Where To Sell Handmade Items [7 Easy Options]

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So, you’ve decided you want to sell your handmade products. That’s awesome! But now you need to figure out where to sell handmade items. And that’s exactly what I am going to help you with in this blog post!

As a maker myself, I think most of us can agree that we would love to make the shift from buyers to sellers. You might want to make this your full-time job. Or, if you’re like me, selling your crafts can be more about paying for your craft supplies.

But seriously, what is the best place to sell handmade goods?

There are so many awesome options. But with this many choices, I also know it can be a bit overwhelming.

That’s why I am breaking down the top 7 options for selling your handmade items. We are going to do a deep-dive into the features, pros, and cons of each option.

By the end of this blog post, you will have everything you need right at your fingertips to make the decision that will be best for you and your business!

Let’s jump right in!

Can I sell handmade items from home?

Thanks to the internet and social media, it is easier than ever to run your own business from home selling handmade products!

Actually, more and more shoppers are turning to crafters for their home decor, gifts, and so on instead of going to retail stores. This is because everything just ends up looking the same.

There has never been a better time to start a craft business!

Where can I sell my handmade products?

There are lots of options for selling your handcrafted goods. And some are better than others.

I am going to cover the 7 platforms that I am familiar with and recommend to other handmade business owners. Learn all about the the ease of use, costs, customization possibilities, and more!

	Etsy	Shopify	eBay	Amazon Handmade	Facebook Marketplace	Instagram
Ease Of Use	Easy	Intermediate	Easy	Easy	Easy	Easy
Custom Look	Limited	Yes	Limited	No	No	No
Vanity URL	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No
Monthly Fee	No	$29	$0	$39.99	$0	$0
Listing Fees	$0.20 ea	$0	Varies	$0	$0	$0
Transactions Fees	6.5%	2.9%	12.9%	??	5%+30¢	5%+30¢

Option #1 – Etsy

Etsy is probably the most known as far as where to sell your handmade crafts. People love Etsy because:

• it’s already known, loved, and trusted by shoppers;
• the setup is incredibly easy, although limited for some;
• and, it comes with its own customer base, kind of.

If you can get your listing title and product description right you will be in the money!

However, I have seen a ton of crafters move away from using Etsy. Here are some of the top reasons I have heard from people who no longer use Etsy.

1. The cost of listing fees.
2. The cost of transaction fees.
3. Baseless takedown notices. (This is when they just remove your listing without warning.)
4. Bad reviews that are 100% unwarranted.

And many, many Etsy sellers have said that they don’t feel like Etsy takes good care of their sellers. This is crazy, because if it wasn’t for the sellers, Etsy wouldn’t make any money!

And this is why lots of people are moving towards running their own online stores.

I, myself have both an Etsy Shop and a Shopify, only because I am still building my Shopify. So, until I am comfortable letting it go, I will keep it.

Etsy’s Ease Of Use

There’s no doubt about it, Etsy is super easy to use!

However, there are not a lot of customization options available. So, if you want your shop to look a certain way, you may not like Etsy as much as some of the other options.

But, if this is not important to you, then Etsy will work very well for you.

Etsy’s Costs

One of the biggest cons for using Etsy is the costs. I am not going to lie, they are not the cheapest option.

While there are no monthly fees, which is great, you do have to pay $0.20 for each listing you post on Etsy.

In addition to the listing fee, you also have to pay 6.5% on every sale you make. Trust me, this can start to add up quickly!

Where To Sell Handmade Items Besides Etsy

While Etsy can feel like the only option since so many people use it, I am happy to say that there are MANY Etsy alternatives. And I know many successful handmade business owners that are using other platforms to run their businesses.

Let’s look at some other options where you can sell your handmade items!

Option #2 – Shopify

I have used many platforms over the years, but Shopify has been my favorite! This is for a few different reasons.

• It integrates well with so many other platforms.
• It is the most well know e-commerce platform, so shoppers know they can trust using it.
• The processing fees are much lower, especially when compared to Etsy.
• It’s also great for small business owners.

I like the fact that I can fully set this platform up to align with my brand. Everything from colors to the way my products are set up on my page. You can really change the look and feel which I love.

The other thing I love about Shopify, is that you can embed the listings in a blog post like how I have it here in this Sunflower SVG Free Cricut Cut File. This is great if you already have your own website.

Shopify’s Ease Of Use

Shopify isn’t the easiest platform on this list, however, it’s still simple enough that I am confident you won’t have any problems!

If you ever get stuck, you can find tutorials on Shopify’s website as well as YouTube. These can help you get your shop set up even faster.

Shopify’s Costs

Shopify does have a monthly fee of $29. However, there is no cost to list your items for sale which is nice if you are going to be listing several things for sale.

Plus, the transaction fees with Shopify are only 2.9%. If you have a large number of monthly transactions, this can save you so much more than the $29 monthly fee.

Option #3 – eBay

eBay has been around for ages. And that is how long it has been since I sold with them. When I think eBay I think auction and personally I don’t care to have my products associated with an auction format, but that’s just me.

You however may sell handmade jewelry, vintage items, or artisan items that may be a great fit for using eBay.

Everything boils down to personal preference and where your ideal customers do their shopping. And that is a choice you will have to make yourself.

eBay’s Ease Of Use

eBay is very easy to use. However, there are not many ways to customize your shop page or product listings. This can make it hard to get your listings or your brand to stand out from others on the platform.

eBay’s Costs

eBay does not have a monthly fee which is nice and easy. When it comes to listing products, you may or may not have to pay a listing fee. It varies depending on the type of product or the category it falls under.

Where eBay gets really expensive is the transaction fees. They are a whopping 12.9%! So, if you are going to have a high number of monthly transactions, I would recommend doing some math to find out how much this will cost you.

Option #4 – Amazon Handmade

Another common online platform that more handmade crafters are using to sell their products is Amazon Handmade.

Now, I do want to be honest and say I don’t know much about this platform as I have never personally used it. But here are some things I have heard from other handmade crafters who do use it.

You have to apply to sell on this platform, and the process can be a bit overwhelming. But once you’ve applied and get approved, it’s easy!

You cannot sell mass-produced products or anything made by another artist. Everything has to be handmade by you.

Since order fulfillment is taken care of by Amazon, you have to be able to make the products in advance to send to Amazon. This means you will have inventory that you can’t sell on other platforms. This can be a pro or a con, depending which way you look at it.

Click here if you want to learn more about Amazon Handmade.

Amazon Handmade’s Ease Of Use

Like I said above, many sellers on Amazon Handmade talk about how annoying the application process was. This has turned a lot of crafters away from using it.

But once you are accepted to the program, it is very easy to use. They also provide walk-through demo’s to help you list your first item.

One downside is the lack of customization options. Since this will be listed for sale on Amazon, it will look like every other Amazon product listing. This can make it hard to stand out from the competition.

Amazon Handmade’s Costs

Unfortunately, it is VERY costly to the seller to use Amazon Handmade. First of all, there is a $39.99 monthly fee you have to pay.

And as if that weren’t bad enough, you also have to pay an additional 12% for each transaction. This will cut into your profit margins significantly.

So, unless you think your products will sell very well on Amazon, I wouldn’t personally recommend this platform. However, for some sellers, it can work great.

Option #5 – Facebook Marketplace

With Facebook Marketplace you create listings similar to what you would do on eBay or another platform.

The benefit to the Facebook marketplace is that you can do everything right in the app. No subscriptions and no registration fee to sell which is great for a small business owner. This means more profit for you!

Facebook also integrates well with Shopify. So, if you want to have a Shopify store now or one day down the road, then this is a great option.

Option #6 – Other Social Media Platforms

While places like Instagram, TikTok, and so on aren’t really a place to buy and sell, you can make it one if you want.

First of all, these platforms are great for marketing your products. You can make videos, static posts, stories, and so on about your products, the benefits, how they are made, and so much more to connect with potential buyers.

Then, you can take care of purchases through direct messages. However, this can get a little messy once you start getting multiple orders regularly.

I recommend using social media to market your products and to make your first few sales. Then, once your shop starts to grow, move onto one of the paid options I shared at the beginning of this blog post. These make it much easier to manage your sales and shipping. Trust me!

Option #7 – Locally

Don’t forget, selling local is also an option! You don’t just need to rely on online marketplaces to build your business.

One great way to do this is to attend local craft fair. These come with an existing customer base that you can sell to which is great.

Some people also run shops out of their home or garage. This is a great option, especially if you already have the space.

Is selling handmade crafts profitable?

Absolutely it is, otherwise people wouldn’t do it! You can run a legit business selling handmade crafts which is very cool.

But don’t be fooled. It’s not as easy as just selling your stuff. You need to think about things like where you will sell your stuff, how to price your products, and more.

As someone who has learned so much about selling handmade items, I am excited to share everything I have learned with you!

Are You Just Getting Started With Your Small Business Journey?

Don’t be afraid, just go for it!

For starters, I would choose a specific niche, don’t be too broad. This can help you build brand awareness. For instance focus on accessories or t-shirts instead of all clothes.

Then decide your retail prices and if you choose wholesale prices too.

And if you are on the fence about the cutting machine you need to achieve your goals, check out the posts below for additional guidance.

Figuring out where to sell handmade items is going to be different for each person and their needs. Hopefully, this blog post helps you figure out where to sell handmade items quickly so that you can get started fast!

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