I have had my ups and down with Etsy, I admit. It is definitely the most well-known online option for artists to sell their handmade wares directly to their customers.
In some ways, however, Etsy’s success in filling a very necessary niche has been their challenge…they are now SO large that it’s almost like shopping at a Wal-Mart so full of handmade products that one could never find the perfect item.
Nonetheless, their shops are easy to use, both from a selling and a buying perspective, so I don’t anticipate closing our Etsy shop anytime soon -
I do, however, want to introduce you to an alternative online shop that is smaller, more intimate, and still very well-done…namely, www.artfire.com. Who knows, Artfire Artisan Marketplace itself may have grown to be another Etsy in a year or two – I’m guessing its investors hope so! 
In the meanwhile, however, it is still possible to shop in an attractive environment with only a general idea of what you’d like to purchase – without becoming totally overwhelmed by options.
It’s at least something to think about – and we have opened an Artfire shop to try it for ourselves – check it out at www.sleepingdogsstudio.artfire.com, and let me know what you prefer!
