It Report: Sometimes, Smaller is Better
Independent artists and designers could be making a big impact on your next event
by Aubrey Blankenship | Published in September 2008 decor | event design | Departments
Log on to etsy.com and you’re likely to find pearl earrings hand-made by a Mexican living on a French island, prayer flags by a graphic artist out of Eugene, Ore., and original fabric prints by a stay-at-home mom in Jonesboro, Ark. But Etsy, an online marketplace for handmade and vintage goods, isn’t just for the casual consumer. It’s also catching the eye of planners and designers around the country as a source of unique event elements — not to mention inspiration.
“People seek the new thing that they can’t have,” says Nicole Sillapere, founder of San Francisco-based event planning and design company Sillapere Inc. “Now that we have figured out how to manufacture everything, the only things left are things that can’t be manufactured — things that are one-of-a-kind, unique and handmade.”
Since its inception in 2005, Etsy has grown to over 1 million members.
“On a larger event scale, there is an amazing array of products and artisans to choose from. From letterpress invitations to unique centerpieces, you’ll find it all on Etsy,” says Lara McCulloch, director of marketing for Stoney Creek, Canada-based Regal Tent Productions Ltd.
McCulloch has used several products from Etsy for her own wedding and is a frequent Etsy content surfer. “You never know what you’re going to find,” she says. “It’s like a wonderful treasure hunt in the comfort of your home or office.”
Sillapere has also found inspiration on Etsy. Her company retains a collection of vintage lace linens from Etsy that she uses to canvas her tabletops.
“Each one is different on each table,” says Sillapere, who enjoys the uniqueness it brings to her events. “People can see the difference and feel it without [you] having to say anything.”
Unique, handmade items are not Etsy’s only draw, however. Many of the sellers offer sustainable, recycled or other eco-friendly products, which is drawing the attention of eco-minded planners.
“Companies are looking to source products and services more locally,” says Amy Spatrisano, president and co-founder of the Green Meeting Industry Council and principal of Portland, Ore.-based Meeting Strategies Worldwide, which specializes in sustainable meetings and events. “Organizations are taking a deeper look at their supply chain, and I think smaller, local companies offer more flexibility in responding to green initiative requests and processes.”
Liat Cohen, founder of New York-based Global Kinect Conscious Marketing, agrees.
“Businesses are being forced to change their models as they are losing market share to companies that are more sustainable and eco-conscious,” she says.
Cohen is thankful for the broader impact companies like Etsy are having on society as a whole and believes that the trend will continue to grow.
“It feels like we are on a wave that is getting bigger,” she says. “Sustainability and eco-consciousness will only grow and become more evolved in the years to come.”
Aubrey Blankenship is the associate editor of Event Solutions. Contact: aubrey@event-solutions.com
About the author: Aubrey Blankenship
Aubrey is the associate editor of Event Solutions magazine.
Contact: aubrey@event-solutions.com