Header bg
  • section background

    3 Online Marketplaces to Sell Your Products

    Hero bg 2
    sell on online marketplaces canada

    If you’re wondering what online store would be best for selling your merchandise, we’ve got a comprehensive guide to three of the most popular options.

    Are you looking for a new way to make money? If so, selling on online marketplaces like Etsy, Amazon, and Ebay is a great option. Whether you’re an experienced ecommerce business owner or just starting out in the world of online sales, these platforms offer huge potential for growth and success.With millions of users around the world, these sites can help get your products in front of the right people. In this blog post we’ll discuss how to get started selling on these marketplaces and what makes them unique.


    Need Insurance for Your Small Business?

    Get a Free Quote


    3 of the Most Common Online Marketplaces

    Ebay, Amazon and Etsy are three of the most popular online marketplaces for selling products. Ebay is one of the oldest and most established platforms, offering a wide range of items from books to furniture. On the other hand, Amazon offers low fees but can be quite competitive with many sellers listing similar items at once. Finally, Etsy is great for handmade or vintage pieces; it’s user-friendly and doesn’t take a cut of your profits like some other sites. Read on to find out more about these marketplaces in depth.

    Etsy

    Etsy is a great choice for anyone looking for an online shopping platform for selling vintage or handmade products like stickers, jewelry, clothing, and home decor. To get started with Etsy, you’ll need to create an account and set up shop within their website. They offer tools and resources to help you create beautiful listings in order to showcase your items effectively. You can also join their Seller Protection Program to ensure that your products are protected against fraud and scams.

    Pros of selling on Etsy

    One of the pros of selling on Etsy is that it’s very affordable; you only need to pay a small listing fee for each item and a low transaction fee. Plus, you have the potential to reach millions of people around the world with your products.

    Cons of selling on Etsy

    Etsy may be an attractive platform to get your handmade and vintage products listed, but it does come with a few downsides. First of all, Etsy can be quite competitive; other sellers may have similar items listed at the same time as you, making it difficult to stand out from the crowd and make sales.In the early days of Etsy, supply was low and demand was high, so it was easy to make a name for yourself selling your homemade merchandise. However, the site’s popularity has since risen, bringing with it plenty of new sellers looking to start their own business.Additionally, while Etsy offers low transaction fees, it does take a cut of the total price you charge for your products. So if you’re looking to make a lot of money from selling on Etsy, you may not be able to do so as easily as with other platforms without putting time and money into other advertising strategies.


    Need Insurance for Your Small Business?

    Get a Free Quote


    Amazon

    Amazon is an excellent choice for anyone looking to sell both new and used items, like books, electronics, toys, clothing, and more. To get started with Amazon, you’ll need to create a seller account on their website. From there you can list items and set up shipping. Amazon also offers tools like Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) which allows you to outsource product storage, fulfillment, and customer service for your business.

    Pros of selling on Amazon

    One of the major benefits of selling on Amazon is its reach. With millions of active customers all over the world, your products could have potential to be seen by a wide and diverse customer base. Additionally, Amazon offers very competitive fees; you only need to pay a small commission on each sale as well as a low listing fee for each item. Plus, Amazon offers a wide range of tools and resources to help you set up your business and start selling as soon as possible.

    Cons of selling on Amazon

    Amazon suffers from some of the same cons as Etsy, such as its highly competitive nature. You’ll have to focus on getting great feedback, making sure your orders go out on time, and making sure your products stay stocked. This can help you get and keep a good seller’s rating, which will encourage your audience to trust you above other sellers.Just like Etsy, Amazon also charges seller fees. The two main plans currently offered are the Professional and Individual plans.

    • Professional sellers can sell as many items as they want for $40 per month.

    • Individual sellers don’t have to pay a monthly fee, but they are charged $1 on every sale they make.

    Be sure to weigh out which plan is right for you. Many people recommend starting on the individual seller plan until they have enough traction to sell more than 40 items a month.


    Need Insurance for Your Small Business?

    Get a Free Quote


    Ebay

    Finally, Ebay is a great platform for anyone looking to sell used items or even rare collectibles. To get started on Ebay, you’ll need to create a seller account and follow their rules for listing items. They also offer tools like Turbo Lister which makes it easy to create listings quickly.Turbo Lister from eBay is a great tool for any seller who wants to create listings quickly and easily. It offers a user-friendly platform with an easy-to-use drag and drop feature that makes it simple to upload photos, descriptions, and prices for your products. Plus, with Turbo Lister’s automated scheduling capabilities, you can easily set up scheduled listings for any time of the day or week.

    Pros of selling on Ebay

    Ebay offers extremely low fees so you can maximize your profits, as well as a wide range of tools and resources to help you get started quickly and easily. There’s also no limit to the number of items you can list on Ebay, so you’re free to sell as many items as you’d like.Another benefit to selling on Ebay is that it’s very easy and user-friendly; buyers can find your listings through search or category filters, allowing them to easily find what they’re looking for. In addition, Ebay offers an excellent customer service platform, with a dedicated team of experts to help you with any issues that arise.

    Cons of selling on Ebay

    While Ebay is competitive and charges commission fees just like the other platforms we’ve mentioned, there are some other disadvantages as well. For instance, the auction model which helped the online marketplace gain popularity can be tedious for sellers. You’ll have to be sure to monitor the bidding process constantly, and reactivate the listings should they expire without getting any bids.Ebay also doesn’t allow sellers to customize their product listings outside of their own options, so it can be hard to cater your specific product to your customer’s needs.


    Need Insurance for Your Small Business?

    Get a Free Quote


    Do Your Research

    Selling on online marketplaces is an excellent way to make money, but it’s important to do your research before getting started. Research the platforms’ policies, understand their fees, and read up on best practices to ensure you have a successful business. With the right preparation and dedication, you can build up a successful online business right from the comfort of your own home.

    Make Sure to Have the Proper Insurance

    Whether you’re using Etsy, Amazon, or Ebay, selling on online marketplaces can be a great way to make money. However, when you’re running an ecommerce business, it’s important to have the right insurance in place. Business insurance can help protect your ecommerce business from any unexpected losses or damages that may occur while running your business. It’s important to get the right coverage for your business, so make sure you speak with a trusted insurance provider to explore coverage options that match your needs.

    APOLLO Insurance is here to help, with effortless solutions for digital insurance, providing you with peace of mind so you can stay focused on what matters. Get your free quote instantly and have your policy sent right to your inbox within fifteen minutes.


    APOLLO Has You Covered

    Get the protection you need in minutes with custom Business Insurance from APOLLO.

    Get a Free Quote


    Originally published January 4, 2023, updated August 25, 2023

    Back to APOLLO Magazine
    Share this article

    Get Tenant Insurance in less than a minute

    Get no-nonsense coverage that's the best value for your money. Purchase policies starting at $11/month, receive your documents instantly, and save when you buy online.

    Get a free quote

    4.6 rating

    Google Logo

    Get Tenant Insurance in less than a minute

    Get no-nonsense coverage that's the best value for your money. Purchase policies starting at $11/month, receive your documents instantly, and save when you buy online.

    Relevant articles

    marketing ideas for small business Canada

    17 Marketing Ideas to Promote Your Business

    how to start a small business in Alberta Canada

    What Are My Rights as a Tenant in Alberta?

    rent increase bc canada

    Canadian Renters 101: Vancouver Tenant Rights

    business insurance Nova Scotia

    Canadian Renters 101: Nova Scotia Tenant Rights

    section background
    section background

    Getting insured is as easy as 1 - 2 - 3

    Tell us (very little) about yourself
    1

    Tell us (very little) about yourself

    Just tell us your address, your name, email and phone number. And that's it. We'll give you a price in less than a minute.

    Pay online easily and securely
    2

    Pay online easily and securely

    You can choose to pay monthly or save money by paying for the entire year in one easy payment.

    Get your documents in your inbox - instantly
    3

    Get your documents in your inbox - instantly

    As soon as you complete your purchase, you'll find your proof of insurance and policy documents waiting for you in your inbox.

    Get covered today - it couldn’t be easier

    We’ve provided more than 1,000,000 quotes to Canadians just like you. Give it a try!

    Google Logo

    Reviews

    4.6 rating

    1,554 reviews

    view all

    Across Canada

    Contact Us
    Apollo logo

    © 2024 APOLLO Insurance Solutions Ltd.

    111 Water Street, Unit 210, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6B 1A7

    APOLLO Insurance Agency Ltd. (o/a APOLLO Brokerage in the province of Ontario only) is a licensed retail brokerage, offering our clients with a comprehensive set of insurance solutions to meet their individual needs. APOLLO Insurance Agency Ltd. maintains necessary corporate licensing in provinces across Canada. Availability of products and service depends on licensing and product availability. The information that appears on this page is provided for information purposes only. Advertised products and prices are not guaranteed and vary based on insurance provider and/or insurance company's discretion and product availability.

    Transparency and Disclosure: APOLLO Insurance Agency's role is to provide you with exceptional service and the best insurance products that suit your needs. As a licensed retail brokerage, our compensation is based on a commission basis already built into your insurance premium and varies based on the product purchased through our platform. For a description of how APOLLO Insurance Agency is compensated and how this is calculated, please refer to our Compensation Disclosure document. For consumers in Ontario, please review the RIBO Conduct Fact Sheet and the RIBO Conduct Guidance document.