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Amazon's 'Handmade' section takes aim at Etsy
There's a lot to love about Etsy -- it's one of the best places on the internet to find all sorts of stuff like minimalist Captain America prints or laser-cut Deathly Hallows earrings, but shipping windows are kind of a crapshoot. That could change because Amazon is apparently emailing some of the hand-crafted goods emporium's sellers and offering them to peddle their wares, according to The Wall Street Journal. The forthcoming section on Bezo's ecommerce behemoth is called Handmade, and invites lead to a survey asking about what categories the wares would fall under (11 total, including baby, apparel, pet supplies) but there isn't any word about when the section will go live.
Etsy's counterfeit problem is getting worse
News of Etsy's battle against sellers pedaling knockoff goods on its site isn't a recent revelation, but an analyst report this week details the extent of the problem. Investment firm Wedbush says that up to 2 million items listed on the marketplace may be counterfeit or infringe on either a copyright or trademark -- items like these. That's around 5 percent of all goods promoted there. It's not just fashion and jewelery brands, either: products with pro sports, cartoon and comic book artwork abound on Etsy as well. The company recently went public, and as you might expect, its stock fell in response to the report. What's more, a class action lawsuit was filed against the site for making "false and misleading statements" about the counterfeit issue. Etsy took aim at questionable merchandise in the past, banning the sale of Washington Redskins items back in September. However, if it wants to continue being the go-to place for handmade goods, it'll need to do some spring cleaning. [Image credit: Victor J. Blue/Bloomberg via Getty Images]
Etsy's massive IPO puts big money behind small sellers
Selling handmade stuff on the internet is big business, and Etsy's IPO shows just that. The online marketplace completed its initial public offering today, raising over $270 million towards a total valuation of more than $3.5 billion -- not too shabby for a company that's not yet profitable. If you're not familiar, Etsy offers folks who deal in "handmade goods, vintage items and craft supplies" a place to sell their goods online. Sure, the site takes a cut, and it generates revenue from ads, shipping and payment processing. What's more, it has attracted 1.4 million active sellers and 19.8 million active buyers (as of December) in its 10 years handling those sales. The company was clear about its history of losses when it first announced plans to go public, admitting that it may never turn a profit. However, as the popularity of handmade and unique wares continues to grow, eager sellers are likely to opt for the site's community as a means for promotion as much as its e-commerce tools. It's also poised to make a big splash in mobile, recently hiring one of Pandora's top executives to lead that charge. [Image credit: Spencer Platt/Getty Images]
Etsy wants to raise up to $300 million by going public
Etsy, yes that marketplace for handcrafted and bespoke goods, plans to raise money not by selling custom crocheted rabbit hats or bohemian jewelry, but by doing an initial public offering. The Brooklyn company has just filed an S-1 form at the US Securities and Exchange Commission, where it revealed some numbers that give us a glimpse into how the company's doing. It apparently has 1.4 million active sellers, 19.8 million active buyers and 685 employees, 51 percent of whom are women. Plus it generated $195.6 million in revenue but incurred a net loss of $15.2 million in 2014. According to Bloomberg, Etsy is hoping to raise $300 million from the IPO, or $100 million at the very least, if you look at the S-1 filing.
This 1950s Motorola radio works wirelessly with your iPhone
Bose, Beats, blah blah blah, it's all the same crap; Give me the classic, tin can tone of mid century radio hardware any day. If you don't need your music to carry through a half dozen walls and pierce the ears of your neighbors across the street, ancient speakers still hold up remarkably well, as is the case with this 1950s Motorola antique. Originally an AM-only tube radio, this magnificent beast now has a trick its original creators couldn't have dreamed of: iPhone connectivity. Underneath the original Bakelite, the guts have been given new life by Etsy merchant BoxTrader. But while a headphone jack and Bluetooth have been added, the rest of the hardware remains original, including the speaker. It no longer has its AM radio capabilities, but there are about a dozen iOS apps that can take care of that for you anyway. The price of pristine nostalgia is a bit steep -- at US$349, it's one of BoxTrader's more expensive restorations, and there are many others -- but you're not likely to see another like it as long as you live, which certainly can't be said for the speakers lining the shelves of the Apple Store.
Etsy takes a stab at real world sales with free credit card readers
Etsy is best known for being an online marketplace of folksy gewgaws and crocheted everythings, but it's making moves to help its sellers do more out in the real world. Case in point: The company just took a page out of Square and PayPal's playbooks by offering free, smartphone-friendly credit/debit card readers to its users. The idea's simple enough: Etsy crafters hawking their wares in public can use the reader just like any of the other ones out there, but once they swipe a card, those products automatically get deducted from their online Etsy inventory. Buyers who already have Etsy accounts can leave reviews too, just to make sure everyone knows how rad their new minimalist wallets are. Voilà: sellers get to make money and build deeper connections with actual, physical people, and Etsy gets a sweet (if tiny, think 2.75 percent) cut of each transaction to help fuel its growth. Now if you'll excuse us, we've got some funky brass steampunk corsets to prep for the big craft show next week.
Etsy bans sale of questionable Washington Redskins merch
The debate over the appropriateness of the Washington Redskins' name has been raging for what seems like ages now, and even homegrown e-commerce operations are feeling the effects. Consider Etsy, for instance. The fast-growing purveyor of neat and offbeat products recently updated its policies to ban the sale of any merch with the Redskins' name or logo. Washington's trademark burgundy and gold are still in the clear, as is the word "Washington" itself... and that's about it. Etsy has already started reaching out to sellers whose wares run afoul of the new rule, but it'll probably be a while before the site is fully purged. Just take a look: here's still plenty of seemingly verboten Redskins-branded swag to be found on Etsy at this point, while sellers of more innocuous wares (like a HTTR "Hail to the Redskins" wristband that doesn't actually say "Redskins") are being told they're out of luck. It's possible that the furor over the Redskins name could come to a close soon - NFL commissioner Roger Goodell threw his support behind Redskins' owner Daniel Snyder, but his tenure might not last much longer as a result of his handling of Ray Rice's domestic abuse controversy.
Apple decal sellers saw a tremendous spike in sales following 'Stickers' ad
Your worst fear, confirmed: Engadget's staff laptop of choice is the MacBook Air. Other than the massive checks we each personally receive from Apple (har har), it's our go-to laptop because it's light, fast, and great for the kind of work we do. It doesn't hurt that it looks sweet with stickers as well, of course. And after Apple highlighted users' proclivity for decking out their MBAs in a recent video (seen below), the world of laptop decal sellers was suddenly cast in the spotlight. That spotlight resulted in a lot of new buyers, according to a report on MacStories. Quite a few more, actually. One of the vendors MacStories spoke with saw orders increase by 400 percent since the ad aired, and page views jumped from a typical 500 per day all the way up to a peak of some 4,500 last week. If you dug any of those stickers, well, our sister site TUAW searched out links for where to buy those 74 decals. And while a majority of those depicted are easily found online, for those that aren't, the site scoured Etsy and other places for suitable stand-ins. Now for the hard part: picking out the perfect decal. Ben Gilbert contributed to this report
This Apple II Raspberry Pi enclosure is incredible
Why just put that Raspberry Pi into a boring little plastic box when you can give it a classy place to live? Charles Mangin is selling these Apple II Raspberry Pi cases at his RetroConnector Etsy shop for US$115. Mangin is the same clever fellow who developed the tiny Disk II SD card reader we covered last month. The cases actually come in several varieties, including the the original Apple II, the IIe or the Platinum IIe, and it's also available in Bell & Howell "Darth Vader" Black. Put the case together with the wee Disk II SD card reader, and the result is even more pure awesomeness.
Etsy acquires indie-gadget marketplace Grand St.
Gadgets are probably the last thing you'd look for on Etsy's DIY-heavy marketplace, but that could soon change. Today the NY-based company announced that it's acquiring Grand St., an online retailer focused on electronics with a creative, maker bent (think app-enabled piggy banks and Wifi-enabled kids' toys). In the short term, at least, Grand St. will continue to operate as its own marketplace, but it's possible that such hardware could someday have a home on Etsy.
This Apple II SD card reader is retrotastic and functional
Compared to USB hubs, which come in all shapes, sizes, and themes, SD card readers rarely get special treatment. They're usually plain, lame, and not worth showing off. But as bitter as I am about SD card accessories being largely ignored, I'm willing to put all that behind us thanks to this retro Apple Disk II reader. It is a thing of beauty. Featuring a remarkably accurate case design, signature red light, and even a working latch, it's a fantastic nod to old school Apple hardware. It comes in classic beige or unfinished versions in black and white, and sells for US$50. Yeah, that's pretty pricey for an SD card reader, but you can't put a price on memories.
The latest, greatest, strangest iPhone accessories from Etsy
Etsy has a long history of being the go-to place for the quirkiest and most unusual products. Anyone can start an Etsy store and sell basically whatever they want, as long as it's their own creation in some way. As such, the site is absolutely filled with unusual accessories for iOS devices, and we just can't get enough. Here is a handful of the newest and most unusual offerings. Take a kids dinosaur toy, chop its head off, add a bit of spraypaint and a suction cup. Boom: It's now an iPhone stand. Why? Who cares; it's awesome. With gorgeous woodgrain and a decidedly vintage microphone, this is a dual-purpose dock that will add a bit of sophistication to your office. The dock charges your iDevice (obviously), but the microphone is also 100 percent functional and can be used with your computer or any other compatible device. Need a speaker for your iPhone, but can't spare another wall outlet? This acoustic speaker doesn't need a plug, but it can still pump out the tunes. Also, it looks ridiculous. iPhone docks are supposed to be compact and easy to move, but this Star Wars AT-AT Walker iPhone dock w/built-in speaker is awesomely nerdy enough that you'll forgive the fact that it's totally impractical. Worried about someone snatching your iPhone while you're in a public place? Slap this über-creepy one-eyed furry monstrosity on it and I doubt any thief will get close enough to seriously consider it.
This LEGO Steve Jobs is just as adorable as you'd imagine
Etsy is a great place to find odd things, and you don't need to poke around on the site very long to find something unique. Case in point: This ridiculous adorable Steve Jobs figurine crafted from LEGO blocks. From the iconic jeans and black T-shirt to the glasses crafted from transparent blocks, it's a pint-sized spitting image of the Apple co-founder. The figure is available for a pretty reasonable US$24.86 (I know, that doesn't sound reasonable, but have you seen how much they charge for LEGO sets these days? It's absurd). Of course, if you're not into buying pre-made plastic-block creations, you could always grab your LEGO set and attempt to recreate mini Jobs all on your own. Note: I'm not recommending you try to make anything out of those notoriously hard-to-work-with tiny blocks. Have you ever tried to peel two of those apart? Say goodbye to your fingernails!
You can buy Steve Jobs on a piece of toast for $20 (yes, you read that correctly)
I love Etsy for the simple fact that you can find products on it that you'd never see elsewhere. Like, for example, a ridiculously accurate representation of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs burnt into a piece of toast. For this piece of used-to-be-edible art, you must pay a measly US$20. Ok, maybe that's a little bit steep for a charred chunk of bread, but hey, when you create a new market -- as Etsy user ggat seems to have -- you're allowed to set the price. The bread in question is your standard white fare, which is then burnt using a laser to create the portrait. To ensure the toast doesn't fall victim to various forms of degradation it is coated in a spray varnish. Why would you want such a thing in the first place? I'm not sure, but I can sleep soundly tonight knowing that if the urge strikes me, a slice of Jobs toast is just a click away.
Etsy reworks guidelines: sellers can now hire outside staff and manufacturers
Etsy, the online marketplace for DIYers, just announced several changes to its seller policies, giving store owners significantly more control over how they run their businesses. Going forward, sellers will be able to hire as many employees as necessary, as well as use outside companies to deliver their products and outsource manufacturing to third parties (provided they receive Etsy's approval). Most notably, these changes allow for a wider definition of "handmade" -- now, the idea for an item simply must originate with the seller. This means 3D-printed items can carry the prized handmade distinction, for instance. And this change isn't just about semantics; previously, Etsy customers could assume items that didn't look handmade were breaking the site's rules and consequently steer clear.
The most obnoxious iPhone accessories available on Etsy
Since its launch in 2005 Etsy has gone from a curious virtual art shop to a massive marketplace featuring just about any kind of handmade product you can think of. But it's not just trinkets and paintings that line Etsy's shelves -- the site is also home to a bounty of one-of-a-kind iPhone accessories as well, ranging from useful to ridiculous. Here are some of the finest (read: craziest) examples of "custom" iPhone gear the site has to offer. Cowboy Hat iPhone Dock Sure, you already have a sleek and sexy iPhone dock on your nightstand, but maybe it just doesn't have enough western flavor for your tastes. This custom dock, which lets you plug your iPhone into the top of a cowboy hat, should definitely do the trick! Yeehaw! Price: US$69 (link) Furry iPhone case with ears and a tail When I'm looking for an iPhone case, I do my best to find one that is as thin as possible while still providing a reasonable amount of protection. For others, though, phone cases are less about function and more about form -- feline form, to be precise. There's not much to say about these furry phone protectors other than "wow." Price: $14 (link) Home Button Bow Tie If you find yourself getting invited to black tie gatherings on a regular basis and are a bit nervous that your rather casual iPhone just isn't impressing your upper-class associates, this home button bow tie may do the trick. Just don't let on that the sparkling bling is made of simple crystals rather than diamonds, or you might end up dining at McDonalds instead of the country club. Price: $2.99 (link) Glow-in-the-dark Charger Ok, I'll bite: A glow-in-the-dark phone charger is actually a pretty cool idea. I can't tell you how many times I've had to feel around the base of my nightstand in the dark in a feeble attempt to find my iPhone charger, and the claimed 12-hour glow time of the stickers applied to these plugs and cords sounds like the remedy I didn't know I needed. Price: $20 (link) Gramophone Speaker System The iPhone isn't exactly known for its ability to pump out high-quality audio via its built-in speakers, but if you plug it into a massive gramophone-style speaker, it just might surprise you. This totally acoustic speaker accessory promises to boost your iPhone audio many times over, filling the room with sound without the need for electronic amplification. Price: $525 (link)
NES cleverly turned into an iPhone speaker dock
E3 took the gaming world by storm last week, so it's fitting that we take a walk down memory lane today with this old Nintendo Entertainment System that is now an iPhone dock. Made by Pete Morris, the same guy who did the Atari speaker dock, the speaker system tightly integrates into the remnants of what once was Nintendo's crown jewel. Housed inside the console is a speaker system with six EQ settings, FM radio and support for apps. The iPhone fits in the front of the console, and the open lid provides a convenient backrest for the device. The dock uses a 30-pin connector, but a Lightning adapter is available as an optional accessory. Once plugged in, the NES controller lets you change the volume, control playback and power on the dock. The lighted display on the dock can show the volume, the frequency of the current radio station and even the time when the dock is off. It's a clever new use of old technology. The NES speaker dock is available to purchase on Etsy for £185.00 (US$290). The dock is designed for the iPhone 3GS/4/4S, but you can convert it to support the iPhone 5 by purchasing a Lightning port adapter for £25.00 ($40).
Flipboard launches user-created magazines, partners with Etsy (video)
Everybody loves Flipboard, right? If you're a fan like us, rejoice -- your favorite social magazine just got a whole lot better. Today Flipboard for iOS is receiving a major update that will let you create and curate your very own magazines. It also brings a boatload of other improvements to the table including a content partnership with Etsy. An update to the Android version will follow shortly. We were able to take the new version of Flipboard for a spin and get a demo from CTO Eric Feng. Hit the break to dive into the details and watch our hands-on video. %Gallery-183818% %Gallery-183819%
WoW Archivist: WoW's zaniest merchandise
WoW Archivist explores the secrets of World of Warcraft's past. What did the game look like years ago? Who is etched into WoW's history? What secrets does the game still hold? With only five shopping days left until the Feast of Winter Veil, it is officially holiday crunch time. To inspire you in your shopping goals or maybe point out the perfect gift for that special raider in your life, WoW Archivist presents the zaniest WoW-themed real-world merchandise of all time. Strange swag Every BlizzCon has its swag bag, but 2008's edition, celebrating the Wrath of the Lich King expansion, has to be the zaniest ever. In addition to Diablo III "sinamints," a can of "zerg creep" goop, and a pandaren beer cozy, the bag included an inflatable Frostmourne or an inflatable "Bubble Hearth Beach Ball." The latter is a Divinely Shielded dwarf using an uninterruptable hearthstone -- in beach ball form. The bag also included a package of tissues labeled "QQ noob," masks of Azeroth's races (reminiscent of the Hallow's End in-game versions), and a Frostmourne keychain. The keychain is notable for its several outward-facing spikes. It takes falling on your keys to a whole new level of pain. The full-size Frostmourne replica is more dangerous, but you're also not carrying it around in your pocket mere centimeters from your genitals. Or are you?
Twitter for Android, iOS expands those Kickstarter tweets, becomes sensitive to our notification needs
That was fast. Just days after Twitter 4.3 had its details prematurely spilled all over the Internet, it's now raring to go for both Android (as version 3.3) and iOS users. Like we'd seen in early release notes, its focus is on expanding tweets to provide a glimpse at content when linking beyond just photos. Along with showing snippets from news outlets such as C-SPAN, Twitter's app now teases content from Etsy, Kickstarter and Vimeo, among others -- just in case you'd like to know whether that upcoming game console is worth funding at a glance. Notifications are getting their own promised boost and can send an alert whenever certain Twitter accounts post any kind of update. The improved search autocomplete shows its face as well, and iOS users get a more advanced layout for tracking hashtags during live events. Users with other smartphone platforms will have to wait for the 4.3 feature set to filter through to their devices, but if you're of an Apple or Google bent, one of Twitter's bigger updates of recent memory is already headed your way.
