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Craft Party 2015: Sign Up Today

Our annual celebration of crafting and community will take place around the world on June 5 and 6. Register to host or attend a Craft Party in your city.

Avatar image for Lauren Hoban by Lauren Hoban
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Much like a kaleidoscope, the theme of this year's Craft Party project, the Etsy community is multifaceted — made up of sellers, shoppers and people passionate about crafts and creativity. Six years ago, we found a way to bring all these people together for a day of making and community. Since then, Etsy's global Craft Party has grown around the world to include hundreds of parties and thousands of guests. As we announced last month, the 2015 Etsy Craft Parties will take place around the globe on Friday June 5 and Saturday June 6. Won’t you join us?

Etsy Craft Party is truly an event for everyone, with each of the hundreds of parties that take place as unique as the hosts who plan them. Not an Etsy seller? No problem! Etsy Craft Party is not exclusive and anybody can host an event. We'll offer ideas and coaching to help you plan a terrific party. Jessica Sharp, owner of Greenville, South Carolina-based Etsy Shop Tin Oiseau and captain of the South Carolina Etsy team will celebrate her fourth Craft Party this year. Hosting previous Craft Parties gave Jessica a chance to meet members of her team in person, and has led to increased team participation following the events. Aiming for her biggest and most successful event yet, Jessica is seeking out a great location for the party and planning promotions via various social media channels. "We found that promoting the party on social media, particularly Instagram, got people really excited about attending," Jessica reports. "We even had a group of people drive all the way from Atlanta to Greenville, South Carolina for the event!" Hosting a Craft Party can also be a great way to connect with resources in your local community. "Through Craft Party we gained community support from other local vendors who expressed interest in hosting future team events," Jessica explains.

Jessica encourages Craft Party attendees to network by devoting a table in the event space to a business card exchange.

The Etsy Craft Party website features a digital toolkit that will provide you with party planning advice, instructions to promote your event and a guide to recruit local businesses to sponsor your party. These resources can be used year-round to plan promotional events and campaigns to increase business.

This year we're making it easier than ever to plan and host your own Etsy Craft Party with the launch of our new Craft Party Calendar. Using feedback from veteran hosts, we’ve designed a site that will help make inviting and tracking guests simple and convenient. Be sure to explore the features listed below.

  • Smoother Registration. Rather than being hosted by a third-party site, the Craft Party Calendar is integrated into Etsy's website, which will lead to a more cohesive online registration experience.

  • Better Search Options. We’ve built a better search function for guests to find your party.

  • Privacy Options. Don’t want strangers to find your party? Make your event private and only invite your personal network. You can still use all of the helpful tools on the site, but the general public won’t be able to find or access information about your event.

Register your event on the Craft Party Calendar and get 35 RSVPs by May 18 and you will receive a box of Etsy swag to use at your Craft Party. Prefer to be a guest at someone else’s party? Search the Craft Party Calendar to find and register for a local party in your area.

Why Plan an Etsy Craft Party?

To Say Thanks

Opening a small business takes a few helping hands to get going. Hosting a party can be a fitting way to say thank you to those who supported you along the way. Think about the local customers who always track you down at craft fairs, the suppliers who make sure you can fulfill orders and family members who have stayed up late helping to package your shipments — what a fun way to thank them and acknowledge their support!

Team Bonding

If you are a captain or member of an Etsy Team, hosting a Craft Party for your team is a fun way to bring everyone together. Looking to grow your team? Invite new local sellers in your area to the party.

New Business

Try making your event public and see who attends. People interested in attending an event centered around crafting most likely have an appreciation for handmade goods and could be ideal new customers. If you’ve been trying to target certain local vendors to showcase your merchandise, inviting them to your Etsy Craft Party will give you face time with them in a new environment.

It’s Unique

Dinner, drinks and movies with friends and family are fun, but anyone looking to mix it up a bit will be thrilled to receive an invitation to your Craft Party.

With so many events happening around the world, we want to see them all! Share your planning and party pictures with us by tagging #craftparty and @Etsy.

Avatar image for Lauren Hoban Words by Lauren Hoban

Lauren Hoban leads Etsy’s seller events outreach team, organizing community events like Etsy Craft Party and Etsy Craft Nights.

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