Bringing commerce to life

The true magic of Etsy lies in the personal connections formed between sellers and buyers. We’re continually investing in ways to facilitate those relationships not just online but also in the real world, strengthening both the Etsy community and neighborhood economies.

Etsy Local is a tool that connects sellers and buyers through events like craft fairs and markets. Sellers can use it to post and join in-person shopping events, helping them get more business. Buyers can find upcoming events in their area where they can connect with their favorite sellers and meet new ones. Retailers who are part of Etsy’s Wholesale offering can also have their brick-and-mortar shops included in Etsy Local. In 2015, we launched a new Etsy Local feature that tells buyers about shopping events happening near them to create more opportunities for them to meet Etsy sellers face-to-face. This location-based feature really comes to life on mobile and is a great example of the improvements we made to the mobile experience for buyers and sellers alike. Check it out.

Building personal relationships

Fostering genuine connections among our global community of Etsy shop owners is a top priority at Etsy. In 2015, we invited sellers to our offices, sponsored local events, and hosted meetups around the world.

Real-world meetups

• Roughly 450 people attended our monthly Craft Nights in Etsy’s Brooklyn headquarters last year. Sellers also visited the office regularly throughout the year for lunches and tours.

• We hosted in-person meetups around the globe to encourage sellers to connect with Etsy employees and other creative entrepreneurs in their community.

• The Etsy community participated in 279 Craft Parties in 28 countries worldwide. Etsy Craft Party, now in its seventh year, celebrates meeting and making globally. The event, which in the past has taken place in multiple locations on the same day, was expanded to span two days in 2015.

We sponsored dozens of holiday markets around the world. These included a variety of Team-run events and Etsy Made Local events in Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom, along with Etsy: Made in Canada. According to a 2015 survey, 57% of US Sellers agree with the statement “I feel like I am a part of a community of sellers.”