IndieMe
IndieMe operates a commission-free B2B wholesale marketplace connecting juried USA and Canadian handcrafted-product artists with vetted retail buyers, supported by biannual Virtual Expos, the IndieMe Academy education platform, and an owner-operated subscription model without outside investors.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1998
- HeadquartersOhio, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What IndieMe does
IndieMe operates an online B2B wholesale marketplace that connects juried, handcrafted-product artists based in the United States and Canada with vetted retail buyers. The core platform is a web-based marketplace with a fully integrated shopping cart, multiple payment gateway options (including Square and PayPal), a real-time shipping rate calculator, and direct buyer-artist communication tools including Virtual Chat. The marketplace catalogs more than 250,000 wholesale products from approximately 700 artists across categories such as jewelry, home décor, gifts, wearable art, and body products, and supports more than 20,000 qualified retail buyers in its marketing database. Surrounding the marketplace are complementary surfaces: the biannual IndieMe Virtual Expo online trade show (13 editions through January 2026), seasonal Gather digital buying events, the biannual Buyer's Guide digital publication, the Art Kiosk in-store retail display tool, and the vertically specialized Artisan Food and The Spa sub-platforms. Newest is IndieMe Academy, launched March 2026, a self-paced wholesale education and mentorship program.
IndieMe makes money primarily through subscription fees paid by artists, structured in tiers ranging from a $59/month monthly plan to a $1,500/year Signature plan (with intermediate Core at $940, Plus at $1,020, Pro at $1,200, and Prime at $1,375), all on flat-fee terms with no commissions or listing fees on the underlying wholesale transactions. Supplementary revenue streams include a $25 non-refundable artist application fee, advertising and promotional placements such as Featured Item Ads and Buyer's Guide ad inventory, biannual Virtual Expo booth fees (approximately $150 for current artists, $529 for new artists with a bundled one-year web plan), and event fees for Gather (from $125) and the IndieMe Experience at American Craft Baltimore ($495). IndieMe Academy adds tiered membership revenue (Yearly, Lifetime, Starter Pass). Buyer registration is free, which keeps buyer-side acquisition frictionless and supports the network effect that pulls demand toward listed artists.
The company is privately held by a single owner — President Jacqueline Adamany, an artist-turned-entrepreneur with 25+ years in the wholesale handcrafted industry — and is operated by a team of approximately 8-10 staff including a Director of Operations, Development Manager, Buyer Liaison, Lead Programmer, two Software Engineers, and a Lead UI/Graphic Designer. There is no outside venture capital, board, or public listing; profits are reinvested into the platform. Distribution is exclusively North American (USA and Canada), and the company is headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio under the legal entity IndieMe Marketplace LLC.
IndieMe firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- IndieMe
- Legal name
- IndieMe Marketplace LLC
- Website
- https://indieme.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1998
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- IndieMe operates a commission-free B2B wholesale marketplace connecting juried USA and Canadian handcrafted-product artists with vetted retail buyers, supported by biannual Virtual Expos, the IndieMe Academy education platform, and an owner-operated subscription model without outside investors.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
IndieMe industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Online Wholesale Marketplace
- SIC
- Wholesale-Apparel, Piece Goods & Notions (5130), Wholesale-Furniture & Home Furnishings (5020)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Sustainable / Ethical Apparel & Accessories Wholesale (CRAOADAJ)
Keywords
Where IndieMe is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Ohio
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
IndieMe business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Artist Subscription Fees: Monthly or annual web service fees for artists to maintain their wholesale storefront on the IndieMe marketplace. Multiple plan tiers from Core to Signature with varying features and advertising inclusions.
- Artist Application Fee: Non-refundable $25 application fee charged when artists submit their application to join the marketplace.
- Virtual Expo Booth Fees: Fees for artist participation in Virtual Expo events, with current artist pricing at $150 and new artist package at $529 including one year of web service.
- Event Participation Fees: Fees for curated buying-season experiences including The IndieMe Experience at American Craft Baltimore ($495) and Gather digital events ($125).
- Advertising and Promotional Placements: Featured Item Ads, premiere ads, Buyer's Guide ad placements, and video ads for artists seeking additional visibility.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Monthly Web Plan |
| Subscription | Annual | Yearly Web Plan |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Finish 2026 Plan |
| Subscription | Annual | Core Plan |
| Subscription | Annual | Plus Plan |
| Subscription | Annual | Pro Plan |
| Subscription | Annual | Prime Plan |
| Subscription | Annual | Signature Plan |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | New Artist Application Fee |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Virtual Expo Current Artist |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Virtual Expo New Artist Package |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | IndieMe Experience at Baltimore |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Gather: Winter Edition |
| Freemium | Monthly | Buyer Registration |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
IndieMe product offering
Product offeringCore offering
IndieMe operates a 100% handcrafted B2B wholesale marketplace connecting juried independent artists and makers from the USA and Canada with vetted retail buyers. Artists maintain branded storefronts on a commission-free platform with integrated shopping cart, payment gateway, real-time shipping calculator, and direct buyer-artist communication. Supporting offerings include biannual Virtual Expos, education through IndieMe Academy, and specialty platforms for artisan food and spa categories.
Product overview
IndieMe operates a multi-platform ecosystem for the handcrafted wholesale industry. The core product is the IndieMe Marketplace, a 100% handcrafted wholesale platform connecting USA/Canada artists with retail buyers, featuring a commission-free structure, integrated shopping cart, and order management. Supporting the marketplace are: IndieMe Virtual Expo (biannual online trade shows), IndieMe Academy (education and mentorship for artists), Shop American Handcrafted (nonprofit consumer initiative), Art Kiosk (free retail display tool), Artisan Food and The Spa specialty platforms, Gather seasonal events, and the Buyer's Guide digital publication. The IndieMe Collective unifies all these initiatives under one ecosystem.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- IndieMe Academy: Self-paced learning hub offering practical lessons and tools for handcrafted artists, including Retail Foundations and Wholesale Path programs.
- IndieMe Virtual Expo
- Shop American Handcrafted
- Gather Events
- Artisan Food
- The Spa
- Art Kiosk
Products and services
- IndieMe Marketplace The primary 100% handcrafted wholesale marketplace connecting juried independent artists from the USA and Canada with qualified retail buyers. Features a fully integrated shopping cart, order management, and commission-free wholesale ordering available 24/7, 365 days a year.
- IndieMe Virtual Expo Biannual online wholesale trade show (January and August) providing a digital trade show experience for efficient product discovery. Artists get branded B2B wholesale stores, virtual booth placement, show specials, and exposure to 20,000+ qualified buyers.
- IndieMe Academy Self-paced education and mentorship hub for handcrafted artists building wholesale businesses. Offers modules on pricing, product presentation, buyer outreach, trade show preparation, marketing, and wholesale readiness, including Retail Foundations and Wholesale Path programs, plus The Academy Lounge community.
- Shop American Handcrafted
Quantifiable outcome
- Artists keep 100% of order revenue with no commission fees, compared to 15-20% commissions on competing platforms
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use IndieMe
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
IndieMe technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration10 records
Feature8 records
IndieMe partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- American Craft CouncilcorePartnership providing IndieMe artists and buyers access to ACC membership benefits and national craft community. IndieMe community discount code MP2604IM offered for ACC membership. Both organizations share commitment to supporting artists and the larger handcrafted ecosystem.
- Vistaprint Corporate SolutionsminorProShop partnership providing IndieMe artists with discounted marketing and printing materials. Two logins available for USA and Canada users.
- Packaging SpecialtiesminorPartnership offering discounted retail packaging materials to IndieMe artists. Dedicated sales contact Eric Shea available for packaging order assistance.
- ACT InsuranceminorDiscounted insurance for IndieMe members including $20 off annual policy or $5 off 1-3 day event policy. Coverage starts at $49/Event or $279/Year before discount.
- The Accountant LLCminorDiscounted accounting services partnership offering $20 off first month. Monthly packages start at $197/month. Services include full-service accounting, diagnostic review, QuickBooks setup, and payroll processing.
- Constant ContactminorEmail marketing partnership providing artists with feature-rich email marketing packages, discounts, and support for building customer communication.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
IndieMe competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Tundra: Tundra is a zero-commission B2B wholesale marketplace positioning itself on transparent flat pricing — directly parallel to IndieMe's no-commission, flat-fee model. Both target independent brands and retail buyers with curated catalogs and integrated checkout.
- Bulletin: Bulletin is a B2B wholesale platform for independent brands selling to retail stores across categories including accessories, home goods, and gifts. It targets the same retail buyer profile (boutiques, gift shops) with a curated independent-brand catalog.
- Abound: Abound (formerly Hello Abound) is a B2B wholesale marketplace for independent brands and makers targeting boutique retail buyers. It overlaps directly with IndieMe in customer segment (boutiques, gift shops) and product categories (gifts, jewelry, home).
- Faire: Faire is the largest B2B wholesale marketplace connecting independent brands and makers with retail buyers across categories including home, jewelry, and gifts. It directly competes with IndieMe for the same wholesale artisan/indie brand audience with similar buyer-discovery mechanics.
- Goimagine: Goimagine is a handmade-focused wholesale marketplace for independent makers and retail buyers, with a juried approval process and curated product focus closely resembling IndieMe's handcrafted-only positioning.
- Handmade at Amazon: Handmade at Amazon is Amazon's curated marketplace for handcrafted goods, directly competing with IndieMe for artisan sellers seeking wholesale or D2C reach. Both serve juried handmade sellers and emphasize authentic artisan production.
Broad incumbents
- Etsy: Etsy is the largest online handmade/D2C marketplace and parent of Etsy Wholesale. It operates broadly in the handmade commerce space where IndieMe's suppliers sell, competing for both makers and retail-buyer attention at a much larger scale.
Others
- American Craft Council: The American Craft Council is a nonprofit trade organization supporting the U.S. craft community. IndieMe already partners with ACC, making ACC a peer in mission and audience rather than a direct marketplace competitor.
Emerging players
- NOVICA: NOVICA is an artisan-focused marketplace featuring handcrafted goods from global makers, primarily selling D2C but operating in the same handcrafted/juried-artisan space as IndieMe. Comparable on artisan curation and authentic-handcraft positioning.
- Uncommon Goods: Uncommon Goods is a D2C retailer featuring handmade and unique products including gifts, jewelry, and home decor. Comparable to IndieMe's retail-buyers-side product mix and curatorial focus on artisan-made goods.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
IndieMe social profiles
Digital presenceIndieMe financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
IndieMe leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
IndieMe subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries5 records
IndieMe funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
IndieMe M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about IndieMe
What does IndieMe do?
IndieMe operates a 100% handcrafted B2B wholesale marketplace connecting juried independent artists and makers from the USA and Canada with vetted retail buyers. Artists maintain branded storefronts on a commission-free platform with integrated shopping cart, payment gateway, real-time shipping calculator, and direct buyer-artist communication. Supporting offerings include biannual Virtual Expos, education through IndieMe Academy, and specialty platforms for artisan food and spa categories.
Is IndieMe a public or private company?
IndieMe is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was IndieMe founded?
IndieMe was founded in 1998. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is IndieMe based?
IndieMe is headquartered in Ohio, United States, in the North America region.
How does IndieMe make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Artist Subscription Fees are the primary driver. The others are artist Application Fee, virtual Expo Booth Fees, event Participation Fees and advertising and Promotional Placements.
Who are IndieMe's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Tundra, Bulletin, Abound, Faire, Goimagine and Handmade at Amazon. Etsy is listed as a broad incumbent. American Craft Council is listed as an others. Emerging players are NOVICA and Uncommon Goods.
Does IndieMe have an API?
No public API is recorded for IndieMe.
What industry is IndieMe in?
IndieMe's product category is Online Wholesale Marketplace. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAOADAJ, Sustainable / Ethical Apparel & Accessories Wholesale. Its SIC code is 5130.