Search results (tags) for: "press"

Etsy in the Press: Elevator, Goin' Up!

2008-11-20T15:58:00Z

The Dow Jones may be stuck in the basement for a while, but the Etsy Express is heading straight to the top, and just in time for the holidays!

First floor, TV land. Last week, Good Morning America held the first of many Great American Job Fairs, hosted by our friend Tory Johnson. If you saw it live, you could see our own Matt and Christina standing right behind Tory during the broadcast, along with a poster bearing the Etsy logo. Hats off to them, as their on-screen presence involved a long flight and extra-early wake up call. Also on the telly, weesf, aka Nicky Batill, was featured on The Martha Stewart Show, demonstrating how she creates her charming animal portraits. She and Martha had a brief but glowing discussion of Etsy. Great job Nicky! On this floor, we also find not one, but two local news outlets touting Etsy as a great place to buy and sell this holiday season. Check them out at TMJ4 Milwaukee, and WREX 13 Rockford.

Second floor, Business News. The hot question these days seems to be, "How Can I Save/Make Money Online This Year?" The answer, apparently, is Etsy. At least that's what CNN, Business Week, and Time think. On the mezzanine level, the Courier-Journal of Louisvile features a nice piece about the revival of craft, and how the economy may spur its growth even further.

Third floor, Favorite Shopping Sites. It turns out we're making waves over at Lucky, down south in Baton Rouge, and just up the way at the Hartford Courant. Last stop, everybody out!

And this just in! tinaseamonster will be on NPR's Weekend Edition Sunday this Sunday.

"The air time is different in each city, NPR station. There should also be a video of me making stuff and showing off some handmade purchases online. Then I will be doing a chat on their website at 1pm EST at http://www.npr.org/gifts.

Sunday 11/23/08
LIVE online chat with Tina Seamonster, craftswoman and artist 01:30 PM - 02:00 PM EST Weekend Edition Sunday Chat Live with Tina Seamonster

Chat LIVE online right here on our Eco-Nomical Holidays group page with Tina Henry-Barrus, AKA Tina Seamonster (http://www.tinaseamonster.com) She's a D.C.-based crafter and artist, affiliated with the Washington City Paper's Crafty Bastards collective. Tina will join host Liane Hansen during the show and offer her crafty ideas to anyone who wants to particpate in the online chat this Sunday at 1 p.m. EST. She has a podcast at her crafting blog, http://www.hellocraft.com."

For more Etsy in the Press, go here!

Etsy In The Press: London Calling Rachael

2008-11-06T17:47:00Z

Two juicy bits of news this past week for you. India Knight, a weekly columnist for the Sunday Times in London, penned an article this past weekend about thriftiness, excerpted from her new book, The Thrift Book: Live Well and Spend Less. It covers several topics, ranging from bill collectors to grocery lists, but one part that stands out is how well she captures part of the ethos of Etsy and the handmade lifestyle. To wit:

"One of my favourite recent birthday presents was a beautifully knitted Lurex scarf. The friend who knitted it for me had some little Cash’s name tapes made that said, “Made for you with love by Alison” in red curly writing. The woman’s a lawyer; she doesn’t have much spare time. She could have gone anywhere and spent any amount on my present, but it wouldn’t have made me feel a fraction as delighted."

She goes on to describe many of the other pluses of buying handmade and conscientious consumption as well, such as the social and ecological benefits. She goes on to say (and this is my favorite part):

"Etsy is the first site I visit if I want to buy someone an original (as in, often, literally one of a kind), lovely, bargainous present. Plus, obviously, you’re not lining the pockets of some giant greedy-guts corporation; you’re (gently) lining the pockets of a fashion student in Brooklyn, or a mother of four from Dorset who crafts in her spare time. Every item you buy from such a person strikes a blow against mass production. Everything about Etsy rocks."

The other big story this week comes from TV land. Joy Behar, co-host of The View, was a guest on the Rachael Ray Show this Tuesday. It just so happens that Joy's daughter Eve had opened an Etsy shop recently; she makes some lovely ceramics. Joy took the opportunity to talk about Eve's shop and Etsy in the process. This is another great mention for all of us from the Rachael Ray show. Unfortunately, the clip on their website does not include the part about Etsy, but it's entertaining nonetheless. Both of these stories have contributed to another banner week here! We're excited to welcome many new members that have discovered Etsy as a result.

For more Etsy in the Press, go here!

All About Etsy FAQ Series: Etsy 2008 Holiday Marketing

2008-10-27T18:10:00Z

Back in September, I shared some information about how we were working to promote Etsy this holiday season. Some people have been asking for a bit of follow up, so without further ado:

1. SEO and SEM

"Etsy’s most significant marketing investment this holiday season will be in search marketing. Search marketing comprises both Search Engine Optimization (“SEO”) and Search Engine Marketing (“SEM”)."

These ads are running now. Changes to optimize Etsy for search are also already underway.

2. ADVERTISING

"While the bulk of our advertising spending will be on search marketing, we think we can bolster brand awareness by advertising in a number of highly-targeted, socially-aware publications and their related websites."

You can see full-page Etsy print ads in Good Magazine, Mother Earth News, and Plenty Magazine. The ads feature Etsy artist fernanimals, and can be seen above. Beginning in November you will also see a banner advertising campaign running on many of your favorite websites.

3. MEDIA OUTREACH

"We spend a lot of time developing our messaging, pitching to the media and working with reporters and publishers on stories and product requests for the holiday season."

Press outreach has been going very well. We have had recent press in Inc Magazine (Etsy founder Rob Kalin is on the cover), Sydney Morning Herald, Business Week, The Chicago Tribune, The LA Times, The New York Times, New York Magazine, and Time Out NY to name a few. We have also recently been featured on ABC, FOX, and CBS affiliates across the country. Expect to see even more as we approach the holidays. To view some of the press we have already received, please visit http://press.etsy.com and our press report here.

4. IMPROVED SYNDICATION TOOLS

"Like its little sister, the EtsyMini (see how-to use the EtsyMini), the SuperEtsyMini allows you to embed Etsy products on external sites. Now, however, it is purely customizable."

The Super Etsy Mini is in the last phase of testing, and hopefully, will be ready to launch soon.

"Furthermore, we will be adding expanded resources, downloads, widgets, and important business and marketing information into the Promote section of Your Etsy, so we can help you better promote and improve your own shops and businesses."

This is still in progress, but not yet complete. The current resources can be found here. We also published the Etsy Seller Handbook on the blog here.

5. EMAIL MARKETING

"We are planning many changes, but they will not be in place before the holidays. That said, there are a number of smaller but still very important improvements slated to launch pre-holidays. "

This is still true. Recently, the emails were redesigned. The next steps will be focused on increasing the number of people that sign up for our emails. Speaking of, go sign up to our Etsy email lists here.

6. CONTESTS, PROMOTIONS, AND EVENTS

Contests/Promotions:

"NASA and Etsy SpaceCraft Contest: We are currently planning an exciting late Fall promotion with NASA. (Yes, the space agency.) I am not yet permitted to go into too many details, but I think this promotion will help generate a good deal of media attention and open Etsy to many new audiences. We will keep you updated."

This will now be happening in the spring.

"Holiday Sweepstakes: One buyer-focused sweepstakes is currently in the planning stages for November/December. The details are not yet confirmed. "

We will not be going forward with this sweepstakes at this time, as there are more pressing projects that will result in greater impact for Etsy.

Upcoming Events:

"We will be representing Etsy at various holiday events around the country. Details will be announced in the Storque as we get closer to the holidays."

Etsy is involved with over thirty events between now and the holidays. Updates will be given in the Storque and in Etsy Success emails.

7. Public Radio

"We are also considering experimenting with sponsoring public radio in selected American markets where Etsy has strong penetration. The goal of such spots would be to drive brand awareness of Etsy.com."

We considered it, and we did it. From October 31 through December 12th 2008, more than 500 total radio spots will be running on public radio stations in Austin, TX, Washington DC, Columbus, OH, Minneapolis/St Paul, MN, Seattle, Washington, Portland, OR, and Chicago. If you're a public radio listener in one of those areas, let us know in the comments!

I will continue to keep you abreast of any new developments. Have a wonderful day.

To further discuss this topic, please see the associated Forum thread.

Etsy in the Press: Fall Fling

2008-10-09T14:12:00Z

The air is crisp, and the stories about Etsy are fluttering about like leaves this fall. With so much bad news about the economy, it's not surprising that people are looking for new ways to do business. That's the premise to this story on CNN.com, and it's also about how the vision of Etsy is coming to fruition. The article chronicles Etsy's beginnings, mission, and also talks about our place in a changing economic landscape. It can be best summed up in its closing remark (incidentally, music to our ears), "If... we see a growth in craftspeople and artisans selling directly to the public, then the commerce of the future may bear an uncanny resemblance to that of the past."

Next, may we have a round of applause for Rob and Maria, who scored a one-two punch this month. Rob is on the cover of this month's Inc. magazine, in a story about the latest generation of young entrepreneurs. Besides, the business aspects of the story, there are few juicy tidbits about Rob's past. Maria has been named one of the 25 Most Influential People on the Web by Business Week. She's in good company, joining the likes of Steve Jobs, Jeff Bezos, and (my personal favorite) Jon Stewart. Congratulations are in order!

On the tech news side of things, The New York Times profiled Fred Wilson of Union Square Ventures, one of our early investors. The story takes an interesting look at the changes that have occurred in the venture industry, and also casts an eye on Etsy's early days. And as of today, that's all the news that's fit to print.

For more Etsy in the Press, go here!

Team Tip: How To Submit Information for the Teams Digest

2008-09-29T11:38:00Z

Since there are so many Etsy Teams, and the program continues to grow and grow (much to our delight!), not all Teams or events can receive their own Storque article. However, we do want to include this content in the Storque! Our solution is the Teams Digest, an article published several times a month, featuring all the great stuff Etsy Teams are working on. Your Team can choose a designated member or leader to submit this information every few weeks. Teams Digest information should be emailed directly to teams@etsy.com.

Submission deadlines are listed on the Calendar at http://team.etsy.com. Plan ahead! Think about Team Digest dates when planning your promotions!
Keep it short and sweet! Brevity is key, as we have information from lots of Teams to include.
Write in the third person!
Make it newsworthy! Try to give a little more than just a description of your Team. Tell the reader what you're doing that they should know about — an event, sale, promotion, how-to, something specific in the Virtual Labs, collaboration, or a call for new members!
Include relevant links to a post on your Team's blog or somewhere people can find more info: for example, posting directions to an event in a Digest isn't really feasible for each and every event, but we can always post a link to this specific information. Providing a link to your Team's blog will help readers get to know more about your Team.
Include a link to a Flickr page or send an image that you think is captivating and relevant! Images of products or items are not likely to be used, but photos with people, showing Teams promoting Etsy, screenshots from Teams VL events or other events are fabulous!
Send the submission to teams@etsy.com, with "Storque Digest" in the subject line so we can find these submissions easily.

Discuss with your Team who will be the member responsible for submitting information on your Team for the Digest. It's an easy, fun way to let the Etsy Community know about your Team's activities. Don't forget to read the Teams Digests regularly to keep up to date on the Etsy Teams! Search "Team Digest" in the Storque, or click "Etsy Teams" under Indiepreneur in the left hand column of the Storque.

Team Tips are a weekly series of tips and ideas from the Etsy Teams. You can find more Resources at team.etsy.com. Etsy Teams are growing quickly, and we love that so many sellers want to join in to promote their shops, Teams and Etsy. For more information on Etsy Teams, check out the Teams pages and this page of Frequently Asked Questions. Don't forget to read our interview with this week's Featured Etsy Team. Keep up the great work, Etsy Teams!

Etsy in the Press: September So Far

2008-09-18T16:06:00Z

So far, so good. September has been all about movement and style.

By movement, I mean the Handmade movement that we are all participants in. The New York Times recently had a feature about Faythe Levine, author of Handmade Nation, and director of the new documentary, "Handmade Nation: The Rise of DIY, Art, Craft and Design". The article focuses on her experiences in the handmade world, and references Etsy as a major component.

Another movement that's been gaining traction lately is a phenomenon called crowdsourcing. The term was coined by WIRED magazine Editor Jeff Howe, author of Crowdsourcing: Why the Power of the Crowd Is Driving the Future of Business. Crowdsourcing describes the process by which the power of the many can be leveraged to accomplish feats that were once the province of the specialized few. We had the pleasure of meeting Jeff when he came to Etsy to film a video about crowdsourcing for the newly launched Small Biz Project on wired.com. According to Jeff, Etsy is the manifestation of the passion of our community. We couldn't agree more.

And by style, I mean style. Shop.org gave Etsy props for our merchandising style, focusing on our innovative shopping tools, and declaring us the top merchandising site of 2008 during their Annual Summit. Thanks! The Georgia Straight of Vancouver, Canada featured an in depth discussion of styles and trends on Etsy. It includes the thoughts from Etsians from multiple nations and continents! Other trends are in the news as well, such as Obama-themed items in this piece from the Boston Globe. Or, the abundance of great vintage items mentioned in the Jetson Green.

For more Etsy in the Press, go here!

Etsy in the Press: August 2008

2008-08-28T14:19:00Z

The latter half of August has seen some great press mentions of Etsy, with varying themes:

On the topic of do-it-yourself innovation is Forbes magazine. A particularly interesting quote reads, "For every person who uploads a how-to on Instructables, a pine cone-shaped beeswax candle for sale on Etsy or a video on YouTube, there are 10 who watch it or buy it. This 10-to-1 ratio of passive consumers to active doers plays out across much of the Web, on Flickr and Facebook. One person can create a thing of great value to many strangers or friends."

In business news, The Wall Street Journal touts Etsy as a focused, targeted marketplace in which to sell your handmade creations. USA Today lists us as a great place to sell online as well.

Internationally, Cheryl Gledhill of The Sydney Morning Herald chose Etsy as one of her three most exciting things on the web (but you already knew that), citing the great sense of community to be found here.

Thanks to all, we'll see you in the Fall with more press coverage!

For more Etsy in the Press, go here!

Team Tip: Press Releases!

2008-08-18T11:27:00Z

In previous Team Tips, we've discussed places and creative ways to promote your Etsy Team and events. Press releases are a tried and true method of getting the word out about what you're doing. A press release is a statement prepared for distribution to the media and a great (and inexpensive!) means of promoting an event. It is basically a mini news story that demonstrates to editors and journalists the newsworthiness of an event or group. There are a few really important things to remember when creating a press release; we outlined some critical points below.

Getting Started

Choose your Targets. Who are the people you want reading this story? Brainstorm all the places that people in your target demographic might visit to find news. If you're a location-based Team, this probably means both on and offline publications. Narrow the list down to the six or eight that you think get the broadest visibility for your Team's event.
Identify your Contacts. Many newspapers, magazines, blogs or news websites will have information somewhere about who to send your press release to. If your press release is for a crafting event, you may want to find the lead arts and entertainment journalist for the publication. Sending your press release to the right person at an organization can make a big difference. Do not spam a contact—have one person from your Team send the press release once for each event. No one likes an inbox crammed full of duplicate information.

Write the Press Release:

Closely follow the standard formatting of a press release. Look at this sample press release for formatting. Since journalists receive so many press releases each day, they have set standards and expectations that you must conform to just to have your release read, let alone published.
Write in the third person. Emulate the language/headlines you see in the publication you'd like to be published in.
Think and write like a reporter! Your goal is to do this so well that the journalist will want to publish your story "as is." The reporter is looking for a story that will satisfy an editor and the readers. They're not interested in promoting you, only in crafting a story that will make readers think "Wow, that's interesting." What makes your story different and special?
The lead paragraph should include the who, what, when, where and whys of the article. If you're promoting a specific event, make sure to include dates and location on your materials. State whether there's an entry fee or RSVP.
Once the details are established, include a quote or statistic if possible to ground your piece, and pertinent links whenever applicable. Link your story to the "big picture." Why is this story news, as opposed to simply being an advertisement for your event?
Include great images. While the press release itself should adhere to formatting rules, additional promotional materials can really help the story shine. Find out what the newspaper/magazine/blog's requirements are for image size and resolution, and stick to those guidelines. Use beautiful photos. Don't overwhelm the reporter, just include a few strong images.
Proofread! Show your press release to people you know who are good writers and harsh critics. Make sure it passes muster before you send it out into the world.

Follow Up
If you have the opportunity, try to ask attendees how they heard about your Team and the event. If it's an online event, follow up via email with buyers to inquire about how they found your shop or items. Share this information among your Team members next time you meet, to determine what the most effective means of promoting was. You might also send strong, clear photographs of the event with a wrap-up report to blogs, papers or other places the press release was published, summarizing the success of the project, and giving dates of future similar events you may be planning.

Team Tips are a weekly series of tips and ideas from the Etsy Teams. You can find more Resources at team.etsy.com. Etsy Teams are growing really quickly, and we love that so many sellers want to join in to promote their shops, Teams and Etsy. For more information on Etsy Teams, check out the Teams pages and this page of Frequently Asked Questions. Don't forget to read our interview with this week's Featured Etsy Team. Keep up the great work, Etsy Teams!

Mega-Beth Tour: Washington, DC Edition

2008-08-11T11:57:00Z

Ashley and I headed down to Washington, DC last week to attend eTail, an e-commerce conference. We were privileged to see Rob Walker, author of “Buying In: The Secret Dialogue of What We Buy and Who We Are”, speak at the conference. We were pleasantly surprised that he highlighted Etsy as a prominent example of a positive movement where consumers have decided to participate.

The finale of our trip was a round table discussion with a dynamic group of sellers—some veteran, some new—and Sara, an active buyer from Crafty Bastards DC. The discussion was a nice mix of ideas for Etsy and sharing shop tips and promotion ideas with each other. We had a few experts in our midst:

Shoofly is featured this month in How Magazine’s special issue focused on handmade design. The article is titled "Paper Market: If you indulge your creative jones by designing your own stationery, you're not alone. Online outlets like Etsy are helping designers sell their handmade products. Meet 7 people who are doing it well."

Scenicartisans was on DC’s local Fox News coverage (second video) of the Washington Glass Studio where he does his glasswork.

To learn more about how to pitch yourself to local press check out DIY PR: Local Press.

Some of the suggestions that arose in this lively discussion included:

Ability to change name: One person told us she had changed her shop name three times, which meant closing one shop to open another each time.

Easier to get a Treasury: “I just can’t get one.”

Videos in profiles: Videos would be a great way to enhance a profile and show products in a different and compelling way.

Judaica section: “The Rosen Group, Niche Awards and many other quality craft shows consider 'Judaica' its own category. It would be great if Etsy did too!” It was discussed that it would be especially helpful for those who want to attract wholesale as well as retail. And not to mention, “There are a lot of temple shops that like to buy handmade crafts.”

Listing templates: A few of the sellers mentioned that they are cut and pasting anyway. A template would make the whole process a lot easier.

Notification when in a Treasury: Notification is “totally not spam,” one seller exclaimed.

Ability to delete items: If you sell an item elsewhere, the ability to completely delete the item from your shop, not just make them inactive. “It clutters my inactive section.”

Vacation Mode: This is a feature that launched a lengthy discussion. Many were worried about leaving their shops for a few days.

Rearrange items in shop: Ability to arrange items in your shop in another way besides chronological order. This would be great to create color stories and other relevant groupings. One seller mentioned she holds listings while she waits for other items to finish to put them in the “perfect order.”

In addition, some of the new features they really liked were the new separate policy section in shops, drop down categories when listing and the ability to rearrange photos in listings.

Thank you to all the DC sellers who came out to visit with us. We enjoyed meeting you and appreciated your candid thoughts and ideas for Etsy.

Photo at top: Back Row (left to right): AStichtoWear (Allison), bethela (Beth), pileofcraft (Sara), shoofly (Rania), scenicartisans (Sean); Front Row (left to right): geltdesigns (Rachel and Liz), finchmetal (Jill), LizzyJdesigns (Liz), thesoapseduction (Patrice). Special thanks to winenutnyc for the Megabeth t-shirt made by Spiritwear that he had designed using Alchemy.

To read about more of Beth's travels on the Mega-Beth Tour, go here!

Etsy in the Press: Good Morning America

2008-08-08T11:40:00Z

UPDATE: Here is the link to the video.

Tory Johnson, founder of Women For Hire, was on Good Morning America on Wednesday, August 6th, 2008, presenting Etsy as a great place to open a home-based business. Johnson recently authored a new book, Will Work From Home: Earn the Cash Without the Commute. Chanel Kennebrew from junkprints was highlighted as a successful seller who makes a living working from home. To see more of Chanel, check out her Handmade Video Portrait.

We experienced a record number of page views as a result of the GMA spot—our first 12 million page view day. We also had a record number of new buyers (nearly 4000!) sign up for the site.

The video featuring Johnson is not yet available on the web, but we will post it as soon as it is live.

For more Etsy Press coverage, go here!

Etsy Press Club: July 2008

2008-08-07T15:47:00Z

July brought the heat! The sidewalks were sizzling, the ice cream trucks were sweating, and Etsians were blazing in the press. The latest edition of the Etsy Press Club is ready. These are all of the clippings that I found or received during July. As always, if you get mentioned in the press, please send an email with your shop name and links to pressclub@etsy.com to be included in our roll call. Grab a lemonade from the fridge and sit down for some perusing!

Print

The NewsTimes - gooseontheloose
Philadelphia Weekly - madebyhank
STYLE - TheBrokenPlate
Baltimore Sun - jenmenkhaus
NewWitch Magazine - PagansOfEtsy
Knit Scene Magazine - fringe
Smart Woman - TheBrokenPlate

Web

the house that a-m built - jennifersquires
minor details - Chalkydoodles
ThreadBanger - prixprix
hearthandmadeblog - madebyhank
qbranchltd - JoannaGoldman
Fabulously Broke in the City - juneshin
passitonplates - JessicaSimanowski, UneekDollDesigns
mixed plate - jennifersquires
myNLA - niftythriftyowl
phillyBurbs - JoannaGoldman
uncrate - avrilloreti
Daily Candy - juneshin
onthedotcreations - madebyhank
Crafting with Cats - JoannaGoldman
decor8 - Stockton, smallsquaredesign, Studiotto, sycamorestreetpress, sweetpaperie
themaudeblog - designsbycolleen
rarebirdfinds - OnTheInside, janebonbon
SimplyGrove - jennifersquires
kitchen and residential design - craftyhag
aisle dash - handykane
Grandia Road - winsomehollow
apartment therapy - avrilloreti
now voyager - madebyhank
vintage indie - birdandmonster, AquaVelvet, grandmothersattic, SilverNebel, niftythriftyowl, softspoken, MariesVintage, FlightoftheRadish, morelle, madebyhank
Pretty Little Love Objects - JoannaGoldman
Rev Magazine - jennifersquires

Radio

Vegan Radio - ThisIsBexx

Check out previous editions of the Etsy Press Club here! Send your press mentions to press@etsy.com to be included in the next edition.

Community Chatt With Matt: Holiday 2008: Ready, Set, Promote!

2008-08-07T13:03:00Z

Please join me in the Treehouse Room of the Virtual Labs this Friday, August 8, at 12:00p.m EDT for our weekly community chat.

Times on the Virtual Labs Lobby are displayed in your local time.

Topic: Tips to Promote Your Shop for the Holidays

This week we will be having our second of four holiday 2008 discussions. Holidays in August? Yes, that's right, the holidays will be here before you know it and now's a great time to prepare and promote! We'll be talking about the basics of getting the word out about your shop with special tips for this holiday season, including how to successfully pitch the press and use the web to your best advantage.

Stay tuned for upcoming chats focused on merchandising, shipping, customer service, and production.

About Community Chatt With Matt:

Each week Etsy admin Matt invites you to join him for a live, online discussion of topics of interest to the Etsy community. Our intention is to give buyers and sellers alike the opportunity to speak directly and candidly to Etsy Admin. We listen, take notes, and make sure that everybody who wants to gets a chance to speak. We can always be reached at community@etsy.com with more ideas and suggestions.

You can view minutes from past meetings HERE.

Etsy Press Club: June 2008

2008-08-06T16:48:00Z

In Roman mythology, Juno protected the finances of the empire. How fitting then, that June should be such a prolific press month for Etsians! The latest edition of the Etsy Press Club is ready. These are all of the clippings that I found or received during June. As always, if you get mentioned in the press, please send an email with your shop name and links to pressclub@etsy.com to be included in our roll call. Throw on that goatskin cloak, and reflect on the press of June.

Print

Venus Zine - {New New} York Etsy Street Team
The Ventura County Star - beenznrice
Boston Business Journal - KMajkut
Small Magazine - PamelaAngus, astulabee
Sunday Times Style Magazine - Bombus
Domino - wowout888, rubenacker, scottgarrette, joncarling, hughillustration, danielsroka, andymathis, artofandrewdaniel, monpetitfantome, johnclark, phippsart, mincingmockingbird, berkleyillustration, Jimbot, nateduval, davidmoore
Canadian Home & Country - NightjarBooks

Web

Craftzine - ChristinaWard
thesmallobject - somethingshidinghere
Jewelry Hunter - lindalayden, paraphernalia, kangas, esdesigns, OctopusMe
perfectbound - applepieorder
craftystylish - BoxingDay, PickalaPoopa
rarebirdfinds - dahliasoleil, HiAnnie
dearyouloveme - somethingshidinghere
All Over Albany - esdesigns
Chicagoist - GartersByKristi
girlobsessed - somethingshidinghere
poststar - InspirationByKaren
rachelbestblogs - AidaCoronado
vintageindie - leavesofclay, TrinityRS, chictochic, miajoie, ThePeach, paperhill,
ms bliss - winifredStudios
realfanshitonly - somethingshidinghere
vintagefashionguild - joules

Sorry this one was late - too much press to cover! Check out previous editions of the Etsy Press Club here! Send your press mentions to press@etsy.com to be included in the next edition.

Rob Walker's Murketing Book: Buying In

2008-08-06T12:07:00Z

Tinaseamonster recently interviewed author Rob Walker for her Crafty Bastards blog in the Washington City Paper (click here for the whole piece). As many, many of you know, Rob Walker writes a regular column for the New York Times Magazine called "Consumed" and penned a feature article "Handmade 2.0" that introduced the indie craft scene to a larger audience. You may also be interested in following his blog, where he analyzes and muses about the intricacies of material culture in America. He's a great writer and we recommend checking out his new book, Buying In.

For those of you in DC, you can meet Rob in person tonight:

"In his fascinating new book, BUYING IN: The Secret Dialogue Between What We Buy and Who We Are, Walker examines the dialogue between who we are and what we buy. His research into brands like Red Bull, Sanrio and Converse is eye-opening and funny.
Walker will be discussing his new book at Politics & Prose (5015 Connecticut Avenue, N.W.) on Wednesday, August 6th at 7 p.m. Plus — he’ll be giving away 25 of these awesome screenprint posters from Little Friends of Printmaking. He was nice enough to answer our questions about marketing, Etsy, Hello Kitty and more."

More posts from tinaseamonster.
More posts about Rob Walker.

Etsy in the Press: July 2008

2008-07-31T15:19:00Z

The Etsy community is becoming the go-to source for inspirational shopping tips on all things innovative and exquisite. Word is spreading to a variety of news media, touting the value of Etsy for buyers and sellers alike. Interior designer and contributing editor for ELLE Decor, Elaine Griffin, was on the The Today Show July 29th, giving tips for buyers to acquire affordable art, and needless to say, Etsy was one of those hot tips. Griffin's philosophy—that art should not be viewed as a luxury, but rather accessible and enriching for the average consumer—is enthusiastically supported in the work of Etsy artists every day.

On July 16th, Foxbusiness.com published an article and video, profiling Etsy as part of their series on young entrepeneurs. The piece particularly highlights Etsians' diversity: from pottery to zombie bunny finger puppets. The video interview with Rob Kalin focuses on buying handmade and buying local as the future of consumerism. As they stroll through customer support and the Etsy Labs, the vision and community that makes Etsy so unique is visibly evident.

In the Canadian newspaper, the Edmonton Journal, Etsy is credited for local success stories babyleila, leilaandben, and Majestyinc. The sellers behind these powerhouse shops celebrate the community, exposure, and financial opportunities provided by Etsy. On the blog, Baltimore by Hand, Etsy seller Christy Zuccarini spreads the good word, encouraging buyers and sellers to check out the handmade marketplace, as well as all of Etsy's great features, such as Alchemy, Pounce, and of course, the Storque!

Philadelphia family newspaper, The Bulletin, praises Etsy for its "attractive, contemporary, and user-friendy" atmosphere, particularly enthusiastic about the lack of outside advertising on the site. Lastly, Syuzi Pakhchyan, author of Fashioning Technology, showed up on New Hampshire Public Radio's "Word of Mouth" program to talk about Etsy and crafting, specifically, "smart materials," such as LED lights and conductive thread. For more crafting with technology, check out the Geekery category or this How-To on LED Baby Booties.

For more Etsy Press coverage, go here!

Etsy Press Club: May 2008

2008-07-03T18:22:00Z

Etsy seedlings blossomed in the month of May. The end of springtime season brought sunshine, frisbee, and of course, blooming Etsy press. The latest edition of the Etsy Press Club is ready. These are all of the clippings that we found or received during May. As always, if you get mentioned in the press, please send an email with your shop name and links to pressclub@etsy.com to be included in our roll call. My, such flourishing buds!

Print

A is For Apron - momomadeit

Perfect Match: Earring Designs for Every Occasion - ShySiren

San Francisco Chronicle - birdnerd, soap

Real Simple - avrilloreti

quickdfw - pattihaskins

Frontiersman - swanmountainsoaps

Money - FatDaddyBakeShop

In Style - oktak

Argus Leader - shopgoodgrace

Country Living - BusyBeading

The Sidney Daily News - BauerDesigns

Romantic Homes - somelikeitvintage

Murfreesboro Post - wickedmoxie

The News and Observer - Batteriesnotrequired, megrnc

Express - CandaceAng

Kiki - pukashell, heavyeyeliner, magicbeanbuyer, lunaricsales, hapslappy, pinkspiderwebs

New Hampshire - bagsbymelanie

Web

thestreet - Madebydina

perfectbound - myrakim

poppytalk - kellywilsonantiques, stepanka, therunnybunny, andreayates, CircaCeramics, MayLuk, palomasnest

alistairkatemilan - MayLuk

shine.yahoo.com - MayLuk

babygadget - scottbergman

parents - dlkdesigns

decor8 - MayLuk

drawn - chetart

insidescoop - jellybeans

decor8 - tollipop, vol25, therunnybunny, jasna, NestaHome, tempestdelfuego, KupKup, appleandeve, SiebenMorgen, bunnybum, autumntomay, InvitaPaperStudio, stepanka, robayre, samplescrap, lorenasiminovich

vintageindie - littleredcaboose

wonderlandblog - Saltygal

fashionmefabulous - shopgoodgrace

realsimple - LovesMeNot, Domestikate, LadiesandGentlemen, wrenandchickadee, LeslieJanson, ArthursCircus, BlueBellBazaar, ThePinkBoutique, GreyBrocketsHome, ModishVintage, Sirkus, TheAviary, TheVintageKitchen, PorchlightVintage, NICE, EdelweissVintage, TheVintageButterflyBoutique, FunkeyFinds, DeadBirdFinds, SweetRice, GoodLookin, HowNowDesign, PeacockModern, HistoricallyVintage, GoGoAbigail

funkyfinds - cloud9designstudio

divinecaroline - shopgoodgrace

genartpulse - stewwie

cuteable - cloud9designstudio

vintageindie - BraveMoonman, BlameTheMafia

theq - brookthere, bonzie, tangente, WindysDesigns

elizabethannedesigns - Kutuu

dynamitejewelry - renatamann

vintageindie - Eclecticas

perfectbound - Kutuu

blogtalkradio - pitterpainter

cnn - Reiter8

lilsugar - cloud9designstudio

domino - wowout888, rubenacker, scottgarrette, joncarling, hughillustration, danielsroka, andymathis, ArtOfAndrewDaniel, monpetitfantome, johnclark, phippsart, mincingmockingbird, berkleyillustration, Jimbot, nateduval, davidvmoore

vintageindie - PoeticReflection

kellyloveswhales - MayLuk

thatgirldesigns - palomasnest

shesabetty - shopgoodgrace, ktjean, kieutiepie, Rivkasmom

vintageindie - Crazy4Jewels

casasugar - insaneity

ohjoy - domestikate

designsprout - palomasnest

cleanhomejournal - art2theextreme

vintageindie - reggieana

wired - edmdesigns

modish - palomasnest

Check out previous editions of the Etsy Press Club here! Send your press mentions to press@etsy.com to be included in the next edition.

Etsy in the Press: Creative Ventures

2008-06-26T15:12:00Z

June has been buzzing with talk of crafty entrepreneurship. Where to begin? How about Sydney Stoyan's heart warming tale of her Etsy experience in the National Post? It is our favorite kind of story: buyer needs necklace, buyer finds Etsy, buyer meets seller, they start a friendship. Buyer goes on to form relationships with other sellers, and discovers the pleasure of the relationships and meaning that come from buying handmade. Describing her new found joy, she concludes by saying, "You simply cannot buy this kind of thing from Louis Vuitton."

The Wall Street Journal published a piece recently describing how online selling has opened new doors for artists who want to make a living from their passions. In a similar vein, Etsy features prominently in a cover story in the May issue of Entrepreneur's StartUps magazine. The article gives some good advice on pricing and marketing your creations online, as well as tips for real-world displays. It also provides insight on the relationship between art and commerce. The Boston Business Journal just ran a thoughtful story about the rise of Upcycling, a favorite practice of mine. The current issue of Crochet Today magazine has a great introductory piece about Etsy as well, featuring interviews with Matt and a few Etsy sellers. Express, an offshoot of the Washington Post, also ran a story detailing the challenges facing upstart handmade businesses. Steve Berger, CEO of the Craft & Hobby Association, was on ABC's Money Matters, talking about the recent boom in crafting (Americans spend $32 billion on craft supplies annually!). He spoke about what crafts are popular these days, and how the internet (and Etsy in particular) has influenced the recent growth and changed the crafting culture.

On the buyers' side of things, Etsy fan, Rob Walker, was interviewed by the San Francisco Chronicle, talking about his new book, Buying In (in which Etsy is mentioned). In the interview, he tells a short but amusing tale about a tie that he recently purchased on Etsy. Finally, the cultural media site artinfo.com recommends Etsy as a great place to begin collecting affordable art.

That's all for now, friends. Happy reading!

The Art Category: Community Chatt Roundup, June 6, 2008

2008-06-06T18:33:00Z

Hi there artists!

Last Friday's Virtual Labs' Community Chatt was about the Art Category. We had a wonderful discussion — here's what we talked about (and you can read the minutes here):

- Dividing the Art Category: I (Michelle) like the idea of keeping the Art Category whole. Of the three ideas mentioned in the agenda (Photography to a separate category, original art to a separate category, and separate categories for 2D and 3D art), the last one is the only one that may be a possibility. We can keep discussing this, but for now we will go forward with the idea that the Art Category will stay whole.

- Future direction: the future direction for categories will be breaking categories down into lots of different ways to shop.

Some examples are:

* original vs. print/reproduction vs. original print
* by technique (ex. printmaking, painting, with subs under that, such as woodcut)
* by subject (ex. landscape, nude)
* by color scheme/color
* by size
* what it's on (canvas, paper, wood, etc)
* by motif (ex. birds)
* by medium/material (ex. watercolor)

If you have more suggestions about ways that you think would be interesting ways to shop in the Art Category, please comment here or send me (HeyMichelle) a convo.

- We created a printmaking subcategory during the workshop! If there are more subcategories that you feel belong, please comment in this thread, or convo me.

- We're currently brainstorming about a digital art subcategory for art in this thread.

- We're trying to think up a new, temporary word for original art to help with the mistagging problems in this thread.

- We're thinking about how to work Fiber Arts in there.

- If there are other suggestions, comments, or ideas, please start a thread in the forums!

Thanks so much to everyone who has given their input! We appreciate it so much, and we are looking forward to the future of the Art Category!

This Week's Chatt with Mary

Time and Place: Friday June 13th, at 12 noon, Eastern US in the Treehouse Room of the Virtual Labs. Times on the Virtual Labs Lobby are displayed in your local time.

Topic:
Service Tips for Sellers

We've started a Service Tips for Sellers series in the Storque. Please join Mary (marymary) for a discussion on Seller's customer service best practices — share your tips, and learn from others!

Back by Popular Demand...Matt
Matt will be hosting some extra chatts about getting press on Tuesday and Wednesday.

About Community Chatt With Matt:
Each week Etsy admin Matt invites you to join us for a live, online discussion of topics of interest to the Etsy community. Our intention is to give buyers and sellers alike the opportunity to speak directly and candidly to Etsy Admin. We listen, take notes, and make sure that everybody who wants to gets a chance to speak. We can always be reached at community@etsy.com with more ideas and suggestions.

You can view minutes from past meetings HERE.