So this isn't a political post, but rather a market-research diary...Trying to get feedback on whether you think its possible to build a new site that would support the individual artisans, and not sell out to the mass factory-produced items imported from offshore.
How does this fit into KOS? Because its all about everyone profiting and sharing in the profits, instead of the rich getting richer, and the artisans working harder and harder to compete against cheap imports.
More below the squiggle...
Here's what I know. Etsy, some time back, made changes to their policy of handmade goods/vintage/supplies to allow factory-produced handmade goods to be sold. I get the mental image of a sweatshop in China with a bunch of women putting together identical pieces of jewelry by hand...Its all handmade, but not by an artisan...An artisan, I guess, is someone that loves what they are doing, and trying able to make a living at it.
I want to see if we can change the world. I want to put together a multiple-artisan site that accepts only artisan-made products. No factories, no sweatshops, just products made by people who love to create. This site admin would focus on the marketing, SEO, and payments, allowing the artist to do what they do best. Listings would never expire until the artisan takes them down, and listings would also allow any number of options that would allow the customer to order exactly what they want, and the artisan would then make that item and ship. Listing fees are paid after an item sells, out of the net proceeds. Artisan gets paid when they provide a shipping confirmation.
So here's the question...If you are, or have been a seller on a site that features handmade/artisan-made goods (like Etsy)...Would you consider listing on a site like that described above? Would you be willing to pay a little more to support an artisan, instead of an overseas factory? Why or why not?
Thank you...your feedback is much appreciated.