Marketplaces for Artisans Have Moved Online - Mitch Powell/SXCThe founder of an online handmade marketplace talks about using this online art business venue to buy and sell handmade products.. Jonathan Peacock, CEO of Zibbet.com, gives some background on this online marketplace for handmade goods and talks about how Zibbet can help artists and crafters sell their work online.
"The initial motivation for starting Zibbet was the fact that both of us (Jonathan & Andrew), had been very interested in going into business together, and we particularly liked the idea of establishing an online business through an e-commerce site.
Having taken the time to research many different markets, we concluded that we would be able to do some really good things for the handmade industry."
"Yes, our philosophy is simple. We endeavor to be the number one handmade venue in three specific areas. Firstly, we want to offer the very best value for money for our sellers. Secondly, we are committed to providing the most useful and desirable features for our sellers to use in order to succeed in their business. Thirdly, our driving passion is to give all our customers (both sellers and buyers), the very best service possible.
We recently posted a more detailed description of our company philosophy on our community site."
"An online selling venue is a fantastic place to start out as an artisan looking to earn a living from their creative abilities. At Zibbet we believe that we provide artisans with the very best option of the available selling venues.
Online venues typically have extremely low start up costs and ongoing costs. Online venues are easy places to direct your customers no matter where they might be in the world. Online venues are better than traditional shop-front businesses because they can be open for business 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. People can literally earn money while they are sleeping.
Specifically, Zibbet is the right choice for artisans starting out as it is a very friendly and supportive environment with a tremendous amount of tools immediately available for use. The entry cost can be as low as free, and the quantity of knowledge and help available in our community is quite staggering."
"Zibbet provides a welcoming, easy to navigate shop-front (our homepage) through which customers can find exactly what they are looking for, regardless of whether they want to buy or sell handmade.
For readers wanting to sell handmade, the sign up process is quick and simple and immediately provides the new member with a vast array of tools and customization in their ready to use shop.
Members can upload photos, videos and descriptions. They can set unique shop policies, display their own store banner and logos. They can customize the look and feel of their shop to suit their style. They can communicate easily with other members, create sales, gift certificates, coupons and so many other great features. All of this is ready to go within minutes of getting started.
At Zibbet we take care of the payment gateway and provide our members with a diverse range of communication methods for targeting their customers.
Sellers have serious autonomy over the selling experience as a member of the site.
On top of all of this, at Zibbet we love to hear suggestions for improvement from our members and are quick to respond to the desires of the community."
"We have committed a lot of time and energy to staying active in the places where people who love handmade congregate. This could be blogs, forums, social networking sites and more.
We also have discovered that in the online handmade selling industry, it is pretty easy to figure out what people are not being provided with. We have begun to fill that large void to the best of our ability, and because we have, many people have found us."
"To be honest, neither of the Zibbet co-founders are particularly skilled in the art of handmade. Our passion for handmade is found in the appreciation of the skills and creativity of others, and of course we are driven to help them succeed by doing what we do best, which is to build and run a great online selling venue.
As far as “re-filling the well’ is concerned, nothing out of the ordinary really. Reading a good book, listening to music, time with family and friends. The usual stuff. (sorry to anyone who was hoping for something a bit more interesting there.)"
"Without a doubt you have to be fully convinced in your own heart that what you do has value and to never stop believing that. Too many people waste too much time waiting for someone else to give validation to their passions. This is the surest way to slide back into mediocrity and commonness. To stand out, you must be confident and believe that what you are doing will succeed and that there is not a single obstacle on Earth that can stop you achieving your dreams. Romantic, I know, but it’s the truth!"
As he wrapped up the interview, Peacock had a final recommendation for artists who are considering selling art online. "If you haven’t tried Zibbet yet (as a seller or a buyer), you really should give it a go. We’re super convinced that you will be refreshed by what you find there. It really is a great story being written right now."
Copyright Katelyn Thomas. Contact the author to obtain permission for republication.
Katelyn Thomas - If you can't find me in the spring, I'm out hiking through the wood with a few pounds of photography gear strapped to my back. In the ...
