Etsy has become a household name for shoppers and crafts business owners. The online marketplace is a leading website for handmade crafts for sale. It’s the go-to website for people looking for one of a kind items such as costume jewelry, home decor and custom clothing pieces among others. If you’re looking to monetize your crafts hobby, creating an Etsy website is a logical move.
However, in the recent months, the Etsy site has implemented a few policy changes and increased transaction fees on its platform. These changes understandably didn’t sit well with small business owners. In view of these changes, many small brands are now faced with the opportunity to look for websites like Etsy that will allow them to showcase their products better.
Rather than leave the Etsy website builder altogether, however, we recommend a more practical approach to online selling - retain your Etsy site and create an Etsy link to your own website. The platform remains a great way to sell your products but if you want to begin your transition into a stand-alone online selling website of your own, Strikingly is a good place to start.
As a leading website builder, Strikingly allows you to create a stunning online storefront for your Etsy website. It has everything you need to build functional and feature-rich ecommerce websites so you can start selling online in no time.
Aside from Strikingly, here are a few more alternatives to the Etsy marketplace that you might want to check out.
1. Ruby Lane
Ruby Lane is an online marketplace that specializes in vintage art, antiques, jewelry and other collectibles. It has been around since 1998 and features a number of helpful integrations such as Google Analytics, Skype and auto-shop checkup tools. What makes Ruby Lane unique is its ‘Secret Shopper’ initiative. Its team makes random purchases from sellers and provide feedback about the buying experience and the product. This enables small brands to improve their operations and products.
2. Spoonflower
If you’re a designer for printed products, you might find a viable market for your work in Spoonflower. This platform is part print on demand service and part marketplace. People normally go to Spoonflower to get unique prints on items such as giftwraps, wallpaper or fabric. You might find your print designs used on pieces by other designers. Spoonflower’s claim to fame is its commitment to using sustainable materials. Your designs will be printed on eco-friendly fabric. If you’re looking for a mental challenge, you’re welcome to participate in their weekly design challenges as well. Overall, it’s a good way to attract clients for your craft.
3. Bonanza
Bonanza is considered a direct competitor of Etsy, making it a viable alternative for crafts businesses. It’s a diverse marketplace of sellers offering everything from big brands to small boutiques. It doesn’t charge listing or membership fees.
4. Storenvy
For small independent brands targeting specific niche markets, Storenvy is a good alternative to an Etsy website. It is widely known for being a marketplace for small brands that focus on quality rather than quantity. The platform offers marketplace listing and an option to customize their online storefront. Customization options are not as flexible as say, a standalone website, but they are good to have. It regularly promotes up and coming as well as interesting products according to feedback from their customers. You don’t see a lot of big brands on this marketplace so competition is not as stiff as Etsy so sellers are advised to take advantage of this environment before everyone starts flocking to Storenvy and the competition gets tougher.
5. Tictail
Tictail is a marketplace for more than 140 worldwide brands that offer art and fashion pieces as well as home decor. It also operates a physical store in downtown New York City where they showcase featured seller products and organize special events for the brands in their portfolio. If you’re the right kind of brand, you might find tapping into Tictail’s market profitable.
