By Phil Norris April 30, 2024
Handmade merchandise are large cash, with the North American handicrafts market anticipated to be value an astonishing $744.1 billion by 2032.
If you wish to declare your slice of that scrumptious (do-it-yourself) pie, it’s essential select the fitting ecommerce platform on your wants. One which’s:
- Simple to make use of
- Reasonably priced
- Reliable
Etsy has lengthy been the go-to alternative for promoting handmade gadgets. However in recent times, the platform has been beset by damaging headlines over choices to enhance transaction charges and withhold sellers’ cash…
…prompting many retailers to hunt out options to promoting on Etsy.
That will help you out, we’ve rounded up 13 of the perfect Etsy options, from family names like Amazon and Shopify to lesser-known platforms like Finnalby and Artwork within the Coronary heart.
Let’s get into it…
Finnalby
Who’re they?
Finnalby is among the latest children on the handmade gadgets block, having launched in September 2023. Billed as an impartial market for artisans and impartial retailers, it focuses on handicrafts, wholesale merchandise, on-line programs, and tutorials.
👍 Professionals
- Finnalby vets all merchandise listed as “Strictly Handmade” to make sure authenticity, that means you received’t be competing with cut-price bulk producers.
- In addition to promoting handmade gadgets, you can also make cash from on-line programs and tutorials. Plus you’ll be able to promote the merchandise required to take part in your lessons, providing you with the potential to generate a number of gross sales from the identical buyer.
- The platform gives a easy and inexpensive price construction, charging a flat 5.5% fee on all gross sales.
👎 Cons
- Finnalby is at the moment solely accessible within the US, so should you (or your viewers) are primarily based elsewhere, you’ll must search for completely different Etsy options.
- The platform remains to be comparatively unknown; at time of writing, the time period “Finnalby” solely generated 90 international searches a month on Google, per Ahrefs. So that you shouldn’t count on a lot passing site visitors.
- Its lack of brand name consciousness could delay potential clients who haven’t heard of the platform.
What do retailers say about them?
Sadly, we will’t inform you — they’re so new we couldn’t discover any critiques!
Charges
Finnalby costs a flat 5.5% per sale fee, with no itemizing charges or month-to-month charges.
Shopify
Who’re they?
Shopify is among the world’s largest ecommerce platforms, with Shopify retailers producing mixed gross sales of $235.9 billion in 2023. In contrast to marketplaces like Amazon and Etsy, Shopify provides you the instruments to construct and handle your individual devoted on-line retailer, with the pliability to promote just about something you need.
👍 Professionals
- Shopify permits you to construct your individual handmade gadgets retailer from scratch, providing you with whole management over your branding, merchandise, and pricing.
- Since you’re working an impartial retailer, you’re not competing with tons of (or hundreds) of different retailers on the identical platform.
- With hundreds of apps and tons of of themes to select from, Shopify permits you to customise your retailer to your particular wants.
- Shopify’s prebuilt themes will let you launch and customise your retailer with out requiring any coding expertise.
👎 Cons
- Constructing and sustaining an on-line retailer is costlier than working an Etsy retailer.
- Establishing a beautiful, high-converting retailer can take days or perhaps weeks of labor.
What do retailers say about them?
“Simple to arrange, straightforward to make use of. Many built-in merchandise to assist me get issues executed. Simple-to-use built-in apps. Buyer help is superb. I exploit it daily.”
– Jim E., G2 buyer reviewer
Charges
Shopify costs a subscription of $9 – $2,300+ per 30 days, relying on the options you require. It additionally has an internet bank card processing price, which varies relying in your worth plan and site (e.g. retailers within the US pay 2.4% – 2.9%, plus $0.30 per transaction).
Artisans Cooperative
Who’re they?
For those who’re in search of options to Etsy which can be 100% devoted to handmade gadgets, Artisans Cooperative might be for you. {The marketplace} has a human-driven verification course of to make sure all merchandise are made by real artisans, so that you received’t be competing with bulk producers. This helps retailers cost a good worth for his or her items.
👍 Professionals
- All purposes made by Artisans Cooperative’s voluntary verification course of are manually checked by two human reviewers, so clients could be certain the merchandise they’re shopping for are made by real artisans.
- Retailers can entry intensive advertising and marketing and promotional help, together with a branding package, advertising and marketing plan, and social media toolkit.
👎 Cons
- The platform remains to be comparatively unknown, with only some hundred followers on Fb and Instagram, and minimal search quantity for its model title.
- Membership prices and transaction charges are increased than most different marketplaces.
What do retailers say about them?
“I really like that my handmade work has a spot amongst a neighborhood of different authentically handmade artisan merchandise. I actually respect that Artisans Cooperative places its artisans first. And it’s precisely {the marketplace} I need to do my purchasing in, too.”
Charges
Artisans Cooperative costs gross sales commissions of 8% – 12%, relying in your membership degree. To unlock probably the most enticing charges (and numerous different advantages), you’ll should pay a buy-in price of $100 – $1,000.
DeviantArt
Who’re they?
DeviantArt is part-marketplace, part-social community, however wholly devoted to showcasing artworks from impartial creatives. Members add tens of hundreds of unique items daily, from work to digital artwork to sculpture to movies. The platform has 90+ million registered members and hosts over 550 million artworks.
👍 Professionals
- Sellers can faucet into an enormous, engaged neighborhood of artwork fans.
- Membership and transaction charges are comparatively low, particularly for unique commissions.
- Establishing a vendor profile is fast and straightforward.
- Teams and boards offer you a straightforward technique to have interaction with different members of the artwork neighborhood, get ideas, and promote your work.
👎 Cons
What do retailers say about them?
“DeviantArt is nice! The structure is person pleasant, the neighborhood is nice and I’ve had an account on there for just a few years now.”
– Aron, Trustpilot reviewer
Charges
DeviantArt costs a membership price of $7.95 – $14.95 per 30 days (though it typically gives discounted charges on these costs). Transaction charges vary from 0% – 20% per sale, relying in your membership tier and the product sort you’re promoting.
Handmade
Who’re they?
Handmade is one other market specializing in handcrafted gadgets, from style to residence decor to jewellery. All sellers on the platform should take Handmade’s moral pledge, beneath which they decide to handle the atmosphere, do enterprise in a accountable approach, and respect different artisans’ mental property.
👍 Professionals
- Handmade has a big viewers, with clients in 100+ nations.
- New sellers get free platform charges for the primary 12 months and may checklist their first 50 merchandise freed from cost.
- Energetic retailers can invite as much as 5 different sellers, then earn bonuses on the gross sales they generate, providing you with a complete different income stream.
- Handmade is owned by Novica, which has partnerships with large international manufacturers and organizations just like the Nationwide Geographic Society and the Grassroots Enterprise Fund.
👎 Cons
- The transaction and bank card charges are costlier than another marketplaces.
What do retailers say about them?
“Thanks for the boldness and perseverance in being a part of our development course of. You’ve got proven us a brand new market with many alternatives to proceed rising and displaying the traditions that outline us.”
– Delfina Ruiz, weaver and Handmade service provider
Charges
After the primary 12 months, Handmade costs a flat month-to-month price of $3, whereas commonplace itemizing charges are $0.15 per merchandise. Retailers additionally should pay transaction charges of 9.9% plus $1.95 per sale, in addition to bank card charges of three% plus $0.49.
Amazon Market
Who’re they?
Let’s be trustworthy: you understand what Amazon is. Market is the platform’s service for third-party sellers, permitting them to generate gross sales by reaching Amazon’s big buyer base. Buyers on Amazon purchase roughly 7,400 merchandise a minute from sellers within the US.
👍 Professionals
- Amazon is among the world’s most trusted ecommerce platforms. If somebody finds your merchandise on the platform, they’ll really feel fairly assured they received’t get ripped off or have their card particulars stolen.
- Faucet into a world viewers of 310+ million lively clients.
- You can begin itemizing merchandise on Amazon in a matter of minutes.
- Reap the benefits of extra companies like Achievement by Amazon.
👎 Cons
- Competitors from different sellers is large, making it robust on your merchandise to face out.
- Relying on the varieties of handmade gadgets you’re promoting, Amazon’s referral charges can eat up as a lot as 45% of your earnings.
What do retailers say about them?
“Once we launched on Amazon, I had expectations that Amazon can be about 10% to twenty% of our whole enterprise. Throughout the first six months, it was 50%. It simply exploded. And it actually modified the best way I considered the way forward for our enterprise.”
– Dee Murthy, Co-Founder, New Republic
Charges
Amazon has two vendor plans:
- Particular person: $0.99 per merchandise offered
- Skilled: $39.99 per 30 days
You’ll pay referral charges of as much as 45% per sale, relying on the product class. Plus there’s an additional price for companies like Amazon Adverts and Achievement by Amazon, and extra charges for retailers with excessive listings volumes.
Who’re they?
My Group Made (MCM) isn’t particularly devoted to handmade gadgets, but it surely is targeted on supporting small companies. Retailers on the platform promote every part from personalised presents to classic treasures to distinctive artworks throughout a variety of classes, together with style, jewellery, and inside design. All merchandise on {the marketplace} are made within the US.
👍 Professionals
- Most likely the most affordable of all of the options to promoting on Etsy.
- The MCM staff ensures all merchandise on the positioning are handmade, self-designed, or classic — so that you received’t be competing with bulk producers or dropshippers.
- Sellers can add key phrases to their product metadata to face out in search outcomes on the platform.
- Clients can observe your retailer and get updates whenever you add new merchandise, growing your probabilities of driving repeat gross sales.
👎 Cons
- Lacks the model consciousness of bigger platforms like Amazon and Etsy.
- Just for merchandise made or designed within the US.
- Higher restrict of fifty product listings at a cut-off dates scalability.
What do retailers say about them?
“I began promoting on My Group Made early final 12 months. I even have an Etsy store. MCM is by much more user-friendly, and the charges, if any, are affordable. I don’t really feel misplaced on this platform as I do on Etsy. Vendor help is past superb. There’s all the time a fast response and an answer to any drawback, even should you’re not that techy.”
– V. Chin, Trustpilot buyer evaluation
Charges
My Group Made doesn’t cost any transaction charges. You’ll be able to checklist as much as 5 gadgets at a time with a completely free account, or improve to the Primary Package deal for $5 per 30 days to checklist 10 instances extra merchandise.
IndieMade
Who’re they?
IndieMade launched in 2010 with the imaginative and prescient of offering creators with a user-friendly internet presence to advertise their merchandise. In contrast to platforms like Etsy and Amazon, IndieMade isn’t a market. As an alternative, it’s an impartial web site builder that enables retailers to create their very own on-line area.
👍 Professionals
- Use IndieMade to create your individual, distinctive web site, with full management over your retailer’s look and advertising and marketing.
- Easy price construction; you solely pay for the options you want, with zero transaction charges.
- For those who already promote on Etsy, you’ll be able to create a retailer by IndieMade and checklist your Etsy merchandise in minutes.
👎 Cons
- You’ll should construct your individual viewers somewhat than concentrating on guests to an current market.
- Far fewer themes and apps than different ecommerce web site builders (like Shopify).
What do retailers say about them?
“I simply can’t imagine how nice my expertise has been. I’ve used Weebly, HostMonster, and HostGator — NO one has help such as you guys do. I want I had been with you 5 years in the past! I’m certain my enterprise can be a lot greater if I had. I LOVE YOU GUYS SO MUCH! I’ve NEVER had such nice tech help, EVER! IndieMade rocks.”
– Sierra, Dakotadesigns
Charges
IndieMade’s paid plans vary in worth from $4.95 – $19.95 per 30 days.
Artwork within the Coronary heart
Who’re they?
Artwork within the Coronary heart is a UK-based platform that helps retailers promoting handcrafted items, artworks, and different distinctive gadgets. It began out as a bodily retailer, earlier than transitioning into an internet market in 2018.
👍 Professionals
- Artwork within the Coronary heart means that you can import your current Etsy merchandise to your new storefront.
- The platform doesn’t have any month-to-month platform costs or itemizing charges.
- Create a singular storefront with its personal on-line handle and leverage the easy-to-use vendor dashboard to trace gross sales.
👎 Cons
- Artwork within the Coronary heart takes 25% of each sale you generate.
- It doesn’t have a ton of brand name consciousness (particularly exterior the UK), so you’ll be able to’t rely solely on the platform’s personal site visitors.
What do retailers say about them?
“I’m very proud to be a vendor on the Artwork within the Coronary heart on-line retailer. It’s a actually distinctive eclectic mixture of shops introduced collectively by the inspiring CEO Daybreak Birch-James. In a world filled with shops that inventory the identical mundane work, Artwork within the Coronary heart is a breath of recent air.”
– Susie Lidstone, nice artist and Artwork within the Coronary heart service provider
Charges
Artwork within the Coronary heart doesn’t have month-to-month or per-listing charges — but it surely does cost a 25% fee in your gross sales, which is fairly steep.
Goimagine
Who’re they?
Goimagine is a market for US-based artisans to advertise and promote handmade gadgets, together with bodily merchandise and digital c/reations like graphics and images. In addition to supporting impartial creators, the platform is dedicated to social good, donating 100% of earnings to kids’s charities like Horizons for Homeless Kids and Aid Nursery.
👍 Professionals
- Goimagine’s dedication to donating all earnings to charity appeals to ethically aware customers.
- {The marketplace} runs its personal Maker Enterprise Academy, providing ideas to assist makers promote on-line, construct a model, and obtain their development targets.
- Goimagine has higher model consciousness than most impartial Etsy options, serving to retailers attain a wider viewers.
👎 Cons
- Just for retailers who reside and make merchandise within the US.
- The rules on what constitutes a “handmade product” are fairly strict, which can exclude some potential retailers.
What do retailers say about them?
“I’m a purchaser/vendor on goimagine, I really like the quick responses from actual individuals when I’ve a query. It’s straightforward to make use of and I’m joyful to be on a platform that donates earnings to kids’s charities.”
– Stephanie Stone, Trustpilot reviewer
Charges
Goimagine costs a month-to-month price of $2.50 – $10, relying on the variety of merchandise you need to checklist and the platform options you need to use. It additionally has a 5% transaction price and a fee processing price of two.9% plus $0.30.
Making App
Who’re they?
Making App is an Android and iOS app that enables particular person creators to host and promote their very own digital patterns and initiatives. Nevertheless, the platform has plans to develop into extra on-line areas and new product classes going ahead.
👍 Professionals
- Faucet right into a ready-made neighborhood of twenty-two,000+ members.
👎 Cons
- At present just for makers creating and promoting digital patterns and initiatives.
- You’ll be able to solely promote to individuals who obtain the app on Android or iOS.
What do retailers say about them?
“As a new-ish knitter, Making places inspiration, challenge monitoring and connecting with a educated and pleasant neighborhood within the palm of my hand––can’t think about creating with out it!”
– MKE Maker, Making App service provider
Charges
Making App costs 8% per transaction. You’ll additionally should pay Stripe’s fee processing price of two.9% plus $0.30 per transaction and 0.25% plus $0.25 per payout (though these charges might be waived for sellers who make <$50).
iCraft
Who’re they?
iCraft is a Toronto-based platform for artists, craftspeople, and designers who create handmade, one-of-a-kind artwork, crafts, and style merchandise. Retailers can use iCraft to showcase their ready-made merchandise and settle for commissions for customized orders.
👍 Professionals
- iCraft’s area of interest focus and dedication to handmade creators means you aren’t competing with bulk sellers.
- The platform frequently promotes sellers by its “Within the Highlight” weblog and month-to-month newsletters.
- Promote your merchandise to an engaged viewers; iCraft attracts ~200,000 guests a month, with a mean go to time of 4 minutes.
👎 Cons
- Requires a non-refundable upfront price to affix the platform.
- The platform appears to be like just a little dated, which could delay some potential clients.
What do retailers say about them?
“I’ve discovered that my jewellery receives many extra views on iCraft than on another venues! Being a venue just for handmade, the purchasing site visitors that involves iCraft is barely in search of high quality handmade items and they’re certain to search out distinctive crafted gadgets.”
– Linda, AKA GalleriaLinda, iCraft service provider
Charges
iCraft costs platform charges of $10 – $15 per 30 days, relying on the size of your contract, plus a one-off upfront fee of $25. It doesn’t cost another hidden charges.
Large Cartel
Who’re they?
Large Cartel provides creators the instruments to construct their very own websites promoting T-shirts, artwork, merchandise, prints, and extra. Launched in 2005, the platform has supported over three million shops and generated $2.5+ billion in international gross sales.
👍 Professionals
- Get began quick with a free Large Cartel template or code your individual distinctive on-line retailer from scratch.
- Select from three easy plans, together with a beneficiant free-for-life plan.
- Combine with tons of of third-party ecommerce apps, overlaying every part from advertising and marketing to retailer administration to success.
👎 Cons
- Gives fewer web site templates and fewer customization than Shopify (though all its templates are free).
- Restricted scalability, with an higher restrict of 500 product listings per retailer.
What do retailers say about them?
“What I really like about promoting my jewellery by Large Cartel is how straightforward every step, from designing my retailer entrance to itemizing merchandise and managing orders, has been and continues to be. It takes all the effort out of it, so I can spend extra time doing the factor I like probably the most — making jewellery.”
– Anarres Steel, jewellery maker and Large Cartel service provider
Charges
Large Cartel doesn’t take a lower of any gross sales you generate. As an alternative, it gives a free-for-life plan that means that you can checklist as much as 5 merchandise, whereas its paid plans vary in worth from $15 – $30 per 30 days (or much less should you pay yearly).
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As you’ll be able to see, there’s no scarcity of options to promoting on Etsy.
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