Sell handmade products online

Selling self-made items online can generate a sizable income stream. There are many platforms where you can sell handmade products online, such as eBay, Etsy, Facebook and Instagram. Of course you can also start your own online store.

Why sell self-made products?

Making things yourself is probably a fun or useful hobby. The downside is that it can take a lot of time as well as money for supplies. By selling items you made online, you can make some of that money back. Moreover, you can even make a profit.

Making things yourself can take time and money.

Whether you create your own clothes, jewelry, interior design items, furniture, paintings, key chains or toys, people are looking for original or handmade products in every category.

If you like to physically sell your items, you can rent a stand at fairs and markets. This way you can personally connect with customers. The downside to this is that it will take time and money. The alternative is to sell your creations online, such as through marketplaces, social media or even an online shop.

Looking for ecommerce software to start selling in Europe? Webador and Shopify are platforms that are well optimized for cross-border ecommerce.

Selling handcrafted items on marketplaces

Unique, handmade items are popular on online marketplaces. Peer-to-peer platforms such as eBay are mostly known for second-hand finds, but are also a perfectly good place to sell your crafts. Moreover, Etsy.com is especially dedicated to custom products from independent sellers. Therefore your offer will probably fit Etsy’s target audience best. On eBay, though, you can benefit from an even larger international audience.

Handmade items are popular on online marketplaces.

Choosing your platform also depends on which one you prefer. Keep in mind that on marketplaces like eBay you place a product advertisement, while on Etsy you have your own Etsy Shop. This is not an entire online store you have to create, but more of a storefront that showcases all of your products. In short, on Etsy you can benefit more from having and showcasing a personal brand.

Costs of selling on a marketplace

Furthermore, there are different fees depending on which marketplace you use to sell your handmade products. When you put items up for sale on Etsy, you pay a small listing fee. Putting up items on eBay is usually free, except for corporate sellers. On both platforms, though, you have to pay a small commission for the sale and the payment transaction. Additionally, you can pay extra in order to advertise your products on both eBay and Etsy.

Sell self-made products on social media

Aside from online marketplaces, there are tons of social media platforms that are increasingly used for peer-to-peer selling. Like for example Facebook Marketplace, Instagram Shopping and Twitter Shopping, but also TikTok, Snapchat and Pinterest.

Social media is increasingly used for peer-to-peer selling.

On social media, you can connect to your target audience as well as showcase your homemade crafts. However, each social media works in a different way and has different user groups. For example, TikTok is mostly used by teenagers and young adults, while Facebook is more popular with adults and seniors. Additionally, Instagram, Pinterest and TikTok focus on images and videos, while Twitter is more text-based.

Furthermore, keep in mind that selling through social media can be time consuming. To be successful, you will need to garner enough followers and engagement. In order to do this, you will need to keep posting regularly. Just posting your products and not engaging with the community on these platforms is often not enough.

Starting an online store

Alternatively, you can also start your own online store to sell your creative endeavors. This is easier than you think with modern day ecommerce software, which does not require any coding. Some software is free, but it is not uncommon to pay a small monthly subscription. Especially if you want more options, like offering more products in your store.

In your own shop you do not have to compete with other merchants.

Like with social media, your own store brings along its own challenges. For example, it takes time to gather customers. For this, you will need to put time and money towards marketing. Whereas on a third-party platform you can piggyback off of the popularity of websites like eBay and Facebook Marketplace. The upside is that you do not have to compete with thousands of other merchants in your own shop.

Looking for ecommerce software to start selling in Europe? Webador and Shopify are platforms that are well optimized for cross-border ecommerce.

Making your online business a success

Of course you do not have to choose just one of these channels to sell your crafts on. In fact, it can be beneficial to combine selling on a marketplace, social media as well as open your own online shop. This way you can market your own store on social media, for example, and vice versa.

It is important to have high quality product photos and descriptions.

Whatever platform you use for selling products online, it is important to have high quality product photos and accurate product descriptions. Whether you have your own shop or post a listing on Etsy, this will help customers find your product faster and more likely to actually buy it.