An Etsy Alternative - Handmade at Amazon!

Since a ton of Etsy sellers are having issues getting views and sales since the big April 2016 format change, I've decided to go into detail about the other platforms Etsy sellers can branch out on.

One option is Handmade at Amazon.

Handmade at Amazon provides artisans with something that Etsy cannot - an absolutely enormous buyer base. About 244 million of them!

Like any platform, there are going to be pros and cons to selling here. We just added our jewelry shop, Caravan of Beads, to Amazon.

As of right now, we have about 55 items listed and have the majority of those shipping through Fulfilled by Amazon (which will give you a boost in search, as Prime customers typically buy FBA only items).

So what are the pros and cons?

As you can see in the above screenshot, H@A has a VERY different store layout in comparison to Etsy. It doesn't leave as much room for customization. It has a plainer, "cleaner" look.

I really do love having the large cover photo at the top - I chose to use an image of raw purple amethyst crystals. It contrasts beautifully against the clean, crisp white background.

Listing is also drastically different, and the inventory layout is not nearly as user friendly as Etsy. As you can see in the example below (this is not my personal inventory list), it's not as eloquent of a layout compared to Etsy's listing management page.

An example of Amazon's inventory management page

Another one of the cons about Amazon is that it's encouraged that you use a plain white background. It's also required that the item be a certain percentage of the image, and the picture itself must be of a certain size.

You can certainly use other types of photography of your choosing, but Amazon does warn that by not using the recommended background type, you could possibly be pushed down in search.

If you want to read about their photo requirements in detail, just click here to read the full article by Amazon.

Etsy Photo vs Amazon Photo

Due to Amazon's photography requirements, I've had to retake all of my product pictures, since I use a stone background for Etsy. Other than the higher transaction fees, this is probably the biggest con I've encountered so far.

Conclusion

Overall, despite the fact that Amazon has more stringent rules and expectations regarding listings, products and customer service, I truly believe it is worth the hassle. With Etsy views and sales dipping drastically with no relief in sight, it's important to branch out into every platform possible!

I will be adding more articles about Etsy alternatives soon. I think it's super important that established shops, like myself, who have relied solely on Etsy for their shop income, be aware that there ARE other viable options. New post soon!