What is ETSY?

You may have noticed that I list all items for sale on a website called ETSY (you can link to it by choosing to "shop" on http://www.groovybabydesigns.com). Some people have questioned why I sell on ETSY and not on my own site. The simple answer is, I started selling there before I had my own site. But, as I've gotten more involved in the ETSY community, that answer has changed a bit.

Etsy.com is an on-line marketplace for artists and crafters to sell their works. Officially, it is "Your place to buy and sell all things handmade." Etsy is a venue, not a retailer; it is collection of independent shops, each run by a different artisan. I liken it to an online craft show - lots of different artisans and crafters, each with their own booth, selling to people who love handmade, high-quality products.

As a buyer, it couldn't be simpler to use. All ETSY asks is for you to register a user name, password and valid email address. Then you can shop til you drop. It's that simple.

I mentioned before that I've gotten more involved in ETSY lately, and its true. The site is set up with forums and private convos (email messages) and there's a general sense of community amongst most of the sellers. If sellers have questions, or comments or just want to make contact with other sellers, the forums are a great place to meet and greet. They're like a big party, where you can chat with lots of different people all at once.

The fact that ETSY support handmade crafts make it extremely attractive to me, as an artisan. I like that there is a whole community of people out there who love to create and take pride in their creations - and that there is a site for us to promote our creations to the public.

So, if you haven't checked out ETSY before, try it now. It's full of wonderful, one-of-a-kind creations from crafters all over the world!