|
|
|
Each baby found in the Snug-A-Bug Reborn Nursery is unique, created by one of two artists - a mother-daughter team!
We have both always had a love for the creative arts and for babies. We opened a small company in 2004 with the development of the Snug-A-Bug Bandana blanket, a handmade four-square bandana blanket. Within 2 years, we were both looking for a new creative outlet. We had designed a number of party invitations and baby announcements for friends and family and so decided to launch our own line of custom announcements and invitations. Our vision was to provide to the general public what we provide to our closest friends and family - a unique shopping experience where no detail is overlooked and no customization is too much! As our babies (Casey's children, Bev's first two grand-daughters) grew, so did their love of babies and baby dolls!
It was in 2004 when Casey's youngest was born that we discovered "reborn" babies. Over the years, we bought several for the girls, and Bev bought a few for herself (always a lover of all things baby)! In 2013, we decided it was time to try something new. We closed the online shop and we began reborning and WE LOVE IT! Our babies are available via our Facebook Page, Instagram and now here on reborns.com. PLEASE NOTE - Our address is listed as Maryland (21146), however Bev's babies will ship from her home in Florida (34293).
Each of our reborns will come complete with an outfit of our choice (shown in photos), a blanket, a reborn care package and a custom photo adoption certificate. Additional items may be included at the discretion of the artist. Photos probs will not be included.
When creating our babies, we use only authentic doll kits (soft vinyl), purchased through only reputable reborn doll vendors from around the world. We NEVER use counterfeit kits! We paint using reborn artist grade air dry paints and highly pigmented powders. We use only the highest quality stuffing and weighting materials including fine glass bead, poly (plastic) pellets and premium fiber-fil. We strive to offer collectible quality dolls as a reasonable rate.
To learn more about us and read past reviews, visit our website at http://snugabug.wixsite.com/thenursery.
☆☆WHY DO REBORN DOLLS COST SO MUCH?☆☆
Let us (@Snug-a-Bug Reborns) try to help...
(we will discuss only vinyl reborns as we do not work with silicone)
Start Up Costs:
Artists start by researching, then purchasing things like paint and paint mediums (can vary significantly due to type and brand), pigment powders (if an artist uses them), paint tools (brushes, sponges, gloves, distilled water, brush cleaner, etc) which have to be replenished regularly, paint plates/bowls, stuffing & weighting materials, mohair, rooting supplies (needles rooting tool, magnifying glasses, hair cutting/styling supplies), magnets, glues, practice kits/pieces, shipping supplies (boxes, packing materials, tape), printing materials and box opening supplies (clothing, diapers, pacifiers, bottles, hair conditioner, brushes, combs, etc.). Start up costs will range based on the type of paint and quality of supplies an artist uses. On average an artist is looking at spending $300-$1,000 before they sell their first reborn (and many don't sell the first several but rather think of them as part of the investment in learning the craft).
To Create 1 Reborn:
Authentic Reborn Kit: $40 -$150
Body: $0-90 (sometimes the kit includes a body)
Quality Hair (human/mohair/alpaca): $45-100 per ounce. A newborn sizedbaby will generally take a minimum of 1/4 ounce. A larger baby or toddler could take a full ounce.
Eyes: $10-60 (cheap plastic --> German Glass and everything in between)
Consumable supplies (sponges, brushes, thinners, paints, varnish, rooting needles etc): $10-$30
Baby clothing/diapers/box opening supplies: $30-$90
Painting Time: 20-60 hours (rooting could add another 20+ hours) place a value in that...let’s say $7.50 hour (that’s the federal minimum wage in the US): $150+
Shipping supplies: $5-10 (boxes, padding, gift wrap, ribbon, shipping labels, tape)
So, if we do the math (excluding start up supplies), a quality doll, reborn by a high quality artist should be expected to be priced between $400 (minimal to no profit)-$850. If the artist has lots of experience and superior talent (think prototype artist) or is in demand, that price deserves to be higher - prototype artists regularly sell reborn dolls at prices that exceed $4,000.
Dolls from new artists or dolls created from cheaper kits that are not well painted, or not well rooted should cost less. You just have to decide what quality is worth to you. Please don't ask an artist to lower their prices because you want more for less...
|
|
|
