ICYMI: Amazon’s Handmade Section Supports Small Businesses Around the World

Amazon’s handmade category was founded in an effort to support artisans around the world by giving them access to Amazon’s seemingly unending trove of supporters and customers. The collection is home to gorgeous, hand-crafted goods like vases, home decor, homemade candles, works of art, and more.

According to the retail juggernaut, the recent launch is inspired by customers and supporters who have long wanted a category dedicated to homemade goods and crafts. A statement on the Handmade homepage reads:

“We worked backwards to understand the needs of the Artisan community to bring Customers an extraordinary buying experience, and after months of Customer research, reviewing Artisan applications, and staffing up our team, Amazon Handmade launched in October of 2015. There are now Artisans from over 80 countries following their passion and selling their craft on Amazon.”  – Amazon Handmade’s site.

So how does Amazon select who it features in its Handmade category? A vetting process is certainly in order. There’s an Artisan application process, and a subsequent audit of production methods to ensure that products featured in this category are genuinely handcrafted goods that are up to quality standards. There’s even an Amazon tip-line that customers can write into to express concerns if they feel a product they received is not the quality they hoped for.

Clearly, Amazon is making strides to ensure that this new bracket of higher quality goods will be here to stay.

Amazon has also partnered with BlogHer ‘20 Creator Summit speakers and CEOs of The Little Market, Lauren Conrad and Hannah Skvarla, thus committing themselves to the nonprofit’s mission of economically empowering women artisans worldwide.

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Before starting The Little Market, our co-founders @LaurenConrad and @HannahSkvarla traveled together in search of meaningful ways to empower women around the world. On every trip, they loved finding one-of-a-kind handmade goods to bring back to their loved ones. To this day, every item at The Little Market is something our founders have in their homes or would give as a gift. We are proud to be a go-to gifting destination for every occasion and everyone in your life. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ With every gift you give, you are treating your loved ones and making a difference in the lives of the artisans and producers who created it. Learn more and shop now at the link in our bio.

A post shared by The Little Market (@thelittlemarket) on Aug 20, 2020 at 5:07pm PDT

The Little Market qualifies as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. According to their site, the organization made the decision to partner with Amazon Homemade as part of their own desire to seek out partnerships with artisan groups from underserved communities in order to support their livelihood via bolstering their products and through consistent, ethical product purchases.

lauren conrad and hannah skvarla at blogher ‘20 creators summit

About SOPHIA PELOSI

Sophia Pelosi is the Associate Marketing Manager at BlogHer, as well as a contributing author and editor for BlogHer.com. She’s based in New York City, and is passionate about pasta from scratch, daily meditation, the state of Maine, 70s disco fashion and her beagle Lucy. The only commercials she likes are ones that make her laugh or cry, and she didn’t like reading Jane Eyre as much as she thought she would. Follow her on Instagram.