How Can I Grow my Home-Based Business

Pakistani handicrafts have a great local market and are also very well known throughout the globe. So being a business owner or an aspiring handicraft vendor, you need to explore some e-commerce websites that focus on buying and selling of handicrafts and handmade items.

One more question you need to ask yourself is, could you make a career out of selling handmade articles? The answer is yes you can. You just need to be present on the right platforms and have those listed products in stock because let’s be honest, no customer likes to wait forever for their deliveries!

We have compared four of the online platforms where you can list your products and start selling your homemade goodies. Pros and cons for each of the e-commerce platform have been mentioned for your ease.


Sheops.com
Known for empowering women and female entrepreneurs, this platform has kicked off sales of crafts in Pakistan. If you are a woman who owns a business, then this platform is for you. Sheops offers a completely separate section for pre-loved products as well, which no other store offers. Another unique service that the platform offers is Sheops Protect; by contacting support, the customers may ask for a refund if they are not satisfied with the product.

Pros
Simple and easy website
iOS and Android applications
Buyers and Sellers both are protected

Cons
Not focused on Crafts, any items can be sold
A women-only marketplace
Sheops charges a cut for every transaction

Crafts.pk
This new platform offers only handmade and vintage collection to the buyers. A free trial of 31 days is offered to all the business owners who want to create a shop on Crafts.pk. After the trial period ends, the seller has to subscribe to one of the shop membership where packages start from Rs. 500 per month. Autonomy given to the shop owners is something unique to Crafts.pk; not only can the shop owners set their own shop policies, but also have the ability to manage unlimited orders without any transaction cost. The platform also offer a social package, which is a free for life shop for any sellers from financially impoverished backgrounds.

Pros
Fully focused on crafts, artisan foods, handmade items
Easy to use system, from setting up shop to buying items
Free SEO for each shop that subscribes to quarterly packages

Cons
Credit card payments not accepted yet
No iOS or Android app
A relatively new platform

Dastkari.pk
The site focuses on handmade products and crafts. We found all kinds of collections in the store, ranging from wooden calligraphy to handwoven clothes. While we found the shop listing process to be a little more lengthy than the rest of the competitors, but the fresh interface of the website makes up for it. We were also put down by numerous shops that had no products listed to be sold, they were just shell shops listed. The platform offers a wide range of payment methods like PayPal and credit cards.

Pros
Simple, fresh interface
Site pops up on first page of Google search
Wide range of categories

Cons
Website lacks maintenance; shell shops were found
Empty categories were spotted
No help center for sellers

Artsy.pk
The platform is based upon selling arts and crafts supplies in Pakistan. However, you will also find numerous merchants selling handcrafted and art items such as beauty products, mugs, rugs and notebooks. The platform does not allow merchants to apply online, but sellers can contact the website administrator and request to get listed. Artsy charges a transaction fee for each orders by the vendors, in return the platform markets their products.

Pros
Product photography is exceptional
No upfront fee for listing products
Orders and website managed by the Artsy team

Cons
No customized shop for vendors
High transaction fee on orders
No information for the new vendors