The article was a little irritating because it never told us folks far from Brooklyn what Etsy is. From your post, it sounds like it might be some sort of upscale, urban flea market where people lease space and operate some sort of business.
But just what is the Etsy business model?
Etsy is an e-commerce website focused on handmade or vintage items, supplies, as well as unique factory-manufactured items under Etsy’s new guidelines, released in October 2013. These items cover a wide range, including art, photography, clothing, jewelry, food, bath and beauty products, quilts, knick-knacks, and toys. Many sellers also sell craft supplies such as beads, wire and jewelry-making tools. All vintage items must be at least 20 years old.[3] The site follows in the tradition of open craft fairs, giving sellers personal storefronts where they list their goods for a fee of US$0.20 per item.[4] As of August 2013, 30 million users are registered on the website and by the end of 2013, projections of one million sellers and over US$1 billion in total annual transactions have been announced.[1]
source: Wikipedia
Etsy was like an Ebay site except it was for Handmade items. A person could start there own shop of items that they made from art to clothing.
You would pay .20 to list an item for 6 months which was changed to 4 months but still a bargain and if you sold an item they would charge you 3.5% of the sale and those were the only fees.
They then allowed people to sell vintage items and supplies along with handmade items. Now they have changed their definition of “Handmade” to allow you to outsource your items to factories to be made which is what bothered me. Someone like me who makes my hats all by myself can not compete with that and I could not afford to hire anyone.
I make hats and really have enjoyed having a shop there but they just keep changing things.
Here is the link to my shop don’t know if I am allowed to post it but just so you can see what Etsy is.
www.bkmhattitude.etsy.com