Websites
For Pen Makers

Stand out from the crowd and showcase your handcrafted pens on your own website—a professional, trusted space designed to highlight your craftsmanship and build customer confidence.

With full control over your sales, promotions, and marketing, your website becomes a powerful tool to attract buyers, increase revenue, and create an exceptional shopping experience.

Speak with an expert

Benefits of a Website

Lends legitimacy and professionalism to your brand.

It instills confidence in potential customers, showcasing your commitment to quality craftsmanship and providing a trusted platform for transactions.

Centralized hub to showcase your products and work.

Unlike on crowded marketplace platforms, where your items may get lost among countless others, your website allows you to curate your offerings and present them in a visually appealing and cohesive manner, enhancing their perceived value and attractiveness to buyers.

New avenues for additional sales.

You can implement various marketing strategies, such as discounts, promotions, and cross-selling, directly on your site to incentivize purchases and encourage repeat business.

Built-in customer analytics tools

You gain valuable insights into consumer behavior and preferences, enabling you to tailor your offerings and marketing efforts more effectively. Through targeted marketing campaigns and personalized recommendations, you can engage with your audience more meaningfully, driving traffic to your site and boosting sales in the long run.

Build Your Handmade Pen Website with Confidence

Choosing Where to Build Your Website

Your website starts with two essentials: hosting and platform.
The leading options for pen makers are Wix, Shopify, and GoDaddy — each with their own strengths and tradeoffs.

Quick Take:

Wix: Beautiful templates, easy drag-and-drop galleries, but add-ons (like email) cost extra.
Shopify: E-commerce powerhouse with customizable product pages and email automation.
GoDaddy: Simple setup, especially for small portfolios or first-time sellers.

Upcoming Post(1): Which Website Platform is Best for Pen Makers?

Understanding Fees, Transactions, and Payouts

The numbers matter — especially when your margins are tight. Different platforms charge differently, from Etsy’s listing fees to Wix’s percentage-based sales fees.

✨ Quick Take:

Etsy: $.20 per listing + 6% transaction
Square: 2.6% + $.10 per sale
Shopify: 2.9% + $.30 per sale
Wix: 2.6% flat fee (no listing fees!)

Upcoming Post(1): How Much Does It Really Cost to Sell Pens Online?

What to Look for in Website Tools and Features

Your website isn’t just a catalog — it’s your command center. The right tools save hours, sync inventory, and make selling at fairs or online equally easy.

✨ Quick Take:

POS Systems: Wix’s $80 mobile POS connects directly to your site for events and markets.
Inventory Tracking: Keep tabs on every pen sold — no spreadsheets required.
Email Capabilities: Wix offers business emails for $3/month; Shopify integrates automated campaigns beautifully.

Upcoming Post(2): Beyond Fees: What Else Matters for Makers

What Every Pen Website Needs

(and How to Lay It Out)

Once you’ve chosen your platform, we'll help build the foundation.

✨ Quick Take:

Home Page | Category Page| Product Pages | About You | Contact | Gift guides | Blog
Write with the visitor and search engines in mind
Build your brand story across the pages.

SEO and Storytelling

The prettiest site in the world won’t help if no one can find it. SEO turns your website into a magnet for the right buyers — and storytelling keeps them there once they arrive.

✨ Quick Take:

Use clear, keyword-rich product titles.
Write descriptions that tell your materials’ story.
Add alt text to images so Google “sees” your pens too.

Final Thought

Building your pen website doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Start with the basics, learn as you go, and let your craft take the spotlight. Every click, every photo, every story you add brings you one step closer to the thriving handmade business you’re building.

📬 Want a reminder when new website-building guides drop?
Join the PenClicks newsletter for fresh tutorials, tools, and maker-friendly advice.

How to start a website for pen sales

Starting a website requires two essential ingredients: web hosting and a domain.

Web hosting is a service that provides the necessary infrastructure to store your website's files and make them accessible on the internet. It ensures that your website runs smoothly and can handle traffic from visitors.

My Recommendation: WIX Web Hosting

After working with several types of sites, I recommend Wix for web hosting its simplicity and robust features.

Note: I have not tried Shopify

Wix offers an intuitive drag-and-drop interface, numerous templates, and integrated tools that make website creation and management easy, even for beginners.

Several of my clients have been delighted with their choice after switching over to a Wix website, finding it significantly easier to manage and more effective in showcasing their products and services.

Wix usually offers 50% off the first year of web hosting.

A domain is your website's address, like www.yourbusiness.com, which users type into their browsers to find your site.

For domain purchase, I recommend GoDaddy

It's straightforward process and extensive support features.

GoDaddy provides a user-friendly experience and a wide range of domain options, making it simple to secure a professional web address.

GoDaddy automatically hides your contact information - Wix will publish your address unless you pay a fee.

Together, web hosting and a domain form the foundation of your online presence, allowing you to establish a professional, easily accessible platform to showcase your products and services.

Wix Website for Pen Makers 2024 Prices

I recommend the Core Website Option.

Website for Pen Makers 2024 Annual Prices Break Down

Wix

Cost: 2.6% transaction fee per sale (no listing fees)
Example: A $20 pen sale costs about $0.52

Wix automatically generates a 1099 form at tax time if your sales tax setup is correct — a nice bonus for makers who prefer simple bookkeeping.

👉 Good for: Beginner-friendly sites that still look high-end. Just note that while Wix’s per-sale cost is lower, add-ons (like email marketing or automation) can raise your overall expense over time.

Shopify (Basic Plan)

Cost: 2.9% transaction fee + $0.30 per item
Example: A $20 pen sale costs about $0.88 minimum

👉 Good for: Sellers ready to scale. Shopify is powerful, professional, and integrates with email marketing, SEO, and analytics tools — all in one place.

Etsy

Cost: $0.20 per listing + 6% transaction fee
Example: A $20 pen sale costs about $1.40 minimum
(That’s before any optional ad fees or listing renewals.)

👉 Good for: Getting visibility fast. Etsy’s search traffic is huge, and buyers are already looking for handmade gifts — but fees add up fast as you grow.

Square

Cost: 2.6% transaction fee + $0.10 per item
Example: A $20 pen sale costs about $0.62 minimum

👉 Good for: Craft fairs, local markets, and in-person sales. Square connects easily to your inventory system and works well alongside your online store.

Maker Math

P.O.S. system for Craft Shows

Wix Offers a P.O.S. system for $80 that integrates seamlessly with the website.

This is a great feature for pen makers selling pens are fairs and events. This can be connected to an easy to use phone app.

Wix can track your inventory!!!!!

Wix has business email hosting for $3 per account if you want it!

Pages for a Pen Selling Website

Ready to click your way to selling those beautiful hand-turned pens? Let’s build a website that shows off your craftsmanship, charms your customers, and makes it easy for them to say 'I need that pen!'. Discover the must-haves for a site that turns browsers into buyers and pens into profits.

Wix Demo Site for Pen Makers

I have created a template website that is available for purchase. Please feel free to check it out.

I will update the template with your information and images. I offer free training for how to use your website.

Custom Pens Website

E commerce site

This is a demo site created for participants in the Midwest Pen Turners gathering. Please reach out to me for purchase price.

Click here

The Best Feature of a Wix Website

SEO

One of the standout features of a Wix website is its robust SEO strategy, which is particularly beneficial for boosting your online visibility. Wix provides comprehensive SEO checklists that guide you step-by-step through optimizing your site, ensuring you cover all essential aspects like keyword usage, meta tags, and alt texts. Additionally, Wix’s seamless integration with Google Search Console allows you to monitor your site’s performance, submit sitemaps, and troubleshoot issues directly. This connection helps ensure that your website is easily discoverable by search engines, ultimately driving more traffic to your site.

Help Section

Another major advantage of using Wix is its user-friendly help section, which includes detailed screenshots and instructional videos. This extensive support library covers a wide range of topics, from basic site setup to advanced customization options, making it easy for users of all skill levels to build and maintain their websites. The visual aids, such as step-by-step videos, provide clear guidance, reducing the learning curve and empowering you to effectively utilize all of Wix’s features. This level of support ensures that you can manage your website confidently, knowing that help is readily available whenever you need it.

Alternatives to a Website

Alternatively, pen makers can consider sourcing a resale site to sell their products. While platforms like Etsy, eBay, and Facebook Marketplace can offer an way to reach a customers without the need to manage a website, I have a different recommendation.

Pen makers can consider a partnership with a physical gift store and/or a online gift store.

An example of this would be Lisa Maries Made in Maine. The site sells hand crafted pens made in Maine with unique Maine pieces.

https://lisamariesmadeinmaine.com/pens/