I belong to a family business, a small company that specializes in producing unique wooden artifacts. Our business revolves around our enduring passion for wood, a passion that has remained unchanged as we enter the second generation.
My wife, Stella, and I design and create a wide range of wooden products, including bookmarks, card holders, special boxes, wooden jewelry, and most notably, an array of small and large dollhouses, each with their own old-fashioned or modern charm.
Our journey has been marked by its fair share of challenges. In 2010, our door-producing business was on the brink of closure due to the strain of the 2008 financial crisis. However, we managed to survive by downsizing dramatically and adapting our approach. Armed with a single laser machine, we began cutting plywood figures and selling them to wedding and accessories shops. It was during this time that a significant turning point occurred.
One day, my daughters' grandfather gifted them a wooden dollhouse he had crafted using traditional tools in a couple of days. The girls were ecstatic! They painted it with vibrant colors, adorned it with decoupage decorations, and even used pieces from pine cones to create tiny roof tiles. Inspired by their joy, we realized the potential in combining our laser-cutting expertise with the art of dollhouse making.
Initially, it was a mere hobby, until a friend introduced us to Etsy in 2012. At first, we were skeptical about the chances of a Greek wooden artifact maker succeeding in the immensely competitive American market. Nevertheless, we mustered the courage to open a shop and list three of our products: a cardholder, a miniature cupboard, and, of course, a dollhouse.
To our amazement, an American customer purchased one of our items—the miniature cupboard. It was a defining moment when this kind customer, an elderly lady, left a wholehearted five-star review, expressing her genuine appreciation for the piece. The feeling of having someone cherish our creations was truly heartwarming, prompting us to invest more effort and dedication into our craft. With guidance from Etsy, we refined our shop and decided to focus solely on producing and selling wooden dollhouses.