Creating an inclusive economy

Craft Entrepreneurship is an in-person, five-class educational program that supports our goal of expanding the Etsy Economy by empowering creative people in underserved communities to build pathways to entrepreneurship through Etsy or elsewhere. Classes, which are taught by local Etsy sellers and hosted in partnership with local organizations, allow participants to gain the acumen they need to turn their craft skills into an online business that can provide income.

Since launching the program in Rockford, Illinois in 2013, we’ve worked with a diverse set of community partners—libraries, small business development centers, city economic offices—in over 23 cities across the US and in the UK, Canada, and Australia. We’ve helped give more than 1,000 people a real-world education in entrepreneurship. Hands-on, engaging, and empowering programming has helped organizations better connect with creative individuals in underserved communities.

Many of our partners have gone beyond the Craft Entrepreneurship classes, offering additional services such as one-on-one business coaching for Craft Entrepreneurship alumni. Our partners at the New York City Department of Small Business Services hosted a holiday “Makers Market” for participants, and our partners at the Chattanooga, Tennessee Public Library are creating studio spaces that can be “checked out” by students to alleviate some of the stress of working from home.

We’re planning to expand Craft Entrepreneurship and are on track to achieve our pledge to bring Craft Entrepreneurship to 30 cities by June 2016—a commitment we made at the White House during the National Week of Making. Learn about other work we’re doing to foster inclusive economies here.