Amazon.com Inc.’s Handmade, the platform for artists to sell handcrafted goods online, is celebrating its fifth birthday.
Based on selection and crafters, the world’s largest eCommerce website has been a success, according to Amazon’s blog.
In the five years since Handmade’s debut, selection has seen a 2,000 percent increase while the number of artists has increased by nearly 750 percent with crafters from more than 80 countries, Amazon wrote.
“Millions of products are available and tens of millions have been sold globally,” Amazon said.
The eCommerce retailer did not provide specific sales numbers.
Handmade’s top-selling categories include items for the home, kitchen and jewelry. Through Handmade, “Makers,” the platform’s moniker for sellers, can reach customers across the globe, widen product distribution and create a huge audience for artisans.
“We remain focused on connecting customers with micro-businesses and helping makers around the world grow in Amazon’s store,” Katie Harnetiaux, Amazon Handmade’s global head, said in the blog post. “We’re excited about all that Amazon Handmade has accomplished in the last five years. As we look ahead, supporting and showcasing our Makers and giving them a voice will continue to drive whatever we do.”
To celebrate, Handmade called on Amazon customers to vote for their favorite crafter. Five winners received $15,000 to help grow their business.
The winners include 16J Organics, Eyespire Designs, Greetings in Braille, Mojo Spa and Ron’s Roses.
Earlier this month, Amazon said it will invest $18 billion this year to assist independent businesses in selling to shoppers.
The retailer also promised to provide digital selling tips and other assistance to more than 500,000 American small and medium-sized business (SMB) sellers on the platform. Amazon in the next year. It also intends to onboard 100,000 more American businesses as new merchants.
“Amazon’s success is directly tied to the success of independent businesses across the U.S.,” Jeff Wilke, CEO of Worldwide Consumer at Amazon, said in the announcement. “We are passionate about supporting small businesses, investing and inventing on their behalf to help them be resilient through COVID-19 and beyond.”
Amazon said third-party merchants consist of more than 50 percent of everything old in its store. SMB sellers in the U.S sold more than 3.4 billion products in a 12-month timeframe concluding in May, averaging $160,000 in sales.
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