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<\/p>\nLexi Burgess, 25, recently launched her own business from Manchester, making clay mini figurines and selling them on Etsy.<\/p>\n
Figurines have included the Very Hungry Caterpillar, personalised fruit with faces and well-known cartoon characters, all lovingly and painstakingly recreated.<\/p>\n
Lexi attended Lancaster University and graduated with a bachelor\u2019s degree in literature and creative writing, before working as a copy writer for several companies, including a vape shop.<\/p>\n
Since May 2021 she has worked full time as a freelance copy writer, before launching her mini company in early 2025.<\/p>\n
\u201cI started making clay figurines a year ago, when I was looking for a hobby, so I bought a pack of clay from Amazon. In the beginning with my work obligations, I was making one a month, then I started my Etsy shop two months ago.<\/p>\n
\u201cI found I suddenly had more time to dedicate to it as I\u2019m a freelance writer, and AI came into the picture, and changed the freelance writing landscape overnight. It decimated it, so since then I\u2019ve just gone at it.\u201d<\/p>\n
While her Etsy shop took off immediately, Lexi says the preparation beforehand was touch and go for a while.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a steep learning curve. There have been peaks and troughs, I got a corporate job for a bit that really cut down on the time I could spend making minis, but when that came to an end, I decided I wanted something more creative. I\u2019ve been a freelancer for five years and it can get quite draining, so I decided I wanted more artistic avenues.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lexi waxes lyrical about the benefits of pursuing creative endeavours.<\/p>\n
\u201cI honestly think when I turned 25 it unlocked a creative part of my brain, and I really wanted to pursue those things, and then my boyfriend was really encouraging me to set up a stall and sell them to people. I set up one with one listing on, and then three, and then it snowballed from there.\u201d<\/p>\n
Despite enjoying several jobs in writing both creative and non-fictional, Lexi was drawn to the world of miniature figurines as another artistic outlet.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I think about choosing minis specifically, over any other creative pursuit I could do, I was so initially excited! I really think minis are so cute and inspiring and spark joy, and I love things that inspire cuteness.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou obviously don\u2019t need loads of space for minis, and they\u2019re more accessible than making massive things.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lexi advertises her products through Instagram, TikTok and Etsy.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m a writer by trade so I know tricks to put key words in my Etsy listings for optimising views. I\u2019ve gone through the site with a fine-tooth comb to figure out the algorithms and how the website works!\u201d<\/p>\n
Lexi says inspiration for her designs and creations strikes from anywhere.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor a while I\u2019ve really been into art, so I went to the You, Me and the Balloons Exhibit at Factory International and I\u2019ve recreated the spotty pumpkin from there as a sculpture, earrings and nail art. I\u2019ve recreated The Scream by Edvard Munch now as a portrait, on my wall as part of a mini art gallery. I turned it into a sculpture too.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor a while I was really obsessed with The Scream and it was an accessible way to try and recreate that or recreate cartoon characters I like. There\u2019s just so much pleasure in making a cute little mini to me!\u201d<\/p>\n
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The creation process has been interesting and educational to explore for Lexi, particularly when she moved from making her own designs to customer requests.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe worst mini I\u2019ve made was when a friend asked me to make a clay miniature of Milhouse from The Simpsons and I couldn\u2019t get his nose right! I eventually asked her to pick something else, and she picked Patrick Starr, and I could do that. He was also the most difficult one though, I was trying to recreate him for a year before I started and when I look at the versions from then to now it\u2019s shocking. But it makes me feel good seeing how far I\u2019ve come and how much I\u2019ve improved.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy favourite one is Oscar the Grouch, for my boyfriend, because we always send each other any funny photos of him we find.\u201d<\/p>\n
The creating process has been an interesting facet to the business, Lexi says, as it introduced the challenge of wanting to pursue personal ideas combined with producing work to a high standard and with reliability for customers.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy process is honestly just to sit down and try and make it and learn as I go. The hardest, most intensive part is making the first prototype as it\u2019s where you learn what\u2019s possible and what isn\u2019t possible.<\/p>\n
\u201cI make the first prototype and even if it\u2019s not right I bake it anyway and then I might return to the same design two or three times and add tweaks. I bake them in the oven at 125 for eight minutes.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m a big fan of progressing as you go, because if I spent all my time figuring out the perfect way to do something I\u2019d never do it.\u201d<\/p>\n
While the equipment cost and prep may be a stumbling block for larger business ventures, creative endeavours are much more accessible.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe equipment cost was originally \u00a3100 for the basic equipment but now with all the extra things like storage boxes and stands and the little bits I add to experiment, it\u2019s about \u00a3200 in total. I\u2019m very privileged as my boyfriend pays for postage to clients, but I add wrapping paper and a nice note for them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lexi\u2019s future looks bright, with plans for further development already brewing.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve got so many ideas for expansion it almost paralyses me! I\u2019ve started making earrings, I\u2019m making Squidward ones next, and I just bought the equipment I need to make bag charms.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to do a market later this year when I\u2019m more established and get branded packaging.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve also started creating digital drawings and I want to expand into a brand with all types of art, so I\u2019d go from \u2018Lexi Makes Minis\u2019 to \u2018Lexi Makes Art\u2019. I see it as a gateway to building the confidence and the platform to go wherever the wind takes me.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt the beginning my mission was for just me and to have the joy of creating mini things and having people put them in their house. It\u2019s a win-win situation really, as people like buying them and I like making them. It\u2019s not a high entry cost to start and I really get a kick out of it. I love it and the type of people who buy my products are people I know are going to be thrilled with them. There\u2019s no complainers or \u2018Karens\u2019, they just share my enthusiasms.\u201d<\/p>\n
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With so much of current media reporting geared towards the negative fallouts of running businesses, such as Clarify Capital in 2025 reporting figures that 40% of businesses fail in the first year, and up to 49.9% within 10 years, Lexi insists that pursuing a small business as a \u201cside hustle\u201d or for your own creative endeavours can bring fulfilment.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you want to start a similar business, take my advice and just do it! There\u2019s a lot of talk about creating a business plan, getting loans and calculating profits, but for something like this it\u2019s better to go for it. I think when you want to make a business out of your creativity and something that makes you happy, people either like it or they won\u2019t.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m a strong believer in if you spend too long waiting for the perfect moment, you will be waiting a very long time. I really faked it until I made it, when I started, I could upload products and regret them two weeks later, but it\u2019s all part of the process. I recently updated one of my most popular products, because I didn\u2019t feel it was as good as it could be. I do think if I waited for \u2018the perfect design\u2019 to hit me, two months would go past.\u201d<\/p>\n
While most of her clients are in London, Lexi credits the local Manchester Makers Market as a huge incentive to launch her business.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt opened the door of possibility and made me think other people are doing it too. Some people aren\u2019t even selling handmade presents, they\u2019re bulk ordering things from warehouses, so I started to think there\u2019s a very real possibility I could do this for myself. It\u2019s nice to see a future that is very creative.\u201d<\/p>\n
It certainly is.<\/p>\n
Follow leximakesminis on Instagram<\/a>, TikTok<\/a> and Etsy<\/a>. Photo: Lexi Burgess<\/p>\n