Community
We commit to pioneering a
human-scale economy, one that is inclusive,
connected, sustainable, and joyful.
More than 1.4 million people run their small businesses on Etsy.
We are inspired by their drive, their craftsmanship, and their embodiment of our shared values. Our business doesn’t just rely on our sellers; it is comprised of our sellers. Our only option for lasting success is acting with their interests at the heart of our decisions.
Together we have a great opportunity—to support small creative businesses, to connect consumers to the items they buy, and to influence the ways in which business operates.
Photo by Etsy
Economic impact
How we measure it
There are over 1.4 million sellers in our global seller community.
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$1.93 billion
gross merchandise sales in 2014. That is a 43% increase from 2013!
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For 30%
of Etsy entrepreneurs, selling creative goods is their sole occupation.
For the remainder, sales from their creative businesses provide a meaningful source of supplemental income.
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44%
use earnings from their creative businesses to cover household expenses and
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25%
contribute to savings
Etsy sellers identify as small business owners.
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76%
consider their Etsy shops businesses.
Source: 2014 US Seller Survey
Educational impact
New businesses are born every day on Etsy, with creative individuals taking the leap to sell what they make, design or curate. We provide ongoing education tailored to their diverse needs at every stage of their shops’ growth. We also help sellers connect with one another for insight, inspiration and support.
Find out moreFurther reading on Educational impact
Our values in action
Our company values are the cornerstone of our organization’s operations at every level, from the way we approach customer support to the policies we set for our marketplace. We take the long view in our operations, building for the world we’d like to exist in 100 years, not just the next quarter.
Find out moreFurther reading on Our values in action
Advocacy
We advocate for public policies that make it easier for creative entrepreneurs to pursue their passions, work for themselves, and succeed on their own terms.
Find out moreFurther reading on Advocacy
Crafting connections
We strive to bring heart to commerce by building a strong community and facilitating connections between our members, both online and in person.
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52%
of sellers believe Etsy works to make the world a better place.
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Our sellers are a tight community.
81%
of them have connected with other sellers on the platform — most of them get business support or advice from one another.
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Source: 2014 US Seller Survey
25%
connect for fun.
Source: 2014 US Seller Survey
Photo by Zhi-Da Zhong
Giving
We support nonprofits doing incredible work through volunteerism, philanthropy, and giving in kind. Our approach is to give in meaningful ways and to engage with nonprofit partners to help them innovate and grow.
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Hacker School grants
Photo by HackerSchool
Hacker School grants
We contributed $210,000 to Hacker School’s diversity initiatives, expanding our grants to women in tech to also support applicants with racial backgrounds that are underrepresented in software engineering. Learn More
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Giving Tuesday
Photo by Daryl Kirchner
Giving Tuesday
Giving Tuesday is a movement designed to shine a light on the holiday spirit of generosity. In 2014 we celebrated Giving Tuesday, and our inspiring community, by donating $100,000 divided equally among four impressive organizations: Women for Women International, Room to Read, Direct Relief, and the Nature Conservancy.
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New life for laptops
Photo by CodeNow
New life for laptops
When our laptops reach the end of their time at Etsy, our IT team refurbishes and donates them. We work with nonprofits who create educational opportunities for disadvantaged students from Brooklyn to Tanzania.
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Leftovers
Photo by Emily Andrews
Leftovers
We consider every part of the cycle of our food, from how it’s grown to how it’s consumed, eliminating waste wherever we can. When we can’t eat it, we donate it. We work with Food Bank NYC to distribute our surplus food to a network of local food banks and shelters.
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Volunteering
Photo by Zhi-Da Zhong
Volunteering
We volunteered 872 hours. We give employees 40 hours of paid volunteer time each year* to work with organizations they feel passionate about. We also orchestrate volunteer days for teams and entire offices, deepening the connections between our employees and our local communities.
*20 hours for employees outside the US. -
Material matters
Photo by Katie Hunt-Morr
Material matters
Over 20 billion pounds of clothing ends up in landfills every year.* To combat this we have a permanent swapping station for employees to exchange, donate, or recycle clothes year-round. Our partners at Green Tree Recycling pick up materials monthly. They donate items that are reusable and recycle the rest. In 2014, Etsy employees donated 559 pounds of clothing.
*Source CarbonRally.com
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Donation matching
Photo by Daryl Kirchner
Donation matching
We instituted corporate matching for employee donations in August of 2014. $24,000 in donations from our generous employees were matched in our first four months of the program.
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Etsy tours
Photo by Marina Robel
Etsy tours
Etsy tours give members of our Etsy and local communities a glimpse behind the scenes at Etsy HQ. At Etsy, it’s important for us to support the communities we work with both online and in real life, which is why we open our doors to students and sellers. In 2014 many groups of students came in for tours of Etsy’s headquarters followed by Q&As about engineering as a career, and the discussions were nothing short of inspiring to all the students who participated.
- 1,062 visitors
- 88 tours
- 92 Admin speakers