Notes on Selling Handmade Goods Online

Overview

• Various platforms for selling handmade goods besides Etsy.
• Potential to turn a crafting side hustle into a six-figure business.
• Importance of listing on multiple marketplaces to maximize sales.

Etsy

• Well-known marketplace for handmade, custom, and vintage goods.
• 80 million active buyers.
• Good starting platform but not the only option.

Etsy Alternatives

1. Shopify

• Description: E-commerce platform for selling crafts on your own website.
• Pros:
  • No referral fees; keep all profits.
  • Full control over site design.
  • Access to customer information for marketing purposes.
• Cons:
  • Monthly subscription fees ($29 - $299).
  • Requires more setup and marketing efforts.
  • No built-in audience; must drive traffic yourself.

2. Amazon Handmade

• Description: Selling program within the Amazon marketplace for handcrafted products.
• Pros:
  • Large built-in audience (300 million active users).
  • No monthly listing fee; only pays 15% referral fee on sales.
  • Trust and recognition from Amazon brand.
  • Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) for shipping.
• Cons:
  • Strict application process; takes up to two weeks for approval.
  • High commission fees (15% per sale).
  • Limited categories for products.
  • Payments every two weeks.

3. Bonanza

• Description: Seller-centric online marketplace.
• Pros:
  • Low commission fees (3.5%).
  • Easy product import from other marketplaces.
  • Allows building of customer relationships.
• Cons:
  • Low traffic and audience compared to Etsy.
  • Need higher-tier memberships for ads.
  • Inventory syncing issues with other platforms.
  • Generally low sales reported by merchants.

4. Redbubble

• Description: Print-on-demand marketplace for artists.
• Pros:
  • Passive income; company handles printing and shipping.
  • User-friendly interface and unlimited product types.
  • No listing fees; only keeps cut from sales.
• Cons:
  • No control over product quality and inventory.
  • Payments on the 15th of each month.
  • High competition among sellers.

5. eBay

• Description: Third largest online marketplace for various products.
• Pros:
  • Huge audience (182 million active users).
  • Auction and fixed-price listings available.
  • Convenience in shipping options.
  • Can sell used goods.
  • Faster payment options (daily or weekly).
• Cons:
  • Listing fees ($0.35) and selling commissions (10-15%).
  • Issues with piracy and counterfeit products.
  • Limitations for new sellers on listings.

6. Folksey

• Description: UK-based marketplace for handcrafted goods.
• Pros:
  • No commission on shipping costs.
  • Unlimited item listings with affordable plans.
  • Immediate payments via PayPal.
• Cons:
  • Only UK residents can sell.
  • Lower traffic compared to Etsy.
  • Shipping integration lacks features.

7. JustArtisan

• Description: New marketplace for independent artisans.
• Pros:
  • Free listings for handcrafted items.
  • Digital goods allowed.
  • Artisan-centric community support.
• Cons:
  • Very low traffic as a new platform.
  • Higher commission fee (7.5%) compared to Etsy.

Conclusion

• Best Etsy alternative depends on the products sold.
• Recommended to build own e-commerce website for more control and customer relationship building.
• Encouragement to subscribe for more information and resources on selling online.