Consent Section (to appear before any questions):
We are carrying out a survey designed for academic purposes at the University of Portsmouth. This research examines the interaction between online marketplaces and sellers of handmade products. Your response is voluntary and confidential. It should only take around 3-5 minutes to complete. You can omit any remaining questions at any point.
Section A: General Background 1.What is your age group? ●Under 18 ●18–24 ●25–34 ●35–44 ●45–54 ●55+
2.What is your gender? ●Female ●Male ●Non-binary ●Prefer ●not to say
3.Have you ever purchased handmade products online? ●Yes ●No
4.If yes, which platforms have you used? (Select all that apply) ●Etsy ●Amazon Handmade ●Facebook Marketplace ●Local/specialty sites (please specify): ●Others:
Section B: Consumer Preferences 5.When choosing between handmade and factory-made products, what are your top 3 priorities? (Select up to 3) ●Price ●Quality ●Uniqueness ●Ethical production ●Speed of delivery ●Supporting small businesses ●Brand familiarity
6.Why do you buy handmade products? (Open-ended)
7.Have you ever felt unsure about the quality or authenticity of handmade items online? ●Yes ●No ●Not sure
Section C: Platform and Seller Experience (for creators/sellers) 8.Are you a creator/seller of handmade products? ●Yes ●No
9.Which platform do you use to sell handmade goods? ●Etsy ●Amazon Handmade ●Other (please specify):
10.What are the biggest benefits of using these platforms? (Select all that apply) ●Access to a global market ●Low startup cost ●Ease of use ●Seller tools/analytics ●Brand exposure ●Secure payment options
11.What are the biggest challenges you face as a seller on these platforms? (Open-ended)
12.How do you maintain product quality while scaling up your sales? (Open-ended)
Section D: Final Thoughts 13.Would you be more likely to buy handmade products if platforms ensured better authenticity and quality control? ●Yes ●No ●Maybe
14.What changes or improvements would you like to see on handmade e-commerce platforms? (Open-ended)
15.Any other thoughts or experiences you'd like to share regarding buying or selling handmade products online? (Open-ended)