By AML Publisher
Photos Courtesy of Etsy Artists
Featured Brooch Image on Homepage Courtesy of Philadelphia Artist Katie Reim and Her Etsy Line: cultivar.Etsy.com

Inspired by raw materials and semi-precious stones, Krista Peel’s line of jewelry (kristapeel.etsy.com) is funky, flirty and irresistible. It takes about fifteen minutes to ‘open’ up an Etsy online store.

In 2005, a group of internet entrepreneurs had a novel idea-launch an online marketplace and community that caters to the millions of artists, handcrafters and designers across the world. Since retail store fronts are costly to maintain and limited with their reach, the idea filled a real niche in an evolving economy. Four years later, Etsy.com has revolutionized the small business world-think an Ebay for artisans. The concept has resonated with buyers and sellers as Etsy boasts artists in over 160 countries around the globe and 250,000 sellers.

In May of 2009, Etsy reported record sales of $10 to 13 million per month, an increase perhaps boosted by consumer interest in cheaper and more personalized goods due to the United States recession. Etsy is popular as a side-business as well as a place to buy goods made from recycled and upcycled materials, along with less expensive or more unusual versions of mass-produced items. The unique nature of many of the items for sale is part of their appeal to some shoppers.

For AroundMainLine.com, as we continue to publish and cater to a virtual Main Line and Philadelphia-region community online, sites like Etsy offer a great synergy. So, I was thrilled when Etsy agreed to take me up on my series concept called: Etsy Phavorites. I will be selecting (and also open to your suggestions) cool, creative Etsy artists who are based in the Delaware Valley. In addition, I am working hand-in-hand with Etsy to hone in on the region’s top Etsy sellers. The neat thing about Etsy and AroundMainLine.com’s Phavorites column is that the artists we will discover and celebrate-from one of the world’s most successful online marketplaces-are right here in our own backyard!

From expectant mothers to brides and soon-to-be empty nesters, Precious Meshes’ most popular design is the line of these individually crafted bird’s nest earrings and necklaces. (preciousmeshes.etsy.com)

Adam Brown, Etsy spokesperson, explained how the site effectively creates a sense of camaraderie and community among its vendors and buyers. “It has become a fun, innovative place for our customers to peruse and find neat, unique products. And, since the buyer is dealing with the artist directly, they have an opportunity to form a relationship with them. We have a lot of community spaces that bring people together to connect. Its valuable feedback that you would not be able to get in a traditional retail space,” explained Brown.

A site like Etsy, that attracts tens of millions of visitors with hundreds of thousands of products on display, may seem overwhelming to the new visitor. But, the genius behind the model is in their sophisticated site tools, 31 product categories and interactive widgets that make virtually wandering around the Etsy shop a breeze. “There are so many fun ways to shop on Etsy in a social medium. With our favorites ‘heart’ icon, the buyers and sellers can discover like items very easily. When you find products and styles of products you like, you can check out the favorites of those artists and it can guide you to similar products. Our Etsy team is constantly working to engineer other levels of effective shopping tools and social interaction in our online marketplace.”

What Exactly is Etsy?

Etsy’s slogan sums up their business model perfectly: Your place to buy and sell all things handmade. Etsy offers over a quarter of a million individual vendors to consumers around the world. Their mission is to enable people to make a living making things, and to reconnect makers with buyers. As described on their site: “Our vision is to build a new economy and present a better choice.” Pretty cool!

How Do I Begin Selling?

Etsy has streamlined the process of selling online for the small business artist. It takes approximately fifteen minutes to open your own Etsy shop.

How will AML choose the Etsy Phavorites?

Working hand-in-hand with Etsy and with our loyal audience suggestions and staff research, AML will be identifying (on a monthly basis) interesting, talented Etsy vendors and publishing profiles on these respective artists. From jewelry designers to artists and crafters, the talents of these women and their amazing handmade goods, artwork and vintage collections will grace our pages. And, you will get to know each Etsy artist personally with a profile on their background.

Etsy offers an opportunity for artists and crafters to open a charming boutique for the world to shop for their wares, without the upfront costs, limited reach and legwork of a conventional retail space. Pictured is a group of hairpins from Philadelphia-based Etsy company, Cultivar. (cultivar.etsy.com)

How can I purchase the Etsy Phavorites featured on AML?

We will make it easy! Each article will hyperlink to that respective artist’s homepage on Etsy where their full list of products is listed. Several Etsy artists have more than one type of product, so the features will also mention their other Etsy lines or creative outlets and projects.

What is Storque?

Storque is Etsy’s e-magazine and is accessed by clicking on the Blog tab at the top of their page. The Storque is updated throughout the day with new items and editorial. One of the coolest features on the Storque is the Showcase, which is a cooperative advertising program for Etsy vendors to show off their items. The Showcase feature rotates every fifteen seconds, so there is a constant flow of new products to peruse or purchase.

What is Pounce?

Pounce is one of AML’s favorite features on Etsy. Pounce (which is an easily found icon on the left hand side of the Etsy Homepage) cleverly directs visitors to two areas: one, new artists who are awaiting their first sale and secondly to online shops that just had a sale. So, it’s a way for the virtual shopper to see what is moving or what is recently ‘in stock’ in this amazing online boutique…called Etsy.