Announcing the latest sale of the Cooperative Advertising Program — Venus Zine!

In case you're not familiar with this program, here are the important details:

• Etsy will purchase ad space in various magazines, cover half of the cost, and design the ads.
• Etsy Sellers are able to purchase spots in the ad at the discounted rate.
• You will get to display your shop name, an image of one item, its price, and its category.  
• The limit is one spot per seller, per advertisement.

This ad will be in the Summer issue of Venus Zine.

• 30 spots will be available to sellers at a price of $25 each.
• Spots will go on sale on Thursday, March 27, 2008 at 1:00pm (Eastern Time). 
• Spots are purchased in the same manner as a Showcase.
• If you successfully buy a cooperative ad spot through Showcase, your item photo and information must be sent to adam@etsy.com no later than 3:00pm (Eastern Time) on Monday, April 7, 2008.

About Venus Zine

• Circulation is 60,000.
• Venus Zine is published 4 times annually.  Each issue is on sale for 3 months.
• The theme of the Summer issue is "DIY Naturally" and it hits newsstands on June 1, 2008.

"Venus Zine is the only magazine covering the intersection of young women in independent music, fashion, film, and art, side by side with emerging DIY culture and entrepreneurship. The combination of today’s indie culture and the modern, independent young women behind the movement makes for tomorrow’s trend.

Venus Zine is more than a publication. It’s a community of thought leaders who distinguish themselves as both fans and creators in this groundbreaking culture. These readers drive other young women into new aspirations, products, and services. Venus Zine is in constant dialog with these leaders — reaching them at events, online, in print, and on the phone."

A few facts about Venus Zine readers:

• 84% are women.
• 95% access the internet daily.
• 82% shop on the internet.
• 70% buy clothes/accessories at least once a month.
• 77% visited in person; visited a website or called a company that advertised in the magazine.
• 79% showed someone an article or ad that appeared in Venus Zine.

Upcoming Ads: This marks the end of the first round of Cooperative Advertising (soon we will no longer be in "pilot" mode!).  But don't worry, the next round is in the works. We'll be offering the ads again in Craft, Bust, Venus, and Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion. Stay tuned to the Storque for our next announcement!

FAQ

1. What is the Cooperative Advertising Program?

• By purchasing a spot in a Cooperative Advertising Program, Etsy sellers can show off their items in an Etsy-branded magazine advertisement, reach new buyers, and help boost their sales and shop awareness. Print ads in popular magazines are often priced out of reach of small entrepreneurs. Etsy is able to purchase larger ads for more impact, and let sellers buy into the ads.

2. How does it work?

• Etsy reduces costs to sellers by subsidizing the ads.  We pay half of the cost.  The cost to you is the remaining amount, divided by the number of spots for sale.
• Sellers get to display one image of an item from their shop, its price, its main category and their shop name. The appearance of the ad is similar to our homepage.  See the original article for an example.

 3. How do I purchase a spot?

• 1: Go to the Showcase Gateway.
• 2: Choose "Cooperative Ads - Venus Zine Showcase." There will only be one date to choose from.
• 3: Hit the "Purchase" button.  The fee will be added to your normal Etsy bill. 

*Note: The items that appear in the Showcase section of "Your Etsy" will not affect this purchase.  The item photo that you send in via email to adam@etsy.com will be what appears in the ad.  There is not an online Showcase associated with this purchase!

4. What do I do next?

        You'll receive a conversation from Adam with details, and we will need the following from you:

1. Your shop name.
2. The price of the item.
3. The main category that the item is listed under.
4. A high-resolution photograph of your item.  This means 300 dpi, at 1.25" x 1" (L x H) size. Otherwise known as a horizontal rectangle.

• If you need help with photo issues, please ask, and Adam will send you detailed instructions.  If you already have a photo that you like, great!  If not, check out some of our photography tips.

• We will need your image by 3:00pm (Eastern Time) on Monday, April 7, 2008 to give us time to lay out the ad and meet our deadline with Venus Zine.

5. How many spots can I reserve?

• You can purchase one spot per advertisement.

6. Can I cancel a spot after I've made a reservation? Is the fee refunded?

• We will only cancel and refund spots under very special circumstances. Deciding you are no longer interested in your spot does not count.  If you feel like you really have a valid case please email adam@etsy.com.

7. How do I know if the current Cooperative Ad is right for me?

• Do some research!  We'll provide helpful info for each ad as it becomes available (see above). And, it may be helpful to visit your local bookstore or newsstand to see if they carry the magazine.  Remember, there will be more of these Cooperative Advertising opportunities available in the future, including Craft, Bust, and Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion.  If you don't feel like Venus  is perfect for you, there will be other opportunities...