Artist Qualifications

Handmade Craft Made in the USA & Canada

Jury process required.

The IndieMe Marketplace is a collection of artist-owned studios within the USA and Canada. Regardless of the participating showcase, all artists must qualify as follows:

  • All work, especially main design elements, must be of original design by the artist/studio.
  • No work may be assembled from commercial kits or commercial molds.
  • All work must be made or assembled within the USA or Canada.
  • Want to strengthen your jury readiness? IndieMe Academy helps artists improve wholesale pricing, product photography, product descriptions, and buyer outreach. Explore IndieMe Academy.
Handcrafted glass art example from IndieMe artist

Living in Glass Houses

IndieMe reserves the right to refuse any enrollment for any reason, including not fully meeting these qualification requirements or misrepresentation in the type of work, quality of work, or quality of images presented for screening. After acceptance, artists are expected to continue presenting the same or better photography and must request additional screening before showing new media other than what was presented originally.

Be prepared for the jury process. Take great photos on neutral backgrounds and be sure to price your work for wholesale. Retailers will, on average, price your work at a minimum of 2x (also known as keystoning). Many retailers price at 2.5 and above. Learn more about flat fee vs. commission-based platforms.

Showcases

When applying, each artist must select an appropriate showcase category for their work, which has the following additional requirements:

Our largest showcase featuring handmade crafts in all media.

  • Artists are screened by providing 12 product images, and 1 image of the artist making their work.
  • All work must be at least partially handmade, using some, little or no prefabricated material.
  • All work must be made by the artist, or employees and contractors may be used.

Jewelry artists and designers selling all price ranges.

  • Artists are screened by providing 12 product images, and 1 image of the artist making their work.
  • All work must be at least partially handmade, using some, little or no prefabricated material.
  • All work must be made by the artist, or employees and contractors may be used.
  • Jewelry bead artists must have a minimum of 5 successful/current wholesale accounts and may be asked to supply references.

Handmade wearable art and fashion accessories.

  • Artists are screened by providing 12 product images, and 1 image of the artist making their work.
  • All work must be at least partially handmade, using some, little or no prefabricated material.
  • All work must be made by the artist, or employees and contractors may be used.

Unique candles, soaps, aromatics and well-being products.

  • Artists are screened by providing 12 product images, and 1 image of the artist making their work.
  • All work must be at least partially handmade, using some, little or no prefabricated material.
  • All work must be made by the artist, or employees and contractors may be used.

Prints, photos, cards & unique gifts inspired by original art.

  • Artists are juried by providing 12 product images.
  • All work must be an original design of the artist studio, and may be manufactured/printed with contractors within the USA or Canada.
  • All work must be made by the artist, or employees and contractors may be used.

Highly original handmade work from artists new to the wholesale market.

  • Artists are screened by providing 12 product images, and 1 image of the artist making their work.
  • All work must be at least partially handmade, using some, little or no prefabricated material.
  • All work must be made by the artist, or employees and contractors may be used.
  • Artist must have a limited line of work.
  • Artist is required to have limited experience in the wholesale market, less than 10 wholesale accounts and no trade show exhibition experience.
  • Artist will receive mentoring from staff and artist mentors at no additional cost.

Acceptable Formats

IndieMe allows artists to upload multiple digital images for each of their products without assistance from our staff. JPEG and TIFF files are acceptable digital formats for our automated system. When uploading, we recommend your images be sized at a maximum of 1000 x 1000 pixels for both vertical and horizontal images at 72 dpi with a maximum of 4 MB. This size allows for our system to automatically create a 185 x 185 thumbnail along with a larger image for your item.

Photography

Image quality is of utmost importance when presenting and selling your work online. IndieMe requires high-quality photography at all times. Consider investing in professional photography when possible. Include both lifestyle images and neutral backgrounds capturing the product in various settings and angles.

DIY Images

If you are shooting your own images, here are a few suggestions:

Choose the Right Digital Camera

You should use a digital camera when photographing your own work for the site. It will allow you to take unlimited shots, giving you the freedom and opportunity to perfect your images. You will also be able to transfer the images directly to your computer, avoiding scanning fees, hassle and delay. Find a camera that fits within your quality and price requirements.

Experiment with your Lighting

It will be well worth your time and effort once you find the best lighting options. Experiment with indoor/outdoor lighting, different bulb types, angles, etc. until you have found the best option for shooting your art. Dark or washed out images will not be accepted.

Use Neutral, Consistent Backgrounds

Use a neutral color like black, white or gray when possible. Gradients also work very well. Smooth backgrounds work best; sheets or blankets may have wrinkles or creases, and backgrounds like carpets and grass can take attention away from the item you are photographing. Avoid shiny backgrounds that cause glare. Keep your backgrounds consistent throughout your shoot. Focus on your product and don't clutter with too many items. You are permitted to upload multiple shots of your products, so use this to show color and style options. Be sure to include lifestyle shots as well. If you have questions, please contact us today.

Like what you see and ready to join?

Great! Review our artist requirements and select the showcase that best suits your medium. Contact us at any time for additional information. Email us at service@indieme.com or call 888-427-2381.

Apply Now