Online Art and Craft Markets
The Internet has been a huge boon for artists and crafters. Before, you would have had to rely on your own small network of buyers, and spreading the word about your art would mean spending time and energy finding shows to participate in. Online art and crafts marketplaces open up a huge new market of potential customers, while minimizing the effort it takes to showcase your work. Here are some of the top places online where you can sell what you’ve made and check out the wares of other crafters.
Etsy
Etsy, of course, is the place to find handmade things online. It has been giving small-time makers an online storefront since 2005. You can find an endless array of sewn items, jewelry, papercraft, ceramics, soap, and basically anything else you can think of. The site also hosts vintage items that are at least 20 years old, as well as crafting supplies. The site itself is gorgeous, and it comes with blogs and other media devoted to promoting the do-it-yourself lifestyle.
For those interested in selling on the site, you can check out the seller handbook, with informative tips about how to create a great Etsy storefront. It costs $0.20 to list an item on Etsy for four months; for each item you sell, the site charges a 3.5% transaction fee.
Misi
Misi stands for “make it sell it,” and you can basically consider this site the UK’s version of Etsy. Like Etsy, the site has an array of handmade arts, crafts, vintage goods, and crafting supplies. The site has a helpful handmade gift guide, which brings together goods that would be great presents for birthdays or specific holidays. The site contains articles and blogs about crafting, as well as a “meet a maker” section, where they highlight specific Misi sellers.
The selling end of Misi also mirrors Etsy. It costs 20 pence to list an item for a year, and the site takes 3% commission on any sales. The site has an active forum where sellers can ask questions and connect with one another.
Ruby Lane
If you’re crafting jewelry out of gold metal and precious stones, you might want to find a more high-end marketplace to sell your goods. At Ruby Lane, you can find jewelry, antiques, ceramics, glassware, dolls, and more, at prices ranging form $10 to the thousands. The site has a more serious and less funky vibe than Etsy, but if that’s the feel that fits your crafts, then this could be a great selling option for you.
The downside of selling on Ruby Lane is that it can be a bit expensive. It costs $75 to set up a shop initially, $0.30 to list an item, and a minimum $15 per month in “maintenance fees.” The reason why it’s so costly is that unlike Etsy, Ruby Lane does not take a commission on sold items. If you’re selling high ticket items, you might actually be able to save money by using Ruby Lane instead of the other sites.