14 Online Marketplaces to Sell on - My comparison of them..

The world that is the internet is forever changing at a rapid rate of knots, new online market places geared specifically for both sellers and buyers are popping up like gophers from the Caddy Shack movie!...and at some stage or another – we’ve all decided to sell our wares online…but the biggest question posed to everyone who has - or is contemplating this is …

… What’s the best place I can sell things on?

What I’ve simply done is find out as much information as is possible on each one and collated it all  in this list so others can be better equipped at what is going to suit them – and of course – their budget.

There is – however – one thing you need to keep in mind when starting up an online store…others will be doing the exact same thing! – so make sure you have strong tags and store titles etc to help you get seen.  Also – don’t just think opening up a store and waiting for the crowds to pour in will happen either – it won’t unless you are prepared to put in several hours each week to  not only *keep things fresh* - but to also *promote* your wares and store.

So here is my list of 14 ONLINE MARKETPLACES – and in no particular order. 

Some sites I have used – others I haven’t – so am gauging on *what’s on offer* - and – having looked at some of them more closely – this is just my personal interpretation of how I find them.   I am also *rating* them – from 1 to 10 -  1 being *not likely to recommend* to 10 – Highly recommend.  

A couple of other added things – but don’t forget Facebook – and the ability to have a business page there.  It really can be the stepping stone into gaining an online presence.   The other of course is having your own website – but – like anything – there are pros and cons there too….time to set it up…updating it constantly – finding a great hosting site etc.  Thankfully there are a few really good *free* to build an online website….some I know of and have dealt with are Wix.com – Weebly.com and VStore.ca   The latter is more complex..but again – there is an option for a free site or a Pro site with quite a few more things available.   Biggest problem having your own site is getting it seen in the SEO’s…

One of the many things about working a business  from home is making sure you aren’t attracting heaps of *additional* costs that you can ill afford…there again – to get seen – you do have to spend something…whether that be time or a little extra financially to get things off the ground, do make sure you do some research yourself to see what will best suit you and your business.    

SITE	RATE	LIST/MTH FEES	COMMISSION
ETSY.COM	3	20₵ Listing fee on items ( expires 4mths)	3.5% Sales commission - plus *payment processing fee* - based on sales when using Direct Checkout
PROS: If you sell tutorials – Etsy are one marketplace to offer *instant* download.   But don’t let that sway you.  There are places you can utilise such as *E-junkie* that will do the same thing with your website and other sites (at this stage unsure exactly what ones they have included)..but there are others too. No sign up or monthly fees.  No limit on items listed
CONS: Recent changes to the guidelines now enable people who get others - or manufacturers who produce their wares  to *sell* on there.   Relisting fees 3.5% Sales commission fee Getting lost in the crowd
ARTFIRE.COM	6	monthly fee is $12.95	NIL
PROS: If you were lucky enough to get in on the deal Artfire ran a few years back – which saw a *lifetime* charge of only $5.95 per mth – then you were laughing.    No limit on items listed. No listing fees No commission fees
CONS: No instant download if you sell tutorials – however some places that do *send on your behalf* may have the platform to enable *instant* downloads..again – not sure on this – hopefully someone who does sell tutorials there with an instant download can fill in the blank. $12.95 p/mth fee
BONANZA.COM	3	NIL	3% sales commission
PROS: No limit on items listed. No listing  or monthly fees
CONS: No instant download if you sell tutorials.  3% sales commission fee Geared towards anything and everything – lost in the crowd
eCRATER.com	6	NIL	2.9% sales commission
PROS: No limit on items listed. No listing or monthly fees
CONS: No instant download if you sell tutorials. 2.9% commission on *marketplace sales* Not sure if this is applicable to *normal* sales.
SHOPHANDMADE.COM	3	NIL	NIL
PROS:   TOTALLY FREE
CONS: To me this is more a *hobby crafters* site..not wanting to be disparaging – but if you are in business – whilst it’s free – free – free!....finding the bulk of things there well under the $50 price range – if you are selling OAAK uniquely handmade items with quality – this one would probably NOT! be the place for your wares.
ZIBBET.COM	7	Free a/c + Pro a/c - $9.95 p/mth	NIL
PROS: No commission on sales No listing fees No limit on listings with Pro account *On feedback from comments - There is currently a yearly deal of $79.00 for a Pro site which equates to only $6.58 p/mth instead of the usual $9.95.   Great savings of 30%.  Also have great customer service to sellers..  Fully customisable stores.
CONS: The free account has a limit of 50 items allowed.  But still good to get a *feel* of what it's like.
MADEITMYSELF.COM	5	NIL	3% sales commission fee
PROS: Don’t know enough about this one – but eh..from what I’ve seen of products – it could be a starting point. No limit on items listed No listing/mthly fee
CONS: 3% commission on sales fee
HANDMADEARTISTS.COM	9	$5 p/mth No listing fee	NIL
PROS:   Stipulates *Handmade Only* Offers Instant Download for tutorials. Has the option to pay yearly for $50.00 - instead of $60 - so a discount there of 16.7% Unlimited items  No listing fees No commission fee On looking at this one overall in comparison to others - it seems to have a lot more going for it - especially with the ability to have *Instant Tutorial Downloads*
CONS: $5 p/mth fee – Not sure about this one – seems ok. Product prices are reasonable – but again a bit on the *low* side.
SILKFAIR.COM	5	FREE MARKET BOOTH  - but able to also incl. *Custom Store*	3% commission on sales
PROS: Free *Market Booth* with no limit on items listed Options available to suit your needs and to also have a *Custom Store*
CONS: Works very much like *Bonanza* in that it has *Market Booths* - Also has the option for a *Custom Store+ a Market Booth* - but at a sliding cost.   All levels have a *Market Booths* which have *unlimited products* available.     Also has 3% sales commission applicable – but no listing fees Basic - *free* Market Booth only – Bronze- 25 products $7.99 p/mth Silver - 50 products - $9.99 p/mth Gold-100 products -$14.99 p/mth Platinum-500 products - $19.99 p/mth Umlimited -  no limit on products - $24.99 p/mth
STORENVY.COM	6	NIL	NIL
PROS: Completely free – no limit on listings
CONS: Just over 59,000 stores however – but there seems to be a price range from $5 right up to over $2,000 for items.  Possibly lost in the crowd?? At least their search function is good.
MADEIT.COM.AU      *AUSTRALIAN RESIDENTS ONLY*	4	.35cents listing fee	4.5%
PROS: No limit on items listed No monthly fee
CONS: Open only to Australian residents 4.5% commission on sales .35cents list fee
CATCHACREATION.COM.AU  *AUSTRALIAN RESIDENTS ONLY*	3	.30cents for Free a/c NIL for Pro a/c $20 p/mth Pro a/c	5%
PROS: Free account available No limit on listings
CONS: A new contender and again an Australian based only one.  Has 2 structures – Free and Pro, and has a hefty sales commission at 5% no matter what account you have.   The Free account has a listing fee of .30cents  - no Holiday mode and few other things one would expect to get on an eCommerce site.  The Pro account is $20.00 p/mth – again steep in comparison to others…but no listing fees…and still has a 5% sales commission
HAND-MADE.COM.AU *AUSTRALIAN RESIDENTS ONLY*	5	Free test a.c – only 3products $10 p/mth Normal a/c – unlimited items	Appears to be none
PROS: Offer *Free* test account  - but with limitations No listing fees No appearance of commission on sales No limit on items listed with Pro a/c.
CONS: $10 p/mth fee for general account $1.50 p/item fee to appear in*Featured listing* - renewable every 15 days Australian based only
ICRAFTGIFTS.COM	7	$25 once only registration fee Sliding scale with limitation on products * Cons*	NIL
PROS: Whilst this site has some heavy fees – there is something that sets it above the rest.  You have to be vetted to get in!    They are strictly a *Handmade Only* site – No vintage allowed – unless upcycled and remade.     There are no listing fees and no commission fees on sales.
CONS: $25 registration fee – but is only payable the once. Sliding scale of a monthly fee with limitations on amount of products STARTER - $5 p/mth – 50 items only BASIC      - $10 p/mth – 100 items only PROFESSIONAL - $15 p/mth – UNLIMITED items

 The Craft Star added thanks to Seona for the *headsup* - it seems like a good one too..

THE CRAFT STAR.COM	7	$5.00p/mth fee No listing fees	2.5% commission on sale- PAID AT TIME OF SALE! 3.5%  processing fee via Paypal using Credit Card + .30cents checkout fee.
PROS: A commenter – Seona – advised me of this one…so I checked it out.  Very similar to Etsy – there are however – only 546 shops!..bonus!    Listings are unlimited – and their Advanced Search is good.  Prices seem to range from $5 up to $500  - so again – a good indicator that it’s not all *cheap*. One great thing is there is no *monthly bill* for the commission – it’s dealt with at the time of the sale – again that is a huge bonus.  The only *monthly* bill is for the month fee of $5.00 Good possibilities..
CONS: $5.00 p.mth flat fee 2.5% commission on sales The usual(?) 3.5% on using Credit cards via PayPal – also deducted at time of transaction – plus a .30cent checkout fee for CC’s as well.

 Whilst I haven’t included some into the equation – there are a few there worth investigating….and if you wish to see some more – here’s a link to someone  else who has done a *comparison*– even though it’s a few years old – it does have ones I have not listed in it….so check it out.

http://smallbiztrends.com/2011/10/29-places-sell-handmade-creations.html

Also many thanks to those who have provided more information on some sites... much appreciated and I'm sure will help people make a decision as to what they want/need to run their businesses.

As usual....Happy Creating!...

..and remember.....Smile!!....It's Free!