The Etsy IPO, Bjork at MOMA, and Hieropice

Etsy’s Living Wall at their
headquarters – even with
irrigation and proper
lighting, hard to keep
lush and full!

So, in my last post, I had to be a bit cagey about what was coming up, as we were in the “quiet period” (who knew that was a thing?) of the Etsy IPO!  I was honored to be invited to Etsy headquarters to participate in the IPO celebration, along with a small group of Etsy sellers from around the globe.    The group included Etsy vendors who have successfully completed the Craft Entrepreneurship Program as well as educators from the program,  members of the  Etsy Manufacturing Advisory Board, local Etsy Team Captains/vendors working on activating their teams, like myself, and vendors who are successfully scaling up their Etsy businesses as they continue to sell on Etsy.  

  I mentioned in my previous post how hard I’m working to try and get our local team, Etsy Artists of Boston, all the access/tools we need to be successful artists/entrepreneurs, and so I was really thrilled to be recognized and included in this opportunity!

  I had a marathon trip to NYC, and was so excited to see Etsy headquarters, in particular, the “living wall.”  After a delicious dinner with the other sellers and Etsy staff, I high-tailed it to the Hudson Guild to take a BollyX class (which was free, score!) before heading back to the hotel to call it an early night.  Had to wake up early to get to the NASDAQ building on time!
   The IPO “Sellerbration” took place in and around the NASDAQ building in Times Square in Manhattan, New York City, where Etsy staff and sellers gathered with CEO Chad Dickerson to announce Etsy’s public stock options, ring the opening bell of the stock exchange, and offer an amazing outdoor Etsy market.  I’m basically penguin-height so was blocked in many of the photos, but I rang my bell like a champ and was glad Etsy let me take it home!  Chad’s son was the cutest thing ever, rolling on the NASDAQ floor in all of the orange/white confetti (I would’ve done that too if I were a toddler!)

My Bell Ceremony bell and NASDAQ badge

Fourteen vendors, including Supayana (Canada), Shlomit Ofir (Israel), Little Hero Capes (Massachusetts, USA), Malam (France), and others set up adorable little mini shops in the middle of Times Square for the afternoon, selling childrens’ clothing, modern gold/pastel jewelry, iPod/iPad docks of reclaimed wood, screenprints of original illustrations, knit scarves and hats, and more.  I can’t imagine a market like it ever occurring again, with these vendors from all over the world, it was great to see some of these faces I’ve only seen in avatars, in person!  Alas, my overnight bag was small, so no shopping for me, but I was happy to be there. 
  I loved seeing the tangible version of Etsy.

I wished, though, that the small, single-maker, dual-maker, and family-based shops were better-represented.  I know that Etsy’s business-model has changed, and I understand that keeping up with demand requires that some businesses utilize manufacturers.  And that’s fine for those businesses.  But my admiration for Etsy, my attraction to it, came from the concept of honoring small makers who were making things by hand in their homes and studios, not in factories.  And I don’t want that concept to lose its place-of-pride, and I worry about that vision changing.  But, I’m not the CEO! 
  You can read more about Etsy’s IPO, the Sellerbration, etc., on the Etsy Blog.

An adorable mini shop at the Etsy Craft Market in Times Square

  Post Sellerbration, I took the opportunity to check out the Bjork exhibit at the MOMA, as I’ve loved her since I was 9-years-old.  I realized, there, there were music videos of hers I’d never seen (Triumph of a Heart, what?), and I want an Alexander McQueen dress of my very own! 
  The “Black Lake” piece commissioned by the MOMA was heart-breaking to watch, and discovering the back-story of her break-up that inspired it made it even more painful.  Bjork’s a talented lady.  But don’t bring your children to the exhibit.  Or your grandparents.  Unless your super-comfortable with each other. So, so NSFW.  An older couple sat next to me for several of the videos and I felt like I should be apologizing to them for all of the nudity.  And sex.  And self-abuse.  Again, NSFW!
   Then, it was back to Boston, on another marathon shlep!  Thanks to some lovely friends, I discovered my terrarium necklace was in the Etsy Finds e-mail, which was a lovely surprise, and I prepared for our Etsy Artists of Boston meeting on Copyrights and Trademarks, which was very informative.  Due to the overwhelming response to the Finds

Bjork's blue plastic dress at the MOMA

e-mail, I am too overloaded to participate in the opening day of SOWA Boston on May 3rd, but I wish my colleagues the best day ever!  It looks to be fantastic!  I intend to participate next weekend on Mother’s Day.  If my mom allows it!
Spring is actually starting to show itself here in Massachusetts after Snowmageddon.  I can’t wait!

Cheers!

Dara