Forget Etsy! Here Are 7 Alternatives For Selling Handmade Goods

Summary

This video explores various platforms beyond Etsy for selling handmade goods, emphasizing the potential to build a six-figure business. It introduces alternatives like Shopify, Amazon Handmade, Bonanza, Redbubble, eBay, Folksy, and JustArtisan, detailing their pros and cons. The script highlights the benefits of owning an e-commerce website for full control and direct customer relationships, ultimately advising sellers to choose the best fit based on their products and business goals.

Takeaways

• 😀 Etsy is a popular platform for selling handmade, custom, and vintage goods, with over 80 million active buyers.
• 🛍️ There are several alternatives to Etsy for selling handmade products, each with its own advantages and disadvantages.
• 💻 Shopify is an e-commerce platform that allows you to sell on your own website, with no referral fees and full control over your store.
• 📈 Amazon Handmade offers a large built-in audience but charges a flat 15% referral fee per sale.
• 🎨 Bonanza is a seller-centric marketplace with low commission fees and allows sellers to build relationships with customers.
• 🌐 Redbubble is a print-on-demand service that provides passive income for designers, handling printing and shipping.
• 🔍 eBay is a large marketplace known for auctions and fixed price listings, with a vast audience but potential for counterfeit issues.
• 🎁 Folksy is a UK-based marketplace with no commission on shipping and immediate payment via PayPal, but limited to UK residents.
• 🆕 JustArtisan is a new marketplace supporting independent artisans, with no listing fees but a higher commission rate.
• 🏆 The best alternative to Etsy depends on the type of products you sell and your business goals, such as control over your brand or customer relationships.
• 📈 Starting your own e-commerce website can provide more control and opportunities to build lasting customer relationships.

Q & A

What is the primary purpose of the video?

The video aims to educate viewers on various platforms where they can sell their handmade goods, emphasizing that Etsy is not the only option available.

Why is Etsy considered an excellent starter platform for selling handmade goods?

Etsy is an excellent starter platform because it has over 80 million active buyers and is well-known for its marketplace for handmade, custom, and vintage goods.

What are some of the advantages of using Shopify to sell handmade products?

Shopify allows you to own your own online store, giving you full control over its presentation, no referral fees, and access to customer information for marketing purposes.

What is the monthly subscription fee range for starting a store on Shopify?

The monthly subscription fee for Shopify ranges from $29 to $299, depending on the chosen plan.

What is Amazon Handmade, and how does it differ from Etsy?

Amazon Handmade is a selling program within the Amazon marketplace for artisans to sell handcrafted products. It differs from Etsy in that it has a built-in audience of over 300 million active users and charges a flat 15% referral fee per sale instead of listing fees.

What are some of the benefits of selling on Bonanza?

Bonanza offers low commission fees of only 3.5%, allows sellers to build relationships with customers by providing access to customer information, and makes it easy to import products from other marketplaces.

What is the main appeal of Redbubble for designers?

Redbubble is appealing because it is a print-on-demand service, meaning designers can upload their artwork and earn a markup on every product sold without handling printing or shipping.

What are some of the pros and cons of selling on eBay compared to Etsy?

eBay has a vast built-in audience and allows for auction-based listings, but it also has extra fees, a reputation for bargain hunting, and a limit on the number of products new sellers can list.

What makes Folksy unique compared to other marketplaces?

Folksy is unique in that it charges no commission on shipping fees, allows unlimited item listings with a small monthly fee, and provides immediate payment to sellers via PayPal.

What is JustArtisan, and how does it differ from Etsy?

JustArtisan is a newer handmade marketplace that supports independent artisans and allows the listing of digital goods. Unlike Etsy, it does not charge a listing fee but has a higher selling fee of 7.5% per sale.

What is the main takeaway from the video regarding selling handmade goods online?

The main takeaway is that while Etsy is a popular platform, there are multiple alternatives that offer different benefits and drawbacks, and ultimately, having your own e-commerce website can provide more control and customer relationship building.