Did you want to open online store for free? Bu there are always some cost included? Well, I was browsing Facebook, when I saw their add where they were asking me if I want to open Online Embroidery store for free on Facebook. I was excited about this opportunity that I couldn’t wait to try it. I know that not all of my readers are computer fans, so I have also prepared Step-By-Step guide on how you can do it too.
Who can do it?
You need to have Facebook account. Without it you can’t open it.
Why should you open it?
I am writing this article in December 2020, when we are deep into COVID-19 second lockdown. Our epidemiologic situation is not well and we have no idea when will they start releasing the restrictions.
Everything I currently need, I purchase ONLINE. If you are a small shop owner or a crafter or an artist, you would invest your time well, to learn these skills now, put your products online. Your online shop will be up and running even after Coronavirus will be under control.
If you have something, you want to sell, you need to put it online, so other people can see it. Facebook shops are also FREE. Facebook is making it easier for us to open an online store with no additional costs that we usually need to pay from other providers.
If you want to, for example, put your shop on Shopify, you need to pay 30 $ each month – and there is always the month when the sales are low.
Quick info
| Shop Platform | Monthly fee & Selling fee |
| Facebook Shop | 1.) if you link to your existing shop, the same rules apply that you have inside the existing shop. 2.) If you use Facebook Checkout, the selling fee is 5% per shipment or a flat fee of $0.40 for shipments of $8.00 or less. You keep the rest of your earnings. |
| Shopify | The basic account starts with 29 $. Shopify has also different plans for online credit card rates & Third-party Payment Processors. |
| Etsy | If you want to sell on Etsy the first cost is $0.20 to publish a listing to the marketplace. Once you sell the product, there is a 5% transaction fee on the sale price (including the shipping price you set). They also have some other fees when you renew your product listing & you can read in more detail in this link ETY FEES. All of the ETSY FEES should be included in the price of your product. |
| eBay | If you sell on eBay, sellers with a basic eBay account pay a 10% final value fee for most items. |
I have been looking for new options where I can present my unique handmade brooches and I Facebook offered me that I can open online embroidery store for free with them. I think this is a great opportunity, that is definitely worth taking, so I have prepared a step-by-step guide for you, that you can easily follow and open your online store now.
How can you open it?
You can open Facebook Store. It is very user friendly process and I will also share my experience with you.
To open a free online shop on Facebook is a 5 step process. My slides are half in English and half in Slovenian language – that is because I come from Slovenia.
Step 1: you learn what you need to open your online shop
And then you click Start Shop Setup.
Step 2: You need to choose a Checkout Method
1. on another web page – I already have a webshop, so I used this option. I was so excited to see this option!! Yes! I can send potential customers directly to my already existing shop.
2. checkout with messaging.
Step 3: you need to insert your email address
Step 4: you need to create your first catalogue
Step 5: The last step is that you submit your shop for review
Additional step: decide if you want to add a shop button to your Facebook page
Finish line: congratulations!! Your free online shop is now live!
You can now look at you shop or start customizing.
Start adding your beautiful products to the catalogue.
There is a very good tutorial provided from Facebook on how to add your first product and customize your shop.
If you prefer video version, I used this one to follow and set up my own shop on Facebook:
What problem will it solve?
If you open your online shop on Facebook, you can use the catalogue and also open it on Instagram. There it is – you can build quickly two online shops. You should know that Facebook has 2.7 billion monthly active users and Instagram has 1 billion monthly active users. All of these users spend a lot of time on social media and with good marketing tactic you are tapping into huge, huge markets – but marketing is a topic for another day.
Pros
- you don’t need a preexisting catalogue of products
- you have full control over which products you add.
- You can add as many products as you wish.
Cons:
- you may make more sales than you expect.
Conclusion
Please, let me know in the comments, how do you like it? Will you open your online store for free? Let’s talke action & show our beautiful products to our potential customers.
Let me know in the comments if you have any questions or if you had problems in any of the steps. Would you add anythings else?
You can also suggest next topic, that is giving you problems and I will write about it.
Stay safe & healthy,
Vesna
You may find this post also useful:
PS: For more ideas Check out Craftsy’s Free Classes!
this business model is very interesting to me as this article points out how much cost-cutting we can do by opening an online store like this. And also we can organize easily as we wish. this article provides all the details of how to do it step by step. also it is a very good thing that you wish to promote your products in other’s online stores as well. that kind of sharing is very helpful in promoting business totally run online present days.
I am very happy that you found new information on how to improve online business. If you have any more questions, please, let me know in the comments. I have a series of such articles planned, I will share them soon.
This looks like something that I should be able to do so easily. It is so much fun thinking about just how awesome I can open my own shop on the internet just the same way you did. It’s a really wonderful idea that I would surely make sure that I explore and this is all thanks to your information.
yes, you are right, it is easy and fast to set up. I think it is an awesome opportunity to promote your business to your potential customers. I am preparing more similar topics that I will share with my readers soon 🙂