Selling Sri Lankan crafts and products on Amazon and eB

From Local Bazaar to Global Marketplace: The Opportunity on Amazon & eBay

You’ve spent years perfecting your craft. You watch as your hand-carved elephants or intricate batik wall hangings are sold at a local market, often to a middleman who will mark them up significantly. The frustration is real; you know your work is worth more, but reaching a global audience feels like a distant dream. How do you get your products directly into the hands of customers who will truly appreciate their value?

This is where the digital marketplace changes everything. Platforms like Amazon and eBay are not just for large corporations; they are accessible to Sri Lankan entrepreneurs. As an officially accepted country for seller registration on Amazon, you can set up a global storefront from your workshop. The key is knowing where to start, and for artisans, the most direct path is often Amazon’s specialized program.

The Amazon Handmade Advantage

Amazon Handmade is a curated marketplace designed specifically for artisans from over 80 countries, including Sri Lanka. After a straightforward application to verify your products are genuinely handcrafted, you gain access to a massive audience. The best part? Amazon waives its standard US$39.99 monthly Professional seller fee for approved Handmade artisans. This is a significant saving. Instead, you pay a simple 15% referral fee only when you make a sale. No listing fees. No hidden charges. Imagine your hand-painted ceramic collection, previously sold locally, now listed for buyers in Berlin or Tokyo.

Of course, there are practical steps. You’ll need to manage international shipping, using services like DHL, or consider using Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) once you have consistent sales, though be mindful of the initial cost to ship inventory to a US or EU warehouse. eBay also presents a strong alternative, offering a different auction-style and fixed-price environment that can be excellent for unique, one-of-a-kind items. The path isn’t without its challenges, but the opportunity to transform a local passion into a global business is finally within reach.

Sourcing Authenticity: Choosing and Preparing Your Sri Lankan Products for Sale

You’ve seen them: generic, mass-produced items masquerading as “authentic” Sri Lankan crafts online. It can be frustrating to know you have access to the real thing—beautiful, handmade goods with a story—but feel unsure how to make them stand out in a crowded marketplace. Your connection to genuine artisans is your greatest asset, yet translating that into a compelling, trustworthy product listing feels like a huge hurdle.

Now, you might be wondering how to choose the right products and prepare them to truly reflect their quality. The secret is to go deep, not wide. Instead of listing generic “wooden elephants,” focus on a specific, verifiable craft. For instance, source traditional Raksha masks directly from an artisan family in Ambalangoda. This specificity becomes your brand story and a powerful selling point. Buyers on platforms like Amazon and eBay are searching for uniqueness, not just another souvenir.

Vetting and Preparing Your Inventory

Once you’ve chosen your niche, meticulous preparation is everything. Before you even think about photography, inspect each item. A handwoven Dumbara reed mat might have minor variations, which add to its charm, but a crack in a clay pot is a defect. Create a simple quality control checklist. For packaging, invest in sturdy materials that can withstand international transit via services like DHL. Your box is the first physical impression a customer has of your brand. A well-packaged item communicates care and professionalism, justifying a premium price and building the trust needed for that all-important positive review. This is especially true when applying for curated programs like Amazon Handmade, which vets artisans from over 80 countries, including Sri Lanka, to ensure products are genuinely handcrafted.

Navigating the Digital Giants: A Step-by-Step Guide to Setting Up Your Stores

You’ve perfected your craft, creating beautiful hand-carved masks or vibrant batik textiles. Now you face the digital equivalent of a mountain: a sign-up page for Amazon or eBay, filled with jargon and choices that feel overwhelming from thousands of miles away. It’s enough to make anyone put it off for another day. This brings us to something often overlooked: these platforms have built specific, welcoming paths for artisans just like you.

While eBay offers a straightforward international seller setup, Amazon has a dedicated program that is a perfect fit for Sri Lankan craftspeople. It’s called Amazon Handmade, and it’s open to artisans from over 80 countries, including Sri Lanka. It cuts through the complexity by design.

Your Amazon Handmade Blueprint

Getting started is a methodical process, not a sprint. Follow these core steps to build your foundation correctly from the start.

• Create a Seller Central Account: First, register for a standard Amazon seller account. Yes, Sri Lanka is an officially supported country. You will need to select the Professional plan to access Handmade.
• Apply to Amazon Handmade: This is a separate application where you detail your craft process. They want to ensure your products are genuinely handcrafted by you or a small team, preserving the integrity of the marketplace.
• Enjoy the Benefits: Once approved, Amazon waives the US$39.99 monthly Professional plan fee. Your only primary cost is a flat 15% referral fee on each item sold. No listing fees. No hidden charges.

Think about the logistics early. For example, a woodcarver from Galle could use Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA), but this means absorbing the high initial cost of shipping a bulk order to a US warehouse. Many sellers start by fulfilling orders themselves using reliable couriers like DHL, gaining experience before considering FBA.

Bridging the Miles: Mastering International Shipping and Logistics from Sri Lanka

You’ve done it. You listed your beautiful, hand-carved masks, and your first international order just came in. The initial excitement is quickly replaced by a wave of anxiety. How do you get this fragile item from Colombo to California without it costing a fortune or getting lost in transit? This logistical puzzle stops many talented Sri Lankan creators before they even start.

And this is where things get practical. You essentially have two paths for getting your products to customers: fulfilling orders yourself or letting Amazon do it for you.

Option 1: Seller-Fulfilled Shipping

This is the most common starting point. You package and ship each order directly to the customer. For this, you need a reliable courier partner like DHL who can provide international tracking—a non-negotiable for both Amazon’s policies and customer peace of mind. For example, when you sell a delicate batana-leaf box, you’ll be responsible for protective packaging, filling out customs declarations (correctly classifying it as a “handicraft”), and absorbing the shipping cost or passing it to the buyer. It gives you full control but requires daily effort.

Option 2: Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA)

With FBA, you ship your products in bulk to an Amazon fulfillment center in your target market (like the US or UK). When an order comes in, Amazon picks, packs, and ships it. Your products become eligible for Prime shipping, a huge conversion booster. The challenge? The initial cost of shipping a large batch from Sri Lanka is significant. This path is better suited for sellers with proven, fast-moving products. While Amazon Handmade waives the usual US$39.99 monthly Professional seller fee for approved artisans, you must still factor in their 15% referral fee and FBA storage costs when pricing your goods.

Beyond the Listing: Marketing Your Sri Lankan Treasures for Lasting Success

You’ve done it. Your beautiful, hand-painted batik wall hanging is finally listed on Amazon. You meticulously photographed it, wrote a description, and set a fair price. You wait. And you wait. The silence can be discouraging, making you question if a global audience truly wants what you have to offer. The truth is, getting your product live is not the finish line; it’s the starting gun.

Craft a Compelling Narrative

Your product isn’t just an item; it’s a story. International buyers are not just purchasing a mask, they are buying a piece of Sri Lankan culture. Use your product description and Amazon’s A+ Content to tell that story. Instead of saying, “Wooden elephant statue,” describe it as, “A suriya mara wood elephant, hand-carved by a third-generation artisan family in Kandy, using techniques passed down for centuries.” Explain the symbolism. Showcase the process. This transforms a simple commodity into a unique treasure and justifies a premium price.

Utilize Artisan-Focused Programs

Selling on the general marketplace pits your unique craft against mass-produced goods. This is where programs like Amazon Handmade become essential. Open to artisans from over 80 countries, including Sri Lanka, this curated section requires an application to verify your products are genuinely handcrafted. Once approved, Amazon waives the US$39.99 monthly Professional seller fee, a significant saving. While they charge a 15% referral fee per sale, you gain access to customers specifically looking for authentic, artisanal products. This positions your work correctly from the start.

Invest in Authentic Visuals

Your photos must do more than just show the product; they must convey its texture, quality, and soul. Use high-resolution images that capture the intricate weave of a Dumbara mat or the subtle glaze on a piece of ceramic. Include lifestyle shots showing the item in a home setting. A potential buyer in London or Tokyo needs to imagine your creation in their own space. These visual details build the trust needed to make a purchase, turning a curious browser into a loyal customer.