Collections of miniatures dont have to cost a lot. As long as you have narrowed down your search, these ten money saving tips may help you collect more for your money.
1. Make Something
Magazines may show you techniques for creating miniatures in your particular field or point you in the direction of classes. You can make the project, attend a class, or talk to recent class graduates who may be producing something you want. You may be able to create a miniature, a display or find bargain collectibles.
2. Find a Club
Clubs often have workshop days when items are created or days when members trade their work. Local clubs may have discount agreements with local shops or might buy group lots at a discount. Some clubs have discounts with online suppliers or local craftspeople as well. Local libraries will have lists of clubs in your area with information about when they meet.
3. Watch for Local Sales
Magazines for collectors may have information about clubs, shows and upcoming sales in your local area. Watch club newsletters and the local paper for sale events as well.
4. Look Outside Your Field
Often miniatures are created across disciplines. A ceramics specialist may have decided to try a few tiny teapots this year. A person skilled with polymer clay may have miniature items included in their usual range. A bonsai club may have small trees suitable for garden railways, but not up to the club standard for competition. The local alpine plant society may have seed suitable for that same garden railway as a groundcover.
5. Check Yard Sales, Thrift Stores and Estate Sales
Small collections may show up on Craigslist or other local online sales sites. Study your particular area, know what you are looking for, decide your price range and head out to flea markets and sales on the weekend.
6. Stay in Touch with Local Auction Houses and Dealers
If older miniatures are your passion, visit auction houses regularly. Talk to local stores and ask them to call you if they are offered particular items or if something in your area shows up in a job lot. A $2 box in the back lot of goods at an auction may contain several items you have spent years looking for.
7. Watch for Emerging Artists
In their first few years the work of new artists may be much more reasonable than it will be when they have made a name for themselves. If they don’t have exactly what you want, ask them if they create pieces to order and discuss your requirements and budget.
8. Post Notices in Club Newsletters
Let clubs know your interest areas. An old time member who no longer attends may be looking to sell an item you are searching for.
9. Travel Wisely
Miniature books in English may not be as expensive in a foreign language market where they are less likely to be collected. Older wargame minatures may show up in retirement communities where people are clearing out their children’s possessions.
10. Enlist Friends to Help
All items go through fashion cycles and sometimes a pocket exists in one community which means items which you thought had vanished are still circulating there and may not be popular. Always look for your collectible, regardless of what small town or country you are in, and let friends who are collectors know what you are looking for so they can contact you if they see something in your range.
