What You Should Know About Etsy.com

As the world turns more dependent on gadgets and gizmo's, websites and email, there are also many new places to shop on-line that provide specific resources for your needs. One of my recent favorites is Etsy.com. Etsy.com is a Place to Buy and Sell all Things Handmade.

As a buyer, Etsy is a wonderful resource for many one of a kind pieces of art in such a variety of categories. Looking for that perfect pair of earrings for mom's birthday? Looking for a new piece of art for your wall in your new apartment? Looking for a re-purposed piece of vintage clothing? Or how about some handmade soap, or even some cookies? You can find it all on Etsy! You can even buy supplies on Etsy to complete your next art project. If it's handmade, you will find it on Etsy.

Now, keep in mind, Etsy is not to be confused with eBay. As eBay has grown and become more saturated with products, Etsy offers a competitive alternative for those who want to sell their handmade works of art without being in straight competition of mass produced and/or imported pieces of the like. Unlike eBay, Etsy provides an audience of people specifically shopping for one of a kind, handmade items. And often enough, shoppers are willing to pay what these works of art are worth because they know they are handcrafted with the love and intention of them being exactly that - a work of art. Not everything on Etsy is one of a kind though, so if you should come across something that's been reproduced a few times over, you can still find comfort in knowing that it was put together piece by piece by an artist who was passionate enough about it to make a few, and share with only a small handful of others, rather than hundreds or thousands like mass produced items are made.

If you are an artist or crafter yourself, you might be wondering what it takes to sell on Etsy. It's easy really! All you have to do is create an account and you'll be given a domain address for free! Then you can start setting up shop and personalizing your own space. You can upload an avatar, banner, and update your personal profile. You can create special categories for your shop to divide items out where you feel they should be, and finally, start adding things to your store. It costs 20 cents to add an item to your Etsy shop and that will also include 5 photographs and 4 months of exposure time. When your item sells, Etsy will collect 3.5% of the sale price, and that's it!

It's so easy to get hooked on Etsy, I should warn you. Once you've made your first purchase, or your first sale on Etsy, it's easy to want to do both. I know many sellers on Etsy who started out as buyers, and were so inspired by the community and their spirit, that they've become sellers as well. And in turn, many sellers are also buyers because we as sellers love to support our fellow Etsyans and that of Self Representing Artists. So, now you know the basics... Go on, check it out, and become an Etsyan yourself. You'll be glad you did.