I fully intended to follow the instructions for this NetTrek unit. I’d browse the list of Web 2.0 award winners, select a single site to explore, play for a bit, and then dutifully post my thoughts here on my blog. However, once I saw that list of really cool web sites and applications, I got a temporary case of ADD and got a little click-happy. Etsy for handmade Christmas gifts! Minti for parenting advice so I can perhaps get more than 6 hours of sleep at night! Farecast so I can know the best time to purchase plane tickets for my family’s planned trip to Oregon next year! Urbanspoon because I’m always hungry! Hmm. Too much sugar.
It is commonly said that you should go with your first instinct, so I decided to take a closer look at the site I first clicked to: Etsy, “your place to buy and sell all things handmade.” What I like in general about this site is that it feels like more than an online store – it is a community. The sellers are like-minded folks who fancy themselves artisans (or knitters or craftsmen or scavengers) catering to shoppers that prefer to purchase art, odd objects, letterpress papers, and clothing from the people who made these items. Visitors can shop by category (including geography for those committed to shopping locally) or browse staff-compiled gift guides. You can also request custom items if you, say, have your heart set on giving your kid a plush pachycephalosaurus for his birthday. (This is an actual request from a shopper on the site.) Sellers can get support from other sellers – critiques of their online stores – and attend online chats or webinars about using Etsy successfully. You can create a “mini Etsy,” using a widget to show off Etsy items on your personal web site.
As far as using this site in a library setting, I can’t really think of how the library itself could use Etsy’s resources. But I can see staff referring patrons to this site when they get questions about online selling or establishing a small business. Etsy’s blog has all sorts of how-to advice, lifestyle articles, and more features than I had time to explore on my first visit. I’ll be back, however. I still have Christmas shopping to do.
Look! I made my own Etsy mini with items from Columbia, MO sellers!
| Etsy Buy Handmade lzwilli |
i love how into this you got!
ReplyDeleteI love Etsy too! I use the site to brainstorm programming ideas. I found several cute flannelboards before my flannelboard workshop, and Chriss (the sewing queen)was able to look at the images and create examples to share.
ReplyDeleteEtsy really saved me a few months ago. A friend lent me something... and it accidently got destroyed. Someone on Etsy had the exact same thing for sale but in better condition than the one lent to me. The item even arrived at my apt in about 3 days. Now, if only I would remember to put things up out of reach of my puppies.... =0)
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