Quote request
Buyer fills a short form on the product page or sends a quote message. You see it in My Shop with a buyer thread already started.
Custom work
Custom orders, finally built like custom orders work.
Quote, proof, deposit, balance, ship. The handmade workflow in one shop. No app store, no glue code, no spreadsheets.
Workflow
Five steps. One screen each. No add-ons.
Most handmade shops on Etsy or Shopify cobble together the custom-order flow from messaging, Google Forms, separate invoicing, and a private Etsy listing. Fenfair builds the whole thing into the seller workspace. Every step, in order, with the buyer always seeing the right view at the right time.
Quote sent
You reply with the actual price, lead time, and any custom variables. Buyer gets an email with a one-click "Pay deposit" button.
Deposit captured
Standard handmade pattern: deposit upfront secures your slot, balance due at proof or ship. Stripe holds it, you see it as a real order in production.
Proof sent and approved
Upload the mockup or first sample, send a one-click approval link. Buyer approves or asks for revisions in their browser. Every version is saved.
Balance paid and shipped
Buyer pays the remaining balance when the proof is approved (or you trigger it at ship). Label is generated, tracking goes to the buyer automatically, order closes when delivery confirms.
Every step writes to the same order record. No app to sync, no spreadsheet to update, no "did I send the proof?" anxiety.
Real timeline
What a 2-week custom order looks like on Fenfair.
A buyer asks for a custom leather belt. Here's the timeline of every touchpoint, who does what, and what each side sees. The same six-step flow works for any made-to-order craft: a portrait commission, a dinnerware set, a custom wedding scent, a bespoke ring.
Seller does
Receives quote request via PDP form
Buyer sees
"Thanks, we'll reply within 1-2 business days"
Seller does
Sends quote at $185, 10-day lead time
Buyer sees
Email with quote + "Pay $90 deposit" CTA
Seller does
Sees deposit captured + order status flips to In production
Buyer sees
"Deposit received, we'll start work" + estimated ship by Day 12
Seller does
Uploads proof photo, sends review link
Buyer sees
Email with proof + Approve / Request changes buttons
Seller does
Sees buyer approval, status flips to Awaiting balance
Buyer sees
"Proof approved, balance due before ship"
Seller does
Captures balance + prints label
Buyer sees
"Balance paid, shipping today" + tracking number
Seller does
Order auto-closes on delivery confirmation
Buyer sees
Delivery confirmation + review request email
Twelve days, six touchpoints, zero copy-paste between tools.
What's built in
What Fenfair handles natively that Shopify needs apps for.
The custom-order workflow on Shopify or Etsy isn't broken. It just doesn't exist as one product. You stitch it from apps, integrations, and manual workarounds. Here's the comparison.
| Capability | Etsy | Shopify | Fenfair |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quote-request form on PDP | Custom listings + manual messages | Custom-quote app ($15-49/mo) | Built in |
| Deposit + balance payment | Not supported, full pay only | Deposit-payment app ($20-40/mo) | Built in |
| Proof approval workflow | Messaging + manual links | Proof-approval app ($20-30/mo) | Built in |
| Lead-time display on PDP | Custom listing description | Theme edit or app | Built in |
| Production status timeline | Not supported | Custom theme work | Built in |
| Custom variables on order | Variations field + manual notes | Line-item-property app | Built in |
| Buyer thread tied to order | Etsy messages (no order link) | App | Built in |
| Buyer revision notes | Etsy messages | App + buyer email | Built in |
Add up the Shopify apps and that's $75-200/month before you've sold anything. Fenfair is $37/month flat. Custom-order shops don't need an app store. They need a shop that understands custom orders.
Draft your custom-order shop free.
The setup interview takes about 15 minutes. You leave with a starter brand kit, a working storefront draft, and your first product or quote request draft. Nothing publishes until you say so.