Why Being Slow Matters

(above, handmade triangular top by Shihar)

If you love to eat and cook, and also work with your hands... you're definitely not alone. An appreciation for artisanal food, and a creative way of life (the focus of the work of the Artisans Gallery team) go hand in hand. Etsy has recognized this and quite freqneutly highlights (amazingly delicious looking) food and recipes on their blog.  But it's not just about any food. And it's not just about any "goods".

It's all about the s-l-o-w. Slow food is a way of life, and an international community and I love how it celebrates quality and pleasure. A commitment to sourcing one's ingredients from the local butcher, baker and organic farm, for example, is part of the way of life.  Here in Ottawa, one of our favorite go-to places is the Piggy Market, where carefully sourced, ethically raised and fed meat is prepared in a slow, labor-intensive and eco-conscious way (using other local, largely organic produce and supplies). The result is truly delicious, and sits as easily on our consciences as in our tummies.

(above, handmade eco felt baby booties by LaLaShoes)

Slow cloth is the extension of the principles and philosophy of Slow into the world of artists, artisans and entrepreneurs.  There’s “slow fashion”, “slow clothing” too. Artisans who form the Artisans Gallery Team - who work slowly, by hand, to make one of a kind pieces, are part of this movement.

I love this quote by Sharon Astyk, she says it so very eloquently (this is from her 2006 article from Groovy Green Magazine):

“I think there are a number of really good reasons to find and learn ways to make clothing, to prioritize homemade, or locally made clothing (including learning to find it beautiful), and perhaps to create a “Slow Clothing” or “Slow Fashion” movement rather like the “Slow Food” movement currently picking up speed. Maybe it’s as simple as creating a campaign in which each of us would have at least one daily wearable outfit that we’ve made ourselves, a kind of democratic fashion statement that acknowledges that our clothing comes with human and environmental costs.”

Slow cloth, like slow food, and slow fashion, is focussed on the journey, not only the destination. It honors skill, grace and diversity (and artisanal, local producers and artists) and it focusses on what is sustainable, as beautiful to look at as it is for the earth. And it’s about community. 

(above, handmade wood jewelry box by krtwood)

I spend a lot of time thinking about how to become more sustainable, how to think about what we do and what we make from cradle to cradle. Rather than seeing what we make as going from cradle to grave (i.e. landfill, as waste) - it's great to consider them from cradle to cradle, closing the loop and essentially making as little waste as possible. One of the ways we seek to do that is by waste-free cutting of our fabrics, and the use of whatever very small scraps we create.

I love the way Etwas (creator of gorgeous, handmade leather bags) puts it: 
"Consider not only the things we are making,
but the things we are destroying."

For me, "Slow" is as delicious as it is inspiring, and I want to learn all I can about Slow Food, Slow Cloth and Slow Fashion. And just maybe all this Slow will also help me learn to live even more in the present, soaking in the seasons, my childrens' laughter, and the way time, every so often, seems to pause and stand still.

(above, original photo by YannPendaries )

Are Artists Natural Born Con Artists?

Consider this: According to Ian Leslie, “there is a gushing river of verbal creativity in the normal human mind, from which both artistic invention and lying are drawn. We are born storytellers, spinning narrative out of our experience and imagination, straining against the leash that keeps us tethered to reality.”

As artists and artisans we imagine, we invent, we reinterpret reality. We inarguably use the same skill set as cons. Evidence of the intermarriage of art and con can be found in numerous Etsy shops, and as we are encouraged to tell colorful anecdotes about ourselves to capture buyers, you have to wonder how many profiles are true vs. intentional fabrications.

In my observation, there are two distinctly different paths into the arts, two separate motivations. One is primarily driven by the need for praise, for an audience, for money and status, for beating out one’s competition. The other is a path traveled by those who have discovered the joy of mastery and discovery. Artisans Gallery Team was conceived as an alliance of the latter. When we are functioning at our highest and best, we are able to praise and promote the new works of other artisans because we take joy in discovery whether it is from others’ or our own.

One way to spot a con is that every story they tell glorifies themselves, often denigrating others in the process. Whereas an artist on the second path tells a universal story that reaches for insight, using personal facts as illustrations.  When we vet and jury for this team we are looking for that type of commitment to authenticity.

editorial by Lee Wolfe

Social Commerce - Does it Work for Us?

by BonjourPoupette

Etsy is on the social commerce bandwagon big time. In theory, this should help the buyer who wants fine art and indie artisan work to find what they are looking for, by following the tastemakers of their choice in Etsy’s circles and activity feeds. Although it is too early to tell if Etsy’s move is visionary or vastly stupid, it is not too early to form an opinion and duke it out in Etsy’s forums!

I decided to do a bit of research on how social shopping is doing in general. here’s what I've found.

1) Social commerce works by allowing shoppers access to advice and recommendations from past buyers. Etsy’s feedback system is quite effective in this regard. I’m less convinced that following a person’s favorites or treasury lists is as effective.

2) Although 72% of retailers plan to spend more on social media marketing, less than 2% of orders among the retailers surveyed were the result of shoppers coming from a social network, according to  The Purchase Path of Online Buyers report 2010, Forrester Research and GSI Commerce.

What does this tell us? That 98% of buyers are making up their own minds about what to buy, independent of what is posted on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest. Maybe this is because we don’t essentially rely on what is posted on the internet. Or maybe this this trend is still new and will grow in time.

3) The big winners so far in the social shopping arena are Groupon and Facebook. Both of these depend largely on sharing info about “deals” and discounts. This isn’t useful for art or artisan work.

4) The upside of social shopping is that it is engaging. People may stay on Etsy’s site longer in order to channel surf through all the various links to circles and favorites. Unfortunately this is all  about as random as browsing new listings. Until our potential buyers are shown concentrated lists of the high quality artisan works that interest them, I’m not convinced that social shopping on Etsy is effective for us.

What do you think? Is social commerce working for you, as a buyer or seller? I’d love to know about your experience!

editorial by Lee Wolfe

Why Deep Discounts Don’t Benefit Your Artisan Business

bag from Iragrant

The Handmade Revolution was founded to support indie artisans in making a fair wage living by selling retail without a middleman or working for a corporate chain. As part of the New Economy, “a fair economy that works for people and the planet”, artisans have unprecedented opportunities to connect with an avid and growing sector of buyers who want to change the world by changing their spending habits; by voting with their wallets. As part of the New Economy, I buy free range organic eggs from a local farm. I buy luxury quality handmade bags from an indie designer, one of a kind individually made jewelry, and hand stitched home decor.

Jewelry from PoleStar, hearts from SewnNatural

These things are not selected because they are the cheapest available. Each of these small business owners has a family to support, and, just as I buy fair trade coffee, I expect to pay a price for these quality goods that supports the modest lives of the makers and allows their dreams to grow.

As artisans, we can compete on price or quality, and competing on price is a losing proposition, as factories can always sell their soulless goods for less. Discount shoppers and bargain chasers are not our target market. And this is why Heartsy, which is a Groupon version for Etsy shoppers, cannot deliver on their promise to grow your indie artisan business.

If people want to support indie handmade businesses but want 65% off in order to do it, they are highly unlikely to  return for more at full price. They are far more likely to simply use the next Heartsy coupon available, which is what happens with Groupon shoppers overall.

It is infinitely more worthwhile to advertise and promote the quality of our work, and to reach out to buyers who are looking for that. 70% of my Etsy buyers return for more, and I offer no discounts. I give the best that I have at the fairest price to everyone, and this is building the kind of customer base that allows me to make a living wage. Offering a modest (10%- 15%) discount is all a good indie business needs to do when an incentive seems necessary. This business model works for me, and I recommend it to other artisans. When you put your heart and soul into making an honest and conscientious business, you deserve to profit from it, and slashing profits drastically isn’t necessary to gain attention.

editorial by Lee Wolfe