Join a handmade marketplace built for real makers. Share your story, grow your audience, and sell confidently with tools designed for craftsmanship-first businesses.
We Make It Local is designed to help independent makers stand out, connect with real buyers, and build a sustainable business around quality handmade work.
We Make It Local helps shoppers discover handmade work near home and across the country, making it easier for your products to reach customers who value local craftsmanship.
This local-first approach strengthens communities, supports small businesses, and gives buyers a direct way to invest in American makers and meaningful products.
Track orders, manage listings, monitor performance, and update your storefront from an intuitive dashboard built to support everyday selling.
With analytics, communication tools, and streamlined management workflows, you can spend less time wrestling with admin and more time making.
We keep entry costs low so you can launch your products, test ideas, and grow your visibility without piling on unnecessary overhead.
That means more room to focus on your products, your photography, and the story behind your work rather than fighting the platform.
Our platform is designed to create a trustworthy experience for buyers and sellers, with tools that keep your storefront manageable and your business protected.
Stay in control with a mobile-friendly platform that gives you access to your storefront, orders, and updates wherever you are.
Use secure payment tooling that supports a smooth checkout experience and helps you get paid without unnecessary friction.
Use your sales and performance data to make smarter decisions, strengthen visibility, and improve what shoppers see first.
Reach customers across the United States, build a following for your work, and create more ways for shoppers to discover what makes your products different.
Build a loyal audience that comes back for your style, your story, and the craftsmanship behind your products.
Increase exposure with better discovery, stronger presentation, and the marketing support you need to stand out.
Expand beyond individual orders with opportunities that help your work reach larger buyers and repeat customers.
Real makers build real businesses here. These stories show the kind of products, creativity, and personal brands shoppers connect with on WMIL.
Kyle and Katie Turner launched their woodworking business in 2019, combining Katie’s finishing and layout expertise with Kyle’s engineering and design skills to build handcrafted products from locally sourced rough-cut lumber.
Diana built Urbantique QC around refinishing worn, forgotten furniture into one-of-a-kind statement pieces, pairing craftsmanship, sustainability, and a sharp design eye into a business buyers remember.
Jennifer Cupp’s work combines whimsical florals, pattern, churches, barns, and heavy texture to create a distinct visual style that feels personal, collectible, and instantly recognizable.
Ellie creates acrylic artwork with bold Southwestern hues, flourishing florals, abstract mountains, and signature paint-pen waves that make her style unmistakably her own.
The owners of Buttercupp Candles LLC create high-quality scented soy candles hand poured in Moline, Illinois. What started in their kitchen grew into a warehouse setup and a true family business.
Everything you need to know before you apply, from fees and shipping to listings, payments, and policies.
To set up a seller account, click on “Become A Maker“. You’ll then be prompted to complete the seller registration, which may include verifying your identity, including submitting a video for proof of making the items you will be selling. Once your account is verified, you can create your storefront, add a profile image, begin listing items for sale, linking a bank account.
*Please remember, this is a handmade site only, if you do not make the product, you will not be approved. If WMIL discovers you do not make the product, we will remove your account from the site.
WMIL seller fees include 10% of the final order and transaction fees (2.9% + $.30 on each sale), and optional advertising or promotional fees. You can find a detailed breakdown of all fees on our “Seller Fees” page in your account dashboard.
You can choose to ship yourself, but all orders will have to have a tracking number. You can use WMIL’s built-in shipping. Buyers usually pay for shipping at checkout, but you may also offer free shipping if you choose. Once an order is placed, simply print the shipping label, pack the item securely, and update the tracking information in your orders dashboard.
WMIL will have a no refund policy as all items will be custom and handmade. IF there is a problem with the order, you can choose to accept or decline returns, offer full or partial refunds, or request that items be shipped back to you. When a customer initiates a return, review the request promptly and communicate any specific instructions directly with them.
We use Stripe Express to handle seller payments. When you onboard, you’ll connect a bank account to your own Stripe Express account. After an order is marked shipped, funds move to your Stripe balance and are paid out based on the payout schedule you manage in Stripe Express. You can view payment history, upcoming payouts, and tax forms anytime in your Stripe Express dashboard. We don’t store your banking details!
To create a listing, go to your account dashboard and select “Add a Listing.” Provide a title, description, price, and photos of the product.
To optimize your listing, use clear, descriptive titles and keywords relevant to the item. High-quality images and a detailed product description will help increase the visibility and appeal of your listing.
WMIL has strict guidelines on what can and cannot be sold. Items such as hazardous materials, counterfeit goods, and certain categories of adult content are prohibited. Review the “Prohibited Items Policy” in the Help Center to ensure your listings comply with our guidelines.
When a customer sends a question, respond as soon as possible to provide excellent service. Be polite and professional in all interactions. You’ll also have the chance to respond to customer feedback and reviews on your products, especially if you need to address concerns or resolve any issues that may arise.
To increase your listings’ visibility, use relevant keywords, consider using WMIL paid ad options, and promote your shop through social media or email marketing. Positive reviews and high-quality images can also improve your ranking and attract more shoppers!
WMIL automatically calculates sales tax where required, but you’re responsible for managing your income and filing taxes on your earnings. In the “Reports” section of your seller dashboard, you’ll find tools for tracking sales and generating reports, which you can use when preparing your taxes.
Start your application, share your story, and build a storefront that feels as intentional as the products you make.
