In light of the #MeToo and #LightUp movement, as well as the celebration of Women's History Month, one can definitely expect advertising to reach an all-time high in all sorts of media. One company, however, has made the decision right from its inception to "celebrate" the movement and workplace diversity, and it has been proudly doing so for 14 years now.
The company in question is Etsy, a $3.9 billion company that acts as the global marketplace for creative and uniquely-made goods. Describing itself as the "home to a universe of special, extraordinary items, from unique handcrafted pieces to vintage treasures," the company is also one of the world's largest community for female entrepreneurs, accounting up to around 87 percent of their current total entrepreneurs.
Founded in the Big Apple, Etsy is a company that believes in keeping "commerce human," and it does so by investing in services that can help fuel their sellers' success, which further attributes to the company's success not just in its financial goals but also in its so-called "advocacy." Furthermore, the platform also encourages millennial women, giving them all the services they need to succeed on the platform. In fact, 30 percent of Etsy sellers are women, and around 97 percent of them do so on a work-from-home basis.
Presumably, these women working in an environment that makes them feel comfortable and more productive results in guaranteed success, as they feel happier and are more eager to work.
Women empowerment through entrepreneurship
In a Forbes release, Etsy shop owner Alycia Maskiew described her experience with the platform as, "It all started with a sewing machine and the passion to do something all my own. I was working at a job I didn't love and so badly wanted to be my own boss. Ask Yo Mother started in 2016 when I have been gifted a sewing machine and the possibilities seemed endless."
Nadia Warda, on the other hand, who owns the Etsy shop Cocoandclay, is really happy that she's able to bring traditional skincare through the platform. She says, "In 2012 I mixed my first 100 percent natural face mask with the ingredients and after a few weeks my complexion improved considerably. To this day all my formulas are still created and tested by me."
Becoming a leader in world tech when it comes to supporting women, this year Etsy plans to execute their new focused growth strategy, continue investing in their employees, and connect more of their entrepreneurs with buyers from all over the world.
