It may be a digital marketplace by design, but Etsy is expanding its sphere of influence and coming to a store near you. On Thursday, the makers’ online haven launched a series of curated city guides that will direct eager shoppers to various retailers that carry Etsy goods in their brick and mortar shops. Built using curation website On The Grid, the Etsy City Guides are here just in time for that last-minute Christmas shopping rush.
Currently available in Chicago, Austin, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles, the sleekly designed guides promise to help you “find unique handmade items from your favorite Etsy sellers at boutiques near you.” The brainchild of the Etsy Wholesale team, these guides actually made their debut last year, but were printed on paper and only available as a physical guide. Now, in an environmentally friendly digital push, the team has gone back to its online roots, allowing you to browse shops for various crafts and gifts.
While only four cities are represented as of now, New York City is said to be coming soon, and it seems as though demand may catalyze the introduction of even more shopping guides. Available both on a desktop and as a mobile experience, shoppers can search the guides by place or product, and can find store descriptions as well as the Etsy designers represented inside. And thanks to the interactive map section, you can see exactly where stores are located. On The Grid’s tagging system also allows Etsy to display what type of shop you’re getting yourself into, be it jewelry, clothing, coffee, or something else altogether.
The City Guides are the latest in Etsy’s ongoing push to make it easier than ever to buy from their large community of crafters, be it on or offline. Local listings are now available on the Etsy app, and there’s also same-day delivery in New York. And when shopping is this easy, it’s hard to say no.
