Big Cartel vs Etsy: Which is Better to Start Selling Online
In the ever-expanding world of eCommerce, aspiring entrepreneurs often find themselves at a crossroads when choosing the ideal platform to kickstart their online retail journey. Big Cartel and Etsy stand out as two prominent options, each offering distinct advantages and catering to a diverse range of sellers.
In this article, we'll compare and contrast these platforms to help you determine which one best suits your online selling aspirations.
Big Cartel vs Esty: An Overview
What is Big Cartel?
Big Cartel is an eCommerce platform designed to cater to independent artists, designers, and small creative businesses. It offers a space for creative entrepreneurs to set up their online stores and sell unique, handmade, and often limited-edition products. Big Cartel's focus is on simplicity and artistic expression, making it an ideal choice for those who want to maintain a distinctive online presence.
What is Esty?
Etsy is one of the largest and most popular online marketplaces, connecting millions of buyers and sellers worldwide. It is a diverse platform that accommodates a wide range of sellers, including individual artisans, crafters, vintage collectors, and businesses of various sizes. Etsy specializes in handmade, vintage, and unique items, providing a marketplace for both sellers and buyers to connect and engage in the world of creative and one-of-a-kind products.
Now, let’s dive into a detailed comparison of Esty and Big Cartel to decide which one you should go for.
Big Cartel vs Etsy: Audience Analysis
When it comes to selecting the right platform for your online business, understanding the audience of Big Cartel and Etsy is crucial. These platforms attract distinct user bases, significantly impacting your success as an online seller.
Big Cartel audience
Big Cartel primarily caters to independent artists, designers, and small creative businesses. Its audience is characterized by individuals looking to showcase and sell unique, handmade, and often limited-edition products. The platform is popular among creators who wish to maintain a sense of individuality in their online presence. Consequently, Big Cartel's user base often includes artisans, crafters, musicians, and artists who value simplicity and artistic expression in their online stores.
Etsy audience
Etsy, on the other hand, boasts a vast and diverse audience. It is the go-to destination for buyers seeking a wide range of handmade, vintage, and craft supplies. While it does attract individual artisans and crafters, Etsy's user base is more extensive, including buyers looking for a broad selection of products, including jewelry, clothing, home decor, and more. This platform's large and varied audience offers the potential for higher sales volumes, but it also means more competition.
Final verdict
The choice between Big Cartel and Etsy should hinge on your target audience and the nature of your products. Big Cartel is an excellent choice for artists and small creative businesses looking to maintain a unique online presence, while Etsy offers a broader reach, catering to a wide spectrum of buyers. Your decision should align with your business goals and the specific needs of your products and services.
Big Cartel vs Etsy: Pricing & Fee
Beyond the artistic flair and unique offerings that distinguish Big Cartel and Etsy, the financial aspect is pivotal in shaping your online selling experience. Let's delve into the intriguing world of pricing and fees on these platforms, where seemingly subtle distinctions can significantly affect your bottom line.
Big Cartel's pricing
Big Cartel entices the frugally inclined seller with a pricing model that's as clean and minimalistic as its artistic offerings. There's a no-cost entry point, permitting up to five product listings with basic customization. For those yearning for more, Big Cartel provides paid plans at monthly rates that won't send you into financial shock. But here's the twist - Big Cartel doesn't dip its hand into your cookie jar with transaction fees. That means you keep all the dough you earn from your sales.
Etsy's price
Etsy's financial fabric is woven with multiple threads. It charges a fee for each item you list, akin to stitching a price tag on every product in your virtual shop. On top of that, there are transaction fees tied to each sale, comprised of a percentage of the sale price and an additional fixed per-item fee. And, if you fancy some extra marketing glitter, Etsy offers optional advertising and promotion services, each with its associated costs. While Etsy's fee structure isn't eye-watering, it's more like a mosaic of costs that can quietly accumulate, potentially obscuring your profits.
The final verdict
In the grand duel of pricing and fees, Big Cartel stands as the champion of simplicity and cost-effectiveness. It's the ideal choice for those who wish to streamline their expenses and maintain a firm grip on their earnings. Etsy, on the other hand, presents a thrilling yet intricate financial landscape. Its diverse fees call for a careful balance between investment and potential returns, especially if you anticipate a steady sales flow.
Big Cartel vs Etsy: Customization and Ease of Use
In the quest to establish an online retail presence, the ability to tailor your store and the ease with which you can navigate the platform are paramount. Let's explore how Big Cartel and Etsy stack up in terms of customization and user-friendliness, two critical factors that can significantly impact your selling experience.
Big Cartel
Big Cartel caters to artists, designers, and creative entrepreneurs, and it shows in its emphasis on customization. The platform offers a range of customizable templates and design tools, allowing you to craft a unique and visually captivating storefront. It's a haven for those who wish to express their artistic individuality. The user interface is clean and straightforward, making it ideal for users with minimal technical experience. While the customization options might not be as extensive as some other platforms, Big Cartel's simplicity can be a refreshing change, especially for those who prioritize aesthetics.
Etsy
Etsy, as a more extensive marketplace, offers a certain level of customization but leans heavily towards standardization to maintain a cohesive shopping experience for customers. Sellers can personalize their shop banners, policies, and product listings to some extent, but the degree of creative control is limited compared to Big Cartel. However, Etsy's well-established infrastructure means it's intuitive and easy to use. Sellers can benefit from a range of tools and features designed to streamline the selling process, making it suitable for both experienced eCommerce professionals and newcomers.
Final verdict
When it comes to customization and ease of use, your choice between Big Cartel and Etsy depends on your brand's identity and your level of technical expertise. Big Cartel shines as the go-to option for those who value creative expression and seek to craft a visually unique online store. On the flip side, Etsy's strength lies in its robust, user-friendly infrastructure that caters to a diverse array of sellers.
Big Cartel vs Esty: Website Builder & Themes
When establishing an online store, the visual appeal and functionality of your website are crucial. The ability to create a captivating storefront that aligns with your brand is essential. Let's examine how Big Cartel and Etsy stack up in terms of website builders and themes, and consider how these factors cater to the unique needs of their respective audiences.
Big Cartel
Big Cartel, known for its emphasis on artistic and creative entrepreneurs, provides a platform that supports the expression of individuality. Its website builder offers a range of customizable templates and design tools, enabling you to craft a unique and visually striking storefront. The themes available on Big Cartel are often clean, minimalist, and cater to artistic sensibilities. While it may not provide the extensive customization options of some other platforms, Big Cartel's simplicity can be a breath of fresh air for those who prioritize aesthetics and want their store to reflect their artistic identity.
Etsy
Etsy, as a vast online marketplace, tends to prioritize standardization to ensure a consistent shopping experience for its broad range of customers. While sellers on Etsy have some degree of control over their shop banners, policies, and product listings, the customization options are more limited compared to Big Cartel. The platform's website builder is designed to provide a cohesive shopping experience, maintaining a sense of familiarity for buyers. However, this limitation can sometimes hinder sellers who wish to express their unique brand identity more prominently.
Final verdict
The choice between Big Cartel and Etsy regarding website builders and themes depends on your target audience and your desired creative control. Big Cartel is an ideal choice for artists, designers, and creative entrepreneurs who want to showcase their individuality through their online storefront. The platform offers a canvas for personal expression, and its themes align with the sensibilities of the artistic community.
On the other hand, Etsy's strength lies in its well-established marketplace infrastructure, which, while limiting some aspects of customization, is user-friendly and effective for reaching a diverse range of customers. It's a trade-off between individual artistic expression and the expansive reach of a marketplace giant.
Ultimately, your decision should align with your brand identity, target audience, and your desire for creative control. Consider what's most important for your online store, and choose the platform that best serves your specific needs and artistic vision.
Big Cartel vs Etsy: Sales & Product Features
The functionality and capabilities of an online selling platform can significantly impact your success as a seller. Let's explore how Big Cartel and Etsy compare in terms of sales and product features, and how these align with the distinct needs of their respective audiences.
Big Cartel
Big Cartel caters to independent artists, designers, and small creative businesses who often specialize in unique, handmade, and limited-edition products. The platform's features are designed to complement this creative niche. Big Cartel is known for its simplicity and focus on aesthetic presentation. It allows sellers to showcase their products with customizable templates and design tools. However, it may lack some of the advanced features required for larger inventories or complex eCommerce operations.
Etsy
Etsy has evolved into a massive online marketplace that caters to a wide variety of sellers and shoppers. It provides a robust set of features for managing and promoting a diverse range of products, from handmade crafts and vintage items to mass-produced goods. Etsy's features are tailored to serve a broad audience, with tools for inventory management, shipping, and payment processing, as well as a significant focus on search engine optimization and marketing.
Final verdict
The choice between Big Cartel and Etsy concerning sales and product features depends on the nature of your products and the scale of your business.
If you are an independent artist or small creative business looking to maintain a unique online presence and prioritize aesthetics, Big Cartel is a compelling choice. It's an excellent platform for limited-edition or handmade products and offers a simple, artist-friendly interface.
On the other hand, Etsy, with its expansive marketplace, is better suited for sellers looking to reach a broad and diverse customer base. It offers a comprehensive set of features for managing larger inventories, marketing, and reaching a global audience. However, this comes with more competition, as it attracts a wide range of sellers and products.
Big Cartel vs Etsy: Blogging
In eCommerce, blogging has become an essential tool for connecting with customers, sharing stories, and driving traffic to your online store. Let's compare the blogging features of Big Cartel and Etsy and consider how these align with the needs of their distinct audiences.
Big Cartel
Big Cartel, with its focus on independent artists, designers, and small creative businesses, recognizes the value of storytelling and artistic expression. While it doesn't have built-in blogging functionality like some other platforms, it allows integration with external blogging platforms like WordPress or Tumblr. This gives sellers the flexibility to maintain a separate blog while linking it to their Big Cartel store. The emphasis here is on integrating a blog that complements the artistic identity of the seller.
Etsy
Etsy, being a larger and more diverse marketplace, offers a built-in blog feature for its sellers. This allows them to create content directly on the platform, sharing insights about their products, crafting, or vintage finds. Etsy's blog feature helps sellers connect with a broad audience, enhancing their visibility on the platform.
Final verdict
If you are an artist, designer, or creative entrepreneur, and storytelling is integral to your brand, Big Cartel's flexibility to integrate external blogging platforms can work well for you. It allows you to maintain a distinct blog while keeping the focus on artistic expression.
On the other hand, Etsy's built-in blog feature is advantageous if you seek to leverage the marketplace's traffic and connect with a broad, diverse audience. It simplifies the process of creating and sharing content on the platform.
Big Cartel vs Esty: Customer Care and Support
Access to reliable customer care and support is vital for online sellers to resolve issues and receive assistance when needed. Let's compare the customer care and support options of Big Cartel and Etsy and explore how these align with the distinct needs of their audiences.
Big Cartel
Big Cartel's audience consists primarily of independent artists, designers, and small creative businesses. The platform is known for its simplicity and artistic focus. While it offers customer support through email, it does not provide 24/7 live chat or phone support. However, it has an active community forum and extensive online resources, including tutorials and guides, to help users navigate the platform effectively. This aligns with the creative and self-sufficient nature of many Big Cartel sellers who often prefer to find solutions independently.
Etsy
Etsy's audience is diverse, ranging from individual artisans to vintage sellers and businesses of all sizes. Etsy provides a more comprehensive support system, including email support, live chat, and phone support in multiple languages. Additionally, it offers a robust help center, community forums, and seller education resources. Etsy's extensive support options cater to the wide variety of sellers and their different needs on the platform.
Final verdict
The choice between Big Cartel and Etsy regarding customer care and support depends on the scale and nature of your online selling venture, as well as your preferred support channels.
Big Cartel, with its artistic and creative audience, offers support primarily through email and self-help resources. This suits sellers who are comfortable with a more self-reliant approach and value simplicity.
Etsy, as a larger and more diverse marketplace, provides a broader range of support options, including live chat and phone support, accommodating sellers with varying levels of experience and needs.
Big Cartel vs Etsy: FAQs
Does Big Cartel integrate with Etsy?
No, Big Cartel does not directly integrate with Etsy. Big Cartel and Etsy are separate online selling platforms, and they do not have built-in integration features to synchronize listings or sales between them. If you wish to sell on both platforms, you would need to manage your listings and inventory separately on each one.
What percentage does Big Cartel take?
Big Cartel offers different pricing plans, including a free plan for small-scale sellers with basic features and no monthly cost. However, they don't charge a percentage fee on sales, which means you get to keep 100% of your sales revenue. If you opt for one of their paid plans, the monthly fee covers additional features, but Big Cartel still does not take a percentage of your sales.
Is Big Cartel a good site to sell on?
Whether Big Cartel is a good platform for selling depends on your specific needs and business model. Big Cartel is well-suited for independent artists, designers, and small creative businesses prioritizing simplicity and artistic expression. It's an excellent choice if you want to maintain a unique online presence, customize your storefront, and keep the focus on your creative products. However, it may not be the best fit for sellers with larger inventories or complex eCommerce operations.
Final Words
In the exciting realm of online selling, Big Cartel and Etsy each offer their distinct palette for aspiring entrepreneurs. Big Cartel, a platform known for artistic freedom, appeals to creators who seek individuality. Meanwhile, Etsy, a multifaceted marketplace, casts a wide net, making it suitable for a diverse range of sellers. The verdict? Your choice should paint the canvas of your online selling journey, aligning with your unique vision and the canvas of your audience.
Whatever you go for between Esty vs Big Cartel, you can broaden your business by creating an online store with popular eCommerce platforms like Shopify.
