buy & sel l Buying Locally Online qwertyuiop asdfghjkl zxcvSHOP
It’s not an oxymoron, it’s easy and fun! By Rachel Kauffman
From the Brown Button guys: Friends, we’ll be back this winter with more buying and selling advice. For now, here’s some advice on buying from Etsy courtesy of Rachel Kauffman at Moth Eaten Deer Head. See you soon.
at local shops and restaurants. This helps keep our local economy happy. Another benefit of buying from local Etsy sellers is that you get to see the item before you buy it. Many of us have been under whelmed by purchases made online. Sometimes the descrip- tions are vague or misleading and photographs can be deceiving. When you shop from local Etsy dealers you may have the opportunity to meet up and see the item before purchasing. Shopping locally on Etsy might also save you some dough. Shipping costs can some- times make or break a decision to buy online, especially for larger and heavier items. By buying from local sellers, you may be able to pick up the item and avoid the shipping fees. Just click on the “contact seller” link and shoot them a message before you check out. Etsy sellers are usually pretty nice folks and will be glad to save you money and make a sale. Now you know how and why to buy locally on Etsy. What are you waiting for? Go find that vintage industrial desk lamp, the perfect antique brooch, or that tufted sofa that com- pletes your living room! Happy browsing! ^ Rachel Kauffman is the owner of Moth Eaten Deer Head on Etsy. Her shop features an eclectic array of mid century, modern, and Hollywood regency vintage housewares and accessories. She can be found at www.motheatendeerhead.etsy. com and facebook.com/motheatendeerheadshop.
things vintage, it is also a lot of hard work. Sellers comb through aisles and basements to find treasures. Next, they clean, photograph, research, measure, write descriptions, pay fees, and package and ship the items. It is all worth it when a customer finds the exact piece they are looking for or falls in love with an item and just has to have it. page there is a section titled “More Ways to Shop” and under that you will find a link to “shop local”. Simply click on the link, enter your city, and what you are looking for. If you are just browsing, try entering “vintage,” “mid century,” “antique,” or whatever era or style you want explore. Just like that, a list appears of local shops that carry some of the best vintage wares in Kansas City. Also, check out the “Our Favorite Etsy Finds” section in this magazine for a selection of great vintage items available from local Etsy sellers. Add any sellers you like to your favorites list to see new items they post for sale. The benefits of shopping locally online We all know that when we shop locally, the money not only helps support local individu- als, but it is more likely to stay in our com- munity. The local Etsy sellers’ profits are spent How to find local Etsy sellers On the lower left side of the Etsy home
S
ometimes you just don’t feel like driving around the city searching through thrift stores and antique shops or pushing through crowds
at estate sales to find great vintage pieces for you or your home. Scrounging and digging have their place, but buying locally online can be just as fun and exciting, and you can even do it your pajamas! About local Etsy sellers There are many reasons local Etsy sellers choose to sell online rather than in a brick and mortar shop. First, the start up costs are minimal compared to opening a store front or renting an antique booth. Second, having access to national and international customers means greater sales and profits. For many local vintage dealers, selling on Etsy can be a wonderful way to have a flexible, paying gig doing what they love — scouring thrift stores, antique malls, and garage sales for treasures and offering them up for sale. Selling on Etsy not only requires a love for all
VintageKC / Fall 2013 8
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker