.png)
SNEAK PEAK -Website for Pen makers
- renaealk
- 3 days ago
- 6 min read
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.
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.
How to start a website for pen sales
How to Start a Website for Pen Sales
Starting a website for your handmade pen business comes down to two key ingredients: web hosting and a domain name.
Your web hosting is what keeps your site online — it’s where all your photos, product listings, and stories live. Your domain is the address people type to find you. (Think of it like your digital shop sign.)
The Leading Platforms for Pen Makers
After working with dozens of handmade businesses, here’s what I’ve seen: the current front-runners for pen makers are Wix, Shopify, and GoDaddy. Each one can work beautifully depending on your goals and comfort level.
Wix – Simple, Visual, and Beginner-Friendly
If you’re brand new to websites, Wix is the easiest place to start. Its drag-and-drop builder means you can design your pages like you’re arranging photos on a corkboard. The galleries are gorgeous, and the setup process takes less time than sanding your first pen blank.
But — there are trade-offs.
Many of Wix’s best features (like custom email addresses or advanced marketing tools) cost extra.
Its social integrations are limited and sometimes clunky.
You can’t easily customize category or product pages the way you can in Shopify.
It’s still a fantastic “starter home” for your pen business — just know it’s always evolving, often with new paid upgrades.
Shopify – Built for Selling, Scaled for Growth
Shopify is the powerhouse for handmade product sellers. It’s ideal if you want to grow beyond a hobby site and start building a real online storefront.
What I love:
Beautiful, customizable templates for both product and category pages.
Easy-to-set-up automated emails (perfect for abandoned carts or thank-you messages).
Great built-in image editing and SEO tools.
Where it can frustrate you:
It’s less flexible with photo galleries — you can’t create as many visual “storytelling” pages as you might on Wix.
Some design changes require a little HTML or help from a developer.
If you’re serious about turning your pen-making into a full-fledged online business, Shopify is worth the investment.
GoDaddy – Quick, Reliable, and Budget-Friendly
GoDaddy isn’t fancy, but it gets the job done. It’s great for makers who want a simple, low-maintenance website that looks professional without spending hours tweaking templates.
Pros:
Very affordable plans and solid reliability.
Built-in domain management — you can buy and connect everything in one place.
Straightforward setup, no steep learning curve.
Cons:
Limited design flexibility compared to Wix or Shopify.
Basic e-commerce tools — fine for selling a few pens, but not ideal for scaling up.
Which Should You Choose?
If you’re testing the waters — start with Wix.
If you’re building a brand and plan to scale — go with Shopify.
If you just need something simple, stable, and affordable — GoDaddy will serve you well.
Your website doesn’t have to be perfect on day one. Start with what fits your comfort level and grow into the rest. Just remember: your site is more than a storefront — it’s where your story lives, where collectors fall in love with your craftsmanship, and where your brand starts to shine.
Wix Website for Pen Makers 2024 Prices
I was recommending the Core Website Option. I'm re-evaluating based on marketing and analytics.
WIX Website for Pen Makers 2024 Annual Prices Break Down
DO NOT PAY FULL PRICE. They offer 50%off every few days.
Renewing--- I didn't want to pay full price. I droped down to monthly when it came time for renewal.. and was pleased to be offered 50% within a few days.
Price comparison
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.
Pen Maker Math
We covered transaction fees here, but there’s way more to choosing the right platform than just percentages. Your checkout flow, point-of-sale system, inventory tracking, and email tools can make or break your business once the orders start rolling in.
Check out our upcoming follow-up posts:
“Beyond Fees: What Else Matters for Makers” — a deep dive into the behind-the-scenes tools pen turners really need: P.O.S. systems, inventory syncing, smart email options, taxes, and the ease (or pain) of SEO setup.
“Building a Website That Converts” — your step-by-step guide to homepage layout, product pages, and storytelling that sells.
And once your site’s ready?
Head over to our SEO Series for Pen Makers — where we cover everything from keyword research to page optimization and linking strategies that actually work.
✨ We’ll help you polish, post, and get found — one smart step at a time.
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, the best platform isn’t about the cheapest fees — it’s about the smoothest experience for you and your buyers.
If you want a simple, all-in-one solution with a drag-and-drop site builder, seamless P.O.S., and built-in inventory tracking, Wix is still a top pick for many pen makers.
If you’re ready to scale and want more customization, automated marketing, and growth tools, Shopify is where most pros end up.
And if you just want to dip your toe in and test your audience, Etsy is still the fastest way to get visible fast.
Remember: A great website doesn’t just sell pens — it tells your story, showcases your craftsmanship, and builds a space that feels like you.
Want to get found by the right buyers — not just more browsers?
Join my free email list for weekly inspiration, writing tools, and creative ideas to help you grow your shop.
💬 Need help crafting your content, finding your story, or building a brand voice that sells?
Book a free intro call—I work with makers who want to sell more by saying more.
And hey, let’s be pen friends:
Or just email renaealk@gmail.com if you’ve got a question.
You don’t have to guess your way through marketing. Here’s free sales strategies we made just for handmade pen sellers —and if you're stuck, reach out for a free call to talk about what’s holding your shop back.
🖊️Want a quick SEO boost? Share a product link you’ve optimized (or plan to!). Real examples help everyone see how keywords actually work in the wild.
Comments