A busy shopping season is about to kick off. Perhaps, you enjoy traveling from store to store searching for the perfect gift. Or maybe you prefer shopping online from the comforts of your home. Either way, you have a list in hand and people in mind. Before you get too deep into your shopping, I want to share why you should shop in the handmade marketplace.
First, What is the Handmade Marketplace?
The handmade marketplace refers to a group of artisans or crafters who make and sell goods by hand rather than mass producing items by machinery. The handmade marketplace can be found on online platforms such as Etsy and Amazon Handmade (to name a few) along with local craft shows and vendor fairs in your town. Many handmade artisans also have shops directly on their business websites.
Today, I would like to give you six incredible reasons why you should shop handmade.
1. You will Find Unique Gifts Every Time.
When searching for unique gifts, the handmade market has thousands of choices in every niche. These items cannot be found at your regular store, so you’ll be sure to find that perfect gift for someone special. It is such a good feeling to find a unique gift for the person you love.
2. You will be able to Customize Your Products with the Artisan.
Once you find that perfect gift, you could make it even more special by personalizing it. Since each item is handmade with care, you can typically work with the designer on customizing the item to your liking. Are you looking for a specific color scheme? Do you need a particular size? Would you like it embroidered? Most artisans can accommodate your personalized requests (and gladly so). One of the most fulfilling parts of being a maker is giving our buyers exactly what they want. We love creating products that resonate with our customers! Customizing a product with a handmade seller is easier than ever, and you’re sure to get exactly what you want.
3. You will Receive Quality Products.
Because your item is not mass-produced, each item is given special attention to detail. Each artisan takes pride in his or her work and keeps the customer in mind as each item is constructed. Quality matters!
4. You will Receive Top-Notch Customer Service.
When you buy from a handmade artisan, you are working directly with the owner and creator of the product. The artisan wants you to be a raving fan not only of the product you purchase but of the service you receive. How often do you get to speak directly to designer of a product at Target? Never! But with handmade artisans, you get direct access to them. You can ask questions. You may request customizable options (as mentioned above). And typically, most sellers go above and beyond for their customers. It’s that extra special touch you will receive from the seller. Why? Because every customer matters big time to handmade artisans.
5. You will be Supporting Other Families.
Many artisans are moms who are utilizing their gifts in order to make a living for their family. These working moms are able to produce items from home within a schedule that meets their family’s needs. All too often, we see a woman’s creative passions get lost in motherhood. But when a mom steps out with her God-given gifts and her precious children beside her, this should be celebrated and supported! She is shouting from the mountaintops: My family is important, and my gifts matter! Let’s support the moms who are making an impact with their gifts.
6. You will be Supporting Growing Businesses.
Let me ask you a quick question. When you look around at big-named stores (perhaps your favorite retailer or brand), do you ever wonder where these companies started? If you go back to the very beginning, you will find that it started with a single idea. A dream in one person’s heart. Someone who took a leap of faith and moved out of her comfort zone. This dreamer took risks. She experienced successes in addition to setbacks. Along the way, she made it. Dreams became reality. Yet, somewhere in the process, it took customers like you who believed in small businesses. To make purchases that would bring these dreamers to the next level. When you shop handmade, you are supporting another person’s dreams! You are believing in artisans who are using their God-given gifts to bring something special to the marketplace. Let’s help them succeed, because with each unique crafter, our marketplace becomes a more vibrant place to shop.
Visit our shop on Etsy! Simply click here.
