The Hive NZ is New Zealand’s premier vendor-powered marketplace—a dedicated home for Kiwi small businesses to thrive, grow, and sell together.

Born from a desire to make e-commerce accessible and affordable, The Hive NZ bridges the gap between local creators and a massive audience of “shop small” supporters. We aren’t just another faceless platform; we are a collective of entrepreneurs who believe that when one Kiwi business succeeds, we all do.

By joining The Hive, you aren’t just getting a “shop window”—you’re gaining a powerful suite of tools designed to put you in the driver’s seat:

• A High-Traffic Collective: Leverage our powerhouse SEO and established reputation to get your products in front of thousands of customers who are specifically looking to support local.

• Your Own Mini-Website: You get a fully customizable store page to showcase your unique brand identity, complete with your own logo, “About” story, and social links.

   

• Total Control: From managing your own shipping rates and instant payments via Stripe to running your own auctions and wholesale portal, you have the autonomy of your own site without the massive setup costs.

   

• A True Community: At the heart of The Hive is our vendor community. Whether it’s through our dedicated Facebook support groups or our “Hive Grow” resources, you’re surrounded by peers who share your drive.

   

In short: You bring the passion and the products; we provide the platform and the megaphone.

Becoming a vendor on The Hive NZ is a simple, straightforward process. We are always looking for passionate Kiwi businesses to join our growing community!

Here is how to get started:

• Visit the Registration Page: Click on ‘Become a Vendor’ or ‘Sell with us’ located in the header or footer of our website.

• Fill Out Your Profile: You will be asked to provide your business name, contact details, and a brief description of what you create or sell.

• Connect Your Store: During setup, you will link your business to a Stripe account. This ensures you get paid directly and securely the moment a customer makes a purchase.

• Set up your shipping: make sure your store shipping has been set up so you can receive orders.
• List your first product; only stores with an active listings are shown to our customers.

• Wait for Approval: Once submitted, our team will review your application. We do this to ensure all vendors meet our community standards as 100% New Zealand-based businesses.

• Set Up Your Shop: while you’re waiting and from your Vendor Dashboard, you can upload your logo, cover image, set your store Terms & Conditions etc.

Why join The Hive NZ? When you register with us, you aren’t just getting a storefront. You are joining a collective that provides you with advanced SEO tools, AI-powered descriptions, and a supportive community of fellow Kiwi entrepreneurs.

Absolutely. If you are a Kiwi entrepreneur with a passion for what you do, you belong here.

The Hive NZ isn’t just a marketplace; it’s a collective powered by the grit and creativity of local business owners. We believe that a thriving ecosystem needs variety, which is why we open our doors to every type of small Kiwi business.

Whether you are a maker crafting by hand in your garage, a professional offering specialized services, or a digital creator selling downloads across the globe—you are the driving force behind this platform.

• Physical & Digital: From hand-poured candles to downloadable planners.

• Products & Services: From boutique jewelry to local photography or consulting.

• Local & Global: Whether you manufacture right here in NZ or source your products ethically from abroad.

We don’t believe in “caps” or “category limits.” In a healthy market, competition is just another word for a thriving industry. At The Hive NZ, we embrace that energy because it pushes us all to stand out, innovate, and grow together.

Yes, absolutely! We welcome a diverse range of makers and do not offer category exclusivity. The Hive NZ is a thriving marketplace, and we believe that healthy competition is great for everyone. It gives our shoppers more variety and encourages high standards across the board.

Why we embrace multiple makers in the same category:

• Unique Styles: No two Kiwi makers are exactly the same. Even if two vendors sell “Soy Candles,” their scents, packaging, and brand stories will be unique.

• Customer Choice: We want our customers to find the perfect match for their personal taste and budget.

• Healthy Competition: Having multiple vendors in one category keeps the marketplace fresh and exciting.

• Abundance Mindset: There is plenty of room for everyone! Our goal is to grow the “shop local” movement so that all our vendors can flourish.

We encourage you to focus on what makes your business special. Use our SEO tools and AI-powered descriptions to highlight your unique brand story and connect with your ideal customers.

We believe that cost should never be a barrier to starting your dream business. That’s why we offer a range of plans—including a “forever free” option—to ensure every Kiwi entrepreneur can find a home here.

The Hive NZ is a collective powered by its vendors. Whether you are just starting out with your first product or you are a seasoned pro ready to scale, we have a plan that puts you in control.

1. The Bumble Bee Plan (Free Entry)

Perfect for “testing the waters” or keeping overheads low.

• Monthly Subscription: $0

• Success Fee: 15% on sales (excluding shipping).

• The Best Part: While we call this an introductory plan, there is no expiry date. You can stay on the Bumble Bee plan for as long as you like. We only grow when you grow!

• Includes: Your own mini-website, up to 15 listings, and full access to our vendor dashboard.

2. The Royal Bee Plan (Professional Growth)

Designed for businesses ready to take center stage and maximize their profit.

• Monthly Subscription: Starting from ~$18.33/month (on our annual plan) or $25 for month-to-month.

• Success Fee: 0%. You keep 100% of your sales (excluding Stripe fees).

• Includes: Unlimited listings, pre-approval for instant listing updates, free product advertising, $430 worth of discounts, premium homepage visibility and much more.

• Why Upgrade? Our Royal Bee vendors enjoy a significantly higher sales rate thanks to extra promotion and the ability to list their entire inventory without limits.

Important Note on Payments

To ensure you get paid instantly and securely, all vendors use Stripe. This means your money goes directly from the customer to your bank account—no waiting for us to process your payouts. Standard Stripe processing fees apply to all transactions.

We like to keep things simple! Our mission is to give you maximum exposure and the guidance you need to scale your business. However, to keep The Hive NZ a professional, secure, and thriving ecosystem for every vendor, we have a few “House Rules” to ensure we all win together.

1. Keeping the Hive Buzzing (External Links & Communication)

The power of The Hive NZ comes from our collective traffic. To keep our marketplace strong and our SEO high, we focus on keeping customers within our ecosystem.

• Links on your Store: You are welcome to link your social media profiles (Instagram, Facebook, etc.) via Dashboard > Settings > Social Profile. However, external links of any other kind are not permitted within your listings, shop descriptions, or content.

• Direct Communication: When a customer reaches out to you through our platform’s messaging or Q&A systems, all communication and referrals must stay within The Hive NZ. Sending customers to external websites, other marketplaces, or private checkout links is strictly prohibited.

• The Goal: By keeping the shopping journey on The Hive, we protect the community’s growth and ensure that every vendor benefits from the platform’s collective reach.

2. Staying Within the Law (Legal Compliance)

As the leader of your brand, you are responsible for ensuring your products and services meet New Zealand law (and the laws of any country you ship to).

• Prohibited Items: You cannot list items that are illegal, restricted, or require specific permits that you do not hold.

• Knowledge is Power: Understanding the regulations for your specific industry is key to a long-lasting business. For a breakdown of what might apply to you, please visit our Vendor Rights & Obligations page.

3. Professional Standards

The Hive is a community built on the passion of Kiwi entrepreneurs. We do not allow content that is misleading, offensive, or intended to harm the reputation of the collective. We thrive on healthy competition and mutual respect!

Don’t worry—getting set up is simple, free, and puts you in professional control of your business from day one.

Because The Hive NZ is a vendor-powered platform, we use Stripe to ensure you get paid directly and securely. If you don’t have an account yet, you can create one in just a few minutes without even leaving your shop dashboard.

• Quick & Free Setup: Simply head to your Vendor Dashboard > Settings > Payment. From there, you’ll see a button to connect or create a Stripe account. It’s completely free to open!

• Why Stripe? It is the global leader in online payments. Having your own account means you can track every sale, handle refunds easily if needed, and have your money sent straight to your bank account without waiting for us to process it manually.

• No Technical Skills Needed: The setup process is a guided, step-by-step journey designed for busy entrepreneurs, not tech experts.

Not keen on Stripe or hitting a roadblock? We never want tech to get in the way of your passion. If you’re having trouble setting up your account or have specific concerns about using Stripe, please contact our Admin team immediately. We are here to help find a solution that works for you and ensures your shop can get up and running smoothly.

At The Hive NZ, we believe your hard-earned money belongs in your pocket as soon as possible. Our system is designed to give you total control over your cash flow through our integration with Stripe.

The Direct Route: Get Paid Instantly

When you set up your store, you’ll be prompted to connect your own Stripe account. We highly recommend this because it puts you in the driver’s seat:

• No Waiting: Payments go directly from the customer to your Stripe account.

• Automatic Deductions: Any applicable fees (see below) are deducted at the point of sale, so the balance that hits your account is your actual profit.

• You Control the Payout: From Stripe, you can transfer your funds to your New Zealand bank account on your own schedule.

Understanding the Fees

To keep the platform thriving and the tools sharp, there are two types of fees deducted before the money reaches you:

1. Success Fees: Only vendors on our Free Introductory Bumble Bee plan pay a success fee of 15% on sales (calculated on the product price, excluding shipping). If you are on a Royal Bee plan, your success fee is 0%.

2. Stripe Fees: All vendors, regardless of their Hive plan, pay standard Stripe processing fees. These are the costs for securely processing credit card transactions. Check the current Stripe fees for NZ here.

Important: If you don’t connect Stripe

While we encourage every vendor to connect their own account for instant access, you can choose not to. In this case, your order payments will go into The Hive NZ’s central Stripe account.

• To get your money: You will need to manually request a payment into your bank account.

• The Cost: This manual process takes up to 10 working days to clear and incurs a $5 admin fee per payout.

Pro-Tip: Connecting your own Stripe account is the best way to avoid admin fees and keep your business moving at the speed of light!

Short answer: Absolutely! In fact, we highly encourage it.

One of the greatest strengths of The Hive NZ is that it is powerful enough to be your business’s primary home. You can link your own custom domain (e.g., www.yourbrand.co.nz) directly to your Hive store page, giving you the sleek, professional look of a standalone website with all the powerhouse traffic of our collective marketplace.

The Benefits of Using Your Own Domain:

• Professional Branding: Use your custom URL on business cards, signage, and social media bios. It builds immediate trust and makes your brand feel established and “flagship.”

• The Best of Both Worlds: You get the “boutique” feel of your own dedicated URL, while still benefiting from The Hive’s massive built-in audience. You don’t have to choose between a lonely independent site and a busy marketplace—you get both.

• Massive Cost Savings: Instead of paying $50+ per month for a standalone e-commerce platform, you use The Hive as your engine. You save on hosting and tech support while we handle the secure checkout and server speed.

• Exclusive Landing Pages: Want an even more polished entry point for your customers? We offer custom landing pages to give your brand a high-end feel. For our Royal Bee vendors, a basic custom landing page is included on request—perfect for matching your domain to a truly bespoke brand experience.

How do I do it?

It’s simple! Just go to your domain provider (where you bought your URL) and set up “Domain Forwarding” to your Hive store link.

Ready to level up? If you are a Royal Bee vendor and want to claim your included landing page, get in touch with our team, and we’ll help you make your brand the star of the show.

You don’t need to be a large corporation to join us, but it’s important to know that when you list products or services for sale on The Hive NZ, you are officially “in business.”

Whether you are testing a new idea or scaling an established brand, you are considered a professional vendor on our platform. This means:

• No NZBN Required: You do not need a formal New Zealand Business Number (NZBN) or GST registration to get started. Many of our successful vendors start as sole traders using their own names.

• Professional Responsibility: Because you are “in trade,” you have the same responsibilities as any other Kiwi business to provide quality goods and follow the Consumer Guarantees Act and Fair Trading Act. We move away from the “hobbyist” label because we want our customers to trust that every vendor on The Hive—including you—is a professional committed to great service.

• A Place to Grow: The Hive NZ is designed to be the launching pad that helps you transition from a “maker” to a “business owner.” We provide the professional infrastructure so that even on your first day, you look and act like an established brand.

Welcome to the collective! We are absolutely stoked to have you join The Hive NZ family. You are officially part of a movement that puts Kiwi small businesses first.

Starting a new journey can be a whirlwind, so keep an eye on your inbox—within the next few days, you’ll receive a personal welcome message from our Queen Bee. This is packed with vital info to help you succeed, so grab a coffee and give it a good read!

To protect the quality of our marketplace and ensure you are set up for success, we personally review every new shop before those first listings go live. We want to make sure your “vitals” are perfect so your first customer has a seamless experience.

Step 1: The “Must-Dos” (To get your review started)

You need to complete these three things before we can hit the “live” button:

1. Set Up Your Shipping: Our system requires shipping rules to be in place before listings can be activated.

2. Connect Your Stripe Account: Link your account under Settings > Payment so you can get paid instantly.

3. Add Your First Listings: Upload your products so we can see your amazing brand in action!

Step 2: The “Brand-Builders” (Don’t wait—do these now!)

You don’t need to wait for our approval to make your shop look incredible. We encourage you to dive right in and complete your setup so you are ready to hit the ground running the moment you’re approved:

• Design Your Storefront: Upload your store banner and profile picture to stand out.

• Tell Your Story: Write your vendor biography—customers love to know the person behind the products!

• Link Your Socials: Connect your Instagram or Facebook to drive your existing community to your new home.

• Set the Rules: Add your specific terms, conditions, and return policies.

• Create Excitement: Set up storewide coupons or discount codes to celebrate your launch.

A Note for our Royal Bee Vendors: Even for our VIPs, we perform this initial “grand opening” check to ensure everything is 100% correct. Once your shop is fully configured and your first listing is live and looking great, we will apply your pre-approval status. This means all your future updates and new listings will go live the second you hit “save!”

Don’t worry! If your products aren’t visible yet, it’s usually down to one of two things: a quick setup fix or our quality-check process.

At The Hive NZ, we pride ourselves on being a curated, high-quality marketplace. To protect both our customers and our hardworking vendors from spammers, we personally review listings to ensure they are “shop-ready.”

1. The Quick Setup Check (The most common reason!)

Our system is designed to protect you. Your listings cannot go live if:

• Shipping is missing: You must have your shipping rates set up correctly. Without them, a customer can’t checkout, so the listing stays hidden.

• Stripe is disconnected: To ensure you get paid, your Stripe account must be linked before sales can begin.

2. The Approval Process

Depending on your plan, there is a short review period to ensure everything looks perfect:

• Bumble Bee (Free Plan): To maintain the high standards of our collective, all new listings and edits on this plan are sent to our Admin team for a quick review.

• Royal Bee (VIP Plan): When you first join, we review your first few listings to make sure your shop is perfectly configured. Once we’ve confirmed you’re all set, we grant you Pre-Approval Status, and your future listings will go live instantly!

How long does it take?

We aim to have your products live within 3-5 working days, though it’s often much faster—especially if you’ve followed our listing guides!

Waiting longer than expected?

Sometimes the “notification bees” get lost in the garden! If it’s been more than 5 days and you’ve completed all your setup steps, please contact ADMIN immediately. We want to get your shop humming as much as you do!

Think of us as your digital megaphone. One of the biggest challenges for a standalone website is “invisibility.” When you join The Hive NZ, you aren’t just getting a shop; you are joining a high-traffic collective that Google already knows and trusts.

We’ve built the platform with “Search Engine Optimization” (SEO) at its core. Because our site has thousands of listings and constant fresh content, we rank higher for “shop local” and “Kiwi made” keywords than most independent sites can on their own. By listing with us, your products “hitch a ride” on our authority, making it much easier for new customers to find your brand through a simple Google search.

The Hive NZ is a home for all Kiwi talent. We know that many modern entrepreneurs don’t just sell “things”—they sell skills.

You can absolutely list services on our platform! Whether you are a photographer, a graphic designer, a consultant, or a music teacher, you can create a listing for your service packages just as easily as a physical product. This makes The Hive the perfect place for service-based businesses to reach a local audience looking to “hire Kiwi.”

You are the boss of your own logistics! We provide the tools, but you decide how your products reach your customers.

Through your Vendor Dashboard, you can set up highly customized shipping zones, flat rates, or weight-based shipping.

• Local at Heart: Want to offer “Click & Collect” or local delivery for your neighbors? You can easily set up a Free Local Pickup option.

• Total Control: You choose whether you ship international or national only. Because you are the driving force, you decide which courier you use and how you want to package your brand’s experience.

Yes! In fact, many of our most successful vendors do exactly that. Think of your own website as your “boutique” and The Hive NZ as your “high-street storefront.”

Selling here gives you a second stream of traffic and puts your products in front of customers who may never have found your individual site. Plus, our collective SEO power helps boost your brand’s overall visibility across the web. It’s not about choosing one or the other; it’s about expanding your reach.

At The Hive NZ, we operate a “dispatch upon payment” model. This means that as soon as a customer completes their checkout, the order process should begin immediately.

Because our platform uses Stripe, the customer’s payment is processed and deposited directly into your connected Stripe account the moment the order is placed.

• Payment is Instant: Once an order appears in your dashboard, the funds have been successfully authorised and are already in your possession (minus the transaction and success fees).

• Don’t Wait for Bank Transfers: You should not wait for the funds to reach your personal bank account before starting work or shipping. Stripe payouts to your bank can take a few days depending on your bank’s schedule, but the payment is already secure and belongs to you.

• Customer Expectations: Customers expect their orders to be handled promptly. Waiting for a bank transfer to clear causes unnecessary delays and can lead to poor reviews or refund requests.

• Standard Practice: For custom orders, the receipt of the order notification is your “green light” to begin your craft.

By starting your fulfilment process as soon as the order arrives, you ensure a fantastic experience for your customer and help grow the reputation of your business.

You do—because you are the face of your brand!

At The Hive NZ, we put the power back in the hands of the vendors. When a customer has a question or needs a refund, they talk directly to you through our secure messaging system.

This allows you to build real relationships with your customers, offer that personal “Kiwi touch,” and manage your returns according to your own store policies (provided they meet NZ consumer laws). You have total autonomy over how you care for your community.

We don’t just give you a space; we give you a megaphone! We are a vendor-powered platform, and we are constantly working behind the scenes to drive “shop local” traffic to the collective. We do this through a mix of organic social reach and powerful search engine authority:

• Social Media Spotlights: We are very active on Instagram and Facebook! We regularly share products from our Royal Bee vendors to our growing audience of local supporters. For our Bumble Bee vendors, we keep a close eye on your listings—if your products stand out with high-quality photography and a unique “wow” factor, we love to feature those too!

• The Hive Blog: This is one of our most powerful tools. We regularly publish blog posts that highlight specific trends, gift guides, and vendor stories. These posts are optimized for Google, meaning they help your products get found by people searching for “Kiwi gift ideas” or “New Zealand services.”

• SEO Dominance: We invest heavily in making sure “The Hive NZ” appears at the top of search results. Because the collective is so large, Google trusts us more than a brand-new standalone site, helping your brand “hitch a ride” to the first page of search results.

• VIP Visibility: Our Royal Bee vendors receive extra “real estate” on the platform, including prime logo placement on the homepage and highlights in our VIP category sections.

Our goal is to create the buzz; you just need to bring the brilliance.

Success on a marketplace comes down to how well you present your brand and connect with your customers. While The Hive NZ provides the platform, there are several ways you can proactively grow your business:

• Master Your SEO: You have direct access to Product SEO settings in your dashboard. Use clear titles and relevant meta tags to directly influence how high your products rank in search results.

• Enhance Your Images: High-quality photos are your best sales tool. If your photos need a boost, we offer Google’s Image AI Enhancer to help your products look professional and polished.

• Use Our AI Copywriter: Not sure how to describe your work? We offer AI product description enhancement powered by Gemini. Turn basic notes into engaging, professional copy that converts buyers.

• Set Up Automatic Discounts: Use the “Spend and Save” feature in your dashboard. Offering a small discount for orders over a certain amount is a proven way to increase your average order value.

• Be Proactive with Social Media: Share links to your Hive store on Facebook and Instagram. Tagging @TheHiveNZ allows us to feature your work on our main pages.

• Great Communication: Respond to messages promptly. A friendly, fast reply often turns an inquiry into a sale.

Consistency is key! Regular shop updates and fresh listings keep your store at the top of search results and keep customers coming back.