If you make handmade products, you probably know the struggle of balancing custom orders with the freedom to create what you love—this reservation system might be the perfect middle ground!
For the past few years, I’ve explored different ways to offer my miniature creations to customers. From custom orders to first-come-first-serve shop updates, each method had its benefits, but also some limitations. Now, after much thought, I’ve introduced a reservation system—a new approach that allows customers to secure a spot for my miniature releases without the stress of missing out. Here’s how it works and why I made this change.
Why I Created the Miniature Reservation System
When I started offering custom orders, I loved the process and the personal connection it built with customers. However, it quickly became clear that many people requested the same miniatures they had seen before. As a result, I found myself making the same types of miniatures for months, leaving little room for creative exploration.
To break out of this cycle, I tried closing custom orders entirely. While this gave me more creative freedom, I soon realized that saying no to long-time customers was difficult (sometimes impossible). At the same time, another issue emerged: I would post work-in-progress photos on social media, and customers would ask to reserve those specific pieces. This created some awkward situations, particularly for newsletter subscribers who expected to be the first to know about new listings. Even if they clicked on the link in the newsletter right away, they ended up on my website where some of the miniatures were already reserved.
Additionally, my miniature production has been more limited in the past two years due to other projects, and this trend will continue. In fact, 2025 will be an especially light year for miniature releases because I am working on a big, miniature-related project that won’t be ready until the second half of the year.
How the Reservation System Works
With this new system, customers are not reserving a specific miniature. Instead, they are reserving the opportunity to choose from a curated selection of miniatures within a certain theme (for example in February there are three: ham, painted eggs, and fruits).
Here’s how it works:
Reserve a spot – For a small deposit (£1), the customers can secure access to a private listing for their chosen category.
Receive exclusive access – On February 23rd, I will email them a private link where they can browse the available miniatures before they go public.
Make your choice – They will have 48 hours to select the pieces they like before any remaining miniatures are listed in my shop for everyone.
Fair selection process – I always make more miniatures than the number of reservations, so even the last person to access the link will have more miniatures to choose from.
This system ensures that customers who are truly interested in a particular theme get a proper selection, rather than scrambling for whatever is left. It also allows me to plan my production more effectively and avoid disappointing customers who miss out on limited pieces.
Update: Here is the first result which helps my work:
I can already see how well this system works! I planned to make ham, eggs, and fruits, and while ham was my best seller in 2024, guess what? Only one ham reservation came in, while the fruits sold out, and there’s just one egg spot left. That shows it would’ve been a mistake to produce ham in large quantities. So, I was able to reduce the ham reservation spot and increase the eggs. I only sell spots that I can make in two weeks, and the rest of the time, I can focus on other projects and create new miniatures.
If you’d like to see how the reservation system works in action, here’s the listing for you to check out!
A Unique Approach – Inspired by Similar Systems
This reservation system is quite unique—I haven’t seen the exact same method anywhere, though there are similar approaches used by potters and clothing brands who create small-batch, high-demand items. Many ceramic artists offer pre-orders or waiting lists for their collections, and some independent fashion brands allow customers to secure items before production begins. My system blends these ideas into something tailored specifically for my handmade business.
A Trial Run – Evaluating the Pros and Cons
Right now, this is a trial system, and I can’t yet see all the pros and cons clearly. Over the next few months, I will observe how well it works, and I plan to analyze the results at end of the year.
My hope is that this system benefits both me and my customers:
For me: I can decide on the themes and designs freely, without limitation, while also ensuring that I create pieces people actually want. If I offer three types of miniatures and one is significantly less popular, I can adjust my production accordingly. Additionally, being my own boss, I sometimes get a little too flexible with my plans, but having a little push at the start of each month to get the reserved miniatures done really helps me stay on track.
For customers: They get a clear idea of what I’m planning, and they can secure their preferred theme with confidence. The deposit is very low, so there’s little financial risk, if they don’t like any of the finished pieces. However, they'll also get 5% off the price of the miniatures compared to the public shop listings. Plus, since reservations are made in advance, they can plan for the expense weeks ahead of time. Also even the last person to access the private link will still have multiple options to choose from.
Right now, I don’t see any major downsides, but I’ll reassess once I have more experience with the system. If it proves successful, it could be a useful model for other handmade artists who struggle with balancing custom work and creative freedom.
First Launch – A Great Start!
I launched the reservation system yesterday, and it’s nearly fully booked already! It’s such a comforting feeling knowing I already have customers on the waiting list, and I still have the freedom to create!
I hope this approach not only helps my customers get the miniatures they love but also offers fellow handmade business owners a solution to balance creativity with customer demand, all while maintaining the freedom to create new and exciting designs.
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