(The following information is reproduced with the kind permissions of Maple Street - my thanks to them)
Excluding Dolls Fairs, which are now just as expensive as shops but without the benefit of customer protection (being able to return something or complain), there are two main ways in which you can purchase Dolls House accessories - specialist shops and mail order.
1) Shops
The problem here seems to be that because they cater for a relatively small market, in order to cover their overheads the mark-ups on items has to be huge, and many prices are therefore astronomical! Most of them are also fairly small, and there is a limit to how much stock they can hold, or how much they can invest in development - designing their own houses for example. On the plus side many are staffed by friendly, knowledgeable people with time to help.
2) Mail Order
Since most catalogues are sent out by shops, the prices tend to be those offered on the premises - high, without the benefit of the personal service. Some other catalogues price high, and then offer 'deals' or discounts at various times during the year (usually at the times when you do not want to buy - you don't see many deals at Christmas!). There are two problems with this. Firstly, even the discounted price tends to be high relative to what you can pay elsewhere (this makes the original catalogue prices ridiculously high!), and secondly, the one thing which any customer hates is seeing something they paid a lot of money for one month, slashed to bits the next - in other words, their purchase devalued.
The largest Dolls House Shop in Europe and now the British Museum of Dolls Houses and Miniatures.
I buy most of my Dolls House products from "Maple Street" which is fortunately only about a 20 minute drive from my house. The staff are very knowledgeable and friendly and will always help you decide what you need to buy to complete your project.
Their address is:
Maple Street
Wendy
Royston
Herts
SG8 0AB
UK
Tel: 01223 207025/208937
Fax:01223 207021.
Visit their Web site at www.maplestreet.co.uk or you can email them at : info@maplestreet.co.uk. They are open 7 days a week - weekdays 10am - 5pm, Saturday 10am - 5pm and Sunday 12pm - 4pm and most Bank Holidays.
They set their prices at such a low level even with other companies 'special offers' they are still less expensive all year round, and at Maple Street, nobody gets their Christmas purchase devalued in January. They take advantage of economies of scale by buying bulk, making their own dolls houses and selling direct - passing the savings on to customers.
As major stockists for Dolls House Emporium products they can offer any items from that catalogue as well as their own, which means that you can purchase everything you need from "Maple Street" thus saving on postage costs! Simply use their catalogue page, item number, description and price and order in the normal way. This includes any special offers they may have.
You can order a catalogue and products on-line at their Web site though you will need to already have a catalogue to order anything on-line as you will need the product numbers (call them to get a catalogue sent to you).
They also sell Model
railways, tin toys of yesteryear, outdoor toys and thousands of traditional
and pocket money toys, so there should be something for everyone.
If you are in the area
then pay "Maple Street" a visit as it is a delightful shop to walk around and
browse, and they have recently opened a tea-room so the rest of the family
can stay in there whilst you browse around the shop.
This is another site that I order products from. You can visit "The Dolls House Emporium" at: www.dollshouse.com.
The site allows you to search for products, order a catalogue and products on-line, view and submit pictures of your own Dolls House and have access to useful advice and tips on all aspects of your Dolls House.
This is an excellent site for any avid Dolls House builder.
Their address is:
The Dolls House Emporium
High Holborn Road
Ripley
Derbyshire
DE5 3YD
UK
Tel: 01773 513773
Fax: 01773 513772
email: info@dollshouse.com
Lyonacre Miniatures
Lyonacre Miniatures is not far from where I live - just down the A1 (North Hertfordshire, 5 minutes from Junction 9 of the A1M). They are not open very often though so you may need to phone ahead to see if they will open up for you. I have been there a few times and they do have some very good products.
They are open every Tuesday and Thursday from 10:00 'till 14:00 and Saturday morning 9:00 'till 12:00 but phone at other times to see if they will open up for you. If someone is about then you are more than welcome to turn up.
Phone them on 01462 895065
Or Email them : miniatures@lyonacre.demon.co.uk
Dolls House Fairs
These are a must! You get to browse for products from many stockists all under one roof. You will also pick up some excellent tips on decorating and furnishing your Dolls House and the chance to see other people's work. I picked up a lot of the furnishings for my pub from a guy who made everything himself by hand but did not have a shop as such to sell it in. He just went along to the fairs and sold what he had made. I couldn't have found him or the furniture he made on the Internet!
For the dates of the UK "Four Seasons Dolls House Fairs" click here
For details of all up and coming UK fairs click here
The Hobbies Handbook can be bought in your local newsagent for around £2.50 but they also have a Web site. Their Dolls House furnishings and decorations are very cheap so they are well worth a look.
The Copper Connection's Dolls House Accessories can supply you with all your electrical needs, Transformers, Electric Kits and Lamp Connectors etc. plus many more items such as Tools, Plastic Fencing, even Dolls House Kits and Ready made Dolls Houses, Direct from the Manufacturers.