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About MiniMe

We are an online business that creates custom figurines for people all over the world through Web sites like GayRites.NET. Our main business is based in Australia and we are soon to open in Europe.  (The figurines we sell through GayRites are priced in U.S. Dollars, including shipping.)

It has taken more than 10 years of sculpting experience to get the techniques just right to create them at today’s high standards. But we're not resting on our laurels; our creative team is always coming up with newer and better ways for creating miniature versions of you.

We’re also constantly creating new designs, product ranges and production methods so that you have more choice for giving presents – so things will always be fresh and exciting for you!

So what do we do here?

Basically, in one sentence - we turn photos and images of you and your partner into cool little figurines.

Of course it is a little more complicated than that, so let us show you a little bit of the process. It takes us between 1-3 weeks to create your custom figurine.

First, here is the basic material, polymer clay. It actually starts out as a block when we receive it from Germany. Once it’s been extruded (fancy word for pushed through a round hole), it looks like this:

And here are some of the special sculpting tools that we need to use that are used for all the figurines.
They are small – about 15cm or shorter!

The Process Starts with YOU!

So once you've sent your photos in, one frontal and one from the side, we look at them and study all your features. This is a very important process as all your features and quirks that make you a one-of-a-kind individual need to be taken into account.

Side note: Faces are probably the most difficult structure of the body to sculpt: it is the first object we learn to recognize as kids and are intimately aware when one doesn't look right. Since our brains are supercomputers that can recognize facial features even in childhood friends - people we may not have seen in many years!

The details that we have to take into account are things like skin color, hair, eye color, bone structure etc. and we then start “fleshing” your sculpture out by mixing the clays into the right tones and colors.

Yup, we know it doesn’t look like much but Rome wasn’t built in a day! After many hours making tiny changes and tweaks with our tiny tools, your features will start to take shape.


We then start adding the features such as ears, eyebrows, eyes, eyelashes, eyeliner, lips, teeth, smile, ears, hair, beauty spot, dimples, wrinkles (or not), facial expressions etc. If you have any special wishes to include or to leave out features, all you have to do is request them with your order.
You’ll then get an email notification with your figurine proof and tell us if you like how your figurine looks or if you’d like to make any adjustments. We do our absolute best to make the figurine look like you, just realise that this is a caricature and with any piece of art you won’t get 100% likeness.

At this stage if you like how your figurine looks, we’ll continue the sculpting process and we’ll then finish your figurine with the hairline, hair and skin colour. We'll then prepare your figurine for hardening and then add it to a base...



...and voila! Your figurine is finished!

(If you’re getting a complete customized figurine, the body will be sculpted from scratch, and the outfit of your choice will be designed, colored, hand rolled, cut, and layered onto the body - it's all very intensive but the results are well worth the effort!)

Hope that sheds some light on the process. If you'd like to get your own custom figurine, click here to browse through some of our cool designs.

Warm Regards


Mark and Tina
The MiniMe Team
 

How big are the MiniMeGifts.com custom figurines?
On average each figurine stands about 15-16cm or 5.5inches tall. Some designs are taller, some a bit shorter.

What are they made of?
MiniMeGifts.com custom figurines are made of very high quality polymer clay that is imported from Germany. Your figurine is non-toxic and safe to put on top of cakes (especially popular on birthday and wedding cakes!).

Are your paints safe?
All the paints that we use are high quality artist's paints that are tested and lead free.

How are the figurines made?
We have tiny elves that come in every night and make them for us! Just kidding. Sculpting these detailed and small figurines so that they look like you takes very small and precise tools. To capture your features on such a small scale whilst working with this special polymer clay means a very steady hand, good eye, and lots of experience!

Ordering FAQ's


How do I order my figurine?
For one of the predesigned themes, just select the figurine that you like best. Click "Buy Now" and complete the payment, then wait for the email confirmation. Complete the order form fully, attach your photos and submit your order. 

I've only got one photo of my partner, can you still make a figurine for me?
As long as it's clear we can. The more pictures, the better results.

I'd like to have my MiniMeGifts figurine to be the same as the outfit I'm wearing in the photo, can you do that for me?
Yes we can :) Just check the answer below as this will be a full customized figurine.

I'd like to order a custom figurine, how do I do that?
Send us an email message to get the process started. Be sure to mention that you learned about MiniMe Figurines at GayRites.NET so you get the special prices GayRites offers.  It can all be started with an idea. You can express this to us by a sketch and a short description and/or pictures.

If I don't have a picture of myself wearing the outfit can I still get a figurine of me made?
This is no problem at all. Just as the question above, we only need a sketch, an image of the theme or outfit to make what you want.

Payments FAQ's


What currency are the prices in?
All prices of our figurines sold through GayRites.NET are denominated in U.S. dollars (USD). You can convert USD into any international currency here.

What payment methods do you accept?
We accept Visa and Mastercard (Visa and Mastercard payments are processed by Paypal). If you are in Australia, we also accept direct deposit into our bank account.

Why does "Paypal" appear on my credit card statements?
We use Paypal to process all our orders, that includes the Visa and Mastercard transactions.

Can I get a bulk discount?
You sure can! Just contact us to find out what discounts we can offer you.

Can I buy a gift certificate?
While we haven't got this facility just yet, it is coming soon! Keep an eye on this spot :)

Can I pick my figurine up personally?
Currently we don't have this facility available. One of the reasons why is that it costs extra in overhead to have a shop front and so basically we would have to increase prices considerably (50-100%) to make this an option. We are considering this and may have this option in the future.

Shipping FAQ's


What countries do you ship to?
We ship internationally to just about anywhere in the world.

Where do you ship from?
All orders are shipped from our studios in either China or Hong Kong.

How much does it cost to ship?
To ship to anywhere in the world via airmail, is included in the price you see at GayRites.NET. You will also receive an online tracking code, so you will know exactly where it is.

How long does it take for it to be delivered?
Usually it takes 4-5 business days to arrive anywhere in the world with the EMS airmail service. In many cases your figurine/s will arrive quicker.

What happens if my figurine gets damaged in transit?
Your figurine is carefully packed in a protective layer of foam and then another layer of bubble wrapping, then packaged into a box. To date we haven't had any problems with figurines being damaged due to being delivered. But should it happen please get in touch with us immediately.

Also, take extra care when unpacking the figurine! If you have a small break occur such as a strand of hair, you can easily reattach it with superglue.

What shipping services do you use?
We currently use EMS as our shipping services. Over the years we have found them to be very reliable and of great service.

Do you offer insurance on shipping?
Insurance is included in the delivery service with EMS, so is online tracking.

Wedding FAQ's


For some reason we get a lot of questions from couples who are getting married that want to know the exact details of the figurines. This is totally understandable as they want the wedding to be absolutely perfect. Here are some of the most commonly asked questions.

How much do the wedding cake toppers/figurines weigh?
The figurines weigh 200-250grams each, depending on the style. Many past customers have been delighted with their wedding cake toppers and have used them on wedding and birthday cakes.

How tall are they?
The figurines from the "Wedding Series" all stand 16cm tall or 5.5 inches.

Can I get myself and my partner made in bulk as wedding favors?
You sure can! If you would like to create a mini replica of yourself and your partner to give to your wedding guests, we can create figurines for you for as little as 100 people. For the price, it really varies and depends on the level of detail you want and the quantity you'd like. If you are even remotely interested, just drop us a line here and get a hassle free quote!

Would it be possible to order same sex couple figurines?
This is the 21st century! And this is GayRites.NET.  Of course you can.

Handling & Care FAQ's


I'd like to leave my figurine on the windowsill, is that ok?
If you would like to have your figurine last a lifetime, it's not suggested that you leave it in the sun. This may fade the colors of your figurine over time. So it is better to place it out of direct sunlight.

How can I clean my figurine?
Keeping your figurine looking great is quite easy. All you have to do is wipe it down carefully with a damp cloth. You can do this because the polymer clay has water resistant properties. Should you get any stains on your figurine, you can easily wipe them off with soap or toothpaste. With proper care, your figurine can last a lifetime (or more!).

Corporate Gifts & Fundraising FAQ's


I'd like 2,000 figurines for my company's promotion, can you create them for me?
Yes, we can have your figurine designed and completed for you, if they all exactly the same. To get the bulk order discount, you need to order a minimum of 100 pieces of the same design, up to 10,000 pieces (in lots of 100s).

The more figurines you buy, the cheaper it gets for each piece, as we are using a different manufacturing process for bulk orders. This is a great idea for fundraising, too!

Does it cost me anything for the design of the figurine if I'm ordering in bulk?
You will only have to pay the sculpting fees for the original figurine for the moulds. This is about $200 USD (delivery worldwide is included) and you will receive this once it is completed to proof and then we will get the confirmation to start production.

Exchanges/Refunds FAQ's


If you're not happy, we're not happy.

Should you not be delighted with your custom made figurine, we'll offer a full money back for up to 30 days after receiving it. This is something that is unheard of in the personalised gifts market. We believe you'll be so delighted in your figurine that you'd fight nail and tooth to keep it!

Or, should your figurine arrive damaged caused by shipping, you can choose to accept the insurance claim or have another figurine made for you. This will generally take about 6 weeks.

Note that we take the utmost care to wrap and package your figurines so they arrive to you in the same condition as if we just finished sculpting. Hundreds of these figurines have already been sent out around the world, and to date we have not had any breakages due to transit.

*NOTE: please be VERY gentle when unwrapping your figurine. Your custom piece may be very delicate and needs gentle care when you first receive it.

"Other" FAQ's


How many changes can I make to my figurine?
When you receive your first proof in your email inbox, you can make as many required changes as you like as long as you state ALL of your requested changes in your reply. If you want fully customized figurine, click here.

For example, "can you please make the eyes a little bigger, and the nose smaller with no mole"

You will also get a second amendment free of charge if they were mentioned in the original request. If any other requests are to be added after the first proofing and changes request, it will be an additional fee of about $5 USD per change if they were not mentioned in your first request.

Please note: we get really, really busy during November and December - and since everyone wants their figurines as quickly as possible, we cannot make amendments to figurines during this period.

How do I get  fully customized figurines?
This is actually quite easy. All you do is send us an email (minimegifts@gmail.com) and we'll take it from there. Fully customized figurines start at about $200 USD each.  You can choose body type, clothing, postures -- everything!

What's the quickest time I can have a figurine made and delivered to me?
The absolute quickest that you can get your figurine is 14 days from receiving your payment and image files. This does not take into account proofing and any changes that you may want. There is also a $50-$100 surcharge for courier shipping and sculpting. Extra price really depends on the detail and where you are in the world for the rush service.

Why are your prices so low?
This is a brand new product and we would like to get as many people as possible exposed to our little business. We think you'll love your first figurine so much that you'll be back for more!

Also, our studios are based in China and Hong Kong. So basically you get a great value due to the strength of the dollar and our artists make a great living doing what they love! If we were to make our figurines in a western nation, equivalent prices would be triple of what it costs you to buy now.

I love you guys - can I give you a million dollars?
Sure, if you really want to. I'd be glad to help lighten your load (I think that question might have been a phishing scam).