Etsy's Handmade Blog
How-to: Sell Local
Story by adam, anda, daniellexo, matt
Published on December 17, 2007 in How-To 		Photo by

Library of Congress via pingnews

Oh, no. It's panicky present time! Lots of last minute shoppers want gifts, and they want them now!

In this hectic time, it's crucial for buyers and sellers to communicate. Sellers should make sure they have  shipping details and deadlines in their shop announcements, shop profile and/or item listings.  If you offer expedited shipping, make sure your customers know how to ask for that service. (Buyers, be sure to double check the seller's shipping info before you click the check-out button.)

And Après-holidays, let's not forget all of those lovable slow-pokes who need to make up for the lateness of their gifts with handmade awesomeness. Etsy sellers to the rescue!

We here at Etsy encourage buyers to shop locally, that's why we have a fun way for buyers to browse Etsy items by location with our Shop Local tool.  Not only will this help get the right gifts in time for the holidays, in addition supporting local economies is where it's at!  

If you want to be part of the last minute fun, you must set your location in your public profile!  Here's how:

1) Go to Your Etsy

2) Click Public Profile (left side bar)

3) Select your country

4) Type in your city, state or province, country (yes, all three!)

Now, when shoppers Shop Local (or go to the geolocator), they can find you!

Find Etsy Sellers in Your Town | Read Our Shop Local Series

Tags Geolocator, holidays, How-To, HOW-TO, international, Seller Handbook, selling, shipping, Shop Local, shopping, site features
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65 comments     Login to add your own!

Dec. 18, 2007 at 12:18 a.m. TwistedThicket

I am located directly on top of the Michigan & Wisconsin border. Deliveries to anywhere in the Upper Penninsula of Michigan and Wisconsin would be quite fast. :)

Dec. 18, 2007 at 12:38 a.m. SalmonStreetStudio

Is local Portland Oregon to you?
If YES:

PDX Etsy Winter Solstice/Last Minute Craft Sale
Dec 22, 8-4
PSU Smith Ballroom
Near the Farmer's Market too!
Locally grown/produced food, yay!

Dec. 18, 2007 at 10:20 a.m. PoPkO

Great idea!
Hey Massachusetts- check out the street team page to see the Etsy sellers all over MA! Choose the team closest to you:

http://team.etsy.com/profilest/ma.shtml

Dec. 18, 2007 at 10:29 a.m. stilettoheights

great idea!!!!!

I know a lot of sellers who also offer pick up in person services, so this is great!!

Dec. 19, 2007 at 12:28 a.m. howlindoggie

i'm all for shopping locally, although i do like that etsy is global & that's a real treat!
any sydney siders, i am in clovelly. you can pick up at the studio.

Dec. 19, 2007 at 12:43 a.m. wMarlaine

What a cool tool! Hope it's here to stay!

April 16, 2008 at 12:47 p.m. CambriaPottery

Although I placed myself loacally I do not see my site there? What`s going on?

April 20, 2008 at 7:36 p.m. Serenities

I hope to see my shop listed in the local section of Etsy! Thanks! Marci

Aug. 7, 2008 at 10:27 a.m. jwstyle

Would love to see My shop in the local locater

Thank you Jeannie Wray
Nevada Missouri

Sept. 3, 2008 at 10:29 a.m. JackieSpicer

Hope to see my new shop in the local shop section. Thank you Jackie Spicer
Los Angeles

Sept. 9, 2008 at 1:10 p.m. handsoncrafts

I hope to see my shop listed in the local section of Etsy!Virginia Chesapeake Thanks!

Oct. 4, 2008 at 3:24 p.m. beanhouse

I would love to see my shop in the local section for Columbus, OH. It is very cool to see how many shops there are in town.

Nov. 21, 2008 at 3:20 p.m. redletterwords

This is a great tool! Thanks

Nov. 25, 2008 at 10:05 a.m. fatcrowpress

Sign me up! Well actualy I will sign myself up. Thanks again for making this so easy and accesible. There really is no excuse for not having a successful store! Thanks!!

Dec. 13, 2008 at 12:43 a.m. sweetone4u

ive tried locating my shop and it never pops up!? and it doesnt come up when i shop local..any ideas??? thanks! :)

Dec. 17, 2008 at 8:47 a.m. ArtfulDDesigns

I love this new tool. It is very encouraging to see other artists in my rural area. One thing I did notice though that may need addressing.... If I typed in my town and the abbreviation for my state, I got different shops than if I typed in my town and the whole state name.
If you live in Southwest Virginia, you may arrange to pick up at my studio on the farm, or I could possibly meet you in Roanoke -- don't be shy, just convo me!

Feb. 9, 2009 at 7:22 p.m. MicheleMichelSilver

I'm so glad you guys are thinking about this. It's so important for the community to shop local.
Thanks for always thinking of us!

Happy Valentine's!

Feb. 24, 2009 at 2:29 a.m. annsjewelrydesign

I am so excited to find my shop here! I have joined a local site in California for the same goals you discussed & I am sure it will become all the more important as the economy is is a downward spin!

I need to learn more about how to learn more from all of you.Let me know what you think of my shop!

Thanks.
Ann

Feb. 25, 2009 at 2:12 p.m. PamelaAngus

duh! I didn't realise I could drag that little pointer thingy!! X marks the exact spot now! ta :)

Feb. 25, 2009 at 2:57 p.m. DornickDesigns

Awesome!!! Thank you!!!

Feb. 25, 2009 at 10:59 p.m. NewCreatioNZ

Being way down here in New zealand often feels like I'm on the edge of the world! Good to know there are others out here too to keep me company.

Feb. 26, 2009 at 5:08 a.m. AnnLuise

It is so much fun to visualize where all the etsy people are living. Thanx a lot for that feature.

March 3, 2009 at 6:27 a.m. yummyink

Lovely resource! Thanks Etsy Team!

March 28, 2009 at 3:35 p.m. beaconcreations

Fantastic idea! Thank you estsy Team.

June 7, 2009 at 5:04 p.m. alleycatdesignsmo

Hi! I'm Cat and I am so new to this website business. If anyone out there wants to give me some pointers it would be fantastic. This is my dream job I've always wanted to do and I could use some input on do's and don'ts. I'm really enjoying The Storque How-T. Thanks!

Aug. 6, 2009 at 3:52 p.m. Laurenceramics

great. i love looking at local sellers, i'm sure there are more in my area but i can't find them as not all sellers update their locations i've found. Even when not shopping local it's great to know where an item comes from.

Aug. 6, 2009 at 4:36 p.m. postroadvintage

I originally posted my location and then I had a creep contacting me for my address. I took my location off but I love seeing where others are from even when I'm not "buying local" Help-- what should I do??

Aug. 6, 2009 at 4:41 p.m. alhorton79

Hi everyone! I'm really new to this so please check out Vesper Lynd Designs!

Aug. 6, 2009 at 4:52 p.m. alhorton79

We are a small design company in Northern Wisconsin. Our designs are modern but fun! They transition well and the pieces are very high quality. We do mostly necklaces and bracelets, but sometimes earrings and others. Check us out PLEASE!

Aug. 6, 2009 at 5:26 p.m. TheOldVirginian

Really cool. I love it. And check it out--small town; you know all the creeps already.

Aug. 7, 2009 at 11:07 a.m. rockzeecouture

Hey, I live in Mesa, Az. I have contacted some locals just to say Hi! I would be happy to personally deliver if someone needs that service. Anything to make my buyers happy and give them great convenience.

Aug. 10, 2009 at 11:11 p.m. BigGirlJewelry

I'm in Malden, MA and always willing to allow buyers to pick up if they prefer. Simply tell me in the "notes to seller" when you check out and I'll email you with directions.

Aug. 22, 2009 at 1:15 p.m. russianforest

Hate to be a spelling nerd, but the word provence (sic) in this article is correctly spelled "province." Otherwise, awesome info!

Nov. 23, 2009 at 9:01 p.m. VelveteenHabbit

So important to help locally!!!

Dec. 17, 2009 at 5:04 p.m. myglamour

I agree - great info!

Dec. 17, 2009 at 6:02 p.m. sakizome

My buyers in Singapore are still receiving their packages the next day!

Dec. 17, 2009 at 6:11 p.m. aclairejewelry

I am also offering personal delivery within my city metro area:)

Dec. 17, 2009 at 6:24 p.m. dsenyo

Thanks for this reminder. I live in a smaller town Lafayette, close to Boulder. Is it better to put the smaller town or the bigger city where potentially more shoppers will be searching?

Dec. 17, 2009 at 6:49 p.m. fmena

thanks for posting this. will update my shop soon

Dec. 17, 2009 at 7:15 p.m. taintbosh

Thanks so much. I just did a local search and noticed I didn't come up, now I know what to do!

Dec. 17, 2009 at 7:32 p.m. dazzlemedesign

my current location is 'my crazy brain' perhaps I should change this!

Dec. 17, 2009 at 7:33 p.m. YellowElm

Anyone in the Greenville/Spartanburg/Asheville/Anderson (South Carolina and North Carolina) area can still get Yellow Elm in plenty of time for Christmas! :) thanks for the great suggestions.

Dec. 17, 2009 at 7:49 p.m. ForrestConcepts

Grand Rapids, MI here...Anywhere in MI is usually a 1 day turn!!

Dec. 17, 2009 at 8:08 p.m. sewcrafts

http://www.etsy.com/shop_local.php?pl...

I am in the Fortwaorth, Mansfield, Arlington are.Hope Shop Local will help improve my sales.

Dec. 17, 2009 at 9:05 p.m. eugenix

Can't wait to hear from the peeps of Etsy that live in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

I'm excited -- this is what it's all about!!

Dec. 18, 2009 at 12:37 a.m. rebeccaplotnick

I hope to see my shop in the local shop section. I am in Chicago and anywhere in Illinois is a 1 day turn. You can come pick up items or if you are in the area I would be happy to hand deliver :)

Dec. 18, 2009 at 4:29 a.m. SimplyNaif

Fabulous feature! Never thought of using this...will do as we speak!

Dec. 18, 2009 at 8:25 a.m. Rosewoodcrafts

What a great idea. I already had our location in, but didn't realize buyers could search the location. Maybe you could make the Shop Local a little more noticeable.

Dec. 18, 2009 at 9:24 a.m. PillowSewCute

See you in sunny San Diego... I will deliver!

Dec. 18, 2009 at 9:37 a.m. kinaloon

I did what you said, but I have not shown up in the local listing! Did I miss a step?

Dec. 18, 2009 at 10:13 a.m. janesglassart

What a great idea! I would be happy to deliver to anyone in the Carl Junction, Joplin, MO area.

Dec. 18, 2009 at 10:25 a.m. swakdesigns

I'm located in Atlanta, GA and have recently had an increase in sales from shoppers right in GA--I love it!
Amina

Dec. 18, 2009 at 11:18 a.m. LazyTcrochet

I am definitely getting more last-minute local orders this year! I'm so grateful for Etsy.

Dec. 18, 2009 at 3:53 p.m. originallyLOs

If in the Alamo City, aka: SAN ANTONIO and love to accessorize. Find yourself @ originallyLOs for the latest BAMBOO JEWELRY. Earrings, studs, and necklaces with abstract/arbitrary artwork. If shop locally I will deliver it personally:O)

Happy Holidays:

Lo

Dec. 20, 2009 at 4:10 p.m. uncljohn

Encouraging sellers to properly fill out thier location correctly is certainly an admirable stance to take and as a buyer it is not only important to know for a variety of reasons but a source of irritation when looking it up only to find that not only is it filled out poorly but some times with multiple locations in multiple countries or something so bogus it is not clear what world it is on much less if the location might be close to where I am located. There are some items that are so basic as to their need that I am surprised that they are not required as part of setting up a shop.

Jan. 6, 2010 at 2:02 a.m. shellsherree

It took me a while to realise that my location wasn't fully displayed in my store ~ I fixed it but just realised I didn't include the state as well. All sorted now ~ thanks for the tips, Etsy!

Jan. 6, 2010 at 7:31 a.m. banfflines

Thank you, this information on local sellers is ever so useful. I live in Banff, Alberta, Canada and invite all to visit my little etsy.
Sandra
Banff, Alberta, Canada

Jan. 6, 2010 at 9:49 a.m. JBstyle

great idea!

Jan. 7, 2010 at 2:10 p.m. TheColestead

Selling local is great. However I have not found a way for my local customers to avoid having the shipping charges added to their order. Yes I know I could just say "I will send you a new invoice" but this is not as professional as it could be. I suggest that Etsy find a way for the buyer to designate themselves as a local buyer so that shipping fees are not added to an invoice that will be hand delivered.

Jan. 7, 2010 at 3:41 p.m. TreasuredJewels4You

I live in Crosby, Texas and it would be great to sell locally, I'm new to this and has been fun so far...

Jan. 12, 2010 at 2:51 p.m. galaxy1979

Cool i didn't know about this option. i'd love to give more business to other New York artists

Jan. 16, 2010 at 5:52 a.m. bydelana

I'm always trying to get my local customers to go to my on-line shop. Thank you for this information and please keep it all coming....I find it very inspiring and useful!

Jan. 20, 2010 at 2:46 p.m. boncharmco

oh,

it's good to know tip.
thanks a lot etsy!

Jan. 25, 2010 at 1:17 a.m. VioletReaction

My mom is always telling me not to give away where I live online... but it seems to me it would be a disadvantage not to. Sorry mom! :)

Feb. 2, 2010 at 3:16 p.m. SparkleTrue

This is brilliant! I am going to give it a try, great tips!!!

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