Choosing the right platform to sell your handmade goods or unique creations can feel overwhelming. With so many options available, it’s easy to get lost in the features and pricing. This is where a direct comparison becomes invaluable.
In 2016, two major players stood out for artists and small businesses: Etsy and Big Cartel. Both offered distinct advantages for creators looking to establish an online presence and connect with buyers.
Whether you’re just starting out or looking to switch platforms, understanding the nuances between Etsy and Big Cartel is crucial for maximizing your sales and brand growth. Let’s dive into what each platform offered back in 2016 and how they stacked up.
Specs at a Glance
| Feature | Etsy | Big Cartel 2016 |
|---|---|---|
| Ease of Use | Very easy for buyers and sellers. | Intuitive and straightforward for artists. |
| Customization | Limited shop customization. | More design freedom for shopfronts. |
| Target Audience | Broad, for handmade, vintage, and craft supplies. | Primarily for artists and makers. |
| Traffic | Massive built-in audience. | Relies more on driving own traffic. |
| Fees | Listing and transaction fees. | Monthly subscription tiers. |
| Marketing Tools | Integrated advertising options. | Basic tools, requires external efforts. |
| Community | Large and active seller community. | Smaller, focused community. |
| Product Focus | Diverse range, from art to industrial supplies. | Focus on unique, artistic, and handmade goods. |
| Integrations | Integrates with various payment and shipping services. | Basic integrations, fewer options. |
| Scalability | Handles large volumes of sales. | Designed for smaller to medium-sized businesses. |
| Mobile Experience | Robust mobile app for buyers and sellers. | Mobile-friendly website, less app-centric. |
| Analytics | Provides basic sales and traffic insights. | Offers some shop performance data. |
Feature-by-Feature Breakdown
Listing Fees
- Etsy: Etsy charges a $0.20 listing fee per item, which lasts for four months or until the item is sold. There’s also a 6.5% transaction fee on the total sale price, including shipping. This can add up for sellers with many items or high sales volume, but it’s straightforward.
- Big Cartel 2016: Big Cartel’s free plan allows you to list up to 5 products. Paid plans offer more product listings, starting at $9.99/month for 25 products and going up to $49.99/month for unlimited products. This model is more predictable for those who want to scale, with no per-listing fees.
- Winner: Big Cartel 2016
Transaction Fees
- Etsy: Etsy’s 6.5% transaction fee is applied to the total sale price, including shipping. This can be a significant cost for sellers, especially those with lower-priced items or high shipping costs. However, it’s a standard e-commerce practice.
- Big Cartel 2016: Big Cartel does not charge any transaction fees on sales, regardless of the plan you’re on. This is a major advantage for sellers looking to maximize their profit margins. The only fees are the monthly subscription costs for paid plans.
- Winner: Big Cartel 2016
Customization & Branding
- Etsy: Etsy offers limited customization options for your shop’s appearance. You can add a banner, profile picture, and shop sections, but the core layout is dictated by Etsy. This provides a consistent user experience but restricts individual branding.
- Big Cartel 2016: Big Cartel excels in customization, offering themes that can be extensively modified through HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. This allows artists and creators to build a unique online storefront that truly reflects their brand identity. The platform is designed for creative control.
- Winner: Big Cartel 2016
Ease of Use
- Etsy: Etsy is known for its user-friendly interface, making it easy for beginners to set up a shop and start selling quickly. The platform guides you through the listing process, and managing orders is generally straightforward. It’s designed for mass adoption.
- Big Cartel 2016: While Big Cartel is relatively easy to navigate, achieving deep customization might require some technical knowledge. However, for basic setup and product management, it’s quite intuitive. It strikes a good balance between simplicity and creative freedom.
- Winner: Etsy
Target Audience
- Etsy: Etsy primarily targets handmade, vintage, and craft supplies. It attracts a broad audience of buyers looking for unique and artisanal products, as well as sellers who fit this niche. It’s a marketplace with built-in traffic.
- Big Cartel 2016: Big Cartel is geared towards artists, designers, makers, and independent businesses looking for a simple, affordable way to sell their work online. It’s ideal for those who want to build their own brand and have more control over their online presence.
- Winner: Big Cartel 2016
Marketing & Discovery
- Etsy: Etsy has a massive built-in audience, offering excellent discoverability through its search engine and curated collections. This can be a huge advantage for new sellers looking to gain traction. However, competition is also very high.
- Big Cartel 2016: Big Cartel relies more on sellers to drive their own traffic through social media, email marketing, and other external channels. While it doesn’t have the same built-in discovery as Etsy, it gives sellers more control over their marketing efforts and brand building.
- Winner: Etsy
Payment Processing
- Etsy: Etsy Payments is integrated directly into the platform, supporting various payment methods like credit cards, PayPal, and Apple Pay. This simplifies the checkout process for buyers and streamlines payment management for sellers.
- Big Cartel 2016: Big Cartel integrates with Stripe and PayPal for payment processing. This provides flexibility for sellers to choose their preferred payment gateway and offers buyers familiar and secure payment options.
- Winner: Tie
Scalability & Growth
- Etsy: Etsy is well-suited for sellers who want to start small and grow within an established marketplace. The tiered fee structure and built-in traffic can support significant growth. However, reliance on Etsy’s platform can be a limiting factor for ultimate brand ownership.
- Big Cartel 2016: Big Cartel is designed for independent brands looking to scale their business with a dedicated website. Its tiered plans accommodate growth in product listings and sales, and the ability to fully customize the store allows for a more professional and scalable brand presence.
- Winner: Big Cartel 2016
Winner by Category
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Built-in Audience | Etsy |
| Design Customization | Big Cartel 2016 |
| Ease of Use (Beginner) | Etsy |
| Artist-Focused Features | Big Cartel 2016 |
| Traffic Generation | Etsy |
| Brand Identity Control | Big Cartel 2016 |
| Product Variety | Etsy |
| Simplicity for Small Creators | Big Cartel 2016 |
What They Have in Common
- E-Commerce Platforms: Both Etsy and Big Cartel provide platforms for individuals and small businesses to sell products online. They offer the core functionalities needed to set up an online store.
- Focus on Niche Markets: While Etsy is broader, both platforms tend to attract sellers offering unique, handmade, vintage, or artistic items, differentiating them from general e-commerce giants.
- Simplified Setup: Both aim to make it relatively easy for creators to get their shops up and running without requiring extensive technical knowledge.
- Direct-to-Consumer Sales: Sellers on both platforms are encouraged to build their brand and connect directly with their customer base.
- Visual Merchandising: Both platforms emphasize the importance of good product photography and visual presentation to attract buyers.
Etsy Vs Big Cartel 2016 Buying Guide
Understanding Your Needs
Before diving into comparisons, clearly define what you need from an e-commerce platform. Are you a hobbyist looking for a simple way to sell a few handmade items, or are you a growing business aiming for scalability and advanced features? Consider your budget, technical expertise, and the types of products you’ll be selling. This foundational step will guide your decision-making process significantly. (See Also: Demeyere 5 Plus Vs Atlantis )
Etsy: The Marketplace Advantage
Etsy excels as a marketplace, offering immediate access to a vast, pre-existing customer base actively searching for handmade, vintage, and craft supplies. Its user-friendly interface makes it easy for beginners to set up shop quickly. While fees can add up, the discoverability factor is a major draw for many sellers, especially those just starting out or looking to supplement their income with unique creations.
Big Cartel: Creator-Focused Control
Big Cartel is tailor-made for artists, makers, and independent creators who want a more branded and controlled online store. It offers a clean, customizable storefront and focuses on simplicity, making it ideal for selling limited runs of products or a curated collection. The pricing structure, particularly the free plan for limited listings, is very attractive for those on a tight budget.
Key Differentiators: Fees, Customization, and Audience
The primary difference lies in their core function. Etsy is a marketplace where you compete for attention within a larger ecosystem, incurring listing and transaction fees. Big Cartel provides a standalone website, offering greater design freedom and a more intimate customer experience, with pricing based on the number of products you list. Consider which model best aligns with your brand identity and sales goals. (See Also: Nikon 50 1 8 Vs 1 4 )
Who Should Buy What?
Buy Etsy If…
- You want access to a massive, built-in audience of buyers actively searching for unique items.
- You are selling a wide variety of handmade goods, vintage items, or craft supplies and want to tap into a broad market.
- You are looking for an easy-to-use platform with integrated marketing and advertising options to boost visibility.
- You don’t mind paying listing and transaction fees in exchange for a marketplace with high traffic.
Buy Big Cartel 2016 If…
- You are an artist, maker, or small brand looking for a dedicated platform to showcase and sell your creative products.
- You prioritize design freedom and want more control over the look and feel of your online shopfront.
- You are comfortable driving your own traffic through social media, your website, or other marketing channels.
- You prefer a subscription-based model with clear pricing tiers and are focused on building a distinct brand identity.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the main costs associated with each platform?
Etsy has listing fees (currently $0.20 per item, renewed every four months or upon sale) and transaction fees (a percentage of the total sale price, including shipping and gift wrapping). Big Cartel offers a free plan for up to five products. Paid plans unlock more product listings and features, with pricing tiers based on the number of products and advanced options like custom domains and discount codes.
Which platform is better for beginners?
For absolute beginners who want the easiest path to selling and reaching an audience immediately, Etsy often has a lower barrier to entry. Its marketplace structure means customers are already there. Big Cartel is also beginner-friendly in terms of setup, but building an audience requires more proactive marketing efforts as it’s a standalone store.
Can I customize my store’s appearance on both platforms?
Etsy offers some customization options for your shop banner, logo, and shop sections, but the overall layout and design are dictated by the platform. Big Cartel provides significantly more design freedom. You can choose from various themes and customize the HTML, CSS, and JavaScript of your store, allowing for a truly unique brand presentation. (See Also: Samsung Pro Vs Evo 850 )
Which platform is best for selling digital products?
Both platforms support the sale of digital products. Etsy has specific categories for digital downloads, and buyers can download files directly after purchase. Big Cartel also allows for digital product sales; you upload the files, and customers receive a download link after their order is confirmed. The choice often comes down to the overall store experience you want to offer.
What if I want to sell a large inventory of products?
Etsy is generally better suited for sellers with a large and diverse inventory due to its marketplace nature and built-in search functionality. While Big Cartel plans can accommodate more products, its strength lies in curated collections rather than vast catalogs. For very large inventories, you might eventually outgrow Big Cartel’s listing limits or find managing a massive catalog there less efficient than on a marketplace.
Final Verdict
For 2016, Etsy offers unparalleled discoverability for handmade and vintage items, making it ideal for beginners and those seeking immediate customer access. Big Cartel shines for artists and creators prioritizing brand control and a unique storefront, especially with its attractive free tier for limited product runs. The choice hinges on whether you value marketplace reach or independent branding.
Winner: Etsy