Last updated: August 19, 2026
Welcome to Genny! We're a community-powered marketplace for handmade, small-batch goods made with heart and hustle. We're here to celebrate the creativity of local makers and help you share your work with the world. To make sure we all stay true to that mission, we've laid out the following guidelines.
PART ONE — HOUSE RULES
Who Belongs Here
Genny celebrates creativity in all its forms. We welcome women and gender-expansive founders who are building small businesses with purpose — whether you're crafting by hand, curating vintage treasures, or bringing a big idea to life through thoughtful collaboration.
You belong here if:
- You make, design, or curate your products with intention
- You've conceptualized your own brand or product line, even if others help you produce it
- You breathe new life into existing goods — think vintage finds, upcycled pieces, and reimagined fashion
- You're a passionate small business owner with a story to tell
- You call New England your home base (Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Vermont, or New Hampshire)
What "Handmade" Means at Genny
Handmade means made by you or your small team (family members, employees, creative partners) right here in the United States. You must play an active role in designing, creating, or assembling your products. Whether you work in a home studio or a community maker space, your personal touch should be at the heart of every piece.
We welcome:
- Items made using hand tools or small-scale equipment
- Original digital art and photography (see Digital Items below)
- Altered blanks (like printing your own designs on mugs or tees)
- Upcycled or vintage-based creations with added handmade work
We do not allow:
- Mass-produced products or resale of goods from wholesale platforms (Alibaba, AliExpress, DHgate, and similar)
- Resale from direct-sale companies (Mary Kay, Avon, Stella & Dot, LuLaRoe, Beautycounter, and similar)
- Outsourced manufacturing
- Dropshipping or Print-on-Demand (POD), except for artist-made prints
Prohibited Products
Due to the regulations of our payment processor, the following are strictly prohibited on Genny:
- Sex toys
- Tobacco products
- Products containing cannabis or derived substances, including CBD, THC, and CBG
- Guns, fireworks, or other explosives
- 3D printed weapons
Adult Content & Imagery
Genny keeps things PG-13 while still celebrating artistic freedom:
- Language: Mild profanity (like "damn" or "hell") is okay; explicit or hateful language is not
- Nudity: Artistic nudity in original works is fine but must be tasteful; product models must be appropriately clothed
- Adult-Themed Items: Allowed with discretion — first product image and listing name must be family-friendly
Digital Items
Digital art, templates, and patterns are welcome as long as they're your original work. Clearly state in your listing that no physical product will be shipped. If you are found to be selling AI-generated artwork, your shop will be immediately disabled and your products taken offline.
AI-Generated Art
We do not allow AI-generated artwork or templates. Every visual item sold on Genny must be rooted in human creativity. That means:
- No unaltered AI art
- No AI-generated designs or templates, digital or physical
This is core to what Genny stands for. Our shoppers come here specifically because a real human made what they're buying.
Artwork & Photography Prints
You may sell printed versions of your own original artwork or photography. If using a professional print lab, it must be US-based and disclosed in your listing. Please include details like paper type and ink used. Bonus points for showing the original!
Food & Body Products
We allow shelf-stable, handmade consumables including:
- Tea & spice blends
- Soaps and personal care products
We do not allow:
- Raw meat
- Alcohol (as an ingredient is fine)
- CBD or tobacco
- Medical claims of any kind
You must follow all applicable health and safety laws for your products.
Plants
Allowed:
- Plants paired with a handmade item (e.g., hand-painted pot)
- Handmade arrangements
- Dried or pressed botanical art
Not allowed:
- Single live plants or clippings
- Plant bulbs or seeds (unless part of a handmade item)
Animal Products & Taxidermy
Allowed with proper sourcing and ethical practices. Listings must comply with applicable laws including the Fur Products Labeling Act and Endangered Species Act.
Not allowed:
- Live animals
- Cat or dog parts or pelts
- Ivory or human remains
Cremated Remains
Custom memorial items made with cremains are allowed. Must follow USPS Priority Express shipping rules and clearly explain the process to buyers in your listing.
Gift Baskets & Kits
Allowed if the main component is handmade by you. Ask yourself: if you removed the handmade element, would the kit still feel sellable on its own? If yes, it's not eligible. No curated-only or purely resale kits — every kit must include something you personally made.
Mystery Boxes
Totally fine — just be transparent. Disclose what types of items might be included, the approximate quantity, and include a sample image.
Creative Services
We do not allow the sale of creative services including but not limited to:
- Marketing services
- Graphic Design services
- Writing services
- Divination or spell work
- Prayer or ritual services
- Rentals
- Crowdfunding
Charitable Listings
Want to donate a portion of your sales to charity? We love that. Just be clear in your listing:
- Include the organization's name
- State what portion of sales you're donating
- Get permission to use their name or logo if needed
Intellectual Property Policy
By opening a storefront on Genny, you agree that all product listings, photography, text, and designs are either originally created by you or used with proper authorization or license. You may not list or display any content that infringes a third party's copyright, trademark, or patent rights.
Genny's role:
We operate as a neutral, third-party marketplace. We do not pre-approve individual seller listings and we do not obtain licenses on behalf of sellers. You are solely responsible for ensuring you have the rights to everything you post.
Reporting infringement:
If you're a rights holder and believe a listing on Genny infringes your intellectual property, please contact us at hello@shopgenny.com with:
- Identification of the copyrighted work or trademark you believe has been infringed
- The specific listing or URL where the material appears
- Your contact information
- A statement of good-faith belief that the use is unauthorized
- A statement, under penalty of perjury, that the information is accurate and that you are the rights holder or authorized to act on their behalf.
Our response process:
Upon receiving a valid notice, we will promptly remove or disable access to the reported listing and notify the affected seller. Sellers who believe a listing was removed in error may submit a counter-notice; reinstatement will follow the timelines described in our Terms & Conditions unless the rights holder pursues formal legal action.
Repeat infringers:
Sellers who receive multiple substantiated infringement complaints may have their listings removed and their store suspended or permanently closed.
Genny's own brand:
Genny's name, logo, and site content are our intellectual property and may not be copied or used without our permission.
Marketing Permission
By listing your work on Genny, you give us permission to feature your images and descriptions in our marketing efforts — across social media, email, paid advertising, and press. We will always credit you properly.
PART TWO — SHOPKEEPER POLICIES
Orders & Fulfillment
When you receive an order, you are responsible for packaging it securely and shipping it using the USPS label generated through your Shopkeeper Dashboard. Genny covers the cost of shipping labels — you do not purchase postage separately.
If you are unable to fulfill an order due to an unexpected circumstance, contact us immediately at hello@shopgenny.com. Do not leave an order unfulfilled without communicating with the Genny team first.
Returns & Refunds
As a Shopkeeper on Genny, you are responsible for setting your own returns and exchange policy. Your policy must be clearly stated on each of your product pages and on your Shopkeeper Storefront. Please make sure it is accurate and up to date before your storefront goes live.
The following applies across all Genny orders regardless of individual Shopkeeper policy:
- Personalized and custom goods are non-refundable.
- Shipping costs are non-refundable.
- The customer is responsible for the cost of the return postage label.
- In the event of a lost package or damaged goods, you are responsible for the cost of a secondary postage label to send out replacement goods to the customer.
How the Request process works
When a customer submits a Return or Exchange Request through their Genny Account, you will be notified. Genny aims to respond to all Requests within 4 business days. You will be expected to honor your stated policy and communicate promptly with both the customer and the Genny team throughout the process.
A note worth keeping in mind: our customers are reminded before every request that every item on Genny is handmade by a real maker — and that these aren't mass-produced goods. We set that expectation on your behalf so that returns come from a place of understanding, not frustration.
Chargebacks
A chargeback occurs when a customer disputes a charge directly with their bank or credit card provider. In the event of a chargeback on your order:
- Genny will manage the dispute process with our payment processor on your behalf.
- If the chargeback is won, no action is required and funds are returned.
- If the chargeback is lost, the disputed amount plus any associated chargeback fees will be deducted from your next scheduled payout.
The best protection against chargebacks is accurate product descriptions, prompt communication, and thorough fulfillment. Shopkeepers with a pattern of chargebacks may be subject to account review.
Payouts
You must connect a valid payout method before your storefront goes live. Genny cannot issue payments to Shopkeepers without a connected payout account.
Payout amounts reflect your product subtotal after Genny's 6% commission is deducted. Commission is never applied to shipping or tax. Payment processing fees are absorbed by Genny and will not appear as a deduction from your earnings.
Payouts will automatically occur via your connected Payout method after an order is fulfilled and shipped from your Shopkeeper Dashboard.
Shipping
Genny partners with USPS for all shipping. Shipping labels are generated through your Shopkeeper Dashboard at the time of fulfillment. You are responsible for selecting the correct shipping method matching the customer's chosen service at checkout — Ground Advantage, Priority Mail, or Priority Mail Express.
Customers receive free USPS Ground Advantage shipping on orders over $85 to the same address. This cost is absorbed by Genny and will not be deducted from your payout.
Shopkeepers may not currently ship internationally or offer their own shipping promotions. All orders are fulfilled within the United States only.
Promotions
Genny will run seasonal campaigns, curated collections, and marketing moments throughout the year. Participation in any promotional campaign is always opt-in — you will never be automatically enrolled in a discount or sale without your consent.
You retain full control over your product pricing at all times. Genny will never require you to discount your products.
The one exception is shipping promotions. Genny may periodically offer free or discounted shipping to customers as a marketplace-wide initiative. These promotions are managed and absorbed by Genny and will not affect your product payout.
When promotional opportunities arise, Shopkeepers will be notified in advance with enough lead time to plan inventory and participation accordingly.
Account Suspension & Termination
Genny reserves the right to suspend or permanently close a Shopkeeper account under the following circumstances:
- Repeated or willful violation of Genny's House Rules or Shopkeeper Policies
- Failure to fulfill orders within the required timeframe without communication
- Multiple substantiated intellectual property complaints
- Fraudulent activity of any kind
- A pattern of chargebacks or customer complaints indicating fulfillment or product quality issues
In the event of a suspension, Genny will notify the Shopkeeper and provide an opportunity to respond before a final decision is made, except in cases of fraud or severe policy violation where immediate action is required.
Any outstanding payouts owed to a Shopkeeper at the time of account closure will be processed according to our standard payout schedule, minus any amounts owed to Genny for chargebacks, returns, or outstanding fees.
Questions about any of these policies? Reach out at hello@shopgenny.com — we're here to help.