Amazon vs Etsy Who Will Win

by Carolyn Edlund

Amazon is launching a new “Handmade” marketplace to compete against Etsy, which went public in mid-April.

Although it’s too early to tell which way things will fall, events are happening at a rapid pace that may affect the outcome of this upcoming rivalry.

- Etsy sellers have bemoaned the retail giant’s practice of allowing mass-produced merchandise from China compete with the handmade-only merchandise on the once-purist site.

- Investors have filed lawsuits against Etsy, alleging that millions of items sold through the site may violate copyrights or trademarks from brands such as Disney, the NFL, Chanel, and others.

- Although the IPO just launched weeks ago, the stock price has plunged almost 25% due to these concerns.

Amazon is a retail monster, even compared to multi-billion dollar Etsy, and has already gotten into the business of art sales through its Fine Art category. Now they are headed into the handmade arena. They are reportedly wooing selected Etsy sellers with an offer and an attempt to migrate them over to Amazon’s new marketplace.

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