"PETITION TO ETSY FOR “ARTISTS COLONY”

We, the undersigned, are petitioning Etsy to create a new section called ARTISTS COLONY (“AC”), to be featured as a special section on the homepage. AC would be a juried section, featuring single artists or small groups of artists whose original work is made by hand* and offered at a fair retail price**.

 

     *“Made by Hand” would be defined literally. This category could also include pieces utilizing component parts, provided the finished piece is an original work of art. Depending on the artist, small production pieces might also be acceptable, but only if included within a body of handmade work. We envision a jurying process that would make these determinations. For the most part, the quality of work combined with price structure would make it clear which artists are appropriate for this category.

 

     **“Fair Retail Price” would be defined as a price that would be charged by a boutique retail shop, as opposed to at-or-below wholesale pricing. The formula generally doubles the price of materials, then adds a fair labor cost and a reasonable profit. While this still may encompass a variety of price points, it would serve to exclude the low and very low end for purposes of this category. Etsy sellers who sell at-or-below wholesale, per Etsy Wholesale rules, are excluded from also selling their work in retail outlets, unless they are willing to take half that already base price as their share. This is not realistic for any artist who wishes to build a self-sustaining business.

 

By signing this petition, I verify, if I am signing as the owner of an Etsy store, that my shop contains my original art created by hand and listed at a fair retail price (not wholesale or discounted).

 

                                            STATEMENT

ARTISTS COLONY is proposed as a return to the roots of Etsy, an enclave within Etsy to support the individual artists who still embody the original core mission of Etsy as a handmade artist’s venue. We believe there is a customer base that would be willing to be educated on the differences between various categories of goods, and actively choose, by paying a bit more, to support individual artisans.

This would be in keeping with the Fair Trade movement that is gaining popularity worldwide. By offering this hand-picked, juried group, Etsy would be taking a stand to support fair trade and better working conditions in this tumultuous time. Etsy has the voice, platform and social standing to come out in clear support of this issue. And we believe there are customers who would respond; who, if given a chance, would prefer to use their buying power to be able to easily identify these artists and do their part to help them thrive.

Artists who make beautiful handmade pieces inspired by an original creative vision deserve to have a unique place in an increasingly competitive world, where it is difficult for the average consumer to differentiate between handmade and factory-made. Education is the key to helping people who care become more aware of the effects of their buying choices.

Etsy, with its giant worldwide platform, could play an important role helping to continue a valuable tradition that is one of the great, irreplaceable sources of true beauty in our world. And we believe Etsy could expand its customer base by including a special “Artists Colony” section.

 

                                            BACKGROUND:

Etsy began as a site completely dedicated to handmade, craft items by artisans. The idea, as we understand it, was to showcase truly handmade work, differentiating from machine-made or production items.

Initially, Etsy provided an online space where true artisans would not be in competition with tens of thousands of dissimilar products / categories, as well as production pieces that resemble handmade work.

Over the years, Etsy has grown to include dozens of types of products, encompassing vintage items, costume jewelry, t-shirts, trinkets, household items, and many others too varied to list.

The definition of “handmade” on Etsy has also evolved to include artisan-inspired products made in a factory setting and/or using inexpensive labor where available. This leads to prices that individual artisans trying to make a living from their work simply cannot match.

Likewise, a hobbyist who is pricing their work at or below basic wholesale, while perfectly within their right to sell on Etsy, would not be considered appropriate for AC. The aim would be to support people who are trying to price their original creations in a way that also provides a reasonable living.

We acknowledge that hobbyists, vintage sellers, and shops selling production pieces occupy their own rightful place within Etsy. However, with labels like “OOAK” and “handmade” also being used to describe those pieces, it is impossible for the average consumer to differentiate between categories.

As handmade artists on Etsy, we find it increasingly difficult to be discovered among the millions of listings that share the same descriptors. Clearly, it would not be realistic or enforceable to control the use of terms like “OOAK” or “handmade”. What is needed, in our opinion, is another way of differentiating “pure” handmade from variations on “handmade” that currently exist on Etsy.

AC should include a clear Mission Statement, targeting the consumer, that shopping in AC would be supporting artists who are trying to support themselves. They would expect the prices to be higher than other items on Etsy, but perfectly within the range of what a business owner needs to charge as a fair, living wage.

Etsy customers would be able to easily find and actively support artisans who dedicate the creativity, time and resources to make truly unique items one at a time. The price would reflect time spent designing, creating and marketing these products, the equivalent of what you would expect to pay in a specialty retail shop or local artisan gallery.

Each group of artists could be featured for a set amount of time, perhaps in weekly segments, to give customers a chance to more fully explore their work.

Artists could also be grouped by nationality, for those who would like to support the artisans of their own nations.

The mission statement prominently displayed at the head of the section would congratulate Etsy customers on their choice to support the individual artists who form a vital, key group within Etsy.