Amazon Handmade has a strong position for continued international growth, with sellers from over 80 countries already present on the platform. This global presence not only expands the marketplace but also introduces a rich diversity of handcrafted goods to customers around the world. As artisans from different cultures and backgrounds bring their unique creations to the platform, Amazon Handmade continues to offer a broader range of products, catering to a global audience with an increasing demand for authentic, high-quality handmade items. With this international expansion, the marketplace is set to become even more vibrant, making it an exciting space for both sellers and buyers alike.
Amazon Handmade provides a unique marketplace for artisans looking to sell their handcrafted goods. As a seller, it’s essential to understand both the benefits and costs associated with selling on Amazon Handmade. This blog will guide you through what Amazon Handmade is, the eligibility criteria, the fee structure for Amazon Handmade sellers, and tips on how to succeed on this platform.
What is Amazon Handmade?
Amazon Handmade is a dedicated space within the Amazon marketplace for artisans who create handmade goods. Launched in 2015, it allows crafters, designers, and creators to sell their products to a global audience while benefiting from Amazon’s vast infrastructure and customer base. This marketplace is explicitly designed for artisans, which means that only products that are handmade, hand-altered, or hand-assembled can be sold.
Unlike other categories on Amazon, which focus on mass-produced products, Amazon Handmade offers a unique opportunity for those with specialized skills and creative flair to reach customers seeking one-of-a-kind, artisan-made products. The platform highlights the stories behind each product and its maker, adding an authentic touch to each listing.
Key Features:
Exclusive platform for artisans: Only handmade goods are allowed.
Part of Amazon: Sellers benefit from Amazon's global reach, customer trust, and robust logistics.
Focus on craftsmanship: All items must be handcrafted or hand-assembled.
Eligibility and Product Categories
To sell on Amazon Handmade, you must be an artisan who designs and creates the products you sell. This platform is not for resellers or manufacturers who produce items in bulk, even if those items are sold as “handmade.” The focus is on individual creators and small-scale production.
The product categories for Amazon Handmade are diverse, allowing artisans to sell a wide range of items. Some of the most popular categories include:
Accessories: Jewelry, bags, hats, scarves, etc.
Artwork: Paintings, prints, photography, and sculptures.
Home décor: Furniture, candles, pottery, and textiles.
Toys and games: Wooden toys, dolls, educational games, etc.
Clothing: Custom apparel, knitted scarves, etc.
Certain products are excluded from Amazon Handmade, such as:
Digital products: eBooks, printable art, and digital files.
Food items: Though homemade food is popular in many artisan markets, it is not allowed on Amazon Handmade.
Electronics: Any product that requires electrical components or batteries falls outside the scope of Amazon Handmade.
Before applying, it’s essential to ensure that your products fall within these permitted categories.
Fee Structure for Amazon Handmade Sellers
One of Amazon Handmade's most attractive features is its straightforward fee structure. Amazon does not charge listing fees or require a monthly subscription fee for approved sellers. It is a significant advantage over other platforms like Etsy, which charge listing and subscription fees.
However, sellers should still be aware of the costs involved. The primary fees for Amazon Handmade sellers are as follows:
1. Referral Fee: Amazon charges a 15% referral fee per sale. This fee is based on the product's sale price, excluding shipping and taxes. For example, if you sell a product for $50, Amazon will charge you a $7.50 referral fee. Note that the referral fee has a minimum of $1.00, meaning that if you sell an item for less than $6.67, you will still pay a $1.00 fee.
2. Optional FBA fees: While you can handle your fulfillment, many sellers choose to use Amazon’s Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) service. FBA allows Amazon to store, pack, and ship your products. The fees for FBA depend on the size and weight of the product and can vary depending on the volume of sales. These fees can add up quickly, so it’s important to factor them into your pricing strategy.
3. Shipping costs: Sellers are responsible for the cost of shipping their items, which is either included in the product price or charged separately to customers.
4. Amazon payments fee: This fee covers the processing of payments through Amazon's system. It is generally 2.9% of the total price (including shipping) plus $0.30 per order.
Summary of fees for Amazon Handmade
Referral fee: 15% per sale (minimum $1.00).
FBA fees: Vary by item size/weight.
Shipping: Seller's responsibility.
Amazon payments fee: 2.9% + $0.30 per order.
The "fees for Amazon Handmade" are competitive when compared to other platforms, but you should still carefully consider how they affect your pricing and margins.
Categories | Referral fee percentages | Applicable minimum referral fee (applied on a per-unit basis unless otherwise noted) |
Amazon Device Accessories | 45% | $0.30 |
Amazon Explore | 30% for Experiences | $2.00 |
Automotive and Powersports | 12% | $0.30 |
Baby Products | 8% for products with a total sales price of $10.00 or less, and 15% for products with a total sales price greater than $10.00 | $0.30 |
Backpacks, Handbags, and Luggage | 15% | $0.30 |
Base Equipment Power Tools | 12% | $0.30 |
Beauty, Health and Personal Care | 8% for products with a total sales price of $10.00 or less, and 15% for items with a total sales price greater than $10.00 | $0.30 |
Business, Industrial, and Scientific Supplies | 12% | $0.30 |
Clothing and Accessories | 17% | $0.30 |
Collectible Coins | 15% for the portion of the total sales price up to $250.00, 10% for any portion of the total sales price greater than $250.00 up to $1,000.00, and 6% for any portion of the total sales price greater than $1,000.00. | $0.30 |
Compact Appliances | 15% for the portion of the total sales price up to $300.00, and 8% for any portion of the total sales price more excellent than $300.00 | $0.30 |
Computers | 8% | $0.30 |
Consumer Electronics | 8% | $0.30 |
Electronics Accessories | 15% for the portion of the total sales price up to $100.00, and 8% for any portion of the total sales price more excellent than $100.00 | $0.30 |
Entertainment Collectibles | 20% for the portion of total sales price up to $100.00, 10% for the portion of total sales price more excellent than $100.00, up to $1,000.00, and 6% for the portion of total sales price greater than $1,000.00 | — |
Everything Else | 15% | $0.30 |
Eyewear | 15% | $0.30 |
Fine Art | 20% for the portion of the total sales price up to $100.00, 15% for the portion of the total sales price more excellent than $100.00 up to $1,000.00, 10% for the portion of the total sales price greater than $1,000.00 up to $5,000.00, and 5% for the portion of the total sales price greater than $5,000.00 | — |
Footwear | 15% | $0.30 |
Full-Size Appliances | 8% | $0.30 |
Furniture | 15% for the portion of the total sales price up to $200.00, and 10% for any portion of the total sales price more excellent than $200.00 | $0.30 |
Gift Cards | 20% | — |
Grocery and Gourmet | 8% for products with a total sales price of $15.00 or less, and 15% for products with a total sales price greater than $15.00 | — |
Home and Kitchen | 15% | $0.30 |
Jewelry | 20% for the portion of the total sales price up to $250.00, and 5% for any portion of the total sales price more excellent than $250.00 | $0.30 |
Lawn and Garden | 15% | $0.30 |
Lawn Mowers and Snow Throwers | 15% for products with a total sales price of up to $500.00, 8% for products with a total sales price more excellent than $500.00 | $0.30 |
Mattresses | 15% | $0.30 |
Media – Books, DVD, Music, Software, Video | 15% | — |
Musical Instruments and AV Production | 15% | $0.30 |
Office Products | 15% | $0.30 |
Pet Products | 15%, except 22% for veterinary diets | $0.30 |
Sports and Outdoors | 15% | $0.30 |
Sports Collectibles | 15% for the portion of the total sales price up to $100.00, 10% for any portion of the total sales price more excellent than $100.00 up to $1,000.00, 6% for any portion of the total sales price greater than $1,000.00 | — |
Tyres | 10% | $0.30 |
Tools and Home Improvement | 15% | $0.30 |
Toys and Games | 15% | $0.30 |
Video Game Consoles | 8% | — |
Video Games and Gaming Accessories | 15% | — |
Watches | 16% for the portion of the total sales price up to $1,500.00, and 3% for any portion of the total sales price greater than $1,500.00 | $0.30 |
Source- Amazon
How to Apply for Amazon Handmade?
Becoming a seller on Amazon Handmade requires an application process. Here's a step-by-step overview of what’s involved:
Step 1: Application as an artisan: You must apply as an artisan and provide proof that you create the products yourself. It could include photos of your workspace, a description of your creative process, or links to your personal website or social media pages that showcase your work.
Step 2: Compliance with handmade guidelines: Amazon has strict guidelines about what qualifies as “handmade.” These include restrictions on reselling products, outsourcing production, or selling products that are not entirely handmade or hand-assembled. You must meet these criteria to be approved.
Step 3: Create a maker profile: After approval, you will set up your Amazon Handmade store by creating a “maker profile.” it allows you to tell the story behind your products and help customers connect with your brand. Personalizing your shop is an essential step in building trust and attracting buyers.
Step 4: Set up payments: Amazon will guide you through setting up your payment method to ensure you can receive payments directly into your bank account.
Once approved, you can list your handmade products on Amazon, and Amazon will begin promoting them to millions of potential buyers.
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Benefits of Amazon Handmade
Selling on Amazon Handmade offers several benefits that set it apart from other platforms:
No monthly fees: Unlike Etsy, where sellers must pay monthly subscription fees, Amazon Handmade does not charge any monthly or listing fees. This means more profit for you, especially if you’re just starting.
Exclusive community: As an artisan on Amazon Handmade, you’ll have access to a community of like-minded creators. Amazon offers resources for artisans to connect, share best practices, and learn from one another.
Global reach: Amazon Handmade is part of the Amazon marketplace and is available in many countries around the world. This means your products can be sold globally, exposing your crafts to a much larger audience than many other platforms offer.
Trust and credibility: Amazon is a trusted name in E-commerce, and many customers are more likely to purchase from a seller on Amazon Handmade than from an independent website or other platforms.
Also, read Using Amazon Seller App for Scanning and Selling
Selling Strategies on Amazon Handmade
To be successful on Amazon Handmade, you need more than just a great product. Consider these strategies to improve your sales:
Optimize product listings: Your product listings should be clear, descriptive, and optimized for Amazon’s search engine. To improve discoverability, use relevant keywords, include high-quality images, and provide accurate descriptions.
Leverage Amazon’s resources: Amazon provides sellers with tools like Amazon Seller Central, which allows you to track your sales, view analytics, and adjust your listings accordingly. Use these tools to refine your strategy over time.
Create unique products: Differentiate yourself by offering unique products or designs that can’t be easily found elsewhere. Buyers are often looking for something special, so having a distinctive product line can help you stand out.
Build trust with your target audience and become a credible brand through SellerMate.ai’s live ads feature, which allows you to easily export all your ad campaign results and schedule recurring exports to receive monthly reports automatically and stay organized without extra effort.
Comparison with Etsy and Other Platforms
When comparing Amazon Handmade with other platforms like Etsy, there are some key differences, such as:
Parameters | Amazon | Etsy |
Fee Structures | Amazon Handmade’s fees are more straightforward than Etsy’s, which charges both a listing fee and a transaction fee. | You also pay for ads on Etsy, whereas Amazon Handmade has no listing fees but a referral fee on sales. |
Exposure | Amazon Handmade benefits from Amazon's global customer base, whereas Etsy is a more niche platform. | Etsy may have a more targeted audience for handmade goods, but Amazon offers significantly broader exposure. |
Product listings | You can list as many items as you like. There are no listing costs, and listings are always active. Setting up a listing might be challenging, but UPC is not necessary. | You can list as many items as you like. $0.20 listing charge per item. Listings must be renewed every four months. It has a user-friendly interface. No UPC is necessary. |
Categories | 14 categories. | More than 160 categories to list in. |
Payments | Until the order is reported as shipped, funds are not accessible. Payment is made every two weeks. | You can access the funds as soon as the transaction is finished. You can ask for daily payouts. |
Artisan approval | The products must be made by you or a team of at most 20 individuals. | You can set up your account quickly and simply. There is no approval procedure, and you are permitted to collaborate with "production partners." |
Custom storefront | Available | Available |
Many successful artisans sell on both Etsy and Amazon Handmade to maximize their visibility. Each platform has unique strengths, so diversifying your sales channels can help increase sales.
Summing Up
Selling on Amazon Handmade offers artisans an excellent opportunity to reach a global audience without the burden of monthly fees. However, the costs associated with Amazon Handmade fees, including the 15% referral fee and optional FBA fees, must be factored into your pricing strategy. Success on this platform requires not only high-quality products but also strategic planning, optimization, and engagement with the wider Amazon Handmade community.
Ultimately, exploring multiple platforms like Amazon Handmade and Etsy can help you maximize your exposure and sales potential. With the right approach, Amazon Handmade can be a powerful tool in growing your handmade business.
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FAQs
Q1. How do I ship my handmade products?
Ans- Shipping on Amazon Handmade is managed through the seller’s account, using Amazon's shipping services or any carrier of your choice. You will need to handle packaging and shipping your products to customers.
Q2. How do I price my products on Amazon Handmade?
Ans: You set the price for your products based on material costs, production time, and other factors. Amazon Handmade suggests keeping pricing competitive with similar products while ensuring you cover your costs and make a profit.
Q3. Can I customize or personalize my products for customers?
Ans- Yes! Amazon Handmade allows sellers to offer personalized or customized items. You can set up product options like engravings, monograms, or custom colors.
Q4. How do I handle customer returns or complaints?
Ans- As a seller, you are responsible for handling returns according to Amazon’s return policy. If a customer files a complaint, you should resolve it promptly to maintain positive feedback and ratings.
Q5. Can I sell both on Amazon Handmade and regular Amazon Marketplace?
Ans- Yes, you can sell on both platforms, but you must create separate accounts for each. Your handmade products must meet the criteria for handcrafted items, while your regular marketplace items can be mass-produced.
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