Your art
deserves more
than a folding table.
You’ve done the markets. You’ve posted on Instagram hoping the algorithm cares. You’ve wondered if you could actually make a living from the thing you love most. You can.
You make incredible things.
Selling them shouldn’t be this hard.
The 5am market setup
You wake up before sunrise, load up the car, set up a stall in the cold, and hope enough people walk past. Some weekends you barely cover the table fee.
The Instagram void
You post your best work and get 47 likes from other artists. The algorithm buries you. Followers don’t convert to buyers. It feels like shouting into the void.
The “get a real job” voice
You’re talented enough that people compliment your work constantly — but not enough of them actually buy. The gap between “this is amazing” and a sale feels enormous.
The platform trap
Etsy takes a cut, charges listing fees, and drowns you in a sea of mass-produced imports. You’re competing with factories, not other artists.
What if your stall
never closed?
Imagine having your own storefront on a street full of other independent Australian artists. Open 24/7, no table fees, no algorithms deciding who sees your work.
That’s Makeshift. Think of it like the Rose St. Artists’ Market or Finders Keepers — but online, and always open. A curated marketplace where people come specifically to discover and buy from independent creators like you.
From application to your first sale.
Apply
Fill out a quick application — who you are, what you make, and where people can see your work. Takes about 15 minutes. We review within a week.
Set up your store
Get your own page at makeshift-au.com/artist/your-name. Upload your work, set your prices, write your story. We help you make it look incredible.
Start selling
Customers discover you through the marketplace, browse your work, and buy directly. We handle checkout, payments, and customer comms. You get paid weekly via Stripe.
Everything you need. Nothing you don’t.
If you make it by hand, you belong here.
We’re building a marketplace that represents the full spectrum of independent Australian creativity.
Founding Artist Plan
We’re looking for 25 founding artists to help shape Makeshift from the ground floor. In exchange for being early, you get a completely free subscription for your first 6 months. After that, it’s just $15/mo — and you can leave anytime.
From the laneways
to the internet.
Makeshift started from the same place you are — walking through the Rose St. Market, browsing stalls at Finders Keepers, discovering incredible artists tucked away in Fitzroy studios and Collingwood warehouses.
We saw artists doing extraordinary work but struggling to reach anyone beyond the Sunday market crowd. The talent was there. The platform wasn’t.
So we built one. Australian-owned, community-first, designed specifically for independent creators who make real things. No dropshippers. No mass-produced imports. Just authentic work from people who care about their craft.
You’re not just joining a marketplace — you’re helping build the future of independent art in Australia, right from the start.
Before you ask.
What does it cost?
Nothing for your first 6 months as a founding artist. After that, it’s $15/month. We also take 10% commission on sales — only when you actually sell something. No listing fees, no hidden charges.
How long does approval take?
We review applications within 5–7 business days. We’re looking for quality and authenticity, not follower counts. If your work is genuinely yours and you’re based in Australia, you’re probably a great fit.
Can I sell commissions or custom work?
Yes. The platform has a built-in commission engine — enquiry forms, deposit collection, and milestone approvals are all included.
What about shipping?
You handle shipping directly to buyers. You set your own shipping rates and lead times. For digital work and music, there’s no shipping required at all.
Can I leave if it’s not for me?
Anytime. No lock-in, no exit fees. We’d rather you stay because it’s working, not because you’re stuck in a contract.
I’m a musician — does this work for me?
Absolutely. Musicians get streaming links on their artist page, can sell merch and physical media, and earn from plays. It’s built for all kinds of creators.
Stop waiting for
permission to
do what you love.
24 founding artist spots remaining. Apply today and be part of something from the very beginning.
Start your application →