DesignCrave Explains: Etsy.com
By Jared Newman
Etsy.com is like a gigantic, never-ending crafts fair, but without the sales pressure, aimless waddling around or fear of accidently knocking something over. The wares — from art and jewelry to music and toys — are all handmade and sold by individual vendors who operate digital storefronts at no cost to them. Etsy charges 20 cents to stock each unit of every item, and takes a 3.5 percent cut of the sales. As a customer, there are no extra charges except the shipping cost established by the store owner. So what’s the big deal? As Clive Thompson writes, it’s a way out of the cookie-cutter decor you find in malls and department stores. You won’t be sneezing at any potpourri or scented candles as you browse, either. [Etsy]
