Marketplace alternatives
Redbubble
The pros: Redbubble is another platform specifically for more niche artwork and handcrafted items. Like Etsy, you’ll get exposure to a pre-established audience here. If you create prints, all you need to do is upload your designs and Redbubble will print it on a t-shirt, mug, sticker, wall tapestry…just about anything you can think of and click on. The logistics (fulfillment, packing, shipping) are left up to Redbubble to organize. This means less work for you.
The cons: This also means far less control. You won’t have any say in manufacturing costs, quality, customer experience and you will need to pay a service fee. This platform is more suited to a side hustle than a full-time business. It definitely has its limitations when it comes to expanding.
The verdict: While it has a similar premise to Etsy, Redbubble only works for a niche seller type. There’s less flexibility and autonomy which are essential for the longevity of your business. If you sell art prints this could still work well for you, but we’d suggest using Redbubble as one of many platforms.
Amazon Handmade
The pros: As an approved handmade seller on Amazon, you won’t have to pay selling, listing or payment processing fees. You can also join a community group via the seller forum, which is a great way to build your support network. The marketplace format means you can reach existing Amazon shoppers. If you do decide to add this platform to your repertoire, you can easily transfer your product listings over from Etsy.
The cons: There is a 15% referral fee on each sale you make. Amazon Handmade products will also appear in the Amazon homepage, so unlike Etsy, shoppers probably won’t be looking specifically for handmade products. In that sense, it’s a less targeted audience.
The verdict: The low fees are certainly appealing but you may also have ethical concerns over supporting Amazon. It’s a very personal choice and there are other alternatives out there to explore if that’s a concern for your business.
Facebook Marketplace
The pros: The nature of Facebook Marketplace means that it’s more community-oriented. You can tap into a large, local audience. It’s also very easy to set up. If you have a Facebook account, all you need to do is click the marketplace tab and start listing. There are also no fees if you’re making the sale in-person (for shipped products, there’s a 5% fee).
The cons: It will require more effort from you to manage each sale. That means more interaction with customers and dealing with a higher likelihood of scams. Overall, there’s less seller protection. Facebook Marketplace is also primarily used by people wanting to get rid of things quickly. So you’ll be competing against users selling items for free or very low prices, even though your products aren’t comparable.
The verdict: Facebook Marketplace is more suited to selling a small volume of products in a local area. If you want to expand, then this probably isn’t the right platform for you.
Syncio Marketplace
The pros: Syncio Marketplace is a directory of over 1,500 quality partner brands and retailers.
Here you can search for compatible stores and invite them to connect in a few clicks. By partnering with other retailers and selling your products on their storefront, you’ll get exposure to their loyal shoppers and increase sales. Think of it as the best of both worlds: access to an established customer base without the loss of independence or crazy competition.
The cons: You will have to create a Shopify or Woo store to join. The good news is, that’s pretty straightforward to do.
The verdict: Remember at the start how we advised not to put all your eggs in one basket? Well, this is where Syncio Marketplace comes in handy. You can seamlessly connect with as many stores as you want and experience limitless growth. At Syncio we facilitate $620M in collaborative sales each month. Become part of the successful ecosystem.
Website alternatives
Squarespace
The pros: Having your own website on Squarespace allows you to move beyond physical products and sell things like subscriptions and services. The overall design and layout is also more adjustable. Compared to Shopify, it allows you to have more options and variants per product. This platform’s SEO features are also quite user-friendly.
The cons: Compared to Etsy, there’s more onus on you to build an audience from scratch. Particularly if you’re just starting out, we’d recommend using other marketing/sales channels to reach customers and ultimately direct them to your site.
The verdict: For the aesthetically-driven seller, this option will allow you to fully customize your website. But like everything on this list, it works best as part of a bigger ecosystem of sales outlets – if you want to avoid a crazy ad spend.
Shopify
The pros: There are lots of pros to Shopify. There’s a reason why it has millions of users. It’s user-friendly, simple to set up and has lower transaction fees than Etsy. It also has capacity for unlimited product listings and there’s no listing fees, making it ideal if you have a large number of products to sell. You can access thousands of apps through the Shopify app store too (including Syncio).
The cons: Like Squarespace, Shopify doesn’t have built-in shoppers, so you’ll have more marketing work cut out for you to drive traffic to your website. Customization is limited, so if you have more tech expertise then Woo may be a better platform for you. Etsy is more geared towards handcrafted items and artwork, whereas Shopify is much broader and isn’t known for this niche.
The verdict: Sellers around the world rely on Shopify for a reason. It’s intuitive without high fees. You can rest assured you’ll be joining an established platform.
WooCommerce
The pros: WooCommerce offers greater customization. Adjust the design of your storefront to perfectly fit your unique needs. The pricing is also quite affordable. You’ll have the option to integrate apps like Syncio too.
The cons: Like Squarespace or Shopify, you won’t have a pre-established audience here. That means more work and potential ad spend to drive traffic. Woo is also less intuitive to set up, so you’ll need background knowledge in coding – or help from a third party – to get the best result.
The verdict: if you have a strong idea of what you want your storefront to look like, and how to achieve it, then you’re in the right place. But if you don’t have the expertise, using this platform could be needlessly difficult.
Wrapping up
Working closely with e-commerce sellers, we’ve seen what works. There’s one thing standing between a business excelling and stalling: and that’s multiple sales channels. Whether you’re an Etsy, Woo or Shopify user – don’t limit yourself to one storefront. Working with multiple retailers will expose you to an in-built audience that cares about what you have to say. So while there are pros and cons to each platform, your safest bet is to branch out and diversify. Syncio Marketplace can help you do just that.
