Etsy

UPDATE: Hello Friends,

Yesterday we made changes to the Global Navigation, the gray bar that appears on every page. Our intention was to inspire and engage Holiday shoppers, not to redirect traffic from individual shops.

In retrospect, we realize that we implemented this change without adequate communication and community input, and we apologize for this. We have decided to remove the Gift Guide link from the top navigation and will do so as soon as technically possible.

We do take seriously the need to strike the right balance between the shopper experience and the needs of the seller community. To that end, we intend to discuss first with Etsy’s Community Council and then more broadly the notion that the global navigation can be utilized as a beacon or guide to engage shoppers for the betterment of the entire Etsy Community.

Respectfully Yours,

Matt and Mary

[The following was originally posted November 10, 2009.]

In preparation for the holiday shopping season — a time when shoppers are seeking ideas for that perfect, thoughtful gift — we have launched our Holiday Gift Guides to provide inspiration, show the variety of items available on Etsy and direct visitors to related Category pages. During the Holiday season, these guides will be accessible through the global navigation as well as the home page; this placement serves to draw shoppers into the site and engage them to related content — on The Storque, in the Category pages, and throughout Etsy’s Search.

Our goal is to keep the Holiday Gift Guides fresh and representative of the variety that makes Etsy a unique destination for gifts. Each day, we will update these guides with new items and new shops and would very much like to enlist your help in that process. See instructions below on how you can nominate items from your shop or your Favorites on Etsy.

FAQ:

Q. How are items selected for the Holiday Gift Guides?
A. The Holiday Gift Guides are designed to provide inspiration for that hard-to-buy-for person and show the variety of gifts available on Etsy. Etsy’s staff (Admin) select items that are beautifully photographed, come with an interesting story/description and fit with the Holiday Gift Guide themes. We search the site daily to add new items and new shops.

Q. How do I nominate items for the Holiday Gift Guides?
A. To keep our Holiday Gift Guides fresh, we’d like to enlist your support in recommending gift items – either from your shop or from your favorite shops on the site. In making our selection, we will continue to take into account the quality of the item, the photography, the description, and overall fit with the Holiday Gift Guide themes. To nominate an item or shop, please access this Forum thread and remember to include the name of the relevant Holiday Gift Guide.

Thank you and Happy Holidays!

Image by BonMoment