What CIY does

CIY (also branded CIY Crafts) is an Indian direct-to-consumer retailer of arts, crafts, baking, and DIY supplies, founded in 2022 and headquartered in Pune, Maharashtra with a 17-person team. The company operates a Shopify-based e-commerce storefront (ciycrafts.com) spanning 16+ curated categories — from art supplies, beads and jewellery making, papercrafts, and yarn to Indian-specific seasonal assortments (Diwali, Holi, Ganesh Chaturthi, Rakshabandhan) and wedding/event supplies — alongside a single physical showroom in Aundh, Pune that doubles as a 'Sit & Make' free workspace for shoppers. Pricing is in Indian Rupees with low unit prices (₹30–₹425 for typical supplies; ₹249 for a DIY kit) and no subscription model.

The company's monetization operates across three streams: (1) one-time product sales to individual hobbyists, schools, and parents via the Shopify storefront; (2) workshop fees for paid creative sessions (e.g., ₹1,299 for Tote Bag Painting & Embroidery) supplemented by free live demonstrations; and (3) B2B bulk-order contracts via email-based quote pricing aimed at schools, studios, and businesses. Distribution is omnichannel at a small scale: e-commerce website serving India, a single physical store, and direct sales for bulk. Customer engagement relies on SEO-optimized category pages, blog content across craft disciplines, WhatsApp-based support, and a social media presence — with workshops functioning simultaneously as a marketing channel, customer-acquisition mechanism, and revenue stream.

Beyond retail, CIY has begun layering marketplace and community functions, including 'Sell With Us' for artisans to list handmade products on the platform, 'Conduct Workshops' for third-party instructors, and 'Collaborate With Us' for partnerships — positioning the company as a buildout-stage two-sided craft ecosystem rather than a mature retailer. No proprietary technology, no AI/ML features, no API, and no outside funding are disclosed in available sources; the business is privately held and operating with a lean team.

Name

CIY

Website

https://craftityourself.in

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CIY is a Pune-based, India-focused e-commerce and physical retailer of arts, crafts, baking, and DIY supplies, serving individual hobbyists, parents, schools, and event planners via a Shopify storefront spanning 16+ curated categories, complemented by workshops and a B2B bulk-orders program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Arts and crafts supplies retail

NAICS

Hobby, Toy, and Game Retailers (45912)

SIC

Retail-Hobby, Toy & Game Shops (5945)

akta.pro primary industry

General Arts & Crafts Supplies Retail (CRALACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

DIY Craft Kits & Project Kits Retail (CRALACAH), Seasonal & Holiday Craft Supplies Retail (CRALACAI), Beading & Jewelry-Making Supplies Retail (CRALACAE), Crafting Machines & Accessories Retail (Die-Cut, Cricut/Silhouette, 3D Pens) (CRALACAK)

Keywords

• Arts and crafts supplies
• Craft e-commerce retail
• DIY project kits
• Creative workshop services
• Handmade artisan marketplace

Headquarters

HQ city

Pune

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Product Sales: Retail sale of art supplies, craft materials, baking supplies, beads & jewellery making, DIY project kits, fabrics, floral, kids crafts, party supplies, wedding supplies, yarn & needles, and storage/organization products through the e-commerce website. Products are sold at one-time purchase prices with no subscription model.
2. Workshop Fees: Paid creative workshops generate revenue through ticket sales. Workshops include both free live demonstrations (e.g., Clay Dessert Jewellery Box with UV Resin) and paid sessions (e.g., Tote Bag Painting & Embroidery Workshop at ₹1,299). Materials may or may not be included.
3. Bulk/Corporate Orders: B2B sales of art and craft supplies in bulk quantities to schools, studios, and businesses via email inquiry and custom pricing.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

CIY is an Indian e-commerce and omnichannel retailer of arts, crafts, baking, DIY, floral, party, wedding, and hobby supplies, organized across 16+ product categories (art supplies, beads and jewellery making, baking, craft and hobby, DIY home decor, DIY project kits, fabrics and sewing, floral, kids and school crafts, laces/ribbons/trims, papercrafts, party, seasonal and festival, storage and organisation, wedding, yarn and needles). Beyond retail, CIY offers paid and free creative workshops, a physical store in Pune with a free 'Sit and Make' workspace for shoppers, a B2B bulk-order program for schools/studios/businesses, and a 'Sell With Us' marketplace that enables third-party artisans to list and sell handmade craft goods.

Product overview

CIY is an Indian e-commerce craft supplies retailer offering a comprehensive one-stop-shop for art and craft needs. The product portfolio centers on an extensive catalog of craft categories organized as distinct product lines: Art Supplies (canvases, paints, drawing materials), Beads & Jewellery Making, Baking supplies, Craft & Hobby materials, DIY Home Decor, DIY Project Kits (including Fevicreate branded kits), Fabrics & Sewing, Floral, Kids & School Crafts, Laces/Ribbons/Trims, Papercrafts, Party supplies, Seasonal & Festival items (including Indian festivals like Diwali, Holi, Ganesh Chaturthi), Storage & Organisation, Wedding supplies, and Yarn & Needle Arts. Beyond retail products, CIY offers experiential services including creative workshops (free live demos and paid workshops), a physical CIY Store location in Pune, free Sit & Make Art workspace for shoppers, Bulk Orders for schools/studios/businesses, and marketplace seller opportunities for artisans. The platform operates on Shopify e-commerce infrastructure with no AI or API capabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Art Supplies Comprehensive range of art supplies including art gift sets and kits, canvas, drawing supplies, easels and art desks, paints and painting supplies, papers and drawing pads, printmaking materials, and storage and studio supplies for individual artists and hobbyists.
• Beads and Jewellery Making Complete selection of beads, jewellery storage, charms, pendants, crystals, stones, display and packaging, finished jewellery, jewellery clay, cording, findings, metal stamping, resin supplies, stringing materials, and tools and adhesives for jewellery-making hobbyists and makers.
• Baking supplies Baking supplies including bakeware and cookware, baking ingredients, candy making, decoration, decoration tools, kitchen tools, and packaging and display items for home bakers and decorators.
• Craft and Hobby supplies Wide variety of craft supplies including adhesives and magnets, basic craft supplies, books and guides, candle making, clockmaking, costume and cosplay, craft machines, craft paints, craft tools and accessories, diamond painting, foam, handcrafted items, leather crafting, miniatures, model making, mosaics, resin, sculpting and modeling, soap making, stained glass, wood and blank craft surfaces, and wood burning and carving.
• DIY Home Decor DIY home decor items including accent furniture, bathware and accessories, bedding, candles and fragrances, decorative objects, inflatables, kids decor, kitchenware, lighting, outdoor decor, pillows and throws, rugs and mats, seasonal decor, sports fan shop, and wall decor and mirrors.
• DIY Project Kits Pre-assembled DIY project kits for creative makers, including the Fevicreate Make Your Own Solar System kit, providing guided crafting experiences with bundled materials.
• Fabrics and Sewing supplies Fabrics and sewing supplies including sewing baskets and organization, sewing machines and accessories, sewing notions, and sewing patterns for home sewing hobbyists.
• Floral supplies Floral supplies including bowls and vase fillers, dry flowers, floral arrangements, stems, bushes and picks, floral supplies, garlands, greenery, succulents, teardrops and swags, trees and floor plants, vases and containers, and wreaths for floral arrangers and decorators.
• Kids and School Crafts supplies Craft supplies for children including activity kits, art supplies, beads and jewellery, books, building toys, furniture and decor, kids crafting, sensory play, slime, STEAM, teacher supplies, and toys and games.
• Laces, Ribbons, and Trims Decorative trims including basic solid ribbon, decorative ribbon, mesh, nets and tulle, premade bows, ribbon tools and accessories, trim, and value pack ribbon for decoration, gift wrap, and craft projects.
• Papercrafts supplies Paper craft supplies including albums and refills, card making, die cutting, embellishments, inks and mixed media, paper, paper craft kits, planner and journals, stamps and embossing, stickers, and tools and adhesives for paper crafters and scrapbookers.
• Party supplies Party supplies including balloons and accessories, birthday party items, entertaining and catering supplies, gift packing, holiday and special occasions, party decoration, party favors and containers, party games, and party tableware for hosts and event planners.
• Seasonal and Festival supplies Seasonal and festival supplies including back-to-school, Christmas, Diwali, Easter, Fathers Day, Ganesh Chaturthi, Graduation, Halloween, Holi, Mothers Day, National Days, New Year, Rakshabandhan, Ramadan, Spring, Summer, Valentines Day, and Winter collections for India-centric and global occasions.
• Storage and Organisation supplies Storage solutions including art storage, craft storage, home storage and organization, modular storage, office organization and storage, plastic storage bins and totes, storage baskets and boxes, storage carts, and yarn storage.
• Wedding supplies Wedding supplies including bridal accessories, decor, favors, floral and bouquets, gifts, invitations, and shop-by-event categories for weddings and related ceremonies.
• Yarn and Needles supplies Yarn and needle arts supplies including knitting and crochet supplies, needlework and fibre arts, storage and organization, tools and accessories, and yarns for yarn-craft hobbyists.
• Creative workshops Hands-on creative workshops including free live demonstrations (e.g., Clay Dessert Jewellery Box with UV Resin) and paid sessions (e.g., Tote Bag Painting and Embroidery Workshop at ₹1,299), with sessions running 2–3 hours and materials sometimes included.
• Bulk Orders program Bulk-ordering service for schools, studios, and businesses with quote-based custom pricing provided via email inquiry ([email protected]), covering larger quantities of art and craft supplies for institutional and corporate use.
• Sit and Make Art workspace Free on-site creative workspace provided to customers who shop supplies, allowing them to make craft projects in-store at the Pune location.
• Sell With Us (artisan marketplace) Platform that enables third-party artisans to list and sell their handmade craft products on CIY to its installed customer base, extending the retail marketplace beyond CIY's own inventory.
• CIY Store (physical retail) Walk-in physical retail store in Pune, Maharashtra (Shop No.1, 13, Niyoshi Park 2, Sanghvi Kesari Rd, Sanghvi Nagar, Ward No. 8, Aundh Gaon, Aundh, Pune 411067), where customers can purchase craft supplies directly and use the 'Sit and Make' free workspace.

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Etsy: Global marketplace for handmade craft supplies and finished goods—an indirect marketplace peer given CIY's "Sell With Us" artisan marketplace positioning.
• Hobby Lobby: Large US-based craft retailer offering broad assortments across art supplies, fabrics, floral, wedding, and seasonal—represents the scaled, multi-category craft-retail model CIY is building toward in India.
• JOANN: US fabric-and-crafts retailer with strong DIY project kits and seasonal assortments—comparable in catalog breadth and workshop-adjacent community engagement.
• Michaels: North America's largest specialty arts and crafts retailer with stores, workshops, and broad product lines—a benchmark for the one-stop-shop craft retail + experiential workshop model.
• Amazon Handmade: Amazon's handmade and craft supplies marketplace in India—competes with CIY on assortment breadth, logistics, and discoverability for craft supplies and maker products.

Direct peers

• Baker Ross: UK-based craft supplies retailer selling art, craft, and seasonal products to consumers—comparable in category breadth (kids, party, seasonal, DIY kits) and online D2C orientation.
• Itsy Bitsy: India-based art and craft supplies retailer with a similar multi-category catalog, DIY kits, workshops, and online-plus-physical presence—directly comparable in product, geography, and target audience.
• Pidilite Fevicreate: Indian craft and DIY brand offering project kits, hobby supplies, and creative workshops with strong retail distribution—an adjacent peer competing for the same Indian DIY/craft consumer base.
• Crafty Art: Indian online craft and DIY supplies retailer offering art, beads, paper crafts, and DIY kits—directly overlapping in product mix and India D2C e-commerce model.

Emerging players

• FirstCry: India's largest kids-products retailer with overlap in kids crafting, activity kits, toys, and STEAM supplies—shares CIY's school-and-parent segment but with much broader non-craft assortment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ciy

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CIY