If you are planning to start selling on Amazon, you must first decide whether you want to use Etsy or Amazon Handmade. Etsy offers more categories and restrictions, and Amazon Handmade allows more sellers and fewer restrictions. You can choose to ship your products directly to your customers or use Fulfillment by Amazon to fulfill orders for you. There are benefits and drawbacks to both marketplaces. Listed below are some of the benefits and drawbacks of each platform.

Etsy offers more categories

While both Etsy and Amazon are similar in many ways, Amazon Handmade has certain limitations and advantages that make it more appealing for some retailers. Amazon Handmade only accepts products in fourteen categories, and applying to be an artisan takes several weeks. Additionally, Etsy allows you to set your own production time and shipping method, whereas Amazon Handmade requires you to hire an outside company to pack, ship, and manage returns for you.

In addition to its many categories for selling handmade products, Etsy also features a wide range of products. For example, there are categories for antique charms, beads, and small tools for crafts and jewelry. Similarly, if you're selling handmade clothing or accessories, you can use the Etsy keyword suggestions to attract more customers. If you're selling clothing items, you can choose from a variety of fabrics and designs to make your listings stand out from the crowd.

Currently, Amazon Handmade has 6.3 million sellers and a diverse array of handmade products. Despite the large number of sellers, Etsy still enjoys a loyal following from customers across age groups. For example, Millennials are among the most frequent Etsy buyers. Additionally, Etsy buyers tend to be value-driven and express their opinions about brands and products they buy. Additionally, Amazon Handmade is more known by consumers and sellers across the globe.

Amazon Handmade has fewer restrictions

While Amazon's curated marketplace has many limitations, the handmade platform offers fewer. For starters, Amazon Handmade allows vendors to sell only products that are created by hand. You must also be a small business with fewer than 20 employees or a group of no more than 100 people. Amazon Handmade also prohibits mass production and dropshipping. However, the site is constantly expanding its categories. For now, Amazon Handmade is the perfect option for those who want to sell handmade products online.

Other benefits of Amazon Handmade include Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA), no listing expiration, and insightful analytics. However, this platform costs more than its competitors. In addition, Amazon charges a membership fee based on how many products you sell. These fees are significantly higher than those charged by Etsy. And Amazon also takes a commission on every transaction, making the site more expensive. However, this fee is negligible when compared to the advantages of Amazon Handmade.

To join the Amazon Handmade program, you must apply. You can apply to open an account through an online application. Once you have completed the application, you will receive an invitation to open an Amazon Handmade store. Amazon requires basic information, answers to multiple choice questions, and photos of your handmade products. You should expect to hear back from the company within 48 hours. The application process is simple, and takes less than 30 minutes. The Amazon Handmade team will review your products for quality and authenticity, and will contact you once they approve them.

Sellers can ship directly to customers or use Fulfillment by Amazon

While a seller can ship directly to customers, Fulfillment by Amazon can help them reach a larger number of shoppers. This service helps manufacturers sell directly to Amazon, which can help increase sales. Vendor Central also allows manufacturers to sell to Amazon. While many sellers are satisfied with this service, there are some drawbacks to using Fulfillment by Amazon. Here are some of them.

Amazon started the FBA program in 2006 and has since been paving the way in online retail. Although the company had humble beginnings in the 1990s, it has grown into a multi-billion-dollar empire. The founders of Amazon saw an opportunity to share their business model with others and train them to profit big. That's when they developed FBA. Using the FBA service, you can easily get your products delivered to your customers.

Using Fulfillment by Amazon allows sellers to sell their products through multiple channels and increase their profit margins. However, it's important to remember that some products are better suited to the FBA service. For example, if you sell books on Amazon, Fulfillment by Amazon will fulfill the orders. The service also offers customer service, returns management, and refunds. It's essential to use this service to avoid potential problems.