Etsy has become renowned as an ecommerce platform for independent artists and makers, a medium through which they can sell their handmade goods to people across the world – something that normally would be restricted to their local communities. But at Etsy, it’s all about giving merchants the ability to leverage their presence in those local communities, as well. Starting today, Etsy users can now access Etsy Local, a new experience on the Etsy app that allows shoppers to find local retailers or events that are tailored to their tastes.
“Etsy is an online platform, but it is also a network of offline communities around the world, from Etsy Teams, to craft fairs, to wholesale retailers. We are always working to find ways to bring our online world together with offline shopping experiences, making connections between those communities whenever we can,” writes Etsy product manager, Johanna Beyenbach, in today’s announcement. “Real-world connections between shoppers and creative entrepreneurs form the magic at the heart of the Etsy experience. And now Etsy is bringing these connections even closer: right next door, via your mobile device.”
Available for both Android and iOS, shoppers can utilize Etsy Local to find Etsy items and sellers nearby. Simply by opening the “Local” tab within the Etsy app, users can find local boutiques and events that either offer products from their favorite Etsy merchants, but also products that reflect their tastes based on their past Etsy purchasing, favoriting, and browsing behavior. The app essentially gives users an additional way to support their local merchants.
In May of this Year, Etsy CEO Chad Dickerson noted that Etsy is not just an important platform to support local artists and merchants, but also to support women-owned small businesses. Indeed, with 86 percent of merchants on Etsy being women, the platform enables women entrepreneurs run businesses in ways that they normally couldn’t before. With the introduction of Etsy Local, these women-owned small businesses get further support from their local communities.