Join our Team!
Thank you for your interest in joining the Handmade Marketplace team and becoming an Approved Shop! Our mission is to support handmade small businesses by helping them grow, gain visibility, and clarify their goals as business owners. We understand the challenges of running a small business in a market dominated by large retailers, which is why we created a platform designed with you—the creator—at the center. In addition to sales opportunities, we offer ongoing support through consultations, small business workshops, and hosted giveaways to help promote your brand and strengthen your business.
Our business is primarily ran through Facebook. All approved shops get exclusive posting rights in our Facebook group Handmade Marketplace.
Approved Shop Benefits
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Giveaway Program
Every month we partner with two of our approved shops to host a giveaway on our social media platforms! We manage the entire process from start to finish, including creating the original giveaway post, promoting it through our marketing channels, and covering the cost of the featured item. Entry is completely free for participants, shoppers simply follow the featured business for a chance to win. This provides approved shops with increased brand visibility, audience growth, and meaningful engagement, all at no cost to the seller.
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Cross-Platform Promotion
Approved shops gain increased visibility through our cross-platform promotion. Shops are able to post on our Facebook group "Handmade Marketplace" to promote their business and their products. Some of these posts will be selected to be reposted on our Instagram page! This approach helps extend your reach to new audiences, strengthens brand awareness across platforms, and creates additional opportunities for engagement with potential customers.
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Website Showcase
Every approved shop receives a dedicated feature on our website, providing a centralized space to showcase product photos, share a business description, and display contact information. Sellers may also include links to their social media profiles and website, making it easy for customers to connect, follow, and shop directly from the source. This feature helps strengthen brand presence and builds credibility within the marketplace.
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Reduced Market Saturation
To maintain a balanced and supportive marketplace, we intentionally limit the number of approved shops within each product category. This approach helps prevent market saturation, ensures fair visibility for all sellers, and allows each business the opportunity to stand out and reach potential customers more effectively.
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Business Workshops (Coming Soon!)
Approved shops receive access to educational workshops designed to support growth and skill development. These workshops include guided presentations covering topics such as product photography, social media strategy, branding, and other practical tips to help small businesses strengthen their operations and online presence.
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Community
Approved shops gain access to a private Facebook group. This space allows members to connect with one another, ask questions, share experiences, and offer feedback in a supportive environment. We actively engage with the community through polls and discussions to better understand what sellers want to see next, ensuring that approved shops have a voice and that their feedback directly helps shape the future of Handmade Marketplace.
Things to know
- Approved Shop Fees (Choose One): $10 monthly, $25 quarterly, or $80 annually. Annual membership comes with the bonus of being a featured shop on the front page of our website!
- You are welcome to join the approved shop team at any time but all payments are due on the first of the term chosen. For example: If you become an approved shop on April 18th and choose the monthly payment option, your next payment would be due on May 1st.
- All approved shops must be located in the United States and be willing to ship domestically.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Do I need to have a website to become an approved shop? No, we have several shops that only sell through their personal Facebook pages and that is fine!
- When does the quarter start? We do not have specific quarter set. If you choose a quarterly payment plan, that will cover the cost of being an approved shop for 3 months.
- How will I know if I have been accepted as an approved shop? You will receive an email within 48 hours of your application. This email will provide the next steps to officially become an approved shop! If you cannot find an email in your inbox, promotions, or spam folder, please contact us!
Application
