Two years ago we ran a story about Etsy dropping some of their restrictions against outsourcing the manufacturing of the products designed by Etsy sellers. It had discovered that some of its sellers had become so successful, they needed help in running their growing businesses. Etsy, now a publicly-traded company, is actively developing an infrastructure to help Etsy entrepreneurs grow, while preserving the craft marketplace’s original ethos and focus on self-designed and handmade products. Here are four developments Etsy has launched to help its sellers grow their businesses—and grow Etsy, as well.

Etsy Wholesale

Last year, Etsy launched Etsy Wholesale to help its sellers expand their business beyond their online storefront and events like craft shows. Etsy Wholesale is a service that allows independent retailers to buy items wholesale from some Etsy sellers to sell in their brick-and-mortar boutiques, shops, and even coffee shops and specialty stores.

Etsy Local

Etsy Local is a map and calendar utility that allows shoppers and sellers to find one another at local events or locations. Available via a mobile app, Etsy Local displays upcoming events and identifies Etsy sellers who will be showing at the event. The map also displays local merchants who carry merchandise from Etsy sellers that are distributed through Etsy Wholesale. (The Etsy Shopping App is available for both iOS and Android at: Google Play Store and Apple App Store.)

Etsy Manufactuirng

This fall, Etsy is set to introduce Etsy Manufacturing, a new service in the United States and Canada that matches sellers with small manufacturers. The early stage of the program is essentially a directory of manufacturers prepared to work with its sellers (similar to Etsy Local). According to NYTimes.com, it aims to help bring business back to small manufacturers that have been devastated by a shift of production to low-cost countries. Chad Dickerson, Etsy’s CEO, said Etsy Manufacturing is a way for local artisans and small manufacturers to find one another. And it is a logical extension, he said, of Etsy’s personal, small-scale approach to business.

Etsy has started inviting manufacturers to apply to list a profile, complete with pictures, on Etsy Manufacturing. Etsy will review those applications based on a set of criteria including how much the manufacturer makes in-house and how much it outsources itself.

According to NYTimes.com:

• Sellers who find production partners through the manufacturing platform will still need to get Etsy’s approval to outsource.
• Sellers must disclose on their Etsy pages that they work with outside manufacturers.
• Manufacturers who receive negative reviews from Etsy sellers or are found to be violating Etsy guidelines could be removed from the platform.

Etsy Craft Entrepreneurship Program

Etsy is partnering with local non-profit and governmental institutions to provide business and artistic development-oriented education and resources to lower income communities in their cities and towns. The Etsy Craft Entrepreneurship Program is assisted by the local partner in recruiting students with creative talents, providing a computer classroom where the classes take place, and hiring a local Etsy seller to teach the classes. Typically, these are organizations that provide training in the areas of entrepreneurship and/or artistic development, and are looking for new, interactive ways to serve creative constituents in lower income populations. Examples of past partners include libraries, small business development centers and municipal agencies.

Photos: Etsy