Etsy can, I think, be considered a marvellous thing.
Where else can you buy a hand-made lego ring and matching earrings? And those are just 2 items from The Lovely Teaspoon‘s shop. She also sells some rather nifty cufflinks.
My latest purchase from Etsy is this fine MacBook Pro Sleeve from Rome-based Italia Craft.
One of the many factors that sets Etsy apart is the personal nature of it – you really are dealing with a person not a faceless corporation. My first order came with a Pixy Stix as a surprise (it’s sherbet in a paper tube).
Since placing my MacBook sleeve order I’ve had an email conversation with Ann-Marie (the lady behind Italia Craft) to establish which 15″ MacBook Pro I have (so that the fit is right) and whether I want my name or email address written on the lining for free. As with many things on Etsy, it doesn’t get made until someone buys it: my MacBook Pro sleeve will be made just for me.
This kind of customisation and personal service is generally out of my financial range in the offline world; in order to have a real shop I can find you’d need to charge far more per item just to cover rent. Even if I could afford it, how would I ever find out that Ann-Marie can make my ideal laptop sleeve? The odds of me going to Rome at a point I need such a thing are minuscule.
It’s more than a storefront too. The Etsy community share tips and techniques with each other such as this glass etching method.
It’s rapidly becoming the first place I look when I want a new thing.
