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• Local crafters discuss the pros and cons of the online craft marketplace

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This summer, the Champaign Public Library is hosting a series of “Tech Talks” designed to familiarize the public with various forms of multimedia. Last Thursday, local handcrafter Karin Ballsrud put on a seminar about using Etsy.com, a popular online craft marketplace that sells a diverse range of handmade goods — anything from brownies to jewelry to furniture. Ballsrud makes jewelry and bibs/burp cloths for babies and has sold her items on Etsy.

About 26 crafters attended the seminar, many of whom were already aware of Etsy but wanted to become more attuned to the process. “I chose it [Etsy] because I thought it’s something that’s fun. A lot of people don’t know about it, but it’s a great resource for crafters,” Ballsrud said. In the seminar, Ballsrud went over the basics of using Etsy, such as setting up an account and listing items.

Ballsrud explained that the site is very user-friendly and is similar to eBay except that there is no bidding and all of the items listed must be handmade. It costs $0.20 to list an item for four months, and if it ends up selling, Etsy will charge a 3.5 percent commission. “A 3.5 percent commission is pretty low, I would say, but all of that needs to come into consideration when you set a price,” Ballsrud said. To be successful on Etsy, a handcrafter needs to know how to market themselves as well as work strategically with the Web site. Ballsrud suggested putting labels or tags on items to appear more professional. Quality photographs are also important, as they will be a deciding factor as to whether or not a customer will make a purchase.

Ballsrud has personally had more success selling her goods to family and friends and explained that because Etsy is so widely used, postings tend to get buried quickly by other postings. “If you’re going to sell a lot of items, I think you’ll be more successful. You’ll get a lot of coverage, and more people will see your page,” Ballsrud said. Handcrafters can also promote an item on the main page for $7, which might lead customers to view the rest of the items on that particular shop’s page.

Jennifer Morris, a handmade jewelry designer from Champaign, posts her jewelry on Etsy but prefers to promote through her own Web site, bumblesea.com. “I’ve always preferred to use my own domain to sell my handmade jewelry. It gives me much more control over content and the visual aspect of the shopping experience,” Morris wrote in an e-mail.

As with any large-scale business site or company, Etsy is not without its problems. “Etsy exploded into a huge company in a very short amount of time, and their staff often can’t keep up with some very serious issues, like copyright infringement, for example,” Morris wrote. Ballsrud explained that when buying on Etsy, there is often a challenge with “knowing the quality of what you’re going to get. There is a place for feedback, so you can have an idea of what other buyers have thought,” she said.

Handcrafters who eventually wish to move toward large-scale business expansion might look at Etsy as more of a starting opportunity than a permanent destination. “It’s a great way to test the market, get yourself out there and see if it’s something you want to continue with. It’s easier than starting your own Web site,” Ballsrud said. Morris concurred that Etsy is a good starting point but feels that people need to take the next step if they are more serious. “I think that those who have found success on Etsy should always look to branch out into other venues, whether it’s wholesale accounts or their own e-commerce Web site,” Morris wrote.