If you haven't had the chance to chat with the incredibly dynamic Xiane, you're missing out. I recently had the chance to ask her a bit about the Etsy Green and Clean Guild, the Etsy team of handmade bath and body makers. You can find more information about the team at their website, http://egcg.xiane.org, and you can browse images of their fantastic products in their flickr pool. 

What inspired the EGCG team to form?
Like so many great ideas, there was interest in starting a promotional team from several different bath and body sellers at the same time. I posted a thread in the Etsy Teams forum in late November 2006, and another thread from seller PrairieLuxe ran concurrently. We all met and joined forces together, and Etsy Green and Clean Guild was born! One might think that a team made up of people selling the same sorts of items would be poorly received, but our members realize that all our products are vastly different — and that together, we are a much stronger promotional and educational force than we ever could be separately.

 
What do you find most interesting about being on/running a global Etsy team?
I think that it's amazing how well EGCG has come together as a strong force, even though we are spread all over the globe. It is a testament to the uniting forces of intent + internet! In this day and age, people don't have to meet face-to-face to be able to unite in a mission.

How would you compare it to being on a location based team — what are some of the differences between being on a team where you can frequently meet in person vs. being on a team where you have more in common (interest based-ness)?
It can be a challenge to our creativity to come up with ways to inspire and promote from afar — it keeps us on our toes, looking for new ideas on how to get the word out. Also, I find that we need to actively take time to keep our interpersonal connections strong, because we cannot easily meet in person. That requires commitments to online meetings, chat, and participation in our mailing list. Also, the time difference can come into play — it isn't always easy to schedule a chat, for example, because we are spread over different time zones.

What's most rewarding about Etsy teams for you?
A united sense of purpose and camaraderie is the best payoff ever. Being a part of a team on Etsy has inspired me to NO END!

What are the EGCG team's general goals?
We have banded together to promote and support each other, and get the word out about the superior qualities of handmade bath and body products available on Etsy. We are also taking on the mantle of offering to inform and educate the public on how to identify ethical and high-quality B&B products, both through instructional literature, and through example.

What do you consider success for the team?
Success could be identified through increased sales for individual members, or a more fine-tuned awareness of the handmade bath and body community on Etsy. I would consider it a personal success to have the name EGCG linked in the public's mind as the place to find quality products and information about B&B.

In what ways does your team communicate? Do you communicate daily, weekly, etc?
We predominately use a Yahoo group currently and constantly, and are eagerly awaiting the upcoming changes to the Team pages for increased communication! We also use a weekly thread in the Teams forum, and we have occasional chat room nights.

How you balance running a successful etsy shop and leading up a large team? What sorts of rewards or incentives are there for members of EGCG?
I ask myself that first question all the time. Seriously, the two run hand-in-hand. Being a part of EGCG brings me success, and I use that success to keep me inspired with EGCG. I find that everything's becoming intertwined. I think that for active members of the team, that success follows for them as well. Other rewards for being involved include being a part of group promotions and media attention, and sharing in the motivation and inspiration that our team brings to the table.

Any other thoughts on teams and Etsy?
To me, Etsy Teams are the embodiment of the spirit of Etsy! Pooling energy, resources, and ideas for the benefit of all is an amazing thing, and something I'm very proud to be a part of. Hurrah for Etsy and Etsy Team!

ps

EGCG had a trunk show at the Etsy Labs in Aug 2007!