Etsy screenshot

Because cookie cutter, mass produced products are so passe

I don’t know about you guys, but I can’t stand gift shopping. I never know what to buy anyone and usually end up buying things for myself. The problem is, with retail stores all trying to outdo each other, creativity has gone out the window and cookie cutter, anonymous production has taken over. On top of that, if you try to get something unique, it’s usually really expensive. If you share my woes, Etsy is here to help.

Brooklyn-based Etsy is an online community that allows users to buy and sell handmade goods. As a buyer you, can search through thousands of items created by artists from all over the world. You can narrow your search down by using categories like colors and location. There are also Gift Guides that help you choose the perfect gift based on the occasion, the season and the recipients interests. After searching through a couple pages, I found this awesome bronze and turquoise beaded cuff that my jewelry obsessed mother would love!

If you are an artist, you can sign up and create an online store for free on Etsy. Your store will get it’s own URL and you can customize the page to your liking. In your store, you can display photos of your handmade goods with descriptions and prices. You decide which method of payment you want to accept. The only fees are a 20 cent charge for each item you post and a 3.5 percent sales fee for items sold. Because Etsy has sellers from all over the world, you can buy your brother a birthday gift in Philly from a seller in Australia and actually deal directly with that seller. This is a perfect outlet for budding artisans and DUI junkies.

In Etsy’s alchemy section, buyers can post requests for custom made products and sellers can bid on the chance to create them. One woman was searching for handbags for the bridesmaids in her upcoming wedding, while another lady requested a gift for her “oddball but lovely” sister. Anything goes in this section, buyers post their ideal price and whoever wins the bid gets to create the piece. Another wonderful aspect of etsy is the Community section. In this section members can stay connected to other etsy users through chats and forums. The “Virtual Lab” offers live workshops where you can participate in live critiques and watch web cam “how to’s”. With Etsy in your life, there’s no excuse for buying your Pops another tie for Father’s Day!

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