With the news today that U.S. unemployment has topped 10 percent for the first time in 26 years, we are reminded that many of those talented people will not find a "W-2" job any time soon.Some are prompted to start their own business, either seeing an opportunity or out of other options. Thanks to the internet, those who are artists and crafters have become entrepreneurs, offering their beautiful handcrafted work to a worldwide audience. We would like you to consider supporting these artisans, by doing your holiday shopping at handmade mall venues like Artfire.com.
There are many more venues (just scroll down our right sidebar column for links), such as the megasite Etsy.com. But in our opinion, Artfire appeals to a much broader audience and is much more democratic in terms of seller promotion. What does that mean to you as a buyer? You have easier access to the gifts you want to purchase, as you can quickly find products in a wider range of design and styles.
If you're visiting us from outside the U.S., in addition to Artfire we also like Dawanda. While most artisans at both sites sell worldwide, Dawanda has a larger selection of European sellers and multiple language options. We find both sites very easy to navigate.
You can also scroll down our right side column to the Links to Our Featured Artisans. These will take you directly to the shops we have spotlighted on this blog, and you can be assured of beautiful gifts at fair prices. We hope you will consider supporting these cottage businesses with your holiday shopping this year. Your gifts will be more meaningful, and you will have a direct impact on improving our economy!
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