Do you dream of sharing your creations and turning your artistic talents into a profitable venture? If so, Amazon Handmade might be the place for you. This marketplace allows artisans and makers to sell handmade products on Amazon, the best eCommerce platform worldwide.
In this guide, we will dive into how to sell on Amazon Handmade through these detailed steps:
- Step 1: Set up an Amazon Handmade Seller account
- Step 2: Apply to become an Artisan
- Step 3: List your items
- Step 4: Utilize various programs and expand your business
Let’s explore now!
Before You Start Selling on Amazon Handmade
To understand how to sell on Amazon Handmade, you first need to understand what Amazon Handmade is and what aspects are related to it. Let’s explore some critical information you need to understand about Amazon Handmade:
Understand the pros and cons of Amazon Handmade
To sell on Amazon Handmade, we need to know what Amazon Handmade is. Amazon Handmade is a platform designed for small businesses specializing in handcrafted goods. Like any platform, it has its advantages and disadvantages.
Now, we look at some significant pros of selling on Amazon Handmade, which is:
- Massive potential reach: Amazon is one of the best-selling platforms in the world, with over 3.1 billion monthly visits. Amazon Handmade, as a sub-part of this giant, obviously has the opportunity to reach a wide audience.
- High profitability: According to Jungle Scout’s 2022 State of the Seller Report, 33% of Handmade sellers have profit margins above 20%. This number is relatively high compared to other industries.
- Affordability: Amazon Handmade doesn’t charge listing fees and subscription fees. Sellers only have to pay referral fees. We will talk about this fee more specifically in the following section.
- Exclusivity: Amazon Handmade operates under the principle of being “artisan-only,” which entails a thorough application process to verify that the products sold are truly handmade by the individual or business.
Parallely, selling handmade on Amazon has some specific drawbacks, such as:
- Metrics: Amazon Handmade has specific metrics that Handmade Amazon sellers must meet, such as maintaining a low defect rate. If a seller’s defect rate exceeds the threshold, their account may be suspended.
- Return policies: Selling handmade on Amazon must adhere to Amazon’s return policies, which can sometimes be more conscious than other platforms.
- Higher competition: As Amazon Handmade grows in popularity, seller competition increases. Standing out among many Handmade Amazon sellers offering similar products can be challenging.
So, it’s time to delve deep into Amazon Handmade fees.
Calculate Amazon Handmade fees
Do you wonder, “How much does it cost to sell on Amazon Handmade?”. To calculate the cost of selling on Amazon Handmade, you need to know that:
- Listing fees: Sell handmade on Amazon does not charge any listing fees.
- Referral fees: Amazon charges a referral fee for each item sold, which is a percentage of the sale price. The referral fee is 15% of the sale price per listing, with a minimum fee of $1.00 per listing. The percentage is calculated based on the total amount a buyer pays. This contains the item price, shipping costs, and gift-wrapping charges (when applicable) but excludes taxes collected through Amazon tax calculations services (if you use these).
We note that these Amazon handmade fees may vary depending on the product category and other factors. You can check this picture to get an accurate breakdown of fees for your specific products. Here’s an example of how the Amazon handmade fees work: Suppose you sell a handmade item for $100. In this case, the referral fee will be 15% of the sale price, which is $15. However, since there is a minimum fee of $1.00 per listing, the referral fee would be $15 (15% of $100).
Of course, you must add this fee if you use some other Amazon service, such as FBA. However, in general, calculating Handmade Amazon seller fees is much simpler than calculating Amazon seller’s fees in traditional.
Decide what you sell on Amazon Handmade
Amazon Handmade is a community exclusively for artisans on the Amazon platform. All products available on Handmade must be created, modified, or assembled by hand. There is no mass-produced products are allowed to be sold on the marketplace. Here are some examples of items that you can sell on Amazon Handmade:
- Handmade jewelry: This includes necklaces, bracelets, earrings, rings, and other accessories that are crafted by hand.
- Home decor: Handmade home decor items such as wall art, decorative pillows, candles, pottery, and unique furniture pieces.
- Artwork and prints: This category contains handmade paintings, drawings, prints, and other forms of artwork.
- Handmade clothing and accessories: This category includes handmade clothing items like dresses, scarves, hats, and bags.
- Handmade beauty and skincare products: Handmade soaps, lotions, bath bombs, lip balms, and other beauty and skincare products.
- Handmade toys and games: Handcrafted toys, puzzles, board games, and stuffed animals.
- Handmade pet supplies: Handmade pet accessories, such as pet beds, collars, toys, and clothing.
These are just a few examples, and there are many other handmade products that you can sell on Amazon Handmade. Keep in mind that determining what to sell on Amazon Handmade depends on your skills, expertise, and passion.
After a deep understanding of how Amazon Handmade works and what items it can sell on this marketplace, let’s move to the core part, how to sell on Amazon Handmade.
How to Sell on Amazon Handmade
The journey of how to sell on Amazon Handmade includes 4 steps. In each step, there will be many small actions. So please read carefully so you don’t miss any important information.
Step 1: Setting up an Amazon Handmade seller account
We will start exploring how to sell on Amazon Hand by setting up a seller account. To have an Amazon Handmade seller account, you need to implement some smaller steps as follows:
1. Create an Amazon Seller Account
If you already have one, you can skip this step. If you don’t have an Amazon Seller Account, you can:
- Sign up by visiting the Amazon Seller Central website
- Click on the Sign-up button and follow the prompts to create your account.
2. Upgrade to a Professional Seller Account (if necessary)
If you have an individual seller account, you must upgrade to a professional seller account to sell on Amazon Handmade. Upgrading to a professional seller account lets you access additional features and benefits for selling on Amazon.
Significantly, as normal, a professional seller account normally costs $39.99 per month. However, if you get accepted into Handmade at Amazon, they may waive that fee for a certain period.
Step 2: Apply to become an Artisan
Once your account has been approved, the next step on how to sell on Amazon Handmade is to apply to become an Artisan on this marketplace. This application process ensures customers can buy confidently from artisans on the Handmade platform. Now, you need to:
- Visit the Amazon Handmade website: Go to the Amazon Handmade Seller Central (https://www.amazon.com/handmade) and navigate to the seller application page.
- Click on Apply Now: Click the Apply Now button on the seller application page to start the application process.
- Provide your information: Fill out the application form with your personal information, including your name, email address, and business details. You may also need to provide information about your organization, production process, and the category of handmade products you plan to sell.
- Submit supporting documents: Amazon may require you to submit supporting documents, such as high-quality pictures of your products or your production process. These documents help Amazon determine the quality and authenticity before you sell handmade items on Amazon.
- Wait for approval: After submitting your application, you must wait for Amazon to review and approve your application. The approval process typically takes around two weeks, although some sellers receive a response within a day or two.
- Create your artisan profile: Once your application approved, you can access Amazon Handmade login and create your artisan profile for Amazon Handmade seller. This profile will showcase your products and provide information about your business.
Step 3: List your items
Once you have been approved as an artist, it’s time to list your items on Amazon Handmade. Here are some actions to optimize your listings:
- Create your product listing: To generate a product listing, you must provide detailed and accurate information about your item, including its title, description, price, and high-quality images.
- Choose your fulfillment method: Amazon Handmade offers two fulfillment options. You can use Amazon’s Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) method, where you ship your products to an Amazon warehouse, and Amazon handles packaging and shipping. Alternatively, you can fulfill orders using Amazon’s Fulfilled by Merchant (FBM) method, where you ship the orders from your location.
- Set up your shipping settings: Determine your shipping rates and policies, including domestic and international shipping options. You can also choose to offer free shipping or use Amazon’s shipping services.
- Optimize your product listing: To increase visibility and sales, optimize your product listing by using relevant keywords, providing accurate product descriptions, and using high-quality images. You can refer Sell on Amazon guide to get some interesting optimizing product listing tips
Step 4: Utilize various programs and expand your business
Amazon offers several programs and tools to help sellers expand their business and increase sales. So, using these programs will be the final step on your journey of how to sell on Amazon Handmade. Here are some key programs to consider:
- Engage B2B customers: This program provides sellers access to a wide range of corporate buyers, such as offices, schools, and other organizations.
- Advertise your listings: To help sellers promote their products, Amazon provides various advertising options. Sellers can create sponsored product ads, display ads, and video ads to increase the visibility of their listings. These ads can be targeted to specific customer demographics or keywords. Thus, you can reach their target audience more effectively.
- Sell in Amazon stores worldwide: Amazon Global Selling offers a range of tools Marketplace Expansion, Customs and Compliance Assistance, International Fulfillment,…and services that streamline the process of selling products globally
- Build a brand: Amazon offers assistance to brands of various sizes and categories in constructing, expanding, and safeguarding their business, through services like Brand Registry, Enhanced Brand Content, and additional offerings.
- Get strategic advice: Amazon can help you elevate your business to new heights by leveraging the expertise of a seasoned account manager from Strategic Account Services.
- Buy with Prime: By showcasing the Prime logo and delivery guarantee on your product page, you can attract customers by assuring them of speedy delivery and hassle-free returns
And there are many other programs you can refer to here to apply to your process of how to sell on Amazon Handmade.
Amazon Handmade vs Etsy are two online marketplaces where sellers can list and sell handmade goods. However, there are some key differences between the two platforms. You can see the differences clearly in this table:
Feature | Amazon Handmade | Etsy |
Product selection | Traditional handmade goods, such as jewelry, clothing, home decor, toys, and games | Wide variety of handmade products, including vintage items, craft supplies, and art |
Seller requirements | Must be approved to sell, and must provide proof that products are handmade | Simply need to create an account |
Fees | 15% referral fee | 6.5% transaction fee plus $0.25, plus a $0.20 listing fee per item |
Traffic | Over 2 billion active users worldwide | Around 277 million active users worldwide |
Shop customization | Minimal customization options | Highly customizable shops, sections, and branding |
Artisan Approval | To become a seller on Handmade, there is a required application and audit process. This process ensures that you either personally create the products or have a team of fewer than 20 individuals involved in the production | Setting up your account is quick and straightforward, with no need for an approval process. You are also permitted to collaborate with production partners |
Payment processing | Funds will only be accessible once the order is confirmed as shipped, and payments are distributed every two weeks | As soon as the transaction is finalized, the funds will be made immediately available to you. Additionally, you have the option to request disbursements on a daily basis |
Shipping | Amazon Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) is available but not required | Sellers are responsible for their own shipping |
Marketing and advertising tools | Amazon offers a variety of marketing and advertising tools, such as sponsored products and display ads | Etsy offers a variety of marketing and advertising tools, such as promoted listings and Etsy Ads |
Community | Amazon Handmade has a smaller community of sellers and buyers than Etsy | Etsy has a large and active community of sellers and buyers |
Overall, which platform is right for you depends on your specific needs and goals. If you are a new seller with a limited product selection, Etsy may be a good place to start. If you are a more experienced seller with a wide variety of handmade goods, selling handmade items on Amazon may be a better option.
How to Sell on Amazon Handmade: FAQs
- Is it worth selling on Amazon Handmade?
Selling on Amazon Handmade can be worth it for artisans and crafters looking to reach a wider customer base and benefit from Amazon’s robust infrastructure. However, it’s important to consider the competition, fees, and the need for high-quality product photos and descriptions to stand out in the marketplace.
- How much does it cost to sell on Amazon Handmade?
To sell on Amazon Handmade, there are several costs to consider, which is:
- The monthly Professional Selling Plan costs $39.99
- Additional referral fees and closing fees depending on the category and item price.
It’s important to review Amazon’s fee structure and policies for accurate and up-to-date information.
- Who can sell on Amazon Handmade?
Anyone who creates handmade products can apply to sell on Amazon Handmade. The application process includes providing information about the product’s production methods and confirming that the products are genuinely handmade. However, it’s important to note that Amazon Handmade is currently available only in certain countries.
- What categories are available on Amazon Handmade?
Amazon Handmade offers a variety of categories for artisans to sell their handmade products. Some of the available categories include:
- Accessories
- Artwork
- Baby
- Beauty & Personal Care
- Clothing
- Shoes & Handbags
- Home
- Jewelry & Watches
- Kitchen & Dining
- Pet Supplies
- Sporting Goods
- Stationery
How to Sell on Amazon Handmade: Wrapped Up
Overall, selling on Amazon Handmade can be a rewarding experience for artisans looking to showcase their creations to a broader audience. By following the steps outlined in this guide on how to sell on Amazon Handmade, you can set up your seller account, become an artist, list your items effectively, and leverage various programs to expand your business.
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