It's time to admit it - I've branched out from selling exclusively on Etsy. Like any first love, Etsy will always hold a special place in my heart, and I will be forever grateful for lessons learned and the fabulous opportunities that have come my way through my shop there. And yes, there's still no place like Etsy to reach an enormously huge audience if you are a seller. But.......I have found a new online artisan venue that I am truly thrilled to be a part of - 1000 Markets. If you are a shopper, you will be amazed at the variety and quality of what you can find there - everything from exquisite cookies to masterful paintings and photographs, to garden art, fine jewelry, and wearable art. Oh yes, and yummy artisan food! ...Homemade chocolate marshmallows, anyone?
If you are an artisan looking for a place to open up shop, 1000Markets is the place to be. Their link for potential shopkeepers is a perfect example of the professionalism, technical expertise, and pure marketing knowhow that this venue offers to artists. Check out the forums to gain an idea of the sense of community that is already present among the artisans there. Visit Matt's blog to read about the launch of the site in September, the concept of markets, and some of the exciting publicity the site is generating. Yes, indeed, 1000 Markets could be the Next Big Thing.
Lastly, in honor of my excitement about 1000 Markets, I'll be adding a new weekly feature to compliment my Sunday Morning Coffee series - Saturday Night at the Market. I will feature artists, markets and news about 1000 Markets each week. Be sure to stop by for the first installment Saturday, January 10th.
ooh, am looking forward to your Sunday Morning Coffee series...I love 1000 Markets!
ReplyDeleteI'm also very happy there. Looking forward to reading your "Saturday Night at the Market" series!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comments! I'm really looking forward to the series. I love any excuse to browse through shops, and I'm finding I really enjoy looking at and writing about other people's work!
ReplyDeleteHi Cheryl,
ReplyDeleteI just went to the link and they're down for maintenence. Just my luck. They're supposed to send me an e-mail when it's back up again. I'd like to check it out.
Hi Pippit - They're back up now! I can't wait to hear what you think!
ReplyDeleteThis is awesome!!! I was just wishing there was something besides Etsy!!! Thanks for finding it and sharing, and best wishes on your new market place!
ReplyDeleteThanks Pam! Your work would be perfect for 1000 Markets, and they just formed a new glass market, too:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.1000markets.com/groups/glassartisansalley
Thanks for the link Cheryl, I'm so bummed though, they don't let you sell lampwork beads by themselves, you have to make them wearable! So most people have them on cheap little wires and cords... so not what lampwork is all about! Not sure what I want to do. Darnit!
ReplyDeleteThere was quite a lengthy discussion about that in the forum there. I can see both sides of the question - but I must admit I really like the fact that they have such a strong position on supplies. I think this stems from their focus on mainstream shoppers rather than other crafters/artists, which seems to me in the long run that it will produce more opportunity for good sales volume at good prices. On the other hand, I can see why a buyer might not want to keep paying for chains they don't need either, but I don't really think it would deter them from shopping there, whereas an excess of supplies might.
ReplyDeletemmn, I guess I just see handmade beads as little treasures in and of themselves... some people collect them and never do anything else with them. But I can also see the point of not junking up the place with a bunch of supplies. I like that it is truly all handmade, that's refreshing.
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