Walmart Embraces Amazon MCF: A New Era of Cross-Platform Fulfillment for eCommerce
Walmart Embraces Amazon MCF: A New Era of Cross-Platform Fulfillment for eCommerce
Dreaming of turning your craftsmanship into a thriving business? Look no further! Amazon Handmade offers a unique opportunity for artists and crafters like you to sell handmade items on Amazon and connect with a massive audience of potential customers. This marketplace isn’t just about selling products, it’s about sharing your story and the heart behind your craft.
This blog will be your guide to navigating the exciting world of Amazon Handmade. We’ll cover everything from setting up your Amazon Handmade account to the nitty-gritty of how to sell handmade items on Amazon. We’ll explore the pros and cons of Amazon Handmade compared to Etsy, and what products to sell on Amazon Handmade.
Let’s discuss each topic in detail so you can decide if Amazon Handmade is the right fit for you.
Why choose Amazon Handmade?
Amazon, known for being customer-centric, also supports its sellers, irrespective of their business type. Amazon Handmade is an artisan-only seller community that is a destination for all types of handcrafted products to experience uniformity in retail and growth within all online business stores.
Moreover, unlike regular Amazon sellers, if you are an artisan, you do not have to consider UPC codes while selling under the handmade category. Handmade crafters who start their online selling journey with Amazon, are exempted from a monthly fee as well. That means Amazon waives the Professional Selling Plan fee of $39.99 per month for all Handmade-approved applicants (a savings of $480 per year!). It also has a set of policies mandatory for all artisans to follow.
How to sell on Amazon Handmade? Step-by-step Guide!
Amazon Handmade Account
NOTE: To take advantage of Amazon Handmade’s benefits, you’ll need to first create an approved Amazon Seller Central account. This will then allow you to apply to join the Handmade program.
Handcrafted products
Have you signed up and are ready to showcase your talent? Head over to the “Are you a maker?” section on the Amazon Handmade page. There, you’ll provide details about your business, product categories, and production process, and upload product visuals. The application review by Amazon typically takes 2 or more business days.
List products to retail easily
Once your application is approved, congratulations! You’re officially a Handmade seller, with an Amazon Handmade Account. If you’re still wondering, how to sell handmade items on Amazon, then the seller portal will guide you through creating your store and listing your products. In case you are seeking a third-party solution, consider CedCommerce Amazon Channel to effortlessly list products in bulk, optimize your listings, and much more!
Stand out from the crowd: Remember, Amazon Handmade is a competitive marketplace. To maximize your chances of being discovered, optimize your listings with effective SEO (Search Engine Optimization).
This means incorporating relevant keywords throughout your product descriptions, tags, and even meta details. Consider researching popular keywords related to your products to attract potential customers as a part of your “how to sell on Amazon Handmade” strategy.
Fulfillment plan
Before you start selling, it’s important to consider your fulfillment plan, which is how you’ll get your products to customers. Amazon Handmade offers two main options:
- Fulfillment by Merchant (FBM): You’ll handle packaging, shipping, and customer service for your orders. This gives you more control over the fulfillment process but requires more upfront effort. Consider FBM if you have unique packaging or prefer a hands-on approach.
- Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA): Amazon stores, picks, packs, ships, and provides customer service for your orders. This frees you up to focus on creating and listing products. FBA also allows you to offer Prime shipping, which can boost your sales. However, there are additional fees associated with FBA.
After considering some crucial factors like accurate calculation of production time, goods’ weights, and categories, with total variables calculated to know the shipping charges. Once done, you can easily start with Amazon Handmade and start selling online!
What items to sell on Amazon Handmade?
As of now, Amazon Handmade only allows these 14 product categories to be sold online:
- Artwork
- Accessories
- Beauty and personal care
- Baby Clothing
- Home shoes
- Handbags
- Outdoor and Home care kitchen
- Dining
- Jewelry
- Watches
- Sporting Goods
- Pet Supplies
- Toys & Games
- Stationery
- Party Supplies
With a creative product idea and an Amazon Handmade account set up, the next question is: What items to sell on Amazon Handmade? While the possibilities are vast, here are some insights to help you pick winning products:
1. Capitalize on Your Expertise:
Play to your strengths: What are you passionate about creating? Focus on products where your unique skills truly shine.
Identify your niche: Is there a specific need or trend within your craft that you can cater to? Finding a niche allows you to stand out from the crowd.
2. Consider Market Demand:
Research trending products: Look for keywords related to your craft and see what’s popular on Amazon Handmade and other online marketplaces.
Think seasonally: Certain products do well during specific times of the year. For example, personalized keychains might be a hit around the holidays, while hand-painted beach towels could be perfect summer items.
Focus on high-quality, durable materials: Handmade products are valued for their craftsmanship. Use high-quality materials that ensure your creations last and leave a positive impression on buyers.
Here are some specific product ideas to spark your creativity:
- Personalized accessories: Engraved jewelry, monogrammed wallets, or hand-painted phone cases.
- Home decor with a touch of soul: Handmade throw pillows, unique wall art, or decorative ceramics.
- Sustainable and eco-friendly products: Reusable beeswax wraps, woven baskets made from recycled materials, or natural soy candles.
- Toys and games with a handmade charm: Wooden puzzles, hand-stitched stuffed animals, or educational games crafted from natural materials.
This is just a starting point in your journey of selling on Amazon handmade! Moving forward, the key is to find products that combine your passion and skills with current market trends. By focusing on quality, creativity, and a unique selling point, you’ll be well on your way to success on Amazon Handmade.
Sell on Amazon Handmade or Etsy: Choosing the Right Marketplace for Your Handmade Business
Every business thrives by finding its niche and understanding its audience. The same applies to choosing the right marketplace for selling your handmade products. If you are contemplating selling handmade items on Amazon or Etsy, here’s a breakdown of their pros and cons to help you make an informed decision:
Etsy:
Pros:
- Larger audience: Etsy boasts a well-established community of shoppers seeking unique, handcrafted items at reasonable prices.
- Wider product range: With over 160 product categories, Etsy offers more flexibility for sellers with diverse crafting skills.
- Greater creative control: Etsy allows for more customization of product listings and branding.
Cons:
- Listing fees: Etsy charges listing fees that can add up over time, especially for high-volume sellers.
- Limited product customization: While offering more freedom than Amazon Handmade, Etsy still imposes some restrictions on product customization.
- Listing renewal: You need to renew your Etsy listings every 4 months, requiring ongoing maintenance.
Amazon Handmade:
Pros:
- Global reach: Tap into Amazon’s massive customer base, potentially reaching buyers worldwide.
- No listing fees: Amazon Handmade doesn’t charge listing fees, making it a cost-effective option.
- Never-expiring listings: Once your product is approved, your listing remains active on Amazon Handmade.
Cons:
- Fewer product categories: Amazon Handmade currently limits sellers to 14 product categories.
- Less creative control: Standardized listing formats offer less opportunity for individual branding compared to Etsy.
- Higher commission fees: Amazon Handmade charges a higher commission fee per sale compared to Etsy’s listing fees.
Sell on Amazon Handmade or Etsy?
The Verdict: The best platform for you depends on your specific goals and products.
- Choose Etsy if:
- You have a diverse product range that falls outside Amazon Handmade’s categories.
- You prioritize creative control over your listings and branding.
- You’re comfortable with ongoing listing renewal fees.
- Choose Amazon Handmade if:
- You specialize in products that fit within their 14 categories.
- You want to tap into Amazon’s established customer base.
- You prioritize cost-effectiveness and don’t mind higher commission fees.
Multi-Channel Selling: A Potential Strategy
Here’s where things get interesting as you don’t have to limit yourself to just one marketplace! Consider leveraging the strengths of both marketplaces with an Amazon Handmade Seller app. This is where third-party solutions like CedCommerce Integration come in. Such apps simplify the process of managing listings and inventory across multiple platforms.
You can leverage Etsy’s wider audience reach and broader product categories to get discovered, while using Amazon Handmade to capture Amazon’s loyal customer base with an Amazon handmade seller app like CedCommerce.
Furthermore, building a successful online presence often involves a multi-pronged approach.
However, keep this in mind:
While Amazon Handmade offers free listings and never-expiring listings, it’s important to factor in their higher commission fees per sale. Etsy’s listing fees might seem like an upfront cost, but for high-volume sellers, they could be less expensive than Amazon Handmade’s commission structure in the long run.
Ultimately, the best way to decide is to experiment and see which platform drives more sales and aligns better with your overall business strategy.
Challenges of Managing Multiple Channels and the Solution
Although your Amazon Handmade Account offers a fantastic platform for selling your creations, managing inventory and listings across multiple channels like Shopify can be tricky. Here are some common challenges you might face:
- Slow inventory sync: Keeping stock levels updated across stores can be time-consuming and error-prone if done manually. This can lead to overselling and frustrated customers.
- Ineffective data transfer: Delays in syncing order status, prices, product information, and current stock can disrupt your workflow and cause missed sales opportunities.
- Listing synchronization issues: Listing delays between Amazon Handmade and Shopify can prevent customers from placing orders, impacting your bottom line.
Solution: Streamline Your Workflow with CedCommerce Amazon Channel
Luckily, the good news is, you don’t have to become a juggling expert! Third-party integration apps like Amazon by CedCommerce can simplify your life by:
- Managing Shopify listings, orders & inventory with 110% real-time marketplace sync
- Providing access to an easy-to-use interface to bulk import, edit, and create listings
- Helping you leverage streamlined order management with FBA & FBM Support
- Offering Managed Services such as Listing Optimization and Amazon Advertising
- Enabling you to sell in 22+ Amazon-covered countries with Multi-Account & Multi-Currency Support
- Offering 24*7 dedicated expert support for seamless business operations
Additionally, if you have further questions on Amazon Handmade or selling on Amazon, drop a comment below and we’ll get back to you, right away!
Check these Shopify sellers who could focus more on making their products, aided by CedCommerce’s well-known support system:
Discover how an Arts business fostered better Amazon retail strategies from Shopify, via CedCommerce
Helping businesses like Artiphany, win online: Amazon by CedCommerce app
How JoePaul’s Crafts grew sales on Amazon, eBay and Etsy, with CedCommerce
Click on these links to learn more about selling online on Amazon:
Scaling eCommerce: CedCommerce Launches Amazon Integration for Shopify Merchants
Guide to Shopify’s Amazon Sales Channel app by CedCommerce
Amazon By CedCommerce App Gets Featured As Shopify Spotlight
Efficient Native Shopify App Alternative: Amazon by CedCommerce
