Technology

Amazon takes aim at Etsy with ‘handmade’ marketplace

Online retailer will offer goods from artisan producers in 60 countries

Schuyler Ellers, who makes shorts for men from crocheted blankets to sell on Etsy, in his studio in Nevada City, California. Ellers said he had applied to list on Amazon Handmade simply to attract a bigger and more constant stream of shoppers. Photograph: Nathan Weyland/The New York Times

Thu Oct 8 2015 - 08:18

Online retailer Amazon is going into competition with Etsy after it launched a new marketplace for handcrafted goods.

“Handmade at Amazon” will offer crafts from artisan producers from more than 60 countries.

"We don't allow any mass manufacturing, we don't allow any factory-made products. All of these products have to be handmade and hand-manufactured," Amazon Marketplace vice-president Peter Faricy said.

A craft market will extend Amazon’s role as a middleman for third-party vendors, which accounts for about 40 per cent of its sales. It recently launched a platform allowing customers to buy 700 home services such as car maintenance, TV wall-mounting and house cleaning.

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Over 600 handmade products will be eligible for shipping under Amazon’s Prime shipping service.

Additional reporting: Reuters

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