988

# 688:
2:55 pm PDT, Aug 25, Name not displayed, United Kingdom
# 687:
1:12 pm PDT, Aug 25, Brandi Crye, Oregon
This should be simple to do. I remember a time when the admins were asking for changes to the categories,I think that's how got some of the holiday cats. Also, the religious cat in everything else. It's something that will enhance Etsy, and increase profits!

www.crye.etsy.com

# 686:
10:15 am PDT, Aug 25, Michelle Aaron, United Kingdom
I'd like to see a doll category and would even prefer that it be broken down to "art" dolls and "play" dolls. It seems to me that anything which makes searching for these items easier, makes more money for etsy and makes more sense.

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6110211

# 685:
3:41 pm PDT, Aug 24, Beth Ward, Texas
I make art dolls and animals. The kind not suitable for play by young children.

http://www.berrybluecreations.etsy.com

# 683:
5:17 pm PDT, Aug 23, Cheryl Bricker, Canada
I like to shop for dolls and it would make it much easier to eliminate non doll stuff if dolls had their own category.
# 682:
3:08 pm PDT, Aug 23, Tricia Root, Colorado
I would like to see a category more specific to dolls/bears/miniatures in which to sell my items of doll clothes for porcelain dolls. As of now, I have no where else to sell them except toys or clothes which I find not suitable for them. Thank you, Tricia

littletricia.etsy.com

# 681:
4:57 am PDT, Aug 22, Name not displayed, New Jersey
Please, Etsy, these people need a home. They are an art form in and of themselves. By bannishing them to toys, you are devaluing their work as well as sending a bad message to customers. If they buy such an item as a "toy" and a child is hurt it is bad for all of us. A simple fix that would go a long way for your customers.
# 680:
11:38 pm PDT, Aug 19, Name not displayed, Washington
We sell miniatures on etsy and would love to see this a prominent catagory. www.stelmadesigns.etsy.com
# 679:
8:46 am PDT, Aug 19, Sandra Earles, Louisiana
Customers shop by doll categories like on Ebay.

www.upallnightstudio.etsy.com

# 678:
9:13 pm PDT, Aug 18, Name not displayed, Washington
Trying to find dolls and accessories is a pain right now, because of the lack of important subcategories of Dolls and Miniatures. Trying to figure out where to list items for dolls is similarly a headache because I don't make toys for children, and that's exactly what the category TOYS evokes. I would never think to look for dolls or miniatures under that category if I hadn't been told to by other etsy members.
# 677:
1:35 am PDT, Aug 18, Corky Stowers, Arkansas
miniature collectables need a special place where they can be found easily

don't have one

# 676:
4:56 pm PDT, Aug 15, Diana Gray, Arizona
I am a maker of miniature porcelain pottery and would love to see a catagory for miniatures so my tiny works don't get lost in the shuffel in the ceramics and pottery catagory. Miniatures have buyers just waiting to find us but there is no direct way at present. Please consider this.

distinctlydiana.etsy.com

# 675:
11:34 am PDT, Aug 14, Jennifer Wylie, Canada
Would sooooo like a better category!

www.bearlytimetoscrap.etsy.com

# 674:
2:02 pm PDT, Aug 13, Caren Raabe, California
It's absolutely ridiculous there aren't additional categories for miniatures/collectibles. Handcrafted miniatures and dolls have been featured dozens of times on etsy's homepage and yet etsy doesn't have a category. Clearly there is a large market for miniatures/dolls and I think etsy is very foolish to not take advantage of this and risk alienating successful sellers in the process.

http://www.miniature-gardens.com

# 673:
9:50 am PDT, Aug 11, Charlyn Woodruff, West Virginia
I really believe that we need both dolls and miniatures, I think they need to add a parent category of Collectibles ~Polymer Clay/Porcelain and then have subcategories of dolls, miniatures, jewelry, fairies & mystical and so on. It would make it so much easier to find us, I create animal sculptures and I also collect too, it would be so much easier to find what I am looking for if they make a category to find it. I love the Etsy site but if they want to compete with ebay, they need to make it easier to find the things buyers are looking for.

www.CritterCreationsByCharlyn.net , Etsy store~Critter Creations by CW ~http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=13709219

# 672:
5:13 pm PDT, Aug 10, Jeannie Rounsefell, South Carolina
hello! I would love to be able to be able to list in a "doll", Or dolls and Mins category. I cringe at having to lurk among other catagories. Thanks

www.hardyharhar.etsy.com

# 671:
10:48 am PDT, Aug 7, Janet Thirsk, United Kingdom
Just give us what we need because we are worth it,ya know it makes sense :OP

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5194547

# 670:
7:35 am PDT, Aug 2, Name not displayed, United Kingdom
www.prettyscruffy.etsy.com
# 669:
10:50 am PDT, Aug 1, Mary jane Lauer, Ohio
The artists in these genre's should not be in a hidden world. Their gifts need to be shared!
# 668:
7:48 am PDT, Aug 1, Paola Zakimi, Argentina
Hi, i´m la srtapil also know like holli, from etsy, I´m a doll maker and illustrator.

http://srtapil.blogspot.com/ http://lasrtapildolls.blogspot.com/

# 667:
11:10 am PDT, Jul 30, Robin Martin, Missouri
To me, this is a safety issue as well as a matter of convenience for buyers and sellers. Some "dolls" contain small parts and are not meant to be played with, especially not by young children who can detach, swallow, and choke on those small parts. As sellers, we pay the same fees other sellers do, and we certainly put everything we've got into our creations, yet our work is hidden within inappropriate categories: "Toys" - these dolls are not toys. It's got to be frustrating for a buyer to find what she believes to be the perfect gift, only to see a "small parts, not suitable for children" warning. She's left wondering why it was listed there to begin with. "Sculpture" - this comes closer, but still isn't accurate. There's a vast difference between a 12" art doll and the 3' gargoyle you bought from Toscano to stick out in your garden, or the 24' metal sculpture meant as a museum piece. "Everything Else" - the name says it all: overcrowded and close to insulting. Our creations do not deserve to be belittled, diminished, and left unnoticed, solely through the easily addressed lack of a proper category.

LittleCreatures.etsy.com

# 666:
1:45 am PDT, Jul 30, CAROL GILLINGHAM, United Kingdom
CASSYLOUMINIS
# 665:
4:33 am PDT, Jul 28, Name not displayed, Wisconsin
Dolls can be incredibly complicated to make. Please give them their own category!
# 664:
10:03 pm PDT, Jul 26, Shawnette Howell, Texas
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5259789
# 663:
8:24 pm PDT, Jul 25, Janey Esely, Texas
After reading the thread about a category separate for Artisan Dolls/Miniatures, I think it is definitely needed. Collecting miniatures is the second leading hobby in America, only stamp collecting is bigger. Isn't that a lot of potential customers being turned away/ turned off for lack of a specific easy to find category??

BluebonnetLadies@esty.com

# 662:
11:00 am PDT, Jul 25, Name not displayed, Canada
I believe there is a need for two categories here - Miniatures and Dolls. Although these two categories do sometimes merge, they really are different worlds! I browsed through Etsy many months ago. The lack of a Miniatures section is the reason why I haven't used the site since then!
# 661:
5:47 am PDT, Jul 25, Lori Petroff, Canada
I would love to see a miniatures category on etsy!

www.littlescotia.com

# 660:
4:34 am PDT, Jul 25, Sandra Stacy, Texas
# 659:
4:17 am PDT, Jul 25, Kathleen kelly Arthur, Virginia
I would prefer "dolls and miniatures" as it is broader. thanks and blessings katie

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5775769

# 658:
2:01 am PDT, Jul 25, Shelley Sands, Florida
# 657:
8:44 pm PDT, Jul 24, Miriam Phillips, Ohio
Miriam Phillips
# 656:
8:05 pm PDT, Jul 24, Chin Pei Li, Singapore
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5787747
# 655:
7:17 pm PDT, Jul 24, Emily Preston, Ohio
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5883873
# 654:
6:45 pm PDT, Jul 24, Delphine Wilson, Michigan
I knit miniature blankets for the 1/12 scale dollhouse.

htt://DelsYarnBasket.esty.com

# 653:
8:43 am PDT, Jul 24, Tami Levin, California
I asked about Etsy Admin adding a "Doll" category back in early 2005 and I still think that we need to have it. Please do so. Thank you!

http://www.lemontreetales.com

# 652:
3:33 am PDT, Jul 24, Leeanne Reid, Australia
# 651:
2:44 pm PDT, Jul 23, JoLyn Stephens, Utah
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