Is a Managed Line Right for You? Who It Fits and Who It Doesn't
An honest look at which artists a managed line suits, which ones it doesn't and how to decide.
A managed line suits some artists and not others. We would rather you know that up front than find out six months in. Here is how to tell which side you are on.
Who a managed line fits
You sell in person
You do art fairs, festivals, markets or open studios, and people already buy your work.
You want the online side handled
You would rather make art than manage listings, posts, emails and wholesale accounts.
You have a body of work
You have enough pieces, or art that works well as prints, to build a real catalog.
You are comfortable with Brakebee as your online seller
For the products in your line, Brakebee sells online during the partnership.
You can keep us supplied
You can send files, photos and details, and handle inventory or shipping as agreed.
Who it may not fit
- Artists who want to keep their own online shop for the same work. That would put us in competition with each other.
- Artists who need guaranteed income. We do the work, and we can't promise sales.
- Artists who want to approve every post. We keep you in the loop, and the day-to-day decisions sit with us so the work keeps moving.
Managed line, self-serve or hired help
Most artists weigh three paths. Here is how they compare.
| Run it yourself on Brakebee | Hire a freelancer or agent | Managed Line on Brakebee | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who does the work | You | The person you hire | Brakebee's team |
| Catalog and channels | One catalog you manage | Usually separate tools on each site | One catalog Brakebee manages for you |
| Website, social and email | You turn on what you need | Often split across several people | All run from the same dashboard, with the site on your own domain |
| Wholesale | You find stores and handle orders | Sometimes, through the agent's contacts | A full wholesale division run for your line |
| Print on demand | The Phoenix lab, set up by you | Usually not included | The Phoenix lab, set up by Brakebee |
| Good fit for | Artists who like running things | Artists with one specific gap | Artists who want the whole online side handled |
If you like running your own shop, a free Brakebee account on /makers gives you the same catalog, marketplace, connectors and print lab. A managed line is for artists who want Brakebee to run all of it.
Questions to ask yourself
- If someone else handled your online sales tomorrow, what would you do with that time?
- Are you comfortable with the shops and products Brakebee builds belonging to Brakebee, knowing that what you bring in stays yours? See who owns what.
- Is your work ready to be photographed, described and shared widely?
If you are leaning yes and still unsure, send us a note anyway. A partnership conversation commits you to nothing, and we share the terms for your line during it.
Next in the series: Selling art online while you do art fairs.
Talk to us about a managed line
Sources.
¹ Brakebee, Managed Lines page: program scope, ownership summary, organic marketing. brakebee.com/managed-lines, confirmed Oct 15, 2026.
² Brakebee, Makers page: self-serve catalog, marketplace, connectors and print-on-demand. brakebee.com/makers, confirmed Oct 15, 2026.
Part of series: Managed Lines
- How Managed Lines Works: From First Conversation to a Line We Run
- What's Included in Managed Lines: Everything Brakebee Runs for Your Art Line
- Who Owns What in a Managed Line: Your Art, Your Accounts and What Brakebee Builds
- Is a Managed Line Right for You? Who It Fits and Who It Doesn't
- Selling Art Online and at Art Fairs: How to Make Both Work
- Marketing for Artists: How to Market Your Art Without Paid Ads
- Sell Art on Etsy, Faire, Wayfair and More From One Catalog
- Introducing Managed Lines: Brakebee Will Run the Online Side of Your Art Line
- Shopify for Artists: Why Artists Are Moving to Brakebee Managed Lines