Big Cartel

What is Big Cartel

Big Cartel is an e-commerce platform designed specifically for artists, creators, and small businesses. Its core purpose is to provide a simple and affordable way for independent makers to build their own online store and sell their products, such as clothing, art, jewelry, and music. Founded in 2005 by Matt Wigham, the company focuses on empowering the creative community, offering a straightforward alternative to more complex and expensive platforms. Big Cartel is known for its user-friendly interface, clean design templates, and a strong sense of community, making it a popular choice for those starting their first online business.

Big Cartel Features

Big Cartel provides a focused set of features to help creators sell their work effectively.

• Customizable Storefronts: Users can choose from over a dozen free, professionally designed templates. These templates are mobile-responsive and can be customized with logos, colors, and fonts to match a brand's identity.
• Product Management: Easily add products, including multiple images, detailed descriptions, and product variants like size or color. You can also import existing product listings from platforms like Etsy or Shopify.
• Order Management: A simple dashboard allows you to track incoming orders, manage fulfillment, print packing slips, and communicate with customers.
• Payment Processing: Integrates with leading payment gateways like Stripe and PayPal, allowing you to accept credit cards, debit cards, Venmo, and other popular payment methods.
• Inventory Tracking: Keep track of your stock levels automatically. The system updates inventory as sales are made to prevent overselling.
• In-Person Selling: The Big Cartel mobile app for iOS and Android lets you manage your store and sell products in person at markets, concerts, or pop-up events.
• Discounts and Promotions: Create discount codes to offer promotions, run sales, or provide special offers to customers.
• Real-Time Statistics: A dashboard provides at-a-glance stats on your store's visitors, orders, and conversion rates.
• Human Customer Support: Access to a support team of real people to help with any questions or issues.

Big Cartel Pricing Plans

Big Cartel offers a tiered pricing structure designed to scale with a business's growth. There are three main plans.

• Gold Plan: This is the free entry-level plan. It is ideal for new sellers or artists with a small inventory who want to establish an online presence without any initial cost. It includes basic features and allows for a limited number of product listings.
• Platinum Plan: This paid plan is for growing businesses that need to list more products and access more advanced features. It offers a higher product limit, theme code editing, and Google Analytics integration.
• Diamond Plan: This is the top-tier plan, suited for established businesses with a larger inventory and higher sales volume. It provides the highest number of product listings and includes all available features for managing a store at scale.

Big Cartel Free Plan

Yes, Big Cartel offers a completely free plan called the Gold plan. It is not a trial and can be used for as long as you need. The free plan allows you to list up to 5 products with one image per product. It includes a customizable storefront, real-time stats, the ability to sell online and in-person, and options for running discounts. It is a great way for new sellers to start an e-commerce business with zero monthly fees.

How to use Big Cartel

Getting started with Big Cartel is a straightforward process designed to get your store online quickly.

1. Sign Up and Choose a Plan: Create an account and select a plan that fits your needs, starting with the free Gold plan if you wish.
2. Pick a Theme: Browse the available free themes and select one that best represents your brand. You can customize it later.
3. Add Your Products: Go to your dashboard and start adding products. Upload high-quality images, write compelling descriptions, set prices, and define any product variants.
4. Set Up Shop Details: Configure your store settings. This includes setting up payment options by connecting a Stripe or PayPal account, and defining your shipping rates for different regions.
5. Customize Your Design: Fine-tune your store's look and feel. Add your logo, change colors, and organize your products into categories.
6. Launch and Promote: Once you are happy with your store, launch it to the public. Share your store's URL on social media, with your email list, and through other marketing channels to start driving traffic and making sales.

Pros and Cons of Big Cartel

Pros

• Ease of Use: The platform is incredibly simple and intuitive, making it perfect for beginners without technical skills.
• Affordable: With a permanent free plan and low-cost paid tiers, it is one of the most budget-friendly e-commerce solutions.
• No Transaction Fees: Big Cartel does not charge its own transaction fees on any plan. You only pay the standard fees from your payment processor (Stripe or PayPal).
• Artist-Focused: The platform and its community are built around the needs of independent artists, makers, and creators.
• Clean and Simple Designs: The templates are modern, minimalist, and focus on showcasing products effectively.

Cons

• Limited Scalability: The feature set is basic compared to larger platforms like Shopify. It may not be suitable for very large businesses with complex inventory or marketing needs.
• Fewer Integrations: There are fewer third-party apps and integrations available compared to competitors.
• Limited Customization: While themes are customizable, the options are not as extensive as on other platforms unless you are comfortable editing code (available on paid plans).
• Basic Marketing Tools: The built-in marketing and SEO tools are not as advanced as those found on more robust platforms.

Big Cartel integrations

Big Cartel integrates with essential tools and services to extend your store's functionality. You can connect your shop with:

• Stripe and PayPal: For secure online payment processing.
• Google Analytics: To get in-depth insights into your website traffic and customer behavior (available on paid plans).
• ShipStation and Pirate Ship: To streamline your shipping and fulfillment process.
• Mailchimp: To connect your store for email marketing campaigns.
• Facebook and Instagram: To tag and sell products directly through social media.
• Zapier: To connect your Big Cartel store to thousands of other web applications for automating workflows.

Big Cartel Alternatives

• Shopify: A powerful and highly scalable e-commerce platform with a vast app store and extensive features. It is better for larger businesses that need advanced functionality and are willing to pay higher fees.
• Etsy: A large online marketplace for handmade and vintage goods. It offers a built-in audience but charges listing and transaction fees, and you don't get a standalone website.
• Squarespace: A website builder known for its beautiful, design-focused templates. It has strong integrated e-commerce features, making it a great choice for brands that prioritize aesthetics and content.
• Wix: A flexible drag-and-drop website builder that also offers robust e-commerce capabilities. It provides a high degree of design freedom and a large app market.
• Gumroad: A simple e-commerce platform focused on selling digital products, courses, and subscriptions directly to an audience. It is a strong alternative for creators focused on digital goods.

Big Cartel API

Yes, Big Cartel provides a REST API for developers. The API allows you to programmatically access and manage store data, such as products, orders, and customers. This enables the creation of custom applications, mobile apps, or private integrations for a Big Cartel shop. You can obtain API credentials by creating a private app within your Big Cartel account settings under the 'Apps & Integrations' section. The API documentation is available on the Big Cartel developers page.

Here is a basic example of how to fetch products using the API with curl:

curl -X GET 'https://api.bigcartel.com/v1/accounts/{account_id}/products' \
-H 'Authorization: Bearer your_api_key' \
-H 'Content-Type: application/vnd.api+json' \
-H 'Accept: application/vnd.api+json'

Big Cartel Affiliate program

Big Cartel does not have a public, formal affiliate program where individuals can sign up to earn commissions for referrals. The company focuses its growth on organic word-of-mouth within the creative community. If you are an influencer or a business that would like to explore partnership opportunities, it is best to contact their support or business development team directly through their website to discuss potential collaborations.