Feature Friday - The Handmade Movement

For today's Feature Friday, I decided to go in a slightly different direction.  I am a big believer in paying it forward, creating good karma, etc.  When we help others, we make the world a better place and we are better for it.  For that reason, I am featuring The Handmade Movement.

Photo from HandmadeMovement.com

What is The Handmade Movement?

"The handmade movement" is the collective energy and creativity of Artists and Crafters who work with their hands. This site's purpose is to support sellers and buyers of handmade items- right now the main focus being through the "Sneak Attack". Although unaffiliated with Etsy, they focus in particular on shops of handmade items from Etsy.com.

What is a Sneak Attack?

It's a way to support independant artisans who are trying to sell their wares online. Two days a week at an appointed time, an Etsy shop with few or no sales is announced on this site. As many people as possible then buy items from that shop, resulting in a frenzy of surprise business to the unsuspecting shop! To the upper right is the current Sneak Attack schedule. To participate, show up on this site at or soon after the time of the next attack and you'll see the chosen shop name in the box above. Then go to that shop and purchase an item, making sure to include the words "Sneak Attack" in the "message to seller". It's also fun to tune into the current thread on Etsy to talk about it with other "attackers".

Sneak Attack Team

What are the Results?

So far, they have launched 265 Sneak Attacks on a total of 638 shops, resulting in 5019 sales!  A list of past sneak attacks and the results are posted on their website.  In checking on some of the Etsy shops from past "attacks," some had continued to have regular sales, while some had disappeared.  The adventure of selling on Etsy is not an easy one and sometimes even a jump start like the one this group does isn't enough to keep you going.  

What can YOU do?

There are simple things each of us can do to help other sellers:

• FREE - Create and promote treasuries on Etsy, share interesting items you find on Etsy with your friends on Twitter, Facebook, etc.  I had never heard of Etsy until a friend on Facebook kept posting her favorite finds (Thanks, Mirielle!)
• BLOGGERS - Blogging is a great platform for highlighting your own and other people's shops.  My Etsy Wednesday and Feature Friday posts were created for that very reason. 
• SPENDING - When you do decide to do some shopping, check out Etsy before giving into going to a mass retailer.  Easter and Mother's Day are coming up and there are things you will find on Etsy that you won't find anywhere else. 

Your purchase or other kind of support might be just what some seller needs to keep pursuing their dream.  I hope you'll check out The Handmade Movement and join in on a sneak attack or two.