Comparing and contrasting these two platforms that allow artisans to sell their products
Firstly, Etsy and Redbubble are two very different platforms, which also have some similarities. The two platforms allow artisans to sell their products. Etsy is more of an online marketplace, while Redbubble focuses on dealing with the customer.
It truly depends on your commitment and product. If you are happy to deal with customers and create your products, Etsy is for you. If you want to upload designs and profit, then Redbubble is probably the better option. We’ve broken down the similarities and differences for you below.
What is Etsy?
Etsy
Etsy is an online marketplace connecting buyers and sellers. It’s primarily used for selling unique items, such as handmade and vintage arts and crafts.
Etsy in bullets
- To sell on Etsy, you must have an account to open your storefront
- Etsy charges £0.20 per listing; if the item does not sell within four months, you’ll have to re-renew the listing. If the listing has sold in 4 months, it will automatically renew
- The £0.20 charge per listing often deters other sellers if they are mass producing products, so you’ll find this marketplace is less saturated, and consumers will be able to find your products easier.
- As Etsy focuses on handmade and unique items, you can expect less competition, as there are a greater variety of products.
- As you deal with customer service, you may also gain personal commissions for your products, leading to greater profits!
- 5% transaction fee when an item sells, you pay for this upfront
- You’ll have to find your own print on demand supplier.
- Here’s some on print demand suppliers we recommend: Gelato | Printful | SPOD
- Every listing on Etsy requires different tags, photographs and linking it to your Etsy Shop.
What is Redbubble?
Redbubble
Redbubble is a Print-On-Demand (POD) online marketplace. Independent designers can upload their artwork and print it onto Redbubble’s products when a customer buys a product, Redbubble prints and ships directly to the customer.
Redbubble in Bullets
- You must be 16 or older.
- To create a Redbubble account, it’s free, with no surprise fees
- To upload designs, it’s free, so you can upload as many designs as you like
- When you upload, check that your artwork does not infringe on others content
- Profit is paid to your bank account on the 15th of every month
- To receive a payout, your earnings must be over the minimum threshold of £20
- Commissions are smaller, as Redbubble automatically deducts (shipping, Redbubble’s fee, Cost of manufacture, VAT & discounts)
- You can create fan art but need permission to do so.
- Anyone can sign up and start uploading designs, so the market can be saturated, and it can be challenging for your products to be found.
- There are a limited number of products which you can put your designs onto
- You can upload multiple listings at once
HOT TIP #2 Find an unsaturated niche on Redbubble. Type in some keyword searches to target your customers more effectively. It will allow your products to stand out on the saturated Redbubble market.
The difference between Etsy & Redbubble
- Redbubble is a ‘set and go’ approach. Set your margins and let Redbubble sort out the rest. You may see lower margins, but Redbubble handles shipping and dealing with the consumer. You get to do what you love, create without the added fuss.
- Advertising on Etsy means you must deal with consumer service and shipping! It costs more upfront, but you will be able to gain more profits in the long run!
- Etsy has a free app where you can manage your sales and business on the go!
Similarities between Etsy & Redbubble
You must enter keywords that target your desired audience. So it requires the admin to find your ideal consumer audience!
HOT TIP #3 It may be worth using Redbubble to determine which products sell well first and then transfer them to Etsy to gain more profit per sale.
Why don’t you also consider.. Putting your Roqqett link in your bio, so people can donate to your shop if they wish to! This allows people to send money directly to your bank account if they fancy supporting independent businesses like yours. You may be amazed of what you get from simply inserting a link!
Download Roqqett here
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