Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who can qualify as a Seller on RedTail Market?
3. How do I become a Seller on RedTail Market?
4. How do I build my store and enter my products?
5. How do I activate my products?
6. What are the fees for selling on RedTail Market?
7. Why is it important to create, recognize and own authentic North American Native work?
8. What items can be sold on RedTail Market?
9. Do I need to register before making a purchase?
10. How do I purchase an item on RedTail Market?
11. How to choose a good store name?
12. RedTail Market Membership DOs and DON'Ts
13. How do I get to my Seller Administration area?
14. Should I watermark photos of my art?
1. Who can qualify as a Seller on RedTail Market?
To register on RedTail Market as a Seller, you must be 18 and an enrolled tribal member of a federally recognized tribe from the United States or Canada. To sell on RedTail Market, you will need to provide a copy of your tribal enrollment card or certificate and you must agree to the RedTail Market Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy. You may only sell items that you created. Click on the Sell button on the home page, or click here to get started.
2. Why must one be an enrolled Native American, Alaska Native, First Nations Person of Canada, Metis or Inuit tribal member to sell on RedTail Market?
RedTail Market was built to serve and support cultural preservation in North America’s sub regions of the United States and Canada. Many of these Indian tribal members still practice and teach ancestral skills that have been in existence for thousands of years. Many have brought the elements of those traditional art forms to contemporary expressions. You will find both traditional and contemporary art forms in RedTail Market. In striving to ensure the work found on RedTail Market is authentic it is important that we verify the Seller’s membership of a tribe through the sovereign governing bodies authorizing this status.
3. How do I become a Seller on RedTail Market?
To get started, click on the Sell button on the home page, or click here to get started. Register for an account with RedTail Market by clicking the "Register to Become a Seller" button on the Sell page. It’s easy. Fill in your basic information and create a user name and password. All fields are required.
PayPal
Your "PayPal" email is the address you use to accept payments via your verified PayPal account. Please be sure to enter it accurately. Your RedTail Market transactions require a verified PayPal account. If you do not have a PayPal account, you will need to create one before you can become a RedTail Market Seller. Your verified PayPal account allows you to accept payment from shoppers via major debit or credit card as well.
Tribal Enrollment
Please Note: We require proof of your Tribal enrollment. Scan and email a copy of both sides of your tribal ID card to us at id@redtailmarket.com, or fax a copy of both sides to us at 414-231-9829. Include the phone number of your tribal enrollment office on your cover sheet. This is an important part of our mission to keep integrity with authenticity in RedTail Market.
Upon RedTail Market verification of your enrollment, your store will be activated. During this time, you can still build your store and enter your products although until your store is activated, your products will not be visible to public visitors. We will notify you when you have been approved and activated as an RedTail Market Seller.
4. How do I build my store and enter my products?
You must be registered as a Seller and your account activated by a RedTail Market Administrator to display your items for sale. To get started you can build your store and enter products prior to your account activation. Once your Seller account is activated by a RedTail Market Administrator you can purchase listings and activate your products for display.
We activate your account and you activate your products.
Once registered, log in. Under "Seller Administration" click on "My Store" and from the drop down menu click "Product Inventory". Click the "Enter a Product To Be Listed" button and follow the step-by-step instructions on the "Product Entry" page to enter photos, description and other information for your product.
Photos: First add photos of your product. You may add up to five images for each product listing. Your photos must be at least 430 pixels wide, but the height can vary. Images should not be more than 1000 pixels wide or high, as this creates a large file that may not upload correctly. Your photos are automatically resized and cropped from the center for square thumbnail and rectangular gallery view images.
To upload an image: click the "Choose File" button, find the image on your computer, then click Upload. The first image will be the main thumbnail for that product that shoppers will see in searches. Use your most compelling photo of the product for this first photo.
Product Name: When you have finished adding photos, you will need to type in a product name. This name should be a short title that is descriptive and interesting to help attract shoppers to your item.
Genre: Choose from the "Select Genre" dropdown menu button either Traditional or Contemporary for your product. This will help shoppers search for your product.
Product Type: Your product will be one of three types: Handmade, Handcrafted, or Hand Gathered. Choose one from the dropdown menu.
Category: This is where you will select which Category your product will be found on the home page. Choose the Category that best suits your item from the dropdown menu. If you do not see a category that fits your item you may suggest a Category or Subcategory. Upon approval it will be added to the list displayed on the home page.
Shelf (optional): Shelves are places inside your store that you can give a custom name to help you organize and keep track of your products. The names you designate will show up in the vertical list under the "Shop This Artist's Store" link on the left side of your Store page. Using shelves is optional. If you choose not to use Shelves the Category name you chose for that product at Product Entry will show up in the vertical list under "Shop This Artist's Store". Shelves are most useful if you have a special type of product you want to attract attention to or you have a wide variety of items offered in your store. You can name as many shelves as you want. You can add or delete shelves to suit your need. Once you have added some shelves, you can assign one shelf to each of your products.
Product SKU (optional): Enter a product SKU if that helps you in your customer fulfillment process. If you don't need an item identification code such as an SKU, you can leave this field blank.
Item Description: This is your opportunity to describe your product using words that might find it using the search function. Include information about how it was made, color, materials or any unique features.
Product Attributes (optional): You can add attributes to your product listing if you need buyers shoppers to select options such as size or color from among your inventory. Follow the format of the example exactly.
Retail Price: This is the price you charge for your item. RedTail Market does not calculate sales tax, so any sales tax required by your state must be included in this price.
Sale Price (optional): If you would like to offer this item on sale for less than your usual price, enter the sale price here, otherwise leave this field blank and we'll update it with your retail price.
Shipping Price: If you would like to add a shipping charge for this item, enter the amounts for domestic and international shipping. These amounts will be added to orders based on the customer's shipping address.
Set as One-of-a-Kind: Check this box if you only have one of these items for sale.
Mark as Sold Out: Check this box if this item is no longer available.
"Add Product to Inventory" button: Click this button to add your item to your Product Inventory. Your product has been added! Now, you just need to activate it so it is visible on the site. To do this, click on the "Return to Product Inventory" button at the top right, or click on "Product Inventory" in the Seller Administration box on the left.
5. How do I activate my products?
To display your product in RedTail Market for Shoppers to see, it must be activated with the purchase of a product listing. Listings are purchased for $3.00 which allows you to display up to 10 individual items for sale. Each listing allows a product to be displayed for 3 months from the day of activation.
1. Select your Products
On the "Product Inventory" page you can activate a product listing by checking the box in the left column next to the product(s) that you want displayed.
Tip: you can add multiple products to inventory and activate them in one step.
Then click the "Activate Selected Products" button.
2. Purchase
If you are a new Seller, clicking the "Activate Selected Products" button takes you to PayPal to purchase your listings.
If you are a Seller having purchased listings prior the system does not take you to PayPal and the number of listing credits you have are displayed in the upper right of the Product Inventory page. They number of listings you would like to use to activate product will be automatically debited from your account.
3. Confirm and Activate
After purchasing your listings, you are then taken to a "Confirm Products to be Activated" page. To approve, click the "Activate Product" button.
Your products will be immediately displayed in your online store. You will now have a green check under the status for that product on your Product Inventory page. Your products are now for sale to the public. You can verify this by clicking the "View Store" button on the lower right of the Product Inventory page.
About Updates: You can update any details of product information at any time. Click on "My Account" on the top right of the home page. Click on "Product Inventory" under "My Store" in the Seller Administration box on the left. Each product has an "Update Product button on the far right. Click the button to make any revisions you desire.
About Listings: Multiple items can be entered individually then activated at the same time in one click. Once listings are purchased they can be held indefinitely and used to activate product at any time. Each listing expires 3 months from the day of activation. A product can be re-listed as many times as you choose until it sells.
6. What are the fees for selling on RedTail Market?
Listing Fees
There is a $3.00 USD minimum fee for 10 listings which translates to $.30 each. Each listing allows a product to be displayed for 3 months from the day of activation. These are purchased with your PayPal account. The status of your currently active listings as well as the number of unused listings is provided on your account summary page.
Transaction Fees
There is a 3.5% transaction fee on the purchase price of whatever is sold that is automatically deducted and paid to RedTail Market through PayPal when an item is purchased.
Advertising (Optional)
You can choose to promote your items more prominently by securing placement in high traffic areas of the site. When a Buyer clicks on your advertised product they are taken directly to a detail page of that item. This detail product page has links directly to your artist profile and online store where all of your products are displayed.
Until RedTail Market acquires significant inventory and there is demand for more prominent exposure all advertising fees will temporarily be $1 per item per day for all three advertising locations. RedTail Market will issue a 30 day advance notice before the fee structure changes.
There are 3 advertising locations to choose from:
1. Artist’s Blanket.
This is located on the Home page, with 24 spaces available. Cost is $10 per item per day (currently listed at $1 per item per day as an introductory offer). To advertise here, go to your Seller's Administration area. Under Advertising, click on "Buy a Spot on the Artist's Blanket (Home Page)". Fees for all advertising are paid to RedTail Market through your PayPal account.
2. Category Pages.
Each category page and each subcategory page provides a carousel header at the top that showcases your item more prominently than the rest of the inventory in that specific product section. The cost is $10 per item per day (currently listed at $1 per item per day as an introductory offer). To advertise here, go to your Seller's Administration area. Under Advertising, click on "Buy a Spot on a Category Page". Fees for all advertising are paid to RedTail Market through your PayPal account.
3. Subcategory Pages.
Each subcategory page provides a carousel header at the top that showcases your item more prominently than the rest of the inventory in that specific product subsection. The cost is $8 per item per day (currently listed at $1 per item per day as an introductory offer). To advertise here, go to your Seller's Administration area. Under Advertising, click on "Buy a Spot on a Subcategory page". Fees for all advertising are paid to RedTail Market through your PayPal account.
There is no paid advertising on RedTail Market other than that purchased by the artists.
7. Why is it important to create, recognize and own authentic North American Native work?
Authenticity of the work that tribal artists, crafters and gatherers do is held in highest regard on this site. It is a direct connection to an endeavor that represents pride and competence of an indigenous people’s way of life. Ownership of authentic tribal work provides a direct connection and appreciation of a significant piece of world history. Each artist has provided us with proof of tribal enrollment and signed a statement of intent to adhere to the Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990 in representing their work for sale. In certain categories of work there are widespread misrepresentations in marketing and violations of the law resulting in imitations being sold for a fraction of what it costs a tribal member to produce authentic Native work. This is an injustice to the cultural roots that authentic Native work originates from. Currently misrepresentation is rampant and is a severe detriment to the pride and spirit in which authentic work is actually done.
RedTail Market was created to be restorative to North American Native cultural preservation primarily in two ways. First, for the artists, developing high exposure with more potential for direct retail sales increases profitability. Becoming more active with their work ideally results in the involvement of more Native youth in the arts. Secondly, the inventory, the way it is represented and the quality of the goods inspire an increased desire in the buying public to own authentic Native art. As the interest and desire for producing and purchasing authentic Indian art grows it protects against the damage misrepresentation casts upon the North American Native way of life.
8. What items can be sold on RedTail Market?
Any handmade, handcrafted or hand gathered goods that comply with the Acceptable Use Policy.
9. Do I need to become a member before making a purchase?
You can purchase an item whether you are a member or not. If you're new to RedTail Market, consider taking a moment to create an account. It's free and easy to register. With a RedTail Market member account you can purchase items, send messages to Sellers and other Members, comment on the Blog and online magazine Drumbeats, as well as have your billing information safely stored so you don’t have to input it each time you would like to make a purchase.
10. How do I purchase an item on RedTail Market?
Step 1: Add the item to your Shopping Basket.
Step 2: Click the Check Out button.
When you find an item you want to buy, click the yellow "Add to Basket" button on the product listing page. You can access your Shopping Basket at any time by clicking the Basket icon at the top left of the page. You can continue shopping and add multiple items from different RedTail Market stores to your Shopping Basket to purchase at one time.
If you have not logged in, you will have the option to "Log Into Your Account" or "Check Out Without an Account".
If you are already a RedTail Market member, sign in with your Username and Password. Click the yellow Login button.
To proceed with check out, you need to be on your Shopping Basket page. If you are on a different page within the site, click the Basket icon at the top left of the page. Review the items in your Basket. If the listing offers multiple quantity in stock, you can increase the quantity you would like to purchase (although many items on RedTail Market are one-of-a-kind). When you proceed to check out, you will be purchasing all the items in your Shopping Basket. To remove an item from your Basket, click the Remove button. When you are ready, click the yellow Check Out button.
If you are not a member, click the the yellow Continue button under the "Check Out Without an Account" heading. (You can create an account after check out if you like.) If you were logged in, clicking the Check Out button will bring you to the Billing and Shipping Information page.
Step 4: Enter billing and shipping information.
Step 5: Review your order.
If all information is correct, click on the white Commit to Buy button. If you're new to shopping on RedTail Market, you will need to enter your shipping address here. If you've made previous purchases, you can choose a saved address from your RedTail Market Account Information. Make sure your billing address you enter here matches the address in your PayPal account. Also, if you would like your purchase to be shipped to a different address, make those changes here in the shipping address area.
Once you have entered your billing and shipping information, click the yellow Continue button.
Step 6: Order confirmation and purchase.
Payments are made to the Seller, not RedTail Market. If all information is correct, click on the Check out with PayPal button. You can pay with a credit card via PayPal even if you do not have a PayPal account.
You will be taken to PayPal to complete the purchase. Be sure your address in PayPal matches the billing address you entered earlier on RedTail Market. After you've submitted payment, you will automatically be directed back to RedTail Market.
Congratulations! You've just made a purchase on RedTail Market. RedTail Market will send a confirmation email to both you and the Artist. You can view your order information at any time when you're signed in to your RedTail Market account by clinking on My Account at the top of the page and checking your recent transactions.
If you need to communicate with the Seller, you can email them through their Store or on one of their product pages.
11. How to choose a good store name?
When deciding your RedTail Market store name, try to make it unique and descriptive. It's completely up to you, but you can't go wrong with using just your full name.
12. RedTail Market Membership DOs and DON’Ts
• To register at RedTail Market, you must be at least 18 years old.
• By registering at RedTail Market, you are agreeing to the RedTail Market Terms of Use.
• Language, user names and images must be suitable for all ages. No mature content.
• To register on RedTail Market as a Selling Artist, you must be a North American registered tribal member from a federally recognized tribe. You may only sell items that you created. These items may be handcrafted, handmade, or hand gathered. Items may be in the traditional native style, or contemporary.
• Items not created by the registered artist can not be sold in the registered artist’s store.
• You may not use RedTail, or RedTail Market within your store name.
• RedTail Market artists can not direct buyers to other information, links, sites, etc. in order to provide other buying venues in order not to pay RedTail Market transaction fees.
• RedTail Market Artists must keep their contact information current.
• RedTail Market accounts can not be transferred to another person.
• Disputes will be resolved between the Seller and the Buyer. RedTail Market will investigate and make determinations involving compliance with The Acceptable Use Policy or Terms Of Use but will not mediate between Sellers and Buyers.
RedTail Market reserves the right to suspend or terminate a membership if RedTail Market policies are not complied with after fair notice of non-compliance has been given. Any member suspended or terminated is obligated for payment of fees for services rendered in good faith by RedTail Market.
13. How do I get to my Seller Administration area?
Click on the "My Account" link in the far upper right corner while on any page of the site.
14. Should I watermark photos of my art?
When you place photos of your art on the internet, you will want to make sure that you are protecting your rights to those images. Do this by watermarking your digital photos.
A watermark is a word, or image, that is superimposed on the top of your photo. You can include your name and copyright too. This is a notice to all that your photo is not to be reproduced without your permission.
Many artists download fairly large files because they want buyers to see the detail of their art. This provides the opportunity to enlarge the photo for online viewing, but larger files are more likely to be used without the artist’s permission. For your protection, add a watermark to your photos before placing on any website. This is especially true for illustrations and photography.
There are many ways to add a watermark. If you are familiar with Photoshop, you can easily add one from here. There is also free and some low cost software available (around $20) that is fairly easy to use, and allows you to watermark your photos in batches.
Be sure to make a copy of your original photograph, and place the watermark on the digital copy, keeping your original file intact. Keep in mind that the watermark can be placed anywhere on your photo. If placed in the center, it makes it harder to be cropped out of your photo, but some may not like the look that provides. Some choose not to place watermarks on their images to allow others to see their art without obstruction. RedTail Market recommends that you add watermarks, but you will need to decide what works best for you.
Back to Top
