Ditch Etsy and Discover These 7 Handmade Marketplace Alternatives

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Etsy: The Leading Handmade Marketplace
3. Alternatives to Etsy
   1. Shopify: Building Your Own Online Store
   2. Amazon Handmade: Leveraging a Huge Marketplace
   3. Bonanza: Seller-Centric Online Marketplace
   4. RedBubble: Print-On-Demand Platform
   5. eBay: The Third Largest Online Marketplace
   6. Folksy: UK's Etsy Equivalent
   7. Just Artisan: Supporting Independent Artists
4. Choosing the Best Alternative
5. Conclusion

Introduction

In this article, we will explore various alternatives to Etsy, the popular handmade marketplace, that can help you sell your handcrafted goods and turn your crafting side hustle into a six-figure business. While Etsy is an excellent platform with over 80 million active buyers, it's always beneficial to list your products on multiple marketplaces to maximize your sales potential.

Etsy: The Leading Handmade Marketplace

Etsy is a well-known marketplace for buying and selling handmade, custom, and vintage goods. With its vast user base, it's a great platform to start selling your arts and crafts. However, it's important to note that Etsy is not the only option available to sell your handmade products.

Alternatives to Etsy

1. Shopify: Building Your Own Online Store

One popular alternative to Etsy is Shopify, an ecommerce platform that allows you to sell your crafts and handmade goods on your own website. With Shopify, you have full control over the look and feel of your site, and there are no referral fees. While Shopify charges a monthly subscription fee, starting at $29, having your own store gives you the freedom to keep all the profits and build customer relationships through email and SMS marketing.

Pros of Shopify:

• No selling fees; you keep all the profit
• Full control over the presentation of your products
• Access to customer information for targeted marketing

Cons of Shopify:

• Monthly fees starting at $29
• More upfront work to set up and drive traffic to your website

2. Amazon Handmade: Leveraging a Huge Marketplace

Amazon Handmade is a selling program within the Amazon marketplace specifically for artisans to sell handcrafted products. With over 300 million active users, Amazon Handmade offers excellent visibility for your products. While there are no monthly listing fees, Amazon charges a flat 15% referral fee per sale, which is higher than Etsy's 6.5%.

Pros of Amazon Handmade:

• Huge built-in audience
• No monthly listing fees
• Brand recognition and fraud protection

Cons of Amazon Handmade:

• High commission fees (15%)
• Limited categories compared to Etsy
• Limited access to customer information

3. Bonanza: Seller-Centric Online Marketplace

Bonanza is a seller-centric online marketplace that allows you to build relationships with your customers. With low commission fees (3.5%) and the ability to import products from other marketplaces, Bonanza offers a great opportunity to diversify your sales. However, it's worth noting that Bonanza has a smaller user base compared to Etsy, so traffic and sales might be lower.

Pros of Bonanza:

• Low commission fees (3.5%)
• Shipping integrations with major couriers
• Ability to build customer relationships

Cons of Bonanza:

• Lower traffic compared to larger marketplaces
• Limited sales compared to Amazon and eBay

4. RedBubble: Print-On-Demand Platform

RedBubble is a print-on-demand platform that allows designers to sell their art globally. It takes care of printing and shipping, allowing artists to earn passive income. With a large variety of products to choose from, it's easy to upload and list your artwork on RedBubble. However, since it's a free platform, competition can be high, and designers need to create unique and trendy designs to stand out.

Pros of RedBubble:

• Passive income opportunity
• Easy to use and no listing fees
• Large number of products to print on

Cons of RedBubble:

• Lack of control over product material and print quality
• No customer details to establish relationships
• High competition among sellers

5. eBay: The Third Largest Online Marketplace

eBay is a well-known online marketplace with a huge built-in audience. With various listing options such as auctions and fixed-price listings, eBay provides flexibility for sellers. Additionally, eBay collaborates with shipping partners, making shipping convenient for both local and global sales. However, eBay charges listing fees and additional fees based on the final order value.

Pros of eBay:

• Large built-in audience and brand recognition
• Multiple listing options (auction and fixed-price)
• Convenient shipping collaborations

Cons of eBay:

• Listing fees and additional fees on sales
• Counterfeit products on the marketplace
• Pressure for lower pricing due to bargain shoppers

6. Folksy: UK's Etsy Equivalent

Folksy is often regarded as the UK's equivalent to Etsy, with a focus on handcrafted gifts and supplies. While Folksy has a smaller user base compared to Etsy, it offers some advantages such as no commission on shipping and unlimited listings. However, Folksy restricts sellers outside the UK, limiting the international market potential.

Pros of Folksy:

• No commission on postage
• Unlimited free listings (with a paid option)
• Easy import of listings from Etsy

Cons of Folksy:

• Limited traffic compared to larger marketplaces
• Inconvenient shipping and lack of fulfillment centers
• No currency conversion for international visitors

7. Just Artisan: Supporting Independent Artists

Just Artisan is a new marketplace supporting independent artists, makers, and entrepreneurs. While it's still in its early stages, Just Artisan aims to establish a community of artisans. It allows sellers to list digital items and charges no listing fees. However, the commission fee of 7.5% is higher than Etsy's 6.5%.

Pros of Just Artisan:

• Ability to sell digital goods
• No listing fees
• Artisan-centric community

Cons of Just Artisan:

• Low traffic compared to established marketplaces
• Relatively high commission fee (7.5%)
• Limited features and services at this stage

Choosing the Best Alternative

When choosing the best alternative to Etsy, consider factors such as the type of products you sell, the market reach you desire, and the control you want over your brand and customer relationships. Each alternative has its pros and cons, so weigh them against your business needs and goals.

Conclusion

While Etsy is a popular platform for selling handmade goods, there are several alternatives available that can help you diversify your sales and reach a broader audience. Whether you choose to build your own store with Shopify, leverage the massive marketplace of Amazon, or explore other options like Bonanza or RedBubble, it's important to consider the unique features and drawbacks of each platform to make an informed decision that aligns with your business goals and target audience.