If you have a craft, but are unsure how to sell it online, you can sell it on Amazon. There are a few things to consider, however, and this article will go over some of the legalities of selling handmade on Amazon. Among other things, you need to decide on a platform, such as Etsy or Amazon Handmade. Etsy has a much larger customer base, but Amazon Handmade is more specialized.

Legalities of selling handmade on Amazon

There are several important legalities to keep in mind when selling handmade crafts on Amazon. Generally, you must be able to produce the items yourself or outsource the manufacturing process. Amazon Handmade does not allow products that are digitally downloaded. If you sell designs but outsource the actual production, be sure to declare your manufacturing partners and use a separate shipping account to do so. You are also not allowed to use drop-shipping services or resell items made by other sellers.

The first thing to know is that selling handmade crafts on Amazon involves a lot of paperwork. Amazon requires that you register as a seller for their marketplace. The process is free but there are some requirements to follow. First of all, you need to apply for a seller account. If approved, you will receive a professional selling plan. If not, you will have to pay a fee of about $15. Once approved, you can start selling on Amazon.

Etsy is a good starting point

Although Amazon has its own marketplace, Etsy has a similar structure. It is an online marketplace for handmade crafts. However, the Amazon marketplace is more competitive and Amazon sellers must prove that their products are handcrafted, not mass produced. Etsy sellers also have to compete with other sellers that offer clothing, decor, and jewelry. Etsy does not require sellers to have a UPC code and allows them to list more than one production partner. Its restrictions on listing and pricing are less strict than those on Amazon.

To sell crafts on Amazon, a beginner should start by preparing his or her store for listing on Etsy. This marketplace is free to join. However, there are some costs. If you're selling one-off items, you can list them for free. Otherwise, you can move on to a paid listing. In addition, you'll have to pay the platform's referral fee every time you sell an item. This fee is comparable to the commission paid by an online retailer to Amazon.

Amazon Handmade is more exclusive

If you're looking to sell handmade products online, Amazon Handmade is a great choice. Not only does it offer low minimum purchase amounts, but the company also offers no listing fees or subscription fees. If you're an artisan, you won't have to build a website or invest thousands of dollars in advertising. Amazon's built-in audience will give you exposure to millions of customers - and without spending a ton of money.

To become a member of Amazon Handmade, you must apply and be approved by Amazon. The company is particularly particular about the quality of its products and services, so it has implemented a rigorous vetting process to ensure that its users receive high-quality goods. The application process consists of questions about your business, your production process, and how your products can add value to the consumer's life. In addition, you'll be asked to provide high-quality pictures of your work and show how the product is made.

Etsy has a larger customer base

Both Etsy and Amazon have a large user base. However, Amazon Handmade, which launched about a decade after Etsy, has a smaller customer base. While both sites are worth more than $ 2 billion on the New York Stock Exchange, Amazon is far more popular than Etsy. The biggest difference is in the nature of buyers. Amazon customers are primarily millennials and female.

The downside to this is that the marketplace has a high concentration of sellers. Many stores and artists will attempt to copy popular items, resulting in underselling. Etsy doesn't allow artists to establish their own brand, so competition can be fierce. Also, the marketplace is saturated with the same kinds of products, meaning sellers must work even harder to draw customers. Despite the higher customer base, Etsy's rules are often easier to understand and less burdensome than those of Amazon.