Where to Sell Lifestyle Goods Online That’s Not Amazon, Shopify, or eBay

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Selling products online requires thoughtfully planned online marketing to stand out. Fact is, there are hundreds of brands competing for the same audience. 

How to stand out? 

To attract potential customers, strike excitement about every product you sell, and get more sales, you must be selective of the platforms where you sell your products. This will require in-depth market research to determine the following:

• Your ideal customer
• The platform where your ideal customer spends time the most
• The right tone to connect with your audience
• The tools needed to create marketing content that suits your chosen platform

In this guide, we'll explore various platforms where you can sell lifestyle products, ranging from those tailored for businesses to those suitable for selling just a few pieces.

Where to Sell Lifestyle Goods Online 

Etsy

Etsy is a great e-marketplace for selling handmade and vintage products. It's also a popular platform for selling all sorts of lifestyle goods. What's great about Etsy is it remains a small platform compared to eBay or Amazon, so engagement among buyers is very high! The platform offers a range of tools to market your products, customise your listings, and manage orders.

Pros of Selling Lifestyle Products on Etsy:

• Selling lifestyle products lets you show your creative side, standing out in a market that values a unique style.
• Etsy attracts customers looking for handmade, vintage, and unique items. Selling lifestyle products on Etsy lets you reach a niche audience that appreciates personalised and distinctive items.
• Setting up a shop on Etsy is relatively easy and affordable. You can start with a small inventory and gradually expand as your business grows.
• Etsy has a supportive community of sellers and buyers. Engaging with this community can help you build a loyal customer base and gain valuable insights into market trends.

Cons of Selling Lifestyle Products on Etsy:

• Standing out requires unique products and effective marketing strategies.
• Etsy charges fees for listing, transaction, and payment processing. While the fees may seem reasonable, they can add up, impacting your overall profit margins.
• Etsy provides a platform, but your shop may not have the same level of branding as an independent website. This can make it challenging to establish a strong brand identity.
• Etsy may update its policies, affecting how you operate your business. Staying informed and adapting to these changes is vital for long-term success.

TikTok Store

TikTok is more than just a social media site; it's also a giant marketplace! There are loads of goods to sell on the platform, including lifestyle products. This is perfect because most TikTok influencers are already selling a lifestyle. Adding products to the equation makes the most sense. 

Pros of Selling Lifestyle Products on the TikTok Store:

• TikTok has a predominantly young and engaged user base. Selling lifestyle products on the TikTok Store allows you to reach a demographic often interested in trendy, viral, and/or unique items.
• TikTok is known for its viral content. If your product becomes viral on the platform, your content can quickly reach a broad audience, increasing visibility and potential sales.
• TikTok's in-app shopping features allow users to discover and buy products without leaving the platform, streamlining the shopping experience.
• TikTok is a trend-driven platform. If you align your lifestyle products with popular trends, you may see a boost in interest and sales.

Cons of Selling Lifestyle Products on TikTok Store

• Success on TikTok often depends on the platform's algorithm. While your content may go viral, visibility can be unpredictable.
• TikTok videos are short, and users have brief attention spans. Communicating the value of your lifestyle products effectively within a short time frame can be challenging.
• The TikTok marketplace is becoming increasingly competitive. Standing out requires creativity and understanding the platform's algorithm, trends, and user preferences.
• TikTok's format may limit your ability to showcase detailed product information. Users might need to visit external links for comprehensive details, potentially leading to drop-offs.

Facebook Marketplace

Like TikTok, Facebook also offers an online marketplace to sell various products. In fact, it's one of the first social media sites to provide this feature. You can leverage Facebook's powerful search tools to find potential customers, join seller groups, and identify local markets to sell your lifestyle products.

Pros of Selling Lifestyle Products on Facebook Marketplace:

• Facebook Marketplace's massive user base provides a broad audience to sell and promote your lifestyle products. 
• Everyone's on Facebook, and using it for promotions will increase the potential for product visibility.
• You can reach customers in your local area and provide easier and faster transactions. This is particularly advantageous for lifestyle products that may be preferred for in-person inspection or pickup.
• Unlike some online platforms, Facebook Marketplace typically does not charge listing fees, making it an affordable option for sellers and startups.
• The platform's social nature allows users to share listings with friends and family, potentially increasing the reach of your lifestyle products through word-of-mouth.

Cons of Selling Lifestyle Products on Facebook Marketplace:

• Your storefront on Facebook Marketplace may lack customisation options, potentially limiting your ability to establish a unique brand identity.
• The open nature of Facebook Marketplace means increased competition, and standing out will take effort. Your products might get lost among numerous other listings.
• Coordinating with buyers can sometimes be challenging within the Facebook Messenger system. Miscommunications or delays may occur, affecting the overall customer experience.
• Dealing with unfamiliar buyers or sellers on a personal platform can raise security and trust concerns. Some users may be hesitant to engage in transactions due to the informal nature of Facebook.

Ruby Lane

Ruby Lane is a curated online marketplace where you can sell antiques, collectibles, kitschy items, dolls, jewellery, accessories, and other lifestyle products. Although the platform thrives, it's less popular than mainstream marketplaces like eBay. 

Pros of Selling Lifestyle Products on Ruby Lane:

• The platform attracts buyers interested in high-quality, curated, and unique items. This targeted audience can lead to better matches with potential customers for your lifestyle products.
• The platform maintains a strict approval process. This helps ensure a higher standard of products, contributing to a more trusted and reputable environment for buyers.
• Ruby Lane is designed to support small businesses and individual sellers. It offers a platform where unique lifestyle products can gain visibility without being overshadowed by larger competitors.

Cons of Selling Lifestyle Products on Ruby Lane:

• Ruby Lane is niche-focused, meaning there's a smaller audience than general platforms. This limited reach may make it harder to connect with many potential buyers.
• Ruby Lane charges fees for listing items, and these costs can eat into your profits. Sellers need to factor in these fees when setting prices for their lifestyle products.
• For those new to Ruby Lane, there might be a learning curve in figuring out how to effectively use the platform. This could take time and effort that sellers might prefer to spend on other aspects of their business.
• While the niche focus is an advantage, it also means competition within that specific market. Standing out among similar lifestyle products may require extra effort in marketing.
• Ruby Lane may have lower visibility compared to platforms with a broader audience. This can affect the speed at which items sell and the overall success of a seller's business.

Instagram

Instagram is one of the most popular social media sites in the business. You'll undoubtedly get a lot of eyes on your lifestyle goods as a seller. The platform lets sellers create shoppable images so users can click on a product to buy. Using attractive, well-composed photos and videos will also get you a lot of attention on Instagram because it's primarily a photo-sharing platform. 

Pros of Selling Lifestyle Products on Instagram:

• Instagram is a visual-centric platform; it is ideal for showcasing lifestyle products through appealing images and videos that can attract and engage potential buyers.
• With billions of active users, Instagram provides access to a global audience, increasing the potential reach of your lifestyle products.
• Instagram allows direct interaction with customers through comments, direct messages, and features like polls and questions, fostering a sense of community and building relationships.
• Instagram offers in-app shopping features, enabling users to discover, explore, and buy lifestyle products without leaving the platform, streamlining the buying process.
• Automation tools like Tailwind let you schedule posts consistently to build an audience. 

Cons of Selling Lifestyle Products on Instagram:

• Just like TikTok, Instagram's success is influenced by its algorithm. Achieving high visibility can be unpredictable. Sudden changes to the algorithm may impact the reach of your posts.
• The platform is saturated with content, making it challenging to stand out among the vast number of posts. Effective marketing and unique content are crucial for visibility.
• There are some limitations on linking in captions, which can restrict your ability to quickly direct users to external websites or product pages.
• The digital nature of Instagram may result in less personal interaction than in-person or smaller online platforms, affecting the depth of customer relationships.

While there's nothing wrong with using massive marketplaces like eBay, Amazon, or Shopify, it will be hard to stand out and attract potential customers. Smaller marketplaces have high user engagement, but the competition isn't as stiff. We suggest using a mix of big and small marketplaces to cover all bases.

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