Psssshhh…there’s a secret Amazon site
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How could I possibly not know about this?! I am on smile.amazon.com every single day. Still, it came as a true surprise when I—a lover of natural products and long-time Prime member—stumbled on the small crafters’ marketplace.
This happy accident inspired a new series: FarmstandFix.
Why FarmstandFix?
As the warm-weather growing season winds down, I have been searching for something convenient that offers us all a farm stand fix during the cold, dormant months.
The unique products at this marketplace
You can find soaps, skincare, and natural products similar to what you might see at a farm stand or farmers market. But, it’s not just for handmade skincare. The Top 10 Bestsellers right now include one-of-a-kind glasses, ornaments and necklaces. Bonus, even though you are ordering from small businesses, you get the benefit of fast, cheap Amazon shipping. A must.
Through this new series, I will show you easy ways to comparison shop the handcrafted skincare, I am going to spend my own money to buy and produce reviews on items that catch my eye this autumn and winter.
Consider following me to get uninterrupted access to all of my future reviews for FarmstandFix. I don’t sell my email lists. I’m the only one who sees them.
What do you mean “verified”?
Amazon wants the handcrafted marketplace to be a trusted artesian resource.
Artists and handcrafters are incentivized to achieve the handmade designation for their one-of-a-kind products. It’s not just handed out to any seller. They set strict standards around what they are willing to add to the handcrafted offerings.
Product crafters must submit an application to the Amazon fortress so that secret researchers can decide if their company and products meet ‘handmade’ standards. The products must be altered or made entirely by hand by the artist or an employee of the artist’s small business. If they are verified, the artist can post goods in this special marketplace at a discount to what a seller of mass-produced goods would pay.
Don’t worry; you can buy from the Handmade Marketplace
Why am I still buying mass-produced stuff when I can have small batch, natural, handcrafted stuff shipped to me in two days?
Well, lack of awareness for one.
To complicate matters, most small businesses can’t make claims about the benefits of natural ingredients. It’s an FDA thing. Not to mention there’s a lack of real, independent reviews of their highly customized products. The handmade site can be a little overwhelming. It’d be nice to have someone (like me) help point out the good stuff.
Outside of the usual Amazon 1-to-5 star review system, there aren’t a lot of Reviewers out there specializing in Handmade Marketplace
But, I think you know someone who’s up to the challenge.
Me, I meant me.
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