Are you a creative entrepreneur who is looking for an alternative to Etsy? If so, you’re not alone. Many creative entrepreneurs are frustrated with Etsy’s high fees, lack of brand ownership, and limitations on collecting buyer emails.
That’s where PocketSuite comes in. PocketSuite is the ultimate Etsy alternative for creative entrepreneurs. With PocketSuite, you can:
- Build a personalized brand: With PocketSuite, you can create your own storefront to highlight your unique brand.
- Establish strong client relationships: With PocketSuite, you can collect client phone numbers and email addresses. This allows you to stay in touch with your clients and nurture relationships.
- Grow your business without breaking the bank: PocketSuite offers a low, all-in-one monthly price. This means you don’t have to worry about hidden fees or surprise charges.
Marketplace vs. Customer-first: Choosing the Right Business Model for Your Handmade Business
When it comes to selling your handmade products online, there are two main business models to consider: marketplaces and customer-first.
Marketplaces are a great option for getting your products in front of a large audience quickly. However, they come with a number of drawbacks, including high fees, limited control over your brand, and fierce competition.
Customer-first businesses offer a number of advantages over marketplaces, including:
- Higher profit margins: Since you are not paying marketplace fees, you can keep more of the profits from each sale.
- More control over your brand: When you sell on your own store, you have complete control. This means you can create a unique experience for your customers that reflects your brand’s personality.
- Less competition: Since you are not competing with other sellers on a marketplace, it’s all about you!
- More customer engagement: When you sell on your own store, you can build stronger relationships with your customers by providing excellent customer service, offering loyalty programs, and sending out regular newsletters.
Hybrid Model
A hybrid model is a combination of a marketplace and a customer-first business. You can do both! This means that you sell your products on both a marketplace and your own website. When you find a new client on social media, craft market, or anywhere else, you send them to your own website where you will enjoy better rates and customer engagement perks to make them repeat customers.
Build a Lasting Relationship with Your Clients
One of the key advantages that PocketSuite offers over Etsy is the ability to build a lasting relationship with your clients. In the competitive world of e-commerce, establishing a strong connection with your customers is crucial for long-term success.
Let’s explore how PocketSuite empowers you to foster client relationships and create a brand presence that extends beyond the confines of Etsy.
The Importance of Building a Relationship with Your Clients
In any business, building a relationship with your clients is paramount. It goes beyond the transactional nature of a sale and creates a sense of trust and loyalty. With PocketSuite, you have the tools to cultivate these relationships and keep your customers engaged.
- Collect contact information. PocketSuite allows you to collect the phone numbers and email addresses of your clients, giving you the ability to stay in touch and nurture those connections. By capturing this valuable contact information, you can engage in future marketing campaigns, such as sending out seasonal specials, updates on new products or services, and personalized recommendations.
- Offer add-on services. Consider offering add-on services to your customers, such as gift wrapping or virtual consultations for custom orders. This can add value to your customers’ experience and encourage them to return to your shop for future purchases. PocketSuite makes this easy as well with its built-in suite of tools to help you make the most of your business.
Establishing Return Clients with PocketSuite
In the crowded e-commerce space, it’s essential to differentiate yourself and create a memorable experience for your clients. Building rapport and providing exceptional service are critical factors that encourage customers to return.
- Offer personalized recommendations. Use PocketSuite’s product add-on features to recommend products or services to your customers that they are likely to be interested in based on what they are already purchasing. This shows that you are paying attention to their needs and that you care about their experience.
- Host loyalty programs. Consider hosting loyalty programs to reward your repeat customers. This could include offering discounts, free shipping, or exclusive access to new products or services.
The Significance of Clients Remembering Your Brand over Etsy
In the competitive world of e-commerce, brand recognition plays a pivotal role in building customer loyalty, driving repeat purchases, and generating valuable word-of-mouth referrals. PocketSuite understands the importance of brand presence and empowers you to establish a reputation that extends beyond the Etsy marketplace.
- Create a unique brand identity. Develop a unique brand identity that sets you apart from the competition. Share what makes you unique and highlight your personality with what you offer to your clients.
- Be consistent with your branding. Use your brand identity across all of your marketing materials, including your website, social media, and email marketing. This will help to create a cohesive brand experience for your customers.
- Get involved in the community. Get involved in the online community and build relationships with other businesses and individuals. This will help you to raise awareness of your brand and increase visibility. You can put a QR code that links to your PocketSuite shop on your business card and hand them out at craft fairs. This allows you to build in-person connections while still collecting their contact information for future marketing.
By following these tips, you can use PocketSuite to build lasting relationships with your clients and create a brand that stands out from the competition.
Powerful Marketing Tools for Success
In addition to helping you build relationships with your clients, PocketSuite equips you with powerful marketing tools that can elevate your business to new heights. Let’s explore how PocketSuite’s marketing features outshine Etsy’s limitations and empower you to reach and engage your target audience effectively.
The SMS Marketing Advantage
PocketSuite revolutionizes your marketing efforts by allowing you to collect client phone numbers, giving you a direct line of communication with your audience. With this valuable contact information at your disposal, you can leverage SMS marketing to its full potential.
Benefits of SMS Marketing
- Higher open rates: Text messages have higher open rates than email, ensuring that your messages are seen by a larger percentage of your audience.
- Higher engagement rates: Studies show that text messages are typically read within minutes of being received. This immediacy allows you to capture your customers’ attention and drive prompt action.
How to Use SMS Marketing
With PocketSuite, you can leverage SMS marketing to its fullest extent, sending targeted campaigns, seasonal specials, and updates on new products or services directly to your clients’ phones. By harnessing the power of SMS marketing, you can stay top-of-mind, increase customer engagement, and drive conversions like never before.
Send targeted campaigns:
Use PocketSuite’s segmentation features to target your SMS campaigns to specific groups of customers, such as those who have recently purchased from you or those who have not purchased from you in a specific timeframe.
Send seasonal specials:
Keep your customers engaged by sending them SMS messages about your seasonal sales and promotions.
Send updates on new products or services:
Let your customers know about your new products or services by sending them SMS messages with details and links to learn more.
Sending Sales and Special Offers to Previous Buyers
One of the key advantages of PocketSuite’s client contact list is the ability to send personalized promotions and exclusive discounts directly to previous buyers. This feature enables you to nurture existing customer relationships and incentivize repeat purchases, fostering customer loyalty and driving long-term business growth.
By leveraging your client contact list, you can create tailored marketing campaigns that resonate with your audience.
Contrasting Etsy’s Limitations on Collecting Buyer Emails
In contrast to PocketSuite’s robust marketing capabilities, Etsy imposes limitations on sellers when it comes to collecting buyer emails. Etsy does not provide sellers with access to buyer emails or phone numbers, severely restricting marketing opportunities and hindering the ability to cultivate customer relationships beyond individual transactions.
How PocketSuite Empowers You
By choosing PocketSuite as your Etsy alternative, you break free from these limitations. PocketSuite empowers you to collect and utilize client phone numbers, offering a direct means of communication and marketing to your audience. With this advantage, you can stay connected with your clients, nurture relationships, and drive repeat business.
Affordable Pricing Structure
When it comes to choosing an online marketplace, the cost of doing business is a critical factor for creative entrepreneurs. Etsy’s high seller fees and processing fees can significantly impact profit margins, making it crucial to explore alternative platforms that offer a more affordable pricing structure. Enter PocketSuite, the solution that prioritizes your financial success.
Etsy’s High Seller Fees and Processing Fees
Etsy charges a 6.5% transaction fee on all sales plus a 20 cent listing fee per item. Additionally, Etsy charges a 3% + 25 cents processing fee for all credit card payments. These fees can add up quickly, especially for businesses that sell a high volume of products.
For example, if you sell a product for $100, Etsy will take a 6.5% transaction fee, which is $6.50. Additionally, Etsy will charge a 20-cent listing fee, which is $0.20. Finally, Etsy will charge a 3% + 25 cent processing fee, which is $3.25. In total, Etsy will take $9.95 from your sale.
That doesn’t even include the forced marketing fees and other hidden fees they include to make more money off of their sellers. You can see a full breakdown of the Etsy fees here for yourself and see how clearly they show that the numbers don’t work in favor of the seller.
PocketSuite’s Cost-Effective Solution
PocketSuite stands out as an affordable alternative to Etsy, with a pricing structure designed to support small businesses. With PocketSuite, you can enjoy a low monthly price and industry-low processing fees, enabling you to maximize your profits and keep more money in your pocket.
PocketSuite offers a low monthly price of $24.99 per month. This price includes unlimited listings and products, as well as industry-low processing fees of 2.9% + 30 cents per transaction. This means that PocketSuite can save businesses hundreds or even thousands of dollars per year in fees.
For example, if you sell a product for $100, PocketSuite will only take a 2.9% + 30 cents processing fee, which is $2.93. This is significantly less than the fees charged by Etsy.
No Limits on Products and Services, No Charge per Service
In addition to its affordable pricing, PocketSuite distinguishes itself by offering the freedom and flexibility to list unlimited products and services without additional charges. Unlike Etsy and other competitors, where you may encounter limitations or per-service fees, PocketSuite empowers you to showcase your entire range of offerings without restriction.
This unlimited listing capability allows you to scale your business and explore new opportunities without the fear of incurring additional costs. Whether you offer custom products, virtual consultations, or a combination of services, PocketSuite provides the platform to accommodate your unique needs. As your business grows, you can expand your product and service offerings seamlessly, adapting to changing market demands and capturing new revenue streams.
Outstanding Customer Service
At PocketSuite, we understand the importance of exceptional customer service in ensuring your success as a creative entrepreneur. We pride ourselves on providing 11-star real-person support at every step of the way, going above and beyond to assist you in maximizing the potential of your business.
Here are some of the ways that PocketSuite provides outstanding customer service:
Personalized Assistance from Responsive Customer Support:
With PocketSuite, you can count on having a dedicated team of experts ready to assist you whenever you need help. Our responsive customer support team is committed to delivering personalized assistance tailored to your unique needs. Whether you have questions, need guidance, or encounter any issues, we’re here to ensure that you receive the support you deserve.
Streamlined Transition with Assistance in Transferring Data:
We understand that switching platforms can seem like a daunting task, especially when it comes to transferring essential data such as client lists, product catalogs, and service details. However, with PocketSuite, the process is hassle-free and seamless.
Our dedicated customer service team is here to help you effortlessly migrate your existing client, product, and service lists to your PocketSuite account. Simply provide us with a CSV file containing your data, including clients, services, products, forms, or contracts, and our imports team will take care of the rest. This streamlined process saves you time, minimizes stress, and ensures that you can start leveraging the power of PocketSuite without any unnecessary hassle or additional work.
Free Training and Resources: As part of our commitment to your success, we offer the PocketSuite Academy. When you sign up, you gain access to free training classes conducted by members of our customer service team. These classes guide you through the process of effectively setting up your PocketSuite account to work seamlessly for your specific business. We offer different levels of training, as well as one-on-one office hours and service calls, ensuring that you have the resources and guidance to make the most out of your business.
We believe that outstanding customer service is essential for the success of any business. That’s why we’re committed to providing you with the support you need to grow your business and reach your goals.
The Threat of Dropshippers on Etsy
As the landscape of online marketplaces evolves, a concerning trend has emerged on Etsy – the rise of dropshippers. This influx of cheaply made products offered by dropshippers has had a significant impact on custom creators and handmade sellers, posing challenges to their pricing, market competitiveness, and overall success.
Impact of Dropshippers on Custom Creators
Etsy was originally created to be a haven for custom creators and artisans, providing a marketplace to showcase their unique products and connect with customers who appreciate their craftsmanship. However, the growing presence of dropshippers has diluted the essence of Etsy’s original vision.
Dropshippers often flood the marketplace with mass-produced, low-quality items at rock-bottom prices. This flood of cheap alternatives undercuts the value and pricing set by custom creators, making it difficult for them to compete on a level playing field. The result is a dilution of the market, diminishing the visibility and sales potential for genuine handmade and custom products.
For example, let’s say you’re a custom jewelry maker who sells a handmade necklace for $50. A drop-shipper could easily sell a similar necklace for $20, even though it’s made of lower-quality materials. This would make it difficult for you to compete, as customers would be more likely to choose the cheaper option.
The Need for a Platform that Protects and Supports Custom Creators
In the face of this threat, there is a growing need for a platform that not only recognizes the importance of custom creators but also champions their originality, craftsmanship, and artistic vision. This is where PocketSuite steps in as the solution that protects and supports the creative entrepreneur.
PocketSuite is dedicated to empowering custom creators and handmade sellers, providing them with a platform that preserves the original intent of Etsy. With PocketSuite, you can showcase your unique products and connect directly with your target audience without the noise and competition in a marketplace with cheaply made dropshipped items.
By choosing PocketSuite as your Etsy alternative, you can reclaim control over your pricing, maintain the integrity of your brand, and differentiate yourself in the market. PocketSuite offers a space where custom creators can thrive, connecting with customers who value the authenticity and quality of their handmade products.
Invitation to Try PocketSuite for Free
We know that as a creative entrepreneur, you are always looking for ways to improve your business. That’s why we offer a 30-day free trial of PocketSuite. During your free trial, you can try out all of our features and see how they can help you take your business to the next level, and you don’t even have to enter a credit card to do it!
Here are just a few of the things you can do with PocketSuite:
- Create a beautiful site that showcases your products or services.
- Manage your inventory and track sales.
- Accept payments online or in person.
- Connect with customers through sms.
- Grow your business with a powerful suite of marketing tools.
Sign up for your free trial today and see how PocketSuite can help you achieve your business goals.
Need more? Here are some more of the benefits of using PocketSuite:
- Streamline your operations: PocketSuite can help you streamline your operations by providing you with a centralized platform to manage your inventory, bookings, and payments.
- Elevate your customer relationships: PocketSuite can help you elevate your customer relationships by providing you with tools to communicate with your customers, track their orders, and provide them with excellent customer service.
- Drive growth for your business: PocketSuite can help you drive growth for your business by providing you with marketing tools and 11-star customer support to help you reach new customers and increase sales.
We are confident that you will love using PocketSuite. Sign up for your free trial today and see for yourself how PocketSuite can help you take your business to the next level.
Ditch the Etsy Fees and Join PocketSuite: The Affordable Alternative for Artisans
If you’re a creative entrepreneur who wants to sell your goods online, you’ve probably heard of Etsy. But as a marketplace, Etsy has its limitations. High fees, limited branding opportunities, and a saturated market can make it difficult for sellers to succeed.
That’s where PocketSuite comes in. PocketSuite is a platform designed specifically for creative entrepreneurs and small business owners. It offers a number of advantages over Etsy, including:
- Affordable pricing: PocketSuite charges a low monthly fee with no listing fees.
- Powerful marketing tools: PocketSuite offers a variety of marketing tools to help you reach new customers and grow your business. These tools include SMS marketing and upsell ad on options for customers.
- Exceptional customer service: PocketSuite offers 24/7 11-star customer support to help you with any questions or problems you may have.
If you’re looking for an alternative to Etsy that offers more affordable pricing from a company that cares and wants to see you succeed, then PocketSuite is the perfect platform for you. Sign up for a free trial today and see for yourself how PocketSuite can help you grow your business.
