I Etsy! Do you Etsy?

I love giving handmade gifts but, often, being a business owner, I don’t have time to make them.  That is why I do much of my gift shopping at Etsy, a market place for all things handmade.  Etsy features a huge selection of artesian crafted jewelry, wearable art, unique décor items, fine art, and crafts. I recently purchased a crafted Scrabble tile with a sheet of music used as the background with a Bassoon on it.  I asked the crafter (Justina of Everett, WA) to use an E tile if possible since my daughters name is Emily.  It was only $7.95 too!

Etsy’s landing page displays selected items for upcoming holidays such as Father’s day and the Fourth of July as well as gift suggestions for Weddings, Anniversaries, and Birthdays.  Or you can shop by category if you have an idea what you are looking for. Categories include mobile accessories, clothing, trending items and home and living.

Etsy is not an auction site; pricing is set by the artisan with no bidding. Unlike some sites resellers are not allowed.  Etsy’s mission is to promote global e-commerce on a “human scale.” Vendors are allowed to sell items in only three categories: handmade, vintage, and crafting supplies.  And while the tote bag you purchase maybe from Istanbul, but it is individually crafted.

I love Etsy not only because I can find unique stuff but also because it allows crafts to start their own business with very little in start up costs and over head besides their supplies.  The crafter is only charged twenty cents to list an item and a three and a half percent “commission” when the listing sells.

So the next time you are looking for a special gift for someone or for yourself give Etsy a try and support a small business in a global market.  Take a look and learn to ETSY!

Photos courtesy of Annie of Annie G Aprons  Annie specialized in durable and distinctive totes, aprons, laundry bags and sleep shorts.