Behind the Scenes: The Making of ZART’s New Website & App

With all the preparations for our new website, we decided to ask our higher-ups a few questions about it. Launching a fully custom-made website is no easy feat, and we are beyond excited to finally share it! So much so that we just couldn’t wait any longer!

1) Why did ZART choose to develop its own platform instead of using existing systems?

The main reason is customization. As a startup and a new company, it’s often hard to have that, but for us as a marketplace, customization is essential. We want to give our shop owners more opportunities and flexibility.

Since the craft business is always evolving, we need a system that allows us to evolve with it. For example, if you want to offer free shipping or create special coupons for holidays, you should be able to do that easily. Unfortunately, most existing systems aren’t built for artists or crafters — and that’s exactly what we want to change.

2) What is the hardest part about launching a new website?

Developing a new website takes a lot of time, money, and teamwork. We have dreams, and we believe every bit of effort will be worth it.

Other companies may have great user experiences because they have huge budgets, but we know where we’re going and how to get there — it might just take some extra time.

We’ll definitely face mystery bugs, extra functions to fix, and a learning curve as our system trains itself to better recognize user needs. Like other platforms, we’ll need to learn what people like to serve them better with time.

Our industry is unique; everything is very specialized. So matching products with customers’ needs can be challenging. We’re a medium-sized team with kind investors who believe in our dreams and our shop owners’ dreams, allowing us to continue our work. 

We know this business isn’t easy. What we’re building is revolutionary, so we need people to work with us, a full community, not just individuals chasing profit.

3) There’s also a new App?

Yes! Over 60% of purchases today are made through apps,  and that number keeps growing every year. Having our own app will make things more convenient for users and help generate more orders for our sellers.

The app will also include functions that allow customers to follow and connect with shop owners, making the experience more personal. Plus, we’re planning to add fun and interactive activities, like games, to engage customers and build brand loyalty.

4) How will the new website and app give us more control and opportunity?

We have so many functions in development that it’s hard to list them all. For example, Shop Owners can decorate their home pages, and they can assign discount codes on their own.

More control means more professional tools, but we’re balancing that with simplicity. Our goal is to make everything easy to understand and use, even for people who aren’t tech experts.

We want our shop owners to spend their time optimizing their products and brands, not fighting algorithms. We hope to create a system that benefits everyone and helps us grow together.

As professionals, we know what it’s like to spend 20+ hours learning new systems, and we don’t want our artists to go through that. It’s a waste of their creativity!

5) What kind of features will help shop owners grow their brand and visibility?

Our services focus on lowering barriers and saving time for people entering the handmade business.

Other marketplaces mainly focus on profit, but we want to offer an all-in-one ecosystem with almost everything you need. Whether it’s logo or banner design, or even help with customer service, we can support part of it for you.

Because we operate as a company, we can offer lower prices for high-quality services and materials compared to other channels.

6) How can small businesses encourage their audience to download the ZART App and follow their shop there?

Start by sharing it on your social media — you know your audience best and have the closest relationship with them.

On our side, we’ll make sure you’re not doing it alone. We’re planning fun activities and incentives to help drive traffic to your shops.

Our philosophy is simple: if you stand with us and believe in helping people — connecting shop owners and customers — we’ll grow together. We’re a humanity-first company. We care about people. As long as others understand that, they’ll see our goals clearly.

7) Why are you inviting shop owners to test the website before launch?

Everything we do is guided by humanity first. That means we want to make sure our shop owners and customers are happy with what they use.

We value user feedback deeply; it helps us improve.  All while balancing our limited manpower. We believe that helping people is both meaningful and rewarding.

Unlike other companies that see customer service as a burden, we see it as an opportunity to build community. Whatever feedback our users share, we’ll do our best to act on it.

Your voices matter. We want to give you a transparent look into how these systems work and how we’re improving them.

8) Are you going to change the prices with the new website?

We’ll adjust prices as needed, but we’re still far from the processing fees compared to other platforms. We’re not greedy for profit; we just need to sustain the platform.

While we can’t guarantee fixed prices due to inflation, we’ll be careful with every change. We understand that high fees hurt makers and creators. Balance is key — we must support our team while keeping things fair.

We aim to prove that real service and community support can exist without greed.

9) Why is now the right time to launch a new website and app?

We believe this is the right moment to take the next step. The market is evolving, and more people are paying attention to what we’re building and how we’re growing.

The handmade industry and economy are shifting. Many great creators are being buried by algorithms, and we want to bring them into the light — to help their products get the recognition they deserve.

Starting an online business is like investing; it takes time, money, and energy. We want to reduce barriers and make it easier than ever to showcase your craft.

10) What are you most excited about with the new website?

We have high standards and a strong desire to make things better every single day, week by week, month by month.

Perfection doesn’t exist, but progress does. We’ll keep improving through borderless exploration.

We want our shop owners to grow their customer base, support each other, and thrive together.

Be ready to see us evolve and be part of that journey. Give us feedback, share your ideas, and prepare to thrive! Big things are coming!

 

                                                                                                                                                      

                                                                                                                                                     

Launching something new always comes with challenges, but it also brings endless possibilities. Our mission has always been to empower handmade creators — and this new platform is one more step towards making that vision real.

We’re beyond grateful to everyone who’s been part of ZART’s story so far. Whether you’re a shop owner, a customer, or a supporter of the handmade community, your feedback, ideas, and encouragement mean everything to us.

The new website and app are just the beginning. Stay tuned, stay creative, and most of all — stay connected.