It’s pretty amazing how the demand for handmade goods has skyrocketed in the past few years, isn’t it? Just a few years ago, Etsy was really the only game in town if you wanted to find handmade goods, but nowadays, there’s a growing variety of online marketplaces. I’m addicted to these sites – I love knowing that I can find gorgeous goods handmade by an artist, rather than mass produced. I not only buy for myself – I’ve also found some of the best gifts I’ve ever given on a few of these sites. Even better, some of the sites are now offering curated collections by tastemakers, so if you’re short on time to browse, you can rely on the discerning taste of your favorite blogger or designer. Take a peek and get to know the new kids on the block in modern maker marketplace.
Great.ly
I adore Great.ly. They’ve made the critical connection between makers and tastemakers and created a beautiful, easy to use site that offers a fantastic selection of handmade goods. Founder and CEO Sarah Bryden-Brown says, ”Tastemakers are a powerful force online, motivating the purchasing habits of millions of people worldwide daily, yet no one has made them central to an online shopping site where makers go to sell their fabulous products. GREAT.LY is an ecommerce platform that will leverage the audiences of tastemakers to drive sales for the maker economy. It is a simple WIN-WIN situation.” I’m a little biased, because I love the curated collections, but when I need a great gift in a pinch, I almost always turn to Great.ly.
Brika
I was introduced to Brika a few years ago when I heard co-founder Kena Paranjape speak in New York City at Alt Summit. I was immediately drawn to Brika’s focus on the beauty of modern craft. The site shines a bright spotlight on makers, both through their daily featured maker and through telling the original and inspiring stories of the makers. Brika also collaborates with makers to offer exclusive collections. And it doesn’t hurt that the site is bright, fresh, beautiful and easy to use.
American Made Market by Martha Stewart
You know you’ve been anointed as a legit MAKER when Martha Stewart herself taps you on the head. According to the site, “American Made spotlights the maker, supports the local, and celebrates the handmade. The program is made up of people and communities that have turned their passion for quality craftsmanship and well-designed goods into a way of life.” Each year, makers in the fields of crafts, design, food, and style are chosen to be honored by Martha and her team, as well as one audience choice winner in each category. Click on the “Shop” tab to browse over 2,300 handcrafted, artisanal products.
Makers Market
Founder Suzy Ekman grew up alongside her father in his workshop, traveling through the countryside discovering potters, blacksmiths, textile weavers, and furniture makers. On this foundation, Makers Market was built. The site features products proudly made in America by real people, and the site tells the stories of each maker. Each item is hip, modern, and carefully selected. And I could buy one of just about everything.
Hatch
The beauty of Hatch is the site’s focus on made-to-order handcrafted goods, which allows you as the consumer to customize or personalize each and every item offered. All of the goods on the site are made by a community of designers and makers, and most items tend to be a little more on the rustic, handcrafted style. The ability to custom order the PERFECT gift for a loved one on this site cannot be overstated, and direct communication with the maker is a pretty phenomenal way to learn about who produced the item you plan to purchase.
Custom Made
Another site focusing on customizable handcrafted goods is Custom Made. The best part of this site is you can put out a request for proposal, so to speak. You describe what you want, makers send you a proposal with pricing quotes, and you choose which proposal you like best. Start from scratch and get the exact thing you want, or browse their catalog of handcrafted goods.
Aftcra
Aftcra is a straightforward online marketplace where you can buy and sell American handmade products. It’s clean, simple, and has a more humble, casual feel. For those interested in selling handmade goods, Aftcra doesn’t charge a listing fee – only a transaction fee once an item is purchased. This means sellers can list as many items as they’d like without paying a chunk of change up front. This maker-friendly policy illustrates Aftcra’s commitment to makers.
DaWanda
Headquartered in Germany, DaWanda is an online marketplace where you can buy unique, customized and handmade products. Sellers set up shops in a system similar to Etsy, so each shop has it’s own feel and vibe. Overall, the goods have a more modern, Scandinavian feel, with lots of clean lines, and modern, geometric prints.
Zibbet
Zibbet is a marketplace “powered by a global community of independent artists, crafters and vintage collectors”, and they are rigorous about ensuring each item is truly handcrafted and not manufactured. Boasting a roster of over 48,000 independent creative sellers, the selection is impressive, though their featured collections and featured sellers make it easier to navigate. Zibbet also sells vintage and crafting supplies, so there’s a little something for everyone.
Etsy
You just can’t create a list of the best online marketplaces for handcrafted goods and not include Etsy. Turning 10 years old this month, Etsy has evolved to include featured trending items, as well as Community Tastemakers, where brands and bloggers (think Apartment Therapy, Design Milk, West Elm, Brit + Co., Babble, Lucky Magazine, and Martha Stewart Weddings) curate a collection of their top picks.
