Apr 10, 2012

The Etsy Success Symposium

by Susan Borgen (T-Party Antiques)

On March 31, I was thrilled to be one of 100 Esty sellers invited to attend the Success Symposium in New York City. Just across the East River from Manhattan, Etsy is located in a section of Brooklyn called Dumbo, which stands for "Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass." Etsy's headquarters are in an industrial building with a loft-like vibe.


The Symposium's "Get Found" theme covered topics such as catching the eye of a curator, blogger, magazine editor or potential buyer; how to write better listings with a nod to an item's back story; the ins and outs of Pinterest; conquering searches, and so much more. Most of the attendees were crafty types who create handmade goods. Only four other people who sell vintage items like myself were there. However, there is a chance that at some point, Etsy will host an event just for vintage sellers. (Keep your fingers crossed!)


The Symposium was chock full of information and inspiration. And what impressed me most about the day was the dedication and creativity of Etsy's Admin. They are forever tweaking and improving Esty to ensure it will always meet the needs of its sellers.

For those who couldn't make it to NYC, all of the workshops are available to view in Etsy's Online Labs at this link. Be sure to check out one with the most relevance for sellers of vintage wares titled Get Storied: Behind Every Product is a Story. Michael Margolis, CEO of Get Storied, makes a compelling case for the importance of sharing a back story in both your Etsy profile and product descriptions.

As we know, most vintage items have a story to tell. Some great examples are the relics below, offered for sale by members of the Etsy Vintage Team.


1920s-30s Western Union Telegram Collection by KentonCollectibles

Vintage travel lot - an entire story told in items by Nickadizzy

Tintype Woman in Defiance of Civil War by Pat

19th Century Captains Chest From Maine by Nachokitty

Mother and Daughter Early 20th Century Illustration by GoodlookinVintage

Father Son Fish Story Photo by CrowCreekUnique

1 comment:

SImple and Serene Living said...

How much fun that you got to go. :)