Selling handmade products has never been easier, thanks to a wide array of online platforms that cater specifically to artisans and makers. Whether you’re just starting your creative business or looking to expand your existing one, selecting the right platform can significantly impact your ability to reach a larger audience and grow your brand. In this article, we will explore some of the best platforms to sell your handmade products, considering important factors such as user base, fees, ease of use, and the types of products each platform is best suited to showcase.
1. Etsy
Keywords: Etsy for handmade, selling on Etsy, best platform for handmade goods, Etsy marketplace
Why It’s Popular: Etsy is arguably the most well-known and popular platform for selling handmade products. Over the years, Etsy has built a solid reputation as the go-to marketplace for unique, vintage, and artisan items. It attracts millions of active users who are specifically searching for handcrafted, one-of-a-kind products. The platform’s global reach and established community of buyers make it an excellent choice for artisans looking to gain visibility and connect with customers who appreciate the value of handmade goods.
Key Features:
- Ease of Use: Etsy is designed to be user-friendly, making it easy to set up a shop and list your products, even if you’re a beginner in the world of online selling. With an intuitive interface, you can upload product images, write descriptions, and manage your inventory in a matter of minutes.
- Built-in Audience: One of Etsy’s greatest strengths is its built-in audience. Buyers come to Etsy specifically searching for handmade, vintage, and unique items. This gives your products instant exposure to a large and targeted customer base.
- Search Visibility: Etsy’s search function is powerful, allowing potential customers to find your products based on keywords, categories, and tags. In addition, the platform provides various SEO tools that help you optimize your listings for better search ranking, improving the chances that your products will be seen by a wider audience.
- Marketing Tools: Etsy offers integrated tools to help promote your shop, such as social media sharing options, email marketing tools, and promotional offers. These features can help you increase sales and attract repeat customers.
Fees: Etsy charges a small listing fee of $0.20 per item and takes a 6.5% transaction fee on each sale. Additionally, Etsy collects a payment processing fee, which varies based on your location and the method of payment used.
Ideal For: Etsy is an ideal platform for artisans who sell handmade jewelry, clothing, home décor, art, and gifts. It’s perfect for sellers who want to tap into an established community of buyers who value handcrafted, artisanal, and vintage goods.
2. Shopify
Keywords: Shopify for handmade, eCommerce for artisans, building an online shop for handmade products
Why It’s Popular: Shopify is one of the most popular eCommerce platforms, and it is particularly well-suited for artisans looking to create a branded online store for their handmade products. Unlike marketplace-based platforms like Etsy, Shopify allows you to build a fully customized, independent storefront that reflects your brand’s identity. Shopify gives you full control over your business and offers a range of tools to manage products, payments, and marketing.
Key Features:
- Customization: Shopify allows you to create a fully customized website with various design themes, allowing your store to reflect your unique brand identity. You can customize everything from the layout to the color scheme and product pages.
- Complete Control: Unlike marketplace platforms, Shopify gives you full control over your store, including pricing, branding, and customer experience. You can choose how you want to present your products and interact with customers.
- Integrated Tools: Shopify offers a wide range of built-in tools for managing inventory, processing payments, and tracking sales. It also provides excellent customer support and extensive documentation to help you navigate the platform.
- Mobile Optimization: Shopify ensures your store is mobile-friendly, so customers can easily browse and shop from their smartphones or tablets. This is crucial in today’s mobile-first shopping environment.
Fees: Shopify has a monthly subscription fee that starts at $39 per month, with additional costs for payment processing and app integrations. The transaction fees depend on your plan and payment method, with Shopify offering lower fees for using their own payment gateway, Shopify Payments.
Ideal For: Shopify is ideal for artisans who want to build a branded online presence and have complete control over their store. It’s especially well-suited for makers who sell a wide variety of products and are looking for scalability and flexibility in managing their business.
3. Amazon Handmade
Keywords: Amazon Handmade, selling handmade goods on Amazon, best eCommerce platform for artisans
Why It’s Popular: Amazon Handmade is a relatively new platform, but it’s gaining traction as a marketplace for selling handmade products. As part of the larger Amazon ecosystem, it benefits from the massive reach and credibility of Amazon itself. Buyers are already familiar with Amazon’s shopping experience, and the platform has built-in trust and credibility, which can help artisans gain exposure and sales.
Key Features:
- Amazon’s Reach: Amazon Handmade is part of the larger Amazon marketplace, which has millions of active customers. This gives you access to a vast and diverse audience, making it easier to reach potential buyers.
- Seller Support: Amazon Handmade provides sellers with dedicated support, ensuring that artisans can navigate the platform and manage their stores efficiently. The platform also offers tools to track sales, manage inventory, and optimize listings.
- Prime Eligibility: As part of Amazon, products sold on Amazon Handmade can be eligible for Amazon Prime, which means faster shipping and increased visibility for Prime members.
Fees: Amazon Handmade has a 15% referral fee on each sale, but it does not charge a listing fee. There are also additional costs associated with fulfillment if you choose to use Amazon’s FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon) service.
Ideal For: Amazon Handmade is ideal for artisans who want to tap into Amazon’s massive customer base and benefit from the trust and convenience associated with the Amazon platform. It’s especially suited for those who sell high-demand handmade products or are looking for a more streamlined sales process.
4. Big Cartel
Keywords: Big Cartel for handmade, selling art online, independent eCommerce platform for artists
Why It’s Popular: Big Cartel is an online platform designed specifically for independent artists and makers who want to sell their handmade products with minimal effort. It’s an affordable solution for small businesses or hobbyists who want to start selling online without a steep learning curve or large upfront costs.
Key Features:
- Simplicity: Big Cartel is designed with simplicity in mind, offering an easy-to-use interface that helps you set up a store quickly without the need for coding skills. It’s perfect for makers who prefer a straightforward, no-fuss platform.
- Affordable Pricing: Big Cartel offers a free plan for small sellers, as well as affordable paid plans that start at just $9.99 per month. It’s a great choice for artists and makers on a budget.
- Customization Options: While Big Cartel doesn’t offer as much customization as Shopify, it still provides a range of themes and design options to personalize your storefront.
Fees: Big Cartel charges a monthly subscription fee based on your plan (ranging from free to $19.99 per month). There are no transaction fees on sales, but you will be responsible for payment processing fees through your chosen payment gateway (such as PayPal).
Ideal For: Big Cartel is ideal for small-scale artisans or independent artists who want an easy-to-use, low-cost platform to sell their handmade products without a lot of overhead or complexity. It’s perfect for those who are just starting out or who have a smaller product range.
