Description:
My company has an internal marketplace for employees to list side businesses, and I make handmade goods. What should I evaluate before listing products there? I’m concerned about conflicts of interest, use of company resources, tax and payment handling, intellectual property, and how visible sales might affect professional relationships and career growth. What are the pros and cons, policies I should check, how to approach HR or my manager, and practical steps to protect my brand and maintain boundaries while using an employer-run platform?
7 Answers
Love this idea!!! Quick, practical extras imo. Run a 30-day pilot with low visibility to test vibes and conflicts. Get written HR approval and any mandatory disclaimer wording. Use separate branding, bank account and payment processor. Buy product liability insurance. Log sales and hours for taxes. Tell your manager early so it’s not a surprize 😊
You might also think about whether you need a local business license or permits for selling even internally.
Consider pricing so coworkers do not expect permanent discounts and limit posting times to low-traffic hours to reduce visibility. I heard offering a “sample” to HR speeds approvals, but I am not sure if that is allowed. Is the marketplace online or a physical table in the lobby?Before diving into the yak shaving of setting up shop on your employer's marketplace, grok the company's conflict-of-interest policy deeply—sometimes side hustles can unintentionally trip red flags if they overlap with company products or clients. A low-risk quick win is to create idempotent boundaries by using a dedicated email and separate social media profiles strictly for your crafts; this keeps personal brand identity clean and avoids muddying professional waters. For a long-term fix, consider automating order tracking and tax reporting through integrated tools that sync with your business accounts—this reduces manual errors and helps maintain clear separation between work time and side hustle hours.
Selling your handmade crafts on your employer's marketplace sounds like a fun way to show off your creative side,but have you thought about how it might turn into an unofficial team-building exercise?
Like, suddenly everyone’s expecting a craft party or personalized gifts for birthdays. It could blur lines between professional and personal in unexpected ways. Also what about the vibe if your manager suddenly becomes your biggest customer?
Could get awkward fast! Have you considered whether the marketplace has any clauses about competing with company products, or is that only for tech startups? Just curious🤔What if selling your crafts at work isn’t just about the transaction but about the story you’re telling?
Have you pondered how blending your personal hustle with your professional life shifts the narrative of who you are to your colleagues? Sometimes these marketplaces don’t just give you a sales channel but a spotlight that rewrites office dynamics. Could it be that this visibility changes not only how people see your craftsmanship but how they see YOU as a coworker or even a competitor in subtle ways? What happens if your brand starts overshadowing or clashing with the company’s vibe over time? That tightrope walk between personal passion and professional identity might just need some soul-searching before you dive in headfirst
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