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The Etsy Argument

Updated on May 28, 2014

Why this marketer likes what the site is all about

I have always believed that the way you present your home to others can reveal as much about your personality in 10 seconds as a day-long conversation can. Your home, like your wardrobe, is a reflection of who you are, from choosing your main colours, right down to choosing what artwork (if any) to display. Do you go for linear shapes and earth tones, or cool blues and curves? Whatever your preferences, I really think there's some value in searching Etsy for your finishing touches.

Now, I don't have a shop on the site, and I'm not being paid to write this article. I just happened to stumble onto the site shortly after moving into a new apartment building, and immediately saw the value (even though I'm late to the game). You can literally find ANY finishing touch to suit your style. Below are just a few of the reasons why I like the site.

Every piece you see is unique, or else made in very small quantities.

I've always shied away from large-scale manufacturers when it comes to anything expressing my personal tastes. Why buy a mass-produced canvas print from Home Outfitters when you can buy a unique and authentic piece on Etsy for the same price? Nothing says "you" like having a piece of artwork that nobody else can find in stores. On top of that, if you wanted to, you could engage the seller of the piece to find out exactly why they chose to create it in the first place. That story can make for some interesting conversation later; now try pulling that off with a department store piece!

Bartering is acceptable practice.

It's interesting that Etsy allows bartering; this is not typical of a digital storefront, and I feel like it reflects the brand image of the company. My first impression of the site was that, although it has many users, it doesn't really feel like that's the case. In that sense, the site is similar to Squidoo. The two sites are also similar in that they bring people with a particular passion together. Squidoo brings writers together to share a diverse range of passions and opinions, and Etsy brings artists together to share a diverse range of unique creations.

Once you find a seller who shares your sense of style, building a collection is easy.

As I said at the beginning of this lens, everyone has their own idea of what looks good and what doesn't. This means that one seller will typically have a collection of items for sale that share certain characteristics. For example, one seller may offer items with a theme entirely related to birds. In fact, this concept is taken to the next step on the website, with the advent of treasury lists. These lists allow buyers and sellers to create lists of items that all share a common theme or trait. All of this means one thing to buyers: once you find something you like, finding more of what you like is a walk in the park.

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