If anyone would have told me a few years ago that I would sell my designs in Times Square, I wouldn’t have believed it. If I was told that I would be standing on the podium in Nasdaq’s bell-ringing ceremony, I wouldn’t have believed that either. On the other hand, I wouldn’t have believed that I would have my own shops, or that I would sell to customers all across the world – and that actually happened.
My affair with Etsy started about 6 years ago. A few months earlier I had just graduated with an Industrial Design degree, and I was selling the jewelry which I designed and created in my living room.
When I was visiting my sister who then lived with her family in NY, I happened to visit a local designers’ market. One of the designers told me about a cool new website called Etsy, which allows designers across the world to sell their goods. I went back home, checked it online and fell in love.

 

Since then, things started rolling in fast motion. When I returned to Israel, I photographed the items (in my bathroom, which had the perfect natural lighting) and opened my shop. The orders started rolling in slowly but after a month or so, all of a sudden I saw 200 new orders. I found out that one of my earrings were posted in a good blog. Since then the orders kept coming. As time went by I had to bring in a friend to help me and later move in to my first studio. I kept on investing in design, in high quality photos and good customer service – and the investment paid off. Up until today more than 15,000 items have been sold in my shop. My business grew and flourished, I now have a big studio with an amazing crew of employees,4 brick & mortar shops and a lot of international sales. But Etsy was and will be an inseparable part of my success.
A few weeks ago I got a surprising message in my Etsy inbox – “would you like to participate in an event we are planning in mid-April?” The details were still confidential, but my answer was definitely – YES!
As we got closer to the date more details were revealed. Etsy was facing a super exciting event – its initial public offering on Nasdaq stock market in NY. Etsy invited a limited no. of designers who sell on the site to take part in the traditional bell-ringing ceremony in Nasdaq and in a special street sale that happened right outside the building, in the heart of Times Square.
In the short time we had, we packed many items that were shipped express for the sale, we designed the booth with the local production team, and most of all – started getting excited. Due to the confidentiality of the event I couldn’t share the cause for my trip with anyone, and so I had to hide my excitement when all I wanted to do is yell: “I’m going to NY! To visit Etsy! To sell in Times Square! To ring the bell in Nasdaq in live broadcast in front of the whole world!”
A few days ago I boarded the plane with my sister, Anat (who’s in charge of Int’l sales & marketing and the connections with Etsy) and with Ela, my 14-year old niece who came to help and have fun, and we landed in NY.
The day before the event was dedicated to meetings and prep-work. We arrived at the Etsy offices in DUMBO, Brooklyn, and yes – they look exactly as you would imagine them. The front desk at the entrance is actually a piece of art made of recycled materials. The ventilation pipes are covered with colorful hand- knitted yarn. In every corner you can find works of art, wall murals, quilted pieces and more. The employees work in one big open-space, but the quiet and relaxed atmosphere is kept since they don’t speak on the phone. For that they have special rooms, each designed in a different style. The meeting rooms are not standard either – one is designed like a spaceship and the other as grandma’s living room. The dining area is decorated with a beautiful large wall full of plants.

 

So after I managed to control my urge to stop everything I do today and move to work there, in any job they would give me, the day started. We met the group of designers that were invited to participate in the event, all charming and talented people from different areas – wood designers, an illustrator, fashion designers, a ceramic artist and more. It was especially exciting to hear how they all started out and where their Etsy shop has brought them to today. we met the Etsy staff in charge of the event organization, and they too – exactly as you would imagine them – young, cool and especially friendly and warmhearted. Throughout the day we were received as special guests and were thanked for the efforts we had made to come, although I felt thankful for being invited at all.
The next day we started off very early in the booth that had already been set up by the production company (you couldn’t miss the orange balloons) and we set up all the jewelry for the sale.
Near 9am we were called to go into the Nasdaq building, In the entrance our profile photos were screened on the wall. We had coffee and were then called to go into the studio, which looks like a big TV studio, with a big wide podium overlooking Times Square. We were given bells – handmade or vintage, purchased from Etsy sellers. Following a short speech by Etsy CEO, Chad Dickerson, we all stepped onto the podium with Etsy representatives, and when the sign was given – we rang the bells. The new trade day had opened!

 

Since I was inside, I missed seeing the event on the huge screens in Times Square, but thankfully Anat was outside to take pictures.

 

After reception and breakfast I went outside back to our booth in the Square and the girls, along with Katie from Etsy that joined to help us, were already super-busy! Throughout the day the booth was filled with girls that stopped to try on and buy jewelry. The reactions were amazing. It was also so exciting for me to meet some of my loyal customers from NY that have been buying on Etsy and this was my first chance to meet them face-to-face.

 

 

I seized the chance to buy some items from the other sellers, like this onesie from Yana which I got for Lily, who stayed home with her dad and grandmas, and these perfect arrows from Amy, which you will soon see decorating our new apartment.
Organic cotton onesie from Supayana on Etsy
Porcelan arrows from Red Raven Studios on Etsy

 

The last 2 days were spent on shopping and touring the city, and we then headed home.
a few days have passed already, but the excitement from the event refuses to leave me. It’s only now that I’m staring to grasp the meaning of the experience I’ve been through. I’m proud of Etsy and the success of the company, which proves that growth and development are only a chance to do more for the goals and values you believe in. I find this so inspiring.
On top of that, I am grateful for the chance Etsy gave me to turn from a small designer selling from her living room to a growing and evolving company that sells across the globe. I am also thankful for my amazing customers, that have been with me through this stretch, and for my awesome staff, this wouldn’t be possible without them.
I mentioned to somebody that I am proud to be part of Etsy because it allows small creators to fulfill big dreams. In my case – these are dreams that I didn’t even dare to dream.
Yours,
Shlomit