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We are proud to share that Insider recently named Toni Thompson, Etsy’s VP of People Strategy and Operations, as one of the 16 diversity executives transforming the workplace in post-George Floyd corporate America. This annual list recognizes executives that are helping break barriers for hundreds of thousands of workers while also collaborating with their CEOs to make their policies and business practices more inclusive. As Toni said, "It's very natural for companies to be laser-focused on the financials and goal achievement that influence the financial health of the company. There are many HR and DEI efforts that support the top and bottom line, but it's hard for people to make those connections. I'm thankful the executive team at Etsy gets it." Etsy takes pride in the progress we’ve made but we also acknowledge that we're on a long-term journey towards greater diversity, equity and inclusion. Congratulations and thank you to Toni for her continued support in identifying meaningful opportunities, and to the many colleagues who continuously help us to drive tangible change.
Just in time for holiday shopping, our very own Josh Silverman met with President Biden and other private sector leaders at the White House for a discussion around global supply chain challenges and the unique strengths of small businesses. He shared how Etsy sellers – who typically don’t rely on overseas production and fulfillment lines – are agile, resilient, and ready to deliver unique and handcrafted items to their customers when other retailers may not be able to do so. Representing the voice of small businesses, our CEO championed our dynamic sellers and reminded the administration to consider actions that promote an environment where small businesses are able to operate and thrive. Interested in learning more about the power of small business and why shopping small matters? You can read more here.
Most anyone working at Etsy will tell you that we’re growing notably, moving quickly, and always looking to innovate. Being named #5 on Fortune's 100 Fastest-Growing Companies list further underscores our progress and our employees’ efforts. This Fortune list is their annual ranking of the world’s top growers in revenues, profits, and stock returns, therefore providing a snapshot of trends driving the global economy. Interested in joining one of the fastest growing companies in the world? Take a look at our Careers Page. Hopefully you’ll see something that aligns with both your experience and aspirations!
We are particularly excited to have earned this most recent Fast Company award of “Brands that Matter” because it emphasizes what makes us so proud: we’re a company that strives to make a positive impact in the world. Since 2005, Etsy has supported artisans and small businesses selling handmade or vintage items. These sellers inspire us – they are why Etsy exists and who we work to support. In 2020, we pledged $13 million of support to our sellers, advocating on their behalf to the U.S. Congress to ensure that the self-employed were included in pandemic-relief bills and legislation. As nearly 10 million U.S. citizens lost work due to the pandemic, Etsy created 2.6 million jobs in 2020, enough to employ the entire city of Houston, and generated roughly $4 billion in income for U.S. households. It’s efforts like these that helped to earn us this award, and we’re determined to continue to support our sellers in ambitious ways. Check out the full list of award recipients here.
As part of our Uplift Makers Program, we facilitated the launch of individual Etsy shops for the renowned quilters of Gee’s Bend, a remote, Black community in Alabama. While the quilters have been celebrated for their contributions to American art history, that fame has not previously translated to economic opportunity. Our initial launch included ten quilters and since then, an additional nine Gee’s Bend Etsy shops have sprung to life. In partnership with Nest and Souls Grown Deep Foundation, Etsy’s efforts have helped the quilters overcome long-lasting financial barriers by bringing their work online. Within 24 hours of launching on Etsy’s platform, many of the quilters’ shops had sold out and within the first six months, the quilters have generated more than $300,000 in sales through their Etsy shops. To learn more about the quilters and shop their one-of-a-kind works of art, please check our our Uplift Makers page here.
At Etsy, we take pride in serving as an on-ramp to entrepreneurship. With just $0.20 and a creative idea, someone can start a business from their home and build it from the ground up. That being said, we recognize that not every community has access to the resources needed to launch a business, such as an internet connection or a bank account. In our ongoing efforts to level the playing field for all creative entrepreneurs, we’ve launched the Etsy Uplift Initiative, a series of programs that opens doors and builds opportunities for historically economically disenfranchised communities. Keep an eye out for additional stories spotlighting a couple of talented artisan communities that are participating in the Uplift Makers Program, a key component of the Etsy Uplift Initiative, and learn more about the initiative itself in our Etsy News blog here.
Our mission is to keep commerce human, and the steps we take to do that have even earned us a spot on Forbes’ Just 100 list of the top corporate citizens. Etsy CEO Josh Silverman recently spoke with Forbes about Etsy's competitive positioning and differentiated offerings within the e-commerce industry. Josh also discussed some of our cutting-edge technology and how it helps to drive business for our millions of sellers around the world. Read more here!
Today, more than 30% of Etsy’s engineering team are women, almost double most industry benchmarks. Something we’ve learned along the way is this: how we hire a gender diverse software engineering team is important, but how we maintain a supportive and empowering environment is essential. Within this Forbes piece, our Chief Operations, Strategy, and People Officer Raina Moskowitz speaks to some of the steps we take at Etsy to foster a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace. Click in to read more!
We know that candidates have countless factors to consider during a job search. For instance, are flexible work policies and in-office safety precautions important to you? If so, you’re not alone. That's why we developed a dedicated careers page to help folks find the information they're looking for, from Etsy's vaccination policies, to our various Remote, Flex, and Office-based working modes. We hope that, with this knowledge, candidates will feel more comfortable and excited for their next steps at Etsy having these big questions out of the way. Take a look at the page we’re so excited about here.
Interested in a one-of-a-kind shopping adventure? The Etsy House is our first-ever interactive, augmented-reality experience that allows shoppers to “virtually walk through” and shop a digital home filled with curated Etsy items. The Etsy House is an exciting initiative that showcases some of the best items on #Etsy with photorealistic and true-to-scale renderings. We’re proud that via this virtual home filled with bespoke furniture, artwork, and holiday decor, we’re able to showcase, celebrate, and amplify the incredible works of our seller community. Since the house is shoppable, perhaps a few of these items will make their way from our home to yours!
