Shiny GyarudosJul 3, 2023
inkshark

Do you hand-make things that you sell? Do you wish Etsy would *disintegrate* for jacking up fees 30% after a record sales year?

Artisans Coop is on its way to becoming a very real Etsy alternative, a place for handmade goods that is owned by its members, that can put all that "record sales" into the pockets of sellers, not white collar thugs. And i do mean artisans, not assholes who steal designs and get them printed at a sweatshop.

How is that possible? Check it out: https://artisans.coop/blog/join-an-authentic-handmade-marketplace-now-enrolling-members/

Now Enrolling Members! Join An Authentic Handmade Marketplace | Artisans Cooperative

Artisans Cooperative is now accepting its first members! In this post, we'll share all the details about membership.

Artisans Cooperative
Jul 2, 2023 at 5:36pmWeb
Show threadinksharkJul 2, 2023

I've been following this since November and this is a legit enterprise. I'm entirely excited about someday selling through them, though for now i'm just a supporting member.

Keep in mind you can make up part of your membership in "points," so if you don't have the cash to join (and it's just over $8 a month for a year) you can actually work it off in referrals and volunteering!

Show threadnevJul 2, 2023
@inkshark not an artisan myself but this is very interesting! Thank you for sharing.
Show threadFrost「｜霜の狼｜人面獣心」Jul 2, 2023
@inkshark Ooooh! We should check it out for buying stuff.
Show threadSev YoteJul 2, 2023
@inkshark Interesting concept. Hope it pans out; would be nice to have some examples of successes like this out there as alternatives to the normal web business cycle.
Show threadLittleScrapsoftheNorthJul 2, 2023
@inkshark I just joined as a supporter! Liking forward to future purchases!
Show threadTwiteryeanot 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿Jul 2, 2023

@inkshark hey, thanks for sharing.

I'm a bit busy at the moment with a renovation of an Off Grid Hut st #Carbeth just now, but I intend to build a workshop and start making bespoke items in the near future.

Show threadSycamoreFibersJul 2, 2023
@inkshark I love this toot so much
Show threadGreg StolzeJul 2, 2023
@inkshark Hm, this looks relevant to some of my interests…
Show threadRodney Simba 🇿🇼 🇺🇸 :verified:Jul 2, 2023
@inkshark @GWillow intial thoughts. This is amazing. Makes all these sense… however… there doesn’t appear to be a way to search for a product just yet which effectively is a huge barrier for entry. Or maybe I missed it and it’s not as intuitive as expected…
Show threadinksharkJul 2, 2023

@Actionscientist @GWillow You didn't miss it! It's not available to the public yet. Right now, we're raising capital. Part of that is looking for people who will join as members. I'm not selling there (at least not yet), i just joined because i want to be able to buy there!

Everything else has gone really well, and anything that fell behind schedule was explained with transparency and new goals, so i'm confident there'll be an accessible shop in the near future ❥

Show threadRodney Simba 🇿🇼 🇺🇸 :verified:Jul 2, 2023
@inkshark @GWillow cool cool cool, thanks for clarifying
Show threaddynamicJul 2, 2023

@inkshark

Thanks for sharing this. I'm not so much an artisan as a sporadic dabbler who might imagine selling one or two creations.

Do you have a sense of whether they are trying to really gear toward professionals and people developing serious part-time gigs, or if people more in the hobbyist domain would be welcome?

Show threadinksharkJul 2, 2023

@dynamic I'm not sure. To me it feels like they care a lot more about whether the item is hand-made (through the "workmanship of risk") rather than about what volume/frequency it's made. That might be something to get a sense of on the Discord, though? I'm a poor representative, haha!

https://discord.gg/GypCnr5m

Join the Artisans Cooperative Discord Server!

Artisans Cooperative is building an online handmade marketplace: a co-op alternative to Etsy. Join the movement! | 329 members

Discord
Show threadtptiggerJul 2, 2023
@inkshark I don't, but I'm bookmarking it for my handmade shopping needs :)
Show threadinksharkJul 2, 2023
@tptigger That's literally why i joined. There's a chance i might sell there some day, but there's a certainty i want to shop there. 
Show threadtptiggerJul 2, 2023
@inkshark Right? It won't beat Etsy at its own game without people knowing about it. :)
Show threadKolokoko Bird!Jul 3, 2023
@inkshark This sounds great. I wonder if their definition of ‘handmade’ includes seeds that people harvest from their gardens.
Show threadinksharkJul 3, 2023
@KolokokoBird I can't say for sure, but i think that would fall under plants, and if so, it would be allowed? You can read the "handmade" definition here: https://artisans.coop/blog/presenting-our-handmade-policy/
Our Handmade Policy | Artisans Cooperative

[UPDATED] With a careful checks-and-balances system of accessible onboarding, consistent labeling, incentivized peer verification, and swift action on community reporting. we believe our draft Handmade Policy will stop bad actors and encourage authentic artisans.

Artisans Cooperative
Show threadKolokoko Bird!Jul 3, 2023
@inkshark Thanks! It would be cool if seeds are allowed. I like buying flower and veggie seeds online.
Show threadوردي  🇵🇸Jul 3, 2023
@inkshark oh nice! It would be nice to have an open source federated etsy alternative on the fediverse.
Show threadಚಿರಾಗ್ 🌹✊🏾Ⓥ🌱🇵🇸 (he/him)Jul 3, 2023
@inkshark Just became a supporting member!
Show threadNemo_bis 🌈Jul 3, 2023

@LeoSammallahti Have you seen this #coop under #Oregon law? It's quite similar to what we'd been discussing.
https://opencorporates.com/companies/us_or/211349196

The bylaws make an interesting read.
https://artisans.coop/blog/our-bylaws-board/
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=download&id=11jxnsoOZyCveBbCoXT1eCJ57NTbEDVBX

There's no explicit limit to the distribution of profits (or assets upon liquidation). Unless the word "patronage" comes with very specific meanings not mentioned in the law.
https://oregon.public.law/statutes/ors_62.415
https://oregon.public.law/statutes/ors_62.702

Show threadDarkRatJul 3, 2023
@inkshark what's the policy on adult stuff? Can't find anything about that on a quick glance
Show threadinksharkJul 3, 2023

@darkrat I don't know. Personally i hope it's allowed and encouraged and just kept behind an 18+ search filter, because who doesn't want a bespoke dildo?!, but i didn't actually see anything about that either.

Maybe ask on the Discord? https://discord.gg/nMWY7GCJ

Join the Artisans Cooperative Discord Server!

Artisans Cooperative is building an online handmade marketplace: a co-op alternative to Etsy. Join the movement! | 336 members

Discord
Show threadDarkRatJul 3, 2023
@inkshark it's such a pain as a cocksmith. As soon as adult stuff is involved, no platform really wants us, because payment platforms (mainly Mastercard and visa) don't want to get their reputation soiled.
Show threadMaia Kahlke LorentzenJul 3, 2023
@inkshark @Loukas such a great idea!
Show threadMidwestern Wild ChildJul 3, 2023
@inkshark Thank you for sharing. I absolutely will not shop on Etsy because it hurts artists more than it helps. Once Etsy became publicly traded, it was all over.
Show threadJuli GittingerJul 3, 2023
@inkshark the membership fees.. Yikes. Might be good for people who make a lot of money at their craft, but not for folks who make less than 10k per year.
Show threadSycamoreFibersJul 3, 2023
@Jgitting hi there! I’m a member there, and there are more affordable options! You can join as either a supporter or an artisan; and you don’t have to pay all at once (they have pay as you go) or you can pay partially with points via member activities. There’s some additional info on the website https://artisans.coop/blog/how-to-earn-points-through-member-activities/
How To Earn Points Through Member Activities | Artisans Cooperative

In this post, we’ll explain what Member Activities are and how you can sign up to earn points by performing these activities. 

Artisans Cooperative
Show threadinksharkJul 3, 2023

@Jgitting If you read through (i know there's a lot lol), there are ways to use "points" to make up the part of the fee you can't pay. You can get points by volunteering or getting referrals.

It definitely may not be for everyone--some people without money also do not have time--but speaking as someone who has very little income, that made me feel more welcome to at least have a second path as an option.

Show threadmyrmepropagandistJul 3, 2023

@inkshark

I shop on etsy a lot-- following because I would love an alternate source where more money goes to the artists and crafters.

Show threadmattJul 4, 2023

@inkshark boosting because it's good to see activity in this space. I've no comment on whether this particular enterprise lives up to its stated ideals; I just don't know.

https://mastodon.art/@inkshark/110645699515313818

inkshark (@[email protected])

Do you hand-make things that you sell? Do you wish Etsy would *disintegrate* for jacking up fees 30% after a record sales year? Artisans Coop is on its way to becoming a very real Etsy alternative, a place for handmade goods that is owned by its members, that can put all that "record sales" into the pockets of sellers, not white collar thugs. And i do mean artisans, not assholes who steal designs and get them printed at a sweatshop. How is that possible? Check it out: https://artisans.coop/blog/join-an-authentic-handmade-marketplace-now-enrolling-members/

Mastodon.ART
Show threadinksharkJul 4, 2023

@maphew Thank you!

And also thank you for being someone who can say "I don't know" instead of endorsing something because you wish it was as good as it seemed. ❥

Show threadMax Schmitt🦈Jul 4, 2023
@inkshark I hope this takes off! It's not only the high fees but also Etsy not enforcing their "handmade and vintage only" policy to an extend that at least half of the site is just HDMI cables with "Handmade" tags.
I remember when they were really strict about this, with some artists getting kicked off because their stuff wasn't "handmade enough". This was maybe a little to much but as a consumer you knew that you wouldn't get scammed by someone selling you some Aliexpress stuff as handmade.
Show threadBouncyCatJul 4, 2023
@inkshark thanks for this. I'm only a customer, but I'll make a point to look elsewhere for the same artisan from now on!
Show threadMadame AronowJul 4, 2023
@inkshark @lysdexic this looks awesome!
Show threadMadame AronowJul 5, 2023
@inkshark @lysdexic do you know if they have a Mastodon account? I see their other social media listed.
Show threadinksharkJul 5, 2023

@aronow They DO! @Photorat found it for us.

https://mastodon.art/@coopartisans@social.coop

They're still learning how to use Mastodon; at the moment one person is doing all the social media so it's A Lot. The Discord discussions make it seem like that will probably change next week 🍀

Artisans Cooperative (@[email protected])

447 Posts, 12 Following, 2.46K Followers · A diverse and inclusive network of creatives building a cooperative online social marketplace.

social.coop
Show threadMadame AronowJul 5, 2023

@inkshark @Photorat nice!! I just signed up so maybe I can help out!

@coopartisans

Show threadhaleyJul 6, 2023
@inkshark UGH I love this!! Thank you for sharing!
Show threadAverilJul 11, 2023
@inkshark This sounds really interesting for sure, I'd love to see how it pans out. I will have a closer look in the coming days and might join!
Show threadLPSJul 12, 2023
@inkshark Do they do international sales, where are they located? Just curious, asking from North America
Show threadinksharkJul 13, 2023
@lps The Coop is incorporated and licensed in Oregon, USA, North America, but if i understand correctly (keep in mind, i am not an official rep of any kind lol, just an enthusiastic member) the shops will be individual like they are on Etsy or Gumroad, so as the seller you can decide where you sell/ship
Show threadLPSJul 13, 2023
@inkshark thanks, that's very helpful...not sure why but I had the impression it was UK based
Show threadCanageekJan 27, 2024

@inkshark IT ACTUALLY LET ME SEARCH ALL PRODUCTS LIKE ETSY OR AMAZON!

okay this just suddenly actually got interesting as a place to shop, so many of the Etsy and Amazon alternatives I've looked at are just a collection of individual stores, so if I'm looking for a necklace I have to go to each store individually and search them, this actually lets me search your entire catalog at once I need to remember this this is great