Price your time, not just materials
Makers often charge for the thread and forget the hours. Shopify's craft guide puts it simply. Unit cost is materials, plus your hours times an hourly rate, plus a share of overheads. Overheads are costs like tools, rent, software and website fees. Your retail price is that unit cost plus the profit you want. If a price feels too high, make the piece faster or simpler, rather than working for free. Keep a notebook of how long each design really takes, and update your prices as you speed up.
Etsy for buyers abroad
Etsy is a global marketplace for items people make, design, handpick or source. Its India sell page lists a ₹19 listing fee, and each listing stays up for four months or until it sells. When an item sells, Etsy takes a 6.5% transaction fee plus a payment processing fee. Sales from Etsy's offsite ads carry an extra fee. Etsy suits work that travels well and appeals to buyers outside India. Shipping abroad adds cost and paperwork, so price it in.
Amazon Karigar for Indian shoppers
Amazon Karigar is Amazon India's programme for handcrafted products. Amazon says it offers a reduced referral fee of 8% or less, depending on the category. It also offers training, help with photos and listings, and an account manager for the first nine weeks after launch. It is open to artisans, weavers, cooperatives and similar groups who join as new sellers. You must prove your work is genuinely handmade, and Amazon asks for GST, PAN and bank details.
Three routes side by side
| Route | Who you reach | What you give up |
|---|---|---|
| Etsy | Buyers worldwide browsing handmade goods | Listing, transaction and processing fees, and the customer relationship |
| Amazon Karigar | Amazon shoppers across India | A referral fee on each sale, and control of the page |
| Your own store | The buyers you bring yourself | Marketplace reach - you must find your own traffic |
Photos and descriptions
Handmade work sells on detail. Shoot in daylight on a plain background, and show scale with a hand or a common object. Add close-ups of the texture, the stitching or the glaze. Say how long each piece takes to make and what it is made from. Small differences are part of handmade, so tell buyers to expect them. A line about who made the piece, and where, gives buyers a reason to pay for craft. Keep it short and true.
Packing fragile work
Pottery, glass and framed art need extra care. Wrap each piece in bubble wrap, then pack it in a box with filler on every side. Mark the box as fragile, but do not count on that alone. Send a test parcel to a friend first. For made-to-order pieces, show a realistic dispatch time on the product page. A buyer who knows a piece takes time to make will happily wait. One who expected it tomorrow will ask for a refund.
Using both
You do not have to pick only one. A marketplace helps new buyers find you. Your own store is where repeat buyers come back, with no marketplace between you. Add a card to every parcel with your store link. On The Storemate you can take UPI, cards and COD, send GST-correct invoices and run every order from one admin. Let the marketplace bring first orders and your store keep the buyers.