The I.T. Files By Sara D. and Hamburg. Streaming or archived workshops are also available. To find out more about Etsy labs, up-coming events, and online workshops, visit etsy.com and join the mailing list for automatics updates More than just the World’s Handmade Marketplace, Etsy.com is a community of artists, creators, thinkers, and doers. Painter, carpenter, and photographer Robert Kalin conceived the idea for the site, and along with Chris Maguire and Haim Schoppik, they designed the site, wrote the code, assembled the servers, spliced the cables, and after only three sleepless months launched Etsy on June 18th, 2005. WHAT IS ETSY.COM? Etsy is an e-commerce website that focuses only on handmade items, vintage items, art, and craft supplies. It has been compared to “a crafty cross between Amazon, eBay, and your grandmother’s basement.” There are three categories in which to sell items under handmade by you, vintage (20 years older or more), supplies (commercial and handmade) Things not allowed: anything that does not fit one of the three categories, handmade by someone else, illegal or prohibited items. Selling on etsy.com is simple, as with Amazon and eBay, it walks you through the process with ease. It costs $0.20 to list a single item for 4 months. When the item sells, you will pay 3.5% in transaction fees. Etsy is a popular place to buy goods made from recycled and up-cycled materials, along with less expensive or unique versions of mass-produced items. People value authorship, the uniqueness and rarity of items is the appeal for the millions of shoppers that frequent this site. The site’s home page features recently listed items, blog posts, featured sellers, and handpicked items of interest. With its clean layout, and simple design, it is a breeze to get around and find just what you are looking for. ETSY LABS Members of Etsy’s Community Team host a variety of public programming; from craft nights and tech talk to business development workshops and beyond. The company’s headquarters is located in Dumbo, Brooklyn. There are two “Creative Community Spaces.” These spaces are located in Brooklyn, NY and Berlin, Germany (a location of one of the main offices.) Etsy Labs regularly host events in San Francisco, Los Angeles, CA, Paris, the Netherlands, TEAMS AND GRANTS The “Teams” community feature allows you to connect with other Etsy members. Teams are a great way to collaborate with people that share your interests. You can join an existing team or create, maintain, and promote a new team focused on your own ideas. It is also a great way for consumers to shop by theme, location, or interest. Each month, a few exceptional teams are selected and rewarded with grant funding for new and exciting projects. Active Etsy teams propose project ideas that are aimed at stimulating creativity among members and spreading Etsy awareness. These grant programs support team events, collaborations, and projects. Any team may apply for these grants. Teams are eligible for up to two grants per year. Local and global teams can come up with numerous projects, develop workshops, and handle advertising and publicity. The funding provided by these grants helps with all of this and more. *Be sure to read the Do’s and Don’ts featured on the “teams” page of etsy.com before joining or creating any team* Our Mission is to empower people to change the way the global economy works. We see a world in which very-very small businesses have much-much more sway in shaping the economy. Local living economies are thriving everywhere, and people value authorship and provenance as much as price and convenience. We are bringing heart to commerce and making the world more fair, more sustainable, and more fun. ~Etsy Etsy.com is truly a crafter’s paradise; sharing your own creations, ideas, and interests with people around the world or right next door. For questions or comments, e-mail me at [email protected] References include Etsy.com, and Wikipedia
© Copyright 2024