Selling Crafts, Jewellery, and Other Creative Projects: Should You Use a Platform or Create Your Own Website?

If you’re looking to sell crafts, jewellery, custom note cards, furniture, clothing, or any other creative products (aside from fine art and illustrations), you have two main options:

• Create Your Own E-Commerce Website
• Sign Up with a Marketing Platform That Handles Sales and Fulfilment

Option 1: Create Your Own E-Commerce Site

Creating your own e-commerce website is a great option if you sell products worth more than $500 or $1,000 a month. While there are some upfront costs, such as monthly fees for hosting, you won’t have to pay commission fees on your sales. As your sales grow, this can save you a significant amount of money compared to the high commission rates charged by marketing platforms. However, managing your own site comes with responsibilities like order fulfilment, customer service, and maintaining your store.

Why Choose Your Own E-Commerce Site?

• No commission fees on sales.
• Full control over your branding and customer experience.
• More profitable when sales volume is high.

Option 2: Use a Marketing Platform

On the other hand, signing up with a platform that specializes in selling crafts and creative products can be an easier and more convenient option, especially if you’re just starting out. These platforms draw in customers who might not find you otherwise, and they handle much of the sales and fulfillment work for you. However, they charge commissions on each sale, which can add up if you’re selling a high volume of products.

Why Choose a Marketing Platform?

• Easier to get started with, especially for beginners.
• Platforms attract built-in customer bases.
• They handle sales, marketing, and fulfillment.

Which Option is Right for You?

If you’re just starting out and don’t want the hassle of building a website or handling orders, using a marketing platform is a great way to begin. However, if you have a steady stream of sales and want to keep more of your profits, building your own website might be the smarter long-term option.