Are you artsy?

If you are then...then etsy.com is where it's at! Etsy is ebay for artists and crafty people like myself. You can find a huge array of items including art, photography, clothing, jewelry, edibles, bath & beauty products, quilts, knick-knacks and toys.

People also sell craft supplies like beads, wire, jewelry making tools and so much more. The only rules are that ther vintage items on their site have to be 20 years or older. You can list items like old shoes, dresses, hats, scarves, etc... The site has an wide variety of funky handmade clothing.

The site works like ebay in that it uses the rating system to rate the sellers and buyers so you know they have had successful transactions in the past.

Artists have struggled in the past finding a place to sell their unique items and now they have an outlet.

Craigslist Brings Opportunity and...

Friends of mine moved here from Fort Lauderdale about 4 years ago. Both of them graduated from the Art Institute in Fort Lauderdale. Jumping from Fort Lauderdale to Pensacola Florida was an eye opening experience to say the least. One of the first questions they asked me is "why are there no jobs on Craigslist for this area?". Of course, my response was, "what is Craigslist?" They explained to me that in Fort Lauderdale, that is how they made a living. They searched Craigslist for work and were able to freelance their way through college.

That was 4 years ago and look at us now! Unfortunately the job market in Pensacola is scarce with or without Craigslist so my friends have not had much luck freelancing but the opportunities for everyday people have become overwhelming. You can sell just about anything on Craigslist and people all shapes and sizes are doing it. Now grandma has something to do! It's just that easy.

It is my belief that Craigslist and other sites like eBay or Amazon are having a significant effect on our economy. Why buy something new at a retail price when you can buy something slightly used or even brand new for half or more than half of the retail price. It just makes sense.

How can something so simple be so effective? Will it be free forever? When will there be a new face of Craigslist with pop ups ads and banners all over the page? Only time will tell.