Amazon Launches Etsy-Like 'Handmade' Marketplace

Unique, handcrafted goods have long been synonymous with online community Etsy, but Amazon is now pushing its way into the homespun market.

The Handmade at Amazon store launched today, featuring items crafted and sold directly from global artisans. All products—from jewelry and furniture to artwork and bedding—are factory-free and must be made by hand (hence the name).

"We have designed a custom shopping experience for customers looking for handmade items by bringing together many of the best artisans in the world, and they're adding thousands of items daily," Peter Faricy, vice president of Amazon Marketplace, said in a statement.

Browse by category (home decor, stationery and party supplies, kitchen and dining, etc.) and by location to find products from craftsmen in all 50 states, and more than 60 countries, including Australia, Brazil, China, Finland, Italy, Norway, Russia, and the U.K.

Each Handmade product page contains a location icon to identify where the artisan is based, along with a link to their profile. Click to find shop details, a list of top products, and photos and videos, so you can learn more about the creators, their work, and their business.

"Knowing an item has a unique story behind it creates a personal experience that customers have told us makes owning handmade items special," Faricy said. "Handmade at Amazon offers customers more than 80,000 quality handcrafted items from around the world, and over 30 percent can be personalized by artisans to delight customers."

Built into the Amazon shopping experience you already know, Handmade includes product specifications, customer questions and answers, and reviews, as well as the quick "Add to Cart" button.

Find the perfect cufflinks for a friend, or a stunning painted bowl you're considering after your home remodel? Just add them to a wish list for another day. But don't wait too long: Most products take a few days to create, and many could sell out first.

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Interested artisans can apply online to sell their items on Handmade at Amazon.

In a statement to PCMag, Etsy said "We believe we are the best platform for creative entrepreneurs, empowering them to succeed on their own terms."

"Etsy has a decade of experience understanding the needs of artists and sellers and supporting them in ways that no other marketplace can," the company continued. "Our platform attracts 21+ million thoughtful consumers seeking to discover unique goods, and build relationships with the people who make and sell them."