Selling art online has become an increasingly popular way for artists and creators to make money without holding physical inventory. Two popular platforms for doing so are Etsy and Redbubble.
Each platform offers unique opportunities for sellers, and selecting one will depend on your level of commitment and the type of product or service that you plan on selling.
Pricing
As an artist or entrepreneur, you are likely familiar with the various platforms on which to sell your art or products. As such, the question remains as to which marketplace best matches your goals and creative vision; ultimately this depends on the nature of your work as well as any responsibilities it involves.
Redbubble is an online print-on-demand marketplace that gives artists a convenient and hands-off way to sell their designs for profit. Their pre-selected product catalog makes launching and running shops straightforward while taking care of production, shipping and customer service – enabling sellers to focus on creating strong designs and brand identities without worry over logistical concerns.
Redbubble’s convenience comes at a cost, however: Redbubble takes a percentage of each sale – potentially as high as 20%, which may put off potential buyers. Furthermore, there is a minimum earnings threshold before sellers receive payouts from Redbubble.
Etsy, on the other hand, is an online marketplace connecting buyers and sellers of handmade goods. Through personalized experiences and close interactions with its customers, Etsy has built up an engaged community and fostered an environment in which creativity flourishes – although this comes with its own challenges such as steep fees and intense competition.
Which platform you select depends upon your commitment, type of art produced and price range for goods sold.
Etsy can provide an ideal platform for anyone ready to dedicate significant amounts of time in developing an e-commerce presence online. While its tier system can be challenging for new sellers, you will still have complete control over how you brand and display products on Etsy.
Etsy provides the flexibility of tailoring pricing according to your desired profit margins, for instance if you sell a $100 art print on Etsy you could set a 15% or 20% markup margin based on its retail price, taking into account production, shipping, payment processing costs.
Customization
Redbubble and Etsy both allow artists to sell their designs on various products ranging from apparel to home decor, with each platform providing sellers with different customization options for sellers. Redbubble provides pre-selected print-on-demand items while Etsy provides more comprehensive marketplace allowing artisans and craftspeople to offer customized items directly for sale by buyers.
Both platforms provide artists and sellers with tools that enable them to optimize their listings, manage sales, improve customer service, streamline workflows and build sustainable businesses. Etsy features tools for inventory control and order fulfillment processes while Redbubble provides SEO and marketing tools to promote products more widely.
Redbubble provides many advantages, yet many users remain dissatisfied with its shortcomings in terms of branding and shop customization, market saturation, competition issues, copying designs illegally and potential intellectual property theft. Furthermore, its tiered system can stifle growth for new sellers.
Etsy provides a more robust online marketplace, where artisans can create and sell handmade or vintage goods directly. Its comprehensive selection makes Etsy an appealing platform to showcase creative talent while connecting with like-minded individuals.
Redbubble may provide a low-effort, passive income stream without production and shipping hassle, while Etsy could help build an enduring brand and business.
Shipping
Redbubble allows artists to focus on creating their art while the platform takes care of production and shipping – however, sellers should expect that profit will be lower due to listing fees and transaction fees being charged by Redbubble that could significantly diminish your final selling price.
Etsy provides a more hands-on selling process compared to Redbubble, although this requires additional up-front work and may provide you with greater control of your sales and marketing strategies. Etsy’s large customer base and sophisticated search engine help reach wider audiences; additionally, Etsy allows sellers to set their own margins while selling apparel, accessories and home decor products.
Both platforms provide artists with various printing options to customize products for customers. Artists can select between various print formats – t-shirts, posters or other – depending on the nature of their product, while both platforms also provide multiple shipping methods so customers receive their orders quickly and conveniently.
Both platforms provide sellers with access to an expansive selection of products, and provide various services designed to assist their sellers, such as marketing and SEO tools, analytics/reporting tools, inventory management systems and inventory control tools. These tools enable sellers to optimize their listings for search engines while increasing visibility and streamlining the sales process.
Redbubble provides free domestic shipping on all orders while Etsy charges a flat fee for international shipments, as well as offering express and priority options.
Overall, Redbubble and Etsy are excellent platforms for selling your art online. Each has a global community of artists that connect you with millions of customers worldwide; yet each has their own set of advantages and disadvantages; to determine which platform would best meet your goals and creative aspirations, take some time to carefully consider your personal circumstances and goals before making your choice.
Customer Service
Redbubble provides an easier, less hands-on option for selling on Redbubble; they take care of customer service inquiries, printing and shipping of orders – perfect for artists looking to focus solely on creating without dealing directly with customers.
Etsy requires more commitment from sellers, with greater involvement required from them in managing inventory and marketing tools as well as third-party integrations allowing easier optimization for search engines and social media campaigns. Etsy’s platform also supports third-party integrations to further facilitate seller management.
Both platforms provide a wide array of products for sale, with Redbubble offering more in the way of print-on-demand merchandise and Etsy offering handmade and vintage goods. Both platforms have an international customer base as well as various promotional tools designed to help artists promote their works.
Redbubble and Etsy both offer their own set of advantages and disadvantages, making each platform suitable for certain sellers. Redbubble may be suitable for designers and illustrators seeking an easy way to monetize their artwork; additionally it features a user-friendly interface as well as support for multiple languages.
Redbubble pays artists a base price for each design they sell, which is displayed to buyers when adding it to their cart. This ensures artists receive fair compensation for their efforts. Furthermore, this platform provides various payment options including PayPal and direct deposit; payments are made on every 15th of the month once earnings reach $20 (EUR20 or GBP20).
Etsy selling requires considerable marketing savvy and an in-depth knowledge of the industry, while incurring various fees from Etsy can make standing out challenging. Furthermore, Etsy may suspend or ban accounts for unknown reasons which can become frustrating to sellers.
