Etsy calls itself an online marketplace for buying and selling all things handmade, but that does not even begin to tell the story. This is a worldwide community of people building businesses based on creating handmade products and selling them in online shops. It's a movement, a living vision of people gaining more control over their lives and doing what they love.
The Etsy community is comprised of home-based crafters, many of them making interesting and useful products you're not likely to find in stores, as well as artists and artisans either (1) using this venue as an adjunct to websites that do not have shopping carts, or (2) as a way to increase their online exposure. Etsy is not a site to go off looking for something specific (although you just may find it). The best way to browse and enjoy this vibrant community is to give yourself plenty of time, clear your mind of expectations, and simply browse to see what grabs your fancy. There are loads of interesting people and products in the Etsy community, and I will tap into this source regularly for blog posts.
Follow the link to the about page for a video with the Etsy founder and some community members sharing their visions and explaining what Etsy means to them. Then click on the link to the Etsy home page for a preview of its offerings.
Your Place to Buy and Sell All Things Handmade
Etsy, Inc.
325 Gold St.
6th Floor Brooklyn, NY 11201
email for general inquiries
