When independent sellers explore a marketplace, one of the first things they look for is the commission rate. It seems like a straightforward number, but it often reveals far more about how a platform operates than people realise. Commission reflects the philosophy behind the marketplace. It tells sellers whether the platform is designed to extract value from their work or to grow alongside them.
At Hawk & Peddle, our commission is 9%. That number is deliberate and reflects the type of marketplace we are building.
Independent sellers already invest a significant amount into their businesses before a product ever reaches a customer. They design and develop ideas, source materials, produce items, photograph their work, write product descriptions and package orders with care. Beyond that, they are also responsible for customer service, brand building and the ongoing process of refining their craft.
In many ways, sellers are the engine of any marketplace. They bring the creativity, originality and personality that attracts customers in the first place. Without them, there is no marketplace at all.
For that reason, we believe sellers should retain the majority of what they earn.
Some online platforms operate with much higher commission structures. While those models may support rapid platform growth, they can also place pressure on independent businesses. When a significant portion of each sale is taken by the platform, sellers often find themselves needing to increase prices, reduce margins or cut back on areas of their business that would otherwise improve the customer experience.
That is not the kind of environment we want to create.
A 9% commission allows sellers to maintain healthier margins while still contributing to the ongoing development of the platform. It creates a balance between sustaining the marketplace itself and ensuring that the businesses within it can grow in a sustainable way.
Running a marketplace, however, is not simply a matter of hosting products online. Behind the scenes there is continuous work required to maintain and improve the platform. Technology needs to be updated and refined so that the experience remains smooth for both buyers and sellers. The platform needs to evolve as the marketplace grows, introducing improvements that make it easier for customers to discover products and for sellers to manage their shops.
Marketing also plays an important role. Independent brands often struggle to gain visibility in the wider online retail environment. Part of the responsibility of a marketplace is to introduce new audiences to the sellers within it, helping bring attention to businesses that might otherwise remain hidden.
The commission we take helps fund these efforts. It supports platform improvements, contributes to marketing initiatives that attract new customers, and enables technology upgrades that keep the marketplace moving forward.
In this sense, commission is not simply a fee. It is an investment back into the environment that sellers operate within.
Another important consideration is how incentives are structured. In some marketplaces, the platform’s growth is disconnected from the success of individual sellers. New fees, additional listing charges or other layers of cost can appear over time, shifting more of the financial burden onto the businesses that use the platform.
At Hawk & Peddle, we have chosen to align our incentives differently.
The platform grows when sellers grow. As businesses develop stronger brands, attract more customers and build lasting relationships with buyers, the marketplace itself becomes stronger. Success on the platform is shared.
This alignment encourages a healthier ecosystem. Sellers feel confident investing time and effort into improving their shops because they know the platform is structured to support their progress rather than compete with it.
It also encourages a long-term mindset. Hawk & Peddle is not being built for short bursts of growth or quick wins. Instead, the goal is to create a marketplace that develops steadily, bringing together independent businesses that care about quality, creativity and thoughtful growth.
A fair commission model helps support that vision. It ensures that sellers can continue refining their products, improving their presentation and investing in their brands without feeling that the platform is taking an excessive share of each sale.
Ultimately, a marketplace should be more than a digital shelf where products are listed. It should be an environment where independent businesses can thrive, where customers can discover thoughtful work, and where growth benefits everyone involved.
Our commission structure reflects that belief.
The principle behind it is simple.
We don’t win unless you do.