We would love to see this come to Little Rock: Etsy Craft
Entrepreneurship. Are you a non-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization or
governmental institution that provides educational programs and services for
underserved communities in the areas of business creation and growth and/or
artistic development (examples of past partnering organizations include
libraries, small business development centers [SBDCs], and municipal agencies)?
If so, check out this amazing Etsy Entrepreneurship opportunity!
Our mission is to empower creative people in underserved communities to
create pathways to entrepreneurship with Etsy. We provide hands-on education to
help them use existing craft skills to create opportunities for earning
supplemental income. We believe that through this program, we can help cities
realize the vision of an inclusive, thriving Etsy Economy.
The opportunity
Craft Entrepreneurship is an educational program that equips creative
people in underserved communities with the knowledge and skills to start Etsy
businesses and earn supplemental income through their craft.
In each city, we partner with local organizations that are working to
empower lower income residents through creative and interactive programming.
Each organization is responsible for recruiting students who have craft and
manufacturing skills, and who need support in applying their talents to entrepreneurial
endeavors.
This support can be best provided through in-depth education and
hands-on experience. We have created a curriculum designed to be taught in
person by experienced, local Etsy sellers who we train and prepare for the
classroom. Participants put their learning into action by setting up and
running an Etsy shop and practice strategies for success across a variety of
selling environments.
We have launched this program in many cities already, and we are
excited to help bring it to many more! If you are an organization looking to
partner, a seller looking to teach, or an Etsy Team interested in bringing this
program to your city, please read our FAQs to learn more.
The Etsy economy
Over the past decade, the Etsy community — a global online network of
independent artists and designers — has been pioneering a new model for
economic prosperity.
As middle-skill, middle-wage jobs continue to decline, Etsy sellers’
work represents a societal shift toward empowering, flexible entrepreneurship
that generates needed supplemental income. See our Redefining Entrepreneurship
report to learn more about how this type of work is impacting the economy.
By partnering with local community organizations, we are making the
Etsy economic opportunity accessible to underserved communities throughout the
U.S. and beyond.
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Are you interested in bringing the Craft Entrepreneurship program to
your community? Please read through the FAQs to determine whether your
organization is eligible.
If you are an Etsy seller or part of an Etsy Team and would like to
help bring this program to your city or town, please reach out to a library or
non-profit you think would be a great fit and encourage them to apply.
Applications for Craft Entrepreneurship partners are accepted on a
rolling basis and reviewed periodically.
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How does the Craft Entrepreneurship program work?
Each year, we partner with a number of non-profit and public
organizations to offer these classes to lower income individuals with craft
skills in their communities. Partnering organizations are asked to complete our
application process, and are selected based on their ability to successfully
carry out the criteria of the program.
Etsy will provide selected organizations with our specialized
curriculum and introduce the organizations to experienced teachers to hire in
their area. The curriculum consists of 14 hours of classroom time, typically
spread out over five weekly sessions (five 2-hour sessions and one 4-hour
photography workshop), and is designed to be taught in a computer lab setting.
Each lesson covers a different topic such as marketing, search engine
optimization (SEO), product photography and basic accounting.
The core goal of this program is to provide students with the education
to turn their craft into a pathway to entrepreneurship and earn extra income
through the businesses they create. We’ve also found that partner organizations
benefit by being better able to provide entrepreneurship education to creative,
diverse, lower income populations, and incorporate programming that’s relevant
to current employment trends and the maker movement.
What are the requirements for partnering organizations?
Organizations must be non-for-profit 501(c)(3) organizations or
governmental institutions that provide educational programs and services for
underserved communities in the areas of business creation and growth and/or
artistic development. Examples of past partnering organizations include libraries,
small business development centers (SBDCs), and municipal agencies.
Craft Entrepreneurship partners must have (either on-site or local
access to) a computer lab space that meets the requirements listed here in
order to conduct the classes, and a proven track record of serving lower income
populations through educational classes and workshops. Partners are also
required to compensate the Craft Entrepreneurship teacher at a competitive
local rate for their services.
How do I apply as an Etsy seller or Etsy Team looking to bring this
program to my community?
We are thrilled by all the passionate Etsy sellers who have expressed
their eagerness to bring this opportunity to underserved communities in their
towns and cities. Interested Etsy sellers should identify a local municipal or
non-profit organization serving lower income populations to host the classes
and encourage them to apply to be a Craft Entrepreneurship partnering
organization.
Who is this class intended for and what can students expect to gain?
This class is intended to help creative makers in underserved
populations launch their own shops on Etsy, and in doing so, create pathways
for supplemental income with their craft talents. Students gain confidence,
education, and access to an encouraging community of creative entrepreneurs who
are in their shoes.
Using Etsy as a learning lab, accepted students will learn the
fundamentals of starting an online business and selling their craft products to
new audiences. The curriculum includes lessons in marketing, branding, pricing,
and product photography. Students are guided through the process of opening
their Etsy shop and listing their products by a seasoned, local Etsy seller.
Since this program is designed for total beginners, participating
students should not have made sales on Etsy prior to the first class. Students
must have a craft product they make that’s ready to sell and should meet the
partner organization’s criteria for underserved populations. Since this varies
from location to location, the student application may be different for each
partner. Those interested in participating should check with the host
organization to find out if they qualify. For existing Etsy sellers looking for
more advanced education, we encourage them to explore the online resources in
our Seller Handbook.
Who teaches the classes?
Classes are taught by successful, local Etsy sellers who have a
demonstrated a mastery of Etsy’s tools, managing an independent business, and
in many cases, also have prior teaching experience. Each teacher is provided
with an educator’s guide and receives training by an Etsy education specialist.
Etsy helps to identify candidates in each partnering community, however each
partner organization is responsible for selecting the teacher and arranging
compensation with him or her. Additional details on the selection process,
teacher compensation, and budget are below.
Does Etsy provide funding for this program?
Etsy does not provide funding to partner organizations to run the Craft
Entrepreneurship program, as we believe the most sustainable way of integrating
this program into community organizations is through locally available funding
sources. Past partner organizations have used funding for programs targeted at
arts education, entrepreneurial and micro-enterprise training, as well as
workforce development.
How much does it cost to host this program?
The key costs of running the Craft Entrepreneurship program include
printed materials (workbooks for students), basic photography equipment, and
compensation for a trained instructor at a competitive local rate. For
organizations that do not have in-house access to a computer lab facility,
space rental may also factor into program costs.
Please click here to see a sample budget for one round of the Craft
Entrepreneurship class.
How can I fund this program at my center?
Past partners have used a variety of funding sources including
municipal funds, foundation grants and private donations to carry out this
programing. For a list of suggested funding sources for this program, please
click here.
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Are you interested in bringing the Craft Entrepreneurship program to
your community? Please read through the FAQs to determine whether your
organization is eligible.
If you are an Etsy seller or part of an Etsy Team and would like to
help bring this program to your city or town, please reach out to a library or
non-profit you think would be a great fit and encourage them to apply.
Applications for Craft Entrepreneurship partners are accepted on a
rolling basis and reviewed periodically.
For sellers interested in becoming a Craft Entrepreneurship teacher:
To learn more about how you can make a difference in your community
through this program, review sample job application, and read the FAQ on
Becoming A Craft Entrepreneurship Teacher.
Are you ready to apply? Please follow the steps below.
Step 1: Complete the Craft Entrepreneurship teacher interest form right
now.
Step 2: We will partner with new cities on an ongoing basis throughout
2015. Once an organization in your area partners with Etsy, we will contact you
with detailed instructions for applying to the program.
Step 3: When you are contacted, we will ask you to complete a three
part application that includes a questionnaire, essay questions, and a short
video submission.
