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Tag: etsy

  • Etsy Changes How People Find Your Products

    Etsy Changes How People Find Your Products

    Etsy is launching some changes to its search feature aimed at helping users find more items of interest, but the reaction to the changes from sellers is pretty mixed, if not leaning toward negative.

    When you’re selling products in any online marketplace, the way the search feature works is of great importance. Of course appearing in web searches on search engines like Google and Bing can help too, but obviously you really want the marketplace’s own search functionality to point potential customers in your direction.

    Now that Etsy is a public company, it’s certainly within its interest to please buyers and sellers alike, and that starts with a good user experience.

    Etsy’s Jaime DeLanghe explains in a blog post:

    Previously, shoppers who searched with broad keywords wouldn’t readily see the breadth of items available to them. With this update to search, our community will now be able to more easily find the most relevant products for them, whether browsing by category — such as home, wedding, or women’s products — feature, or product type.

    With streamlined categories, our enhanced search will serve as a kind of guided conversation with visual cues that aid and encourage deeper exploration. For example, when searching jewelry, shoppers will now be presented with streamlined sub-categories like necklaces, bracelets, and rings, versus having to identify a specific type of product from the beginning. Similarly, someone searching with a broad term — like wool — will be led to relevant categories with items that more closely match their search, making it easier to narrow in on specific items. For example, wool accessories, wool clothing and wool craft supplies will appear as suggestions.

    Let’s say I’m a horror movie fanatic and want to see what kind of cool Michael Myers stuff I can find. I’ll just search for “Michael Myers,” and here’s what I get:

    Screen shot 2015-07-28 at 3.31.16 PM

    In addition to the lower section, which just lumps all listings together, I’m presented with Arts & Collectibles, Books, Movies & Music, Clothing, Accessories, and Home & Living.

    Hmm, I probably have enough Michael Myers clothes and accessories for now. I surely have all the required media. My house could probably use a lot more Myers-related décor. Let’s check out Home & Living.

    Coffe mugs, ash trays, wine glasses, candles…ah pillows. Perfect. And what do you know? It’s even a sponsored listing.

    Screen shot 2015-07-28 at 3.37.47 PM

    The category is broken down into additional sub-categories like: Home Décor, Kitchen & Dining, Lighting, Food & Drink, and Storage & Organization, which I can browse individually if I like.

    Obviously as a seller, you’re going to want to optimize your listings accordingly. That likely means being as descriptive as possible, considering the keywords you’d expect people to search for if they were looking for your product. I’d recommend taking the new search for a test drive and trying to follow the ideal path for arriving at your item and working from there.

    Etsy has been testing the new functionality since the spring, and it says the response from the community has been great, “especially round its effectiveness to boost inspiration and a feeling of accessibility to Etsy’s vast array of offerings.”

    The company says it has seen an increase in search engagement metrics by over 10% with a “more pronounced effect” on the mobile web version.

    “Respondents reported better experiences with product browsing, particularly with narrowing results and finding products they need, and even that they felt better overall about the range and quality of items available on Etsy,” says DeLanghe.

    Still, sellers aren’t necessarily convinced that the new search is really in their best interest. Ecommercebytes covered the changes, and the reader comments were largely negative. Here are the concerns one reader expressed:

    Here’s the line in the article that raised my antenna: “It’s designed to engage the shopper and guide them to products they may find interesting. ”

    This sounds very much like steering a customer away from what they are actually looking for and steering them to what some machine learning mechanism “thinks” that they are looking for. CASSINI anyone? On eBay, I can simply check completed listings on eBay to see what an item has sold for, and all of a sudden eBay think that I want that item. I am then bombarded with eBay showing me those items and anything related to them. Looks like this is where Etsy is headed.

    Another commented:

    Every time Etsy ”fixes” the search function, it gets worse. The search function they had years ago, while not perfect, seemed much better than the current one. (I had fewer products listed and sold more.) Each time they ”improve” search, my sales, and those of other sellers I know, go down.

    Another who sells custom pet portraits, however, called the move “brilliant”.

    It could very much be a case of helping sellers in some categories more than others. Either way, the change is here, and sellers will need to adjust accordingly.

    Etsy claims to have over 30 million unique product listings. The new search is on desktop and mobile web for now. It will hit the mobile apps in the near future.

    Images via Etsy

  • Recently Added Google Ranking Signal Benefits Etsy Sellers

    Recently Added Google Ranking Signal Benefits Etsy Sellers

    It’s a good time to be an Etsy seller as far as visibility in Google search is concerned. Earlier this year, Google announced two major pieces of news with regards to how it ranks search results on mobile devices. The one that got the majority of industry coverage was related to the mobile-friendliness of sites. The other was that Google started using app indexing as a ranking signal, and has even expanded that signal since the initial announcement.

    Etsy has a very popular mobile app, and Google’s app indexing signal seems to be benefiting its content greatly. In fact, Google specifically named Etsy as a developer that is seeing a boost in traffic from it.

    Google held its quarterly earnings conference call last week, and during that, Senior Vice President and Chief Business Officer Omid Kordestani had this to say about the company’s mobile efforts (via Seeking Alpha’s transcript of the call):

    More Google searches now take place on mobile devices than on computers in ten countries, including the U.S. and Japan, two of our largest markets. And we know that when people search on their mobile phones, they’re looking for immediacy and action. In fact, 30% of mobile queries are related to location and our efforts around local search are helping consumers to find relevant information fast.

    …

    Our teams have made great strides to help users find what they need within third-party apps through indexing. We now have 50 billion links within apps index and 25% of signed in Google searches on Android now return deep links, taking users right to content within an app or to a link so they can install it. We also recently started showing such links in search results on iOS, developers like Etsy are really seeing a boost in traffic as a result of deep linking. We also added now cards for more than 100 apps like OpenTable and Spotify and we have extended Google Voice actions to third party developers, so we can say things like, okay Google listen to MPR.

    That Etsy name-drop has proven quite popular among the company’s investors as Etsy shares have “soared” since the call.

    Update: Well, the shares are sinking again, but that doesn’t change the fact that Google’s comments are good news for sellers.

    Etsy itself went public only a few months ago, and the company has done quite a bit to make its service better for sellers in preparing to do so.

    Etsy reported its first quarterly earnings as a public company in May. The company said it would spend more on marketing in the following quarter.

    If you have your own app, and wish to increase the visibility of its content, check out How To Set Up App Indexing For Ranking In Google.

    Image via Etsy

  • Etsy Aims To Help Sellers Grow Their Businesses With Crowdfunding

    Etsy Aims To Help Sellers Grow Their Businesses With Crowdfunding

    Etsy announced that it is piloting a new crowdfunding platform called Fund on Etsy, which is aimed at helping sellers grow their businesses and create new products. Think of it as a Kickstarter for Etsy products.

    The company says Fund on Etsy is a new way to expand the “Etsy Economy,” which it is also trying to expand by way of its entrepreneur program. This sees Etsy partnering with various organizations mostly around the U.S. to help train people to become better Etsy sellers and grow their businesses. Etsy announced an expansion of the program last week.

    “By funding a campaign, buyers can participate in a new product’s journey from initial concept to their front door, while forging even more meaningful relationships with Etsy sellers they care about,” says Etsy’s Joe Lallouz.

    “Over 10 years, we have learned how sellers work from beginning to end to bring products to market, and have developed products to serve their needs along the business spectrum, including tools to create and manage listings and payments, promote items, track orders and expand into new channels like wholesale,” he says. “Fund on Etsy is intended to address another need — financing and product development — and fits in seamlessly with sellers’ business lifecycles.”

    The program is specifically (in traditional Etsy fashion) for creative handmade products. Funds raised are to help sellers expand their studios, purchase new tools, hire, etc.

    The pilot will run from June 16 to August 16 with a select group of sellers. One campaign is trying to raise money to produce a line of wooden plates:

    Fund on Etsy

    One is for ceramic cups:

    fund on etsy

    One is for bags:

    fund on etsy

    You get the idea. Etsy stuff.

    If a campaign doesn’t reach its goal, all orders are canceled and credit cards aren’t charged. Cards are only charged when the campaign closes if it reaches or exceeds its goal. You can cancel your order by clicking a “request cancellation” link on your purchase history as long as you do it before the campaign closes. If it’s already closed, you’ll have to contact the seller directly to request a refund.

    They’re going to see how the pilot goes and collect feedback from both buyers and sellers before deciding whether or not to expand the program.

  • Etsy Expands Entrepreneur Program

    Etsy Expands Entrepreneur Program

    A couple years ago, Etsy partnered with the city of Rockford, Illinois to develop an entrepreneur training program for the “Etsy economy”. It’s called the Etsy Craft Entrepreneurship Program.

    In 2015, Etsy is a public company, and the program is in many more locations now, including Dallas; Watsonville, California; Chattanooga; Albany; Newark, New York City; Albuquerque; St. Petersburg; Oldham, UK; Poole, UK; Madison; Detroit; Austin; and Santa Fe.

    Now it’s expanding into five new cities: Cookeville, Tennessee; Hazard, Kentucky; Atlantic City; Cleveland; and Ft. Lauderdale. That brings the total to 19 cities.

    “As Etsy celebrates its tenth anniversary this June, it’s a perfect time to reflect on all the ways our seller community has helped make Etsy what it is today,” says Etsy’s Graham Ashcraft. “In particular, it’s incredible to see so many sellers connecting with their communities and helping Etsy’s Craft Entrepreneurship program continue to expand. By sharing their experiences of starting and running their Etsy shops, seasoned sellers have helped more than 550 creative individuals from underserved communities move forward on their own entrepreneurial journeys.”

    “Teaching gives you such an appreciation for where you’ve been and where you ended up, for where you’ve found yourself as a seller and for all the mistakes you made along the way. It gives you such a sense of pride to learn from those mistakes, to be able to share your experience, and to encourage new sellers to put themselves out there,” said Craft Entrepreneurship teacher, Becky Garcia, of dirtsastudio.

    In Cookeville, the program will be offered at the Small Business Development Center at Tennessee Tech University. In Hazard it will be at Hazard Community and Technical College. In Atlantic City it will be offered via the Small Business Development Center at Stockton College. In Cleveland, it will be held at the Public Library. It will also be held at Broward County Library in Ft. Lauderdale.

    Etsy continues to look for new partners and teachers for the program as the year progresses. If you know of a potential organization in your city, you can let the company know here.

    Image via Etsy

  • How Etsy Has Improved For Sellers Leading Up To Its IPO

    How Etsy Has Improved For Sellers Leading Up To Its IPO

    Etsy just went public, opening at $16 a share and quickly raising $500 million valuing the company at $3.5 billion as shares jumped as high as $32 at opening.

    As the company goes public, it’s obviously going to face a lot more pressure to grow and, and that means its’ going to have to regularly make improvements for both sellers and consumers. It seems like a good time to look at how Etsy has been trying to make its platform better to sellers leading up to the IPO.

    Just over a year ago, Etsy added custom recommendations for buyers, which opened up a new channel for visibility for sellers.

    “Half of the buyers received an email with the same set of items, and the other half received custom sets of items based on their individual shopping preferences,” said Etsy’s heather Burkman about a test the company ran. “The group with customized recommendations were twice as likely to come back and purchase than the group that received the same set. Not only do custom recommendations better connect the right buyers with the right shops, but they also bring exposure to a greater variety of sellers.”

    The company launched the Sell with Etsy app for iOS and Android, which enables sellers to process orders, add listings, view shop stats, and sell in person, providing for a much-needed upgrade in the mobile selling department.

    “Etsy sellers are conducting more business from their mobile devices than ever before, and we’re focused on making it easier, faster and more efficient for our sellers to run their shops from wherever they are,” a spokesperson for Etsy told us. “Etsy sellers are not the typical mobile user. They’re multitasking at home, teaching in a classroom, working in studios, picking up kids from school — not tethered to a desktop. They rely heavily on mobile devices to manage their Etsy shops. Dedicated solely to the needs of sellers, Sell on Etsy makes it easier for sellers to live their lives and run their businesses with the flexibility, independence and autonomy that they want.”

    In the summer, Etsy launched promoted listing ads, which took the place of the site’s previous search ads. The ads let sellers tell Etsy how much they want to pay for a click, and include keyword-less campaigns that let sellers specify which items they want to promote so Etsy can show them to the “right buyers at the right time”. The offering also includes automatic management features that give sellers the option to set up auto promotion and bidding.

    October saw a big release from Etsy when it gave sellers free card readers called the Sell on Etsy Reader. You can plug it into your phone or tablet, much like those from Square and others, and it integrates with an app to let sellers manage their inventory and multi-channel sales. The “Sell on Etsy Reader” is free to those enrolled in Etsy’s Direct Checkout.

    Etsy charges 2.75% per swipe, which is competitive with other readers on the market. The standard 3.5% Etsy transaction fee doesn’t apply for in-person sales.

    “We’ve worked hard at Etsy to develop a leading online marketplace for buying and selling unique goods,” said Etsy’s Camilla Velasquez. “However, 90% of all retail purchases are still made offline. We know that many of our sellers sell in channels other than their online Etsy shop. In fact, 35% of Etsy sellers sell at craft fairs. That’s why we’re launching in-person payments today to provide better tools for sellers who sell at craft fairs, flea markets, and elsewhere. We want to help Etsy sellers be more efficient in what they’re already doing in multiple sales channels.”

    “We designed the Sell on Etsy Reader specifically for Etsy sellers to help better manage their creative businesses, allowing them to focus more on doing what they love,” she said. “Unlike other card readers, our reader isn’t a commodity point-of-sale system; it’s for Etsy sellers and their shops.”

    Asked about what improvements Etsy has made over the last year that have made a significant impact, one seller told WebProNews, “The Etsy Reader was pretty awesome, especially since it was free. They’re making it a lot easier to grow your business outside your home/shop.”

    Late last year, Etsy partnered with Tumblr on a buy button, enabling Tumblr users to buy Etsy products right from the social media platform.

    It also began piloting a new local feature, which alerts shoppers on their mobile devices that an Etsy seller they like is selling at a local event.

    “Etsy Local push notifications are a new way for Etsy sellers and buyers to connect locally and in-person,” a spokesperson for Etsy told us in an email. “It connects sellers participating in fairs and markets to shoppers in their area; shoppers can meet and buy from sellers in-person, supporting both the Etsy community and their own local economies.”

    Sellers can add the events and markets they’ll be participating in via Etsy.com/Local. Shoppers who are within 5 miles (based on their shipping zip code), and have favorited their shop, favorited an item, or purchased from that Etsy seller, will receive a notification about a day in advance.

    A couple months ago, Etsy announced a new suite of listing management tools for sellers, which the company said would improve the way they add and edit details about products.

    “The Listing Management prototype was launched in May of 2014 and has since drawn more than 10,000 sellers to try the new features (the second most popular prototype to date),” said Etsy’s Nickey Skarstad at the time. “Through regular conversation, feedback and iteration, the product in prototype has evolved as more sellers have used it. It may seem like a long time to work on one suite of products, but we deliberately took the opportunity to listen over an extended period of time in order to make sure the new tools would significantly improve a critical part of a seller’s workflow, while greatly reducing time spent. These tools, now launching broadly, include better bulk editing, in-line stats, quick edit mode, a faster listing process and photo editing, all based on feedback from sellers.”

    “We’ve found that regular feedback on what we’re building, helps us build better,” she added. “74% of our sellers report that they consider their Etsy shops businesses, and we are focused on giving them the tools they need to fulfill their entrepreneurial aspirations. By working together to develop features, Etsy gets quality feedback and Etsy sellers get to weigh in on the tools being developed to support their businesses. We believe that this collaborative process can be the future of tech operations, and we are proud to see our community at the forefront of our product development.”

    Last month, Etsy announced more payment options to give shoppers more options to buy products from its sellers. These include Apple Pay and Google Wallet.

    “We know from our research that shoppers buy more when they can use their local currency and familiar payment methods, and we’ll continue to add more options on mobile devices and across the Etsy marketplace,” said Stephanie Grodin, Payments Product Lead at Etsy.

    A couple weeks ago, Etsy announced the release of calculated shipping, a new tool aimed at easing the burden of shipping calculation on sellers. It automatically determines the cost to shop an order from the US based on USPS mail classes and rates.

    Since then, it has redesigned the home screen on its mobile apps to make it easier for shoppers to browse and find items of interest. This includes a Recommended tab, Etsy Picks, and a Your Activity tab.

    In a new blog post talking about the IPO, Etsy CEO Chad Dickerson gave a shout out to the marketplace’s sellers.

    “I want to take a moment to acknowledge our sellers, as we wouldn’t be here today without them,” he wrote. “Their dedication and their feedback, both supportive and constructive, have allowed us to grow, evolve, and grow again. Being a public company gives us even more resources to continue to invest in building the seller platform that they all depend on, helping bring their goods to even more buyers around the world. Sellers are at the heart of Etsy, and they were naturally at the heart of our transition to a public company.”

    “When our sellers succeed, our business succeeds, which leads to value for our shareholders,” he wrote. “That will be our enduring philosophy and we are committed to running our business in a responsible way that combines our vision with strong execution and discipline, and with faithfulness to our values and conviction.”

    Images via Etsy

  • Etsy Just Lost Most Of Its Facebook Page Likes [Update: They’re Back]

    Etsy Just Lost Most Of Its Facebook Page Likes [Update: They’re Back]

    Update: Etsy’s Page appears to be back in order. As of the time of this writing, it has 1,919,663 likes.

    Original article (03/13): Last week, Facebook announced that it would make some changes to the way Page likes are counted, removing memorialized and voluntarily deactivated accounts from Pages’ like counts. This was a warning that Pages (some more than others) would soon see their like counts decrease.

    According to the company, this will make audience data more meaningful for businesses, and ensure the data on Facebook is consistent and up-to-date.

    It appears that something must have gone wrong somewhere.

    DigiDay is sharing data from CrowdTange, which has been monitoring Facebook’s biggest page losers. The biggest loser is Etsy by far, though this may just be a temporary setback. The report says:

    Etsy, the platform for buying and selling homemade goods, lost nearly all of its Facebook likes overnight, according to social media analytics company CrowdTangle. The number of likes on Etsy’s page dropped 99.99 percent, per CrowdTangle, from more than 1.9 million yesterday to a dismal 290 as of earlier this afternoon.

    As of the time of this writing, Etsy’s page has over 277,000 likes. This is significantly more than 290, but obviously still pretty far off from the nearly 2 million it had before.

    According to DigiDay, Etsy thinks the drop in likes is probably due to it “working with Facebook to provide ‘localized experiences under one global brand umbrella,’ and that ‘correct fan count should be back in a few days.’”

    Facebook doesn’t appear to be commenting.

    Everyone knows Etsy is extremely popular, so there’s no way it only has 277,000 legitimate likes. It will, however, be interesting to see the final tally in light of Facebook’s news. It also makes you wonder what kinds of errors other Page may have experienced.

    Other “big losers” from Facebook’s move – none of which experienced anything like Etsy’s enormous drop-off – include: Shahid Khan Afridi Fans, ESPN UK, Cobra Starship, Testament, Avea, Newegg.com, M Pokora, Enya, and somewhat humorously, Facebook’s own Facebook for Every Phone, which lost 113,087 based on the data provided.

    The biggest grand losers, according to CrowdTangle, were: Etsy, Kenneth Cole, Nestle Pure Life US, BCBGMAXAZRIA, Chrysler, OPI, Herbal Essences, IHOP, Corona Extra USA, and Domino’s Pizza.

    The biggest publisher losers were: LiveScience, The New York Times, Harvard Business Review, AlterNet, Bleacher Report, Sports Illustrated, YouTube, Gawker, BBC Three, and The Denver Post.

    While nobody lost counts in the millions like Etsy, which sounds like a glitch anyway, we are talking in the tens of thousands for many of these Pages. According to the data provided, Kenneth Cole lost over 26,000 likes. LiveScience lost over 16,000.

    Has your Page taken a hit?

  • Taylor Swift Is Reportedly Going After Etsy Sellers

    Taylor Swift Is Reportedly Going After Etsy Sellers

    If you’re thinking about painting “party likes it’s 1989” on a coffee mug and trying to sell it on Etsy, you might want to reconsider.

    Taylor Swift, or more specifically, Taylor Swift’s lawyers, are reportedly going after sellers on Etsy with cease and desist orders for trademark infringement. If you haven’t heard, Taylor Swift has a bunch of trademarks.

    According to BuzzFeed, this has been going on for some time – but has intensified as of late. They quote one Etsy store owner, who says that they were shocked when they received an email one day.

    “We originally made the item for fun, we love Taylor and we had friends that love Taylor. We never intended for it to be a profit making item. The cost of the item covered shipping costs, and production costs with very little left over,” they said. “When we got the e-mail that the trademark infringement occurred, we were pretty shocked because while our item was popular we didn’t feel as if it had become popular enough to cause harm to Taylor Swift’s empire. We were shocked. And we were scared. We didn’t even make enough money for a lawyer and this had seemed like such a harmless and fun idea.”

    As more proof, BuzzFeed points to a listicle they made a while back feature 15 Taylor Swift-themed Etsy products. Only three of those are still available.

    Hi, Tokyo!

    A photo posted by Taylor Swift (@taylorswift) on

    Etsy has refused to comment on the specific matter of Taylor Swift merchandise, but has issued this rather generic statement on their sitewide policies:

    Because of privacy and legal concerns, we can’t verify specific information about who contacts us. However, I can share more information about our copyright and intellectual property policy:

    When a seller opens a shop and lists an item on Etsy, they are agreeing to our terms of use, including trademark guidelines, and copyright and IP policy. We take intellectual property and copyright concerns very seriously, and we comply with the DMCA and remove items when we have proper notice. When we are notified about allegedly infringing material, we act swiftly and in compliance with our policy

    A search for Taylor Swift products on Etsy returns plenty, so it’s unclear exactly how aggressive Taylor Swift’s lawyers are acting with these takedown requests.

    Image via Taylor Swift, Instagram

  • Etsy Opens Up New Listing Manager To All Sellers

    Etsy Opens Up New Listing Manager To All Sellers

    Etsy announced the release of a new suite of listing management tools for sellers, which the company says will improve the way they add and edit details about products. The new Listings Manager and Listings Process will roll out to all sellers in March.

    For now, sellers can opt-in to use the new tools, and provide feedback on how to make them better before the broad roll-out. Over 10,000 sellers have already been participating in a prototyping process and giving feedback, which has already been incorporated into the tools’ development.

    In the past, the prototyping process has led to seller features like shop stats, listing variations, digital items, custom orders, and shipping labels.

    “The Listing Management prototype was launched in May of 2014 and has since drawn more than 10,000 sellers to try the new features (the second most popular prototype to date),” says Etsy’s Nickey Skarstad. “Through regular conversation, feedback and iteration, the product in prototype has evolved as more sellers have used it. It may seem like a long time to work on one suite of products, but we deliberately took the opportunity to listen over an extended period of time in order to make sure the new tools would significantly improve a critical part of a seller’s workflow, while greatly reducing time spent. These tools, now launching broadly, include better bulk editing, in-line stats, quick edit mode, a faster listing process and photo editing, all based on feedback from sellers.”

    “We’ve found that regular feedback on what we’re building, helps us build better,” she adds. “74% of our sellers report that they consider their Etsy shops businesses, and we are focused on giving them the tools they need to fulfill their entrepreneurial aspirations. By working together to develop features, Etsy gets quality feedback and Etsy sellers get to weigh in on the tools being developed to support their businesses. We believe that this collaborative process can be the future of tech operations, and we are proud to see our community at the forefront of our product development.”

    You can browse Etsy’s other prototypes here.

    Image via Etsy

  • Wine Glasses: Be Classy And Nerdy This Christmas

    Wine Glasses: Be Classy And Nerdy This Christmas

    Wine glasses are no longer a status symbol. Everybody and their mother can enjoy wine these days, including nerds. If you have a nerdy wine lover in your family, you might want to check out a few of these gift ideas.

    Over at Etsy, there’s a wide range of creators making custom wine glasses based on various nerd properties, like Dr. Who, Harry Potter and Peanuts. Like all things on Etsy, these products are also cheaper than what you would have paid if the companies that own these IPs actually made wine glasses themselves.

    Starting out, the Dr. Who fan in your family will probably love these police box wine glasses. While the product page says they’re made for weddings, it’s also appropriate for the married nerd couple who happen to be Dr. Who fans. The blue glasses are etched with an image of the police box while the stem remains clear. The glasses are sold as a pair so you’ll end up paying $56 for the set, but it’s worth it, right?

    Wine Glasses

    If you’re more of a Marvel fan, these Marvel comics wine glasses may be the thing for you. The base of the glass is printed with the faces of various Marvel heroes. They’re also much cheaper with a set of glasses only costing $16.

    Wine Glasses

    The coolest wine glass you’ll ever buy a nerd this Christmas has to be this D20 wine glass. The single glass is etched with the almighty D20 that will decide all our fates. It costs $12, but the joy it will bring the role-playing fan in your life is priceless.

    Wine Glasses

    For more ideas, be sure to check out the nerdy wine glasses page at Etsy.

  • Etsy Launches New Local Feature In Pilot

    Etsy Launches New Local Feature In Pilot

    Etsy announced that it’s launching a pilot program that will alert shoppers on their mobile device that an Etsy seller they like is selling at a local event.

    “Etsy Local push notifications are a new way for Etsy sellers and buyers to connect locally and in-person,” a spokesperson for Etsy said in an email. “It connects sellers participating in fairs and markets to shoppers in their area; shoppers can meet and buy from sellers in-person, supporting both the Etsy community and their own local economies.”

    Sellers can add the events and markets they’ll be participating in via Etsy.com/Local. Shoppers who are within 5 miles (based on their shipping zip code), and have favorited their shop, favorited an item, or purchased from that Etsy seller, will receive a notification about a day in advance.

    Notifications will be sent to a select group of shoppers through the newest version of the Etsy app on Android and iOS during the pilot phase.

    “Etsy Local is another way that Etsy is helping sellers grow in all aspects of their businesses, both in the online and offline worlds,” the spokesperson said. “This August, our new wholesale platform launched out of beta, offering sellers a convenient way to sell directly to retailers and have their designs carried in brick-and-mortar stores, such as independent boutiques. In October, Etsy launched the Sell on Etsy card reader as a way to help sellers manage their multi-channel businesses in a way that integrates seamlessly with their online shops.”

    35% of US-based Etsy sellers sell at craft fairs, according to the company, so the new feature should prove to be a valuable one.

    Image via Etsy

  • Tumblr Gets A Buy Button, Partners With Etsy, Artsy, Kickstarter, DoSomething

    Tumblr Gets A Buy Button, Partners With Etsy, Artsy, Kickstarter, DoSomething

    Tumblr is the latest social media platform to add a buy button enabling users to purchase items from posts. As you may know, such a feature is currently being tested by both Facebook and Twitter.

    Tumblr has partnered with Etsy, Artsy, Kickstarter, or DoSomething for the feature, which isn’t limited to the word “buy,” but also includes “pledge,” and reportedly “browse” and “Do Something”. Now whenever a user posts something they find on one of these sites to Tumblr, buttons will appear with the appropriate call to action.

    From the user perspective, that’s pretty much all there is to it based on Tumblr’s very brief announcement of the feature.

    With all of these social media platforms starting to enable this kind of e-commerce, one can’t help but envision a growing trend of News Feed/Timeline-based impulse buying. This will make such placement all the more coveted by brands, while making them more depressed about things like the decline of their organic reach on Facebook.

    Still, we’re headed for some interesting times for selling products online. Word of mouth may not have reached its potential just yet.

    It’s unclear if and when Tumblr might open up this functionality to additional sites.

    Image via Tumblr

  • Etsy Applauds Obama’s FCC Request On Open Internet

    Etsy Applauds Obama’s FCC Request On Open Internet

    President Obama announced on Monday that he’s asking the FCC to reclassify the Internet under Title II of the Telecommunications Act, which would essentially render it a utility.

    “In plain English, I’m asking them to recognize that for most Americans, the Internet has become an essential part of everyday communication and everyday life,” he said, noting that the FCC is an independent agency, and that ultimately, it’s their decision.

    You can read his whole statement and view video of him talking about it here.

    Many people and companies are commenting on Obama’s move, and Etsy, which gives independent artists a means of selling their work, put out a blog post applauding the President’s “strong stance” on the issue of the open Internet. Etsy’s Althea Erickson writes:

    We applaud the President’s strong stance on this issue, and urge the FCC to take action this year to protect the Internet and the millions of micro-businesses who depend on it to reach consumers.

    This morning, the President said what the Etsy community has been saying for months: there should not be a two-tiered Internet, where big companies pay for fast lanes, leaving the rest of us in the slow lane. We want the Internet to continue to be a level playing field, where businesses succeed based on the value of their products, not the depths of their pockets.

    Etsy has been championing net neutrality since last spring, and has submitted formal comments, met with the FCC’s chairman, and participated in FCC roundtables. According to Erickson, over 30,000 members of the Etsy community contacted the FCC and Congress as part of the #InternetSlowDown campaign.

    There are even numerous items for sale that sellers have made, supporting an open Internet.

    CEO Chad Dickerson had this to say: “I’m thrilled to see President Obama stand with Etsy and our sellers in calling for strong net neutrality rules under Title II. The President has proved that he truly is a champion of the Internet. I urge Chairman Wheeler to follow suit.”

    Etsy is in the process of expanding its presence in the physical world, as it recently began giving its sellers free card-readers to help them expand their Etsy-based businesses.

    Image via Etsy

  • Etsy Just Got A Lot Better For Selling Stuff

    Etsy Just Got A Lot Better For Selling Stuff

    Etsy just got a lot better for sellers. With one simple announcement, sellers are going to be able to offer their inventory in a whole new way. Well, it’s actually a really old way, but it’s a new for Etsy. The company announced that it’s giving U.S. sellers free card readers to accept credit and debit payments in person.

    The move should not only serve to help current sellers move more inventory, but should persuade people to give the marketplace a try in the first place.

    Does this make Etsy more attractive for selling? Let us know what you think.

    When asked about what effect the news will have on their own Etsy experience, one current seller told WebProNews, “I’ll be able to expand my business by participating in art fairs and conventions, and will be able to build my customer base by offering an easy, safe payment option.”

    These and similar sentiments are no doubt being echoed throughout the community. Etsy has already notified qualified sellers that they’re sending the devices along.

    The reader comes in the form of a dongle, much like those from Square and others, and integrates with an app to let sellers manage their inventory and multi-channel sales. The “Sell on Etsy Reader” is free to those enrolled in Etsy’s Direct Checkout.

    Etsy charges 2.75% per swipe, which is competitive with other readers on the market. The standard 3.5% Etsy transaction fee doesn’t apply for in-person sales.

    Etsy’s Camilla Velasquez writes in a blog post, “We’ve worked hard at Etsy to develop a leading online marketplace for buying and selling unique goods. However, 90% of all retail purchases are still made offline. We know that many of our sellers sell in channels other than their online Etsy shop. In fact, 35% of Etsy sellers sell at craft fairs. That’s why we’re launching in-person payments today to provide better tools for sellers who sell at craft fairs, flea markets, and elsewhere. We want to help Etsy sellers be more efficient in what they’re already doing in multiple sales channels. Along with our recent launch of Etsy Wholesale, this expansion reiterates our commitment to create a world of online and offline commerce powered by Etsy, making Etsy an everyday experience.”

    “We designed the Sell on Etsy Reader specifically for Etsy sellers to help better manage their creative businesses, allowing them to focus more on doing what they love,” she adds. “Unlike other card readers, our reader isn’t a commodity point-of-sale system; it’s for Etsy sellers and their shops.”

    That may be the case, but you have to wonder how many people with Etsy shops are already using other systems to sell the same merchandise offline. This gives Etsy a chance to keep those sales and removes some the hassle of using two separate means of selling.

    Sales made in person are immediately reflected in the Etsy shop, even when buyers pay with cash. That means the inventory will be presented accurately to potential online customers. All sales made through the reader count towards the total number of sales numbers for Etsy sellers’ shops and are eligible for buyer feedback. These components of the Etsy selling experience can help boost shops’ reputations, as Velasquez notes.

    When buyers transact with the reader, they can opt to get a detailed email receipt.

    While the reader is only available for the U.S. right now, the company says it’s evaluating solutions for other countries, so expect to hear more about that in the future.

    The Sell on Etsy app, which works with the reader, is available for both iOS and Android.

    The reader marks an important turning point for Etsy taking it from an online marketplace to a broader selling tool for selling both online and off. Etsy has ventured into the offline world in the past (and is doing so again this holiday season) with limited events, but this cements Etsy into a permanent spot in in-person sales.

    Just don’t expect to be able to sell any Washington Redskins merchandise.

    Are you an Etsy seller? Do you expect this new offering to help you sell more? Let us know in the comments.

    Image via Etsy

  • Etsy Teams Up With American Express For Small Business Saturday

    Etsy Teams Up With American Express For Small Business Saturday

    It’s only September, but it’s certainly not too early to be thinking about Small Business Saturday if you are in fact a small business.

    Etsy, which gives many small businesses a marketplace to sell their goods, announced on Thursday that it is partnering with American Express OPEN and supporting the “Shop Small” movement. The company is encouraging shoppers and small businesses to “discover and showcase the local artisans in their communities” on Small Business Saturday.

    “Both Etsy and American Express OPEN share a mission of supporting the growth and continued success of independent businesses because when small businesses succeed, their communities benefit,” says Etsy’s Rand Niederhoffer. “Small businesses account for 55% of all jobs and 54% of all sales in the US with 52% of consumers saying the primary reason they choose to shop at a small business is because they feel it is important to their neighborhood and community.”

    “Small businesses across the country are encouraged to get involved by inviting a local Etsy designer to showcase their products at an in-store trunk show,” Niederhoffer adds. “Each participating small business will receive a Trunk Show activation kit that includes an Etsy gift card to assist with the cost of supplies for the event, as well as an American Express Shop Small Reward Card. Plus, one lucky business will win a boutique design refresh from Rue Magazine, courtesy of American Express.”

    Etsy says the events provide its sellers with a way to get their products in front of customers in an offline retail setting, and small businesses that host can increase foot traffic.

    More information on the initiative is here.

    Image via Etsy

  • Etsy Bans ‘Redskins’ Items From Its Marketplace

    Etsy Bans ‘Redskins’ Items From Its Marketplace

    Even if you don’t follow football, it’s unlikely that you’ve not heard about the controversy surrounding the Washington Redskins and its name and mascot. It’s been controversial for years, but the argument has picked up major steam in recent months.

    E-commerce marketplace Etsy just announced that it is no longer permitting sellers to list items with the name Redskins – a move that will no doubt stir up its own share of controversy.

    Do you think Etsy is doing the right thing here? Share your thoughts in the comments.

    The company points to two major catalysts that led to its decision. The first is this ad from the National Congress of American Indians:

    “Native Americans call themselves many things,” it says. “The one thing they don’t…” Then it concludes with the image of a Washington Redskins football helmet and a football. It also includes the web address ChangeTheMascot.org.

    The ad has been around since January, and is described on YouTube as the “#BigGame commercial the NFL would never air.” It has over three million views. Here’s what the campaigns Twitter account has been saying:


    The campaign ran a radio ad in the Houston area as the Redskins went to town to play the Texans in week one.

    The Change the Washington Mascot Campaign labels itself a “civil rights and human rights effort,” and notes that, “Native American leaders and organizations, sports icons, school boards, city councils, state legislators, media organizations, civil rights groups, religious leaders, Members of Congress and the President of the United States have all said it is time for the Washington team to stop using a dictionary defined racial slur as its name.”

    The Oxford Dictionary labels the word “a term of disparagement.”

    Merriam-Webster cites it as “usually offensive.”

    Google’s dictionary feature labels it “dated offensive,” and shows an interesting graph showing its frequency of use over time, with it peaking in the late 1800s.

    The campaign shares a “fact sheet,” which includes points like: The U.S. Government Labels the R-Word A Racial Slur; The United Nations Says the Name is a Hurtful Reminder of Mistreatment; Social science research says the term has severe consequences; among others.

    The second item Etsy points to is a decision by the US Patent and Trademark Office to cancel the team’s trademarks.

    “Following this decision, an increasing number of public figures, politicians, schools, news publications, and private companies have spoken out in protest of the name and mascot,” says Bonnie Broeren, who manages Etsy’s policy team. “Like the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board, we at Etsy find the opinion of the minority group itself to carry most weight in determining whether the mascot is disparaging. In no uncertain terms, Native American groups have consistently advocated and litigated that the term ‘redskin(s)’ is disparaging and damaging to Native Americans. Therefore, it will no longer be permitted in our marketplace.”

    “We understand that fans wish to support their favorite football team, and we do not believe that fans who are attached to the mascot have any racist feeling or intent,” she adds. “We also understand that some fans view the name and mascot as an homage to Native Americans, and we do not doubt their noble intent, but the fact remains that Native Americans themselves find the term unacceptable.”

    Etsy will continue to permit users to sell items that use the team’s colors and location, but not with the name or logo. The policy goes into effect immediately.

    The company is contacting sellers who are affected by the policy change, and there’s a Help Center article with additional info here.

    “Today we seek to balance two principles that are critically important to us: freedom of speech and protection from discrimination. Freedom of speech and expression is important to us because we are a community of artists, artisans, and curators of all backgrounds, aesthetics, and viewpoints. If you search our site, you will see a wide variety of items testifying to our diversity and our seemingly limitless creativity,” says Broeren. “This freedom, however, is not without limits. In the past, we have taken actions to protect our community and to preserve our integrity as both a creative and an ethical space. We want Etsy to be safe, welcoming, and respectful for everyone, including artists, women, and minorities. For this reason, it has long been against our policies to allow content on our site that demeans people based upon race, ethnicity, religion, gender, gender identity, disability, or sexual orientation.”

    In the past, Etsy has apologized for enabling sellers to list t-shirts promoting rape and updated its policy on prohibited animal products to include restrictions for fur, pelts, ivory, teeth, bones, and taxidermy.

    Etsy is already taking some flack for continuing to offer various items.

    Etsy also currently offers an “Al Jolsen Vintage Promotional photo 8 x 10 Picture Blackface Persona“:

    The Washington Post is pointing to a poll from ESPN’s Outside The Lines finding that 71% of Americans surveyed think the Redskins should keep their name, though as ESPN notes, those who think it should be changed rose nine percentage points within the last year. ESPN’s NFL Nation also polled 286 NFL players, and found that 58% say the name should not be changed, while 42% say it should.

    “The polling conducted for “Outside the Lines” showed no difference in attitude between men and women, or whites and non-whites,” Bob Ley wrote on ESPN’s website.

    It will be interesting to see if any of Etsy’s rivals follow its policy approach or take advantage of gaining new sellers who leave the service.

    As of the time of this writing, there are still a number of items listed on Etsy, which use the name and/or logo.

    Presumably stuff like this would still be acceptable under Etsy’s new policy:

    Do you believe Etsy made the right move with the policy change? Share your opinion here.

    Images: Etsy, Google

  • Etsy Announces New Promoted Listing Ads

    Etsy Announces New Promoted Listing Ads

    Etsy announced a new type of ad this week in Promoted Listings. Earlier this year, the company announced that it was changing the way it charged for Search Ads to cost-per-click instead of the CPM model it used previously.

    At the time, Etsy said that was the first of “many improvements” it would be making to advertising on the site. The new Promoted Listings are the next one.

    Promoted Listings will actually launch on September 9th. They’ll take the place of existing Search Ads. They’ve already stopped letting people create new Search Ads campaigns, though existing campaigns are still running, and can still be edited.

    According to Etsy, these are the key features of Promoted Listings:

    – Flexible Pricing – With Promoted Listings, tell us how much you want to pay for a click on your listing and we’ll make sure you never pay more than that.

    – Keyword-less Campaigns – Managing keywords is a pain. With Promoted Listings all you have to do is tell us which items you want to promote and we’ll make sure they are shown to the right buyers at the right time.

    – Automatic Management – While you have the option to control every aspect of your campaign, promoting your listings can be as simple as setting a daily budget. With auto promotion and bidding, we’ll make sure you get as many clicks as possible for your budget.

    You can find a FAQ about the transition from Search Ads to Promoted Listings here.

    H/T: Ecommerce Bytes

    Image via Etsy

  • Etsy Wholesale Graduates From Beta

    Etsy Wholesale Graduates From Beta

    Etsy Wholesale launched in beta over a year ago. Today, it has graduated out of it.

    As announced a few months ago, there’s a one-time joining fee of $100, and Etsy collects a 3.5% transaction fee for wholesale purchase orders.

    “Over the last year, we’ve worked with independent boutiques throughout the US, partnered with retailers such as Nordstrom and West Elm, participated in trade shows including Capsule and the National Stationery Show, and held educational events to help our community grow their businesses,” says Etsy Wholesale program manager Rand Niederhoffer. During the beta phase, feedback from sellers and buyers helped us create user-friendly tools and seamless integration between Etsy.com and Etsy Wholesale.”

    The Etsy Wholesale marketplace has been growing a vast but curated selection of unique products made by trusted designers for independent boutiques to source conveniently and with low overhead,” Niederhoffer says.

    The company says it has some new initiatives in the pipeline for independent boutiques and sellers on the platform. Keep an eye out over the coming months. They’ll also be supporting Small Business Saturday in November, encouraging retailers to source products from local Etsy sellers.

    Image via Etsy

  • Etsy Makes Its Biggest Acquisition Yet with ‘A Little Market’

    Etsy Makes Its Biggest Acquisition Yet with ‘A Little Market’

    Etsy has just announced the acquisition of A Little Market, a French company that serves as “an online destination for consumers in France looking for creative goods made by local artists and designers.” Sounds a lot like…yes, Etsy of course.

    Although Etsy didn’t disclose the financials on the deal, The Wall Street Journal quotes a source who says that the deal was Etsy’s sixth, and biggest yet.

    Still, the deal is reportedly valued at less than $100 million.

    “While Etsy’s business in France is primarily import/export — shoppers in other countries buying from local sellers — A Little Market has been focused on domestic growth among French sellers and buyers. The mission we believe in is aligned across both platforms. A Little Market shares our strategy of supporting designers, artists and makers to start and scale their independent, creative businesses, bringing to market one-of-a-kind goods. They emphasize handmade and work to keep the buying experience human and friendly,” says Etsy CEO Chad Dickerson.

    A Little Market will continue to operate independently, according to Dickerson.

    “Together, Etsy and A Little Market are incredibly well-positioned to reimagine commerce in France, the world’s fifth largest economy,” says Dickerson.

    Etsy’s last major acquisition was that of Grand St., a hardware marketplace, which happened back in April.

    Image via Etsy Blog

  • Etsy Launches iPhone App Just For Sellers (Android Coming Later)

    Etsy Launches iPhone App Just For Sellers (Android Coming Later)

    Etsy just announced the launch of a new iPhone app specifically for sellers called (appropriately) Sell on Etsy. An Android version will come later this year.

    “Etsy sellers are conducting more business from their mobile devices than ever before, and we’re focused on making it easier, faster and more efficient for our sellers to run their shops from wherever they are,” a spokesperson for the company tells WebProNews. “Etsy sellers are not the typical mobile user. They’re multitasking at home, teaching in a classroom, working in studios, picking up kids from school — not tethered to a desktop. They rely heavily on mobile devices to manage their Etsy shops. Dedicated solely to the needs of sellers, Sell on Etsy makes it easier for sellers to live their lives and run their businesses with the flexibility, independence and autonomy that they want.”

    The app enables sellers to manage their shop activity feed with purchases, feedback and favorites. They can also manage open orders and review completed ones, as well as create, edit, and publish listings, communicate with buyers, access shop stats, and receive notifications on sales and feedback.

    “With Sell on Etsy, sellers now have an additional tool to help grow their Etsy shops and ensure their Etsy business fits seamlessly into their lives,” the spokesperson says.

    The app has five main sections: Dashboard, Your Items, Orders, Conversations, and Accounts & Settings. There’s also a handy link to switch to the Etsy app.

    Sell on Etsy

    The dashboard is divided into Shop Activity and Shop Stats.

    Your Items lets you add and manage listings, renew expired listings, and search your items by keywords or filters. Listing variations aren’t supported for now. You’ll have to manage those through the desktop.

    The Orders section is divided into Open Orders and Completed Orders, where you can mark them as shipped, add tracking details, print receipts, and contact the buyer.

    Conversations lets you read, respond, or create new conversations with members. There’s a “Snippets” feature, which lets you save commonly used phrases for your communications (also handy).

    Accounts & Settings is pretty self-explanatory. It’s divided into Info & Appearance, Shop Policies & Shop Reviews.

    The app is available in the App Store. It works on iOS 6 and above. There isn’t a native iPad app, but you can download it on your iPad, and tap the 2x on the bottom right of the app window to magnify it.

    More on the Etsy news blog.

    Image via Etsy

  • Etsy Announces Acquisition Of Grand St.

    Etsy Announces Acquisition Of Grand St.

    Etsy announced on Wednesday that it is acquiring creative technology marketplace Grand St. Its team, including co-founders Amanda Peyton, Joe Lallouz, and Aaron Henshaw, will join the company.

    Grand St. gives makers of hardware products a place to list their creations. It reviews and approves all listings before they go live, so not everything submitted appears. Customers can pre-order items one to six months in advance. It offers early beta access to some technologies.

    “Grand St. connects independent hardware makers with passionate buyers, harnessing a wave of innovation happening outside the mainstream consumer electronics industry,” says Etsy CEO Chad Dickerson. “What unites Etsy and Grand St. is a shared vision of the way making is changing, and we’re excited to learn from their community.”

    “As we’ve seen here at Etsy, shoppers are increasingly interested in unique and innovative goods, especially when they know and can be involved in the story behind the product,” he adds. “At the same time, it’s becoming easier than ever for independent makers and designers to bring ideas to market and find a global audience. Grand St. gets this — that’s why we’re such a good fit.”

    The Grand St. team says it intends to change “very little” about its site and experience in the near term. It will continue to operate its services at grandst.com, and will continue to launch new features. In fact, it says it has some on the way.

    “As you may know, Etsy is an amazing company for handmade goods and a true pioneer in both marketplace development and the maker movement,” the Grand St. team writes. “We have always admired them from afar, especially their dedication to craft and their commitment to their B Corp certification.”

    “We are very excited to be part of a company with such overlapping values, where we’ll have a chance to accelerate our mission of helping independent makers grow and scale,” it says.

    The deal is still subject to closing conditions. Terms were not disclosed.

    Image via Grand St.

  • Etsy Wholesale Gets Pricing For Public Access

    Etsy Wholesale Gets Pricing For Public Access

    Etsy announced the pricing for Etsy Wholesale for when it launches publicly this summer. There will be a one-time joining fee of $100 for sellers, and the company will get a 3.5% transaction fee for wholesale purchase orders, the same as those for Etsy.com.

    Etsy Wholesale was launched in beta a year ago. The program is free to buyers, though they must apply. It has also been free to vendors throughout the beta period.

    “Part of Etsy’s goal is to help sellers grow, and help them reach their vision of success, whatever that may be,” writes Etsy’s Camilla Velasquez in a blog post “For some, success is making enough to cover their bills or for a fun family outing; for others, it’s about fulfilling a creative passion. But for many sellers who have built sustaining, full-time businesses on Etsy, Etsy Wholesale is a way to support their continued growth. What we’ve built is a direct reflection of listening to the needs of our growing community of shop owners ready to take their businesses to the next level, and it complements a traditionally seasonal pen-and-paper practice.”

    “In addition to facilitating orders between sellers and independent boutiques, our partnerships with large retailers such as Nordstrom, West Elm and Indigo have presented wholesale sellers with new opportunities to scale up and expand their audience,” she says. “Etsy-sponsored events with tradeshows like Capsule, American Craft Council and the National Stationery Show (coming up in May) have further extended the reach of sellers doing wholesale.”

    If you’re interested in signing up as a seller, you’ll probably want to peruse this FAQ. There will be a lunch event in August.

    Image via Etsy