Overview
IndieMe is a US online wholesale marketplace exclusively for handcrafted goods made in the United States and Canada. Independent retailers such as boutiques, galleries, gift shops and museum stores use it to source juried, handmade products directly from artists and makers. For a handmade brand from North America, IndieMe is a specialist route into independent retail.
Who is behind IndieMe
IndieMe started as Wholesalecrafts.com, one of the first online wholesale marketplaces for American craft, launched in the late 1990s. It later rebranded as IndieMe and is now woman-owned. IndieMe offers more than 250,000 handcrafted products, including ceramics, jewellery, glass, home décor, sculpture, fibre and artisan food. Besides its marketplace, it runs the IndieMe Virtual Expo, a twice-yearly online trade event, the IndieMe Academy for education and mentoring, and Shop American Handcrafted, a consumer-facing initiative.
How IndieMe works
- Juried artists only. Every artist is reviewed, and every item must be handmade in the US or Canada.
- Free for retailers. Retail buyers join for free and order directly from artists.
- Membership for artists. Artists pay a membership or service fee rather than a commission on each sale, according to IndieMe.
- Returns and terms are agreed between the artist and the retailer, as in traditional wholesale.
What a brand needs
- Genuinely handmade products made in the US or Canada.
- Strong photography, which is part of the jury process.
- Wholesale pricing that leaves the retailer a good margin.
- Capacity to produce repeat wholesale orders.
Why IndieMe matters for brands
IndieMe connects makers with retailers who are specifically looking for handmade, North American products, which is a narrow but loyal buyer base.
How eBrands looks at IndieMe
eBrands works with brands on marketplaces and retail channels across Europe and North America, including wholesale platforms. If you want to see whether IndieMe fits your wholesale plans, we are happy to talk it through.
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