Celebrating Etsy Team Spirit

As the Internet opens our world to new people and opportunities around the globe, investing in genuine communities that foster a spirit of connectedness becomes increasingly important. That’s where Etsy Teams come in. Earlier this year, we put out the call for community members to nominate Etsy Teams that exhibit exceptional amounts of team spirit. A record number of votes poured in, and you told us how imporant these teams are, not only to your businesses, but also to your personal lives.

We read every single nomination, and your stories of friendship, support, mentorship and promotion confirmed that a unique sense of camaraderie truly powers the heart of the Etsy Teams community. We want to give a special shout-out to the 10 teams who received the highest number of nominations:

myBOOKmark

Two members of the Ukrainian Artists team.

1. Vintage Jewelry Sellers — Building awareness of Etsy as a vintage jewelry venue
2. Promotional Frenzy Team — All about gaining visibility
3. Etsy Vintage Elite — Dedicated to marketing vintage
4. Etsy Italia Team —  Italian Etsy sellers in Italy and abroad
5. SF Etsy Street Team — Local street team for sellers in the San Francisco Bay Area
6. Female Photographers of Etsy — Photographers from around the world
7. Pattern Patter Team — Collectors, sellers and creators of sewing patterns
8. Old Farmhouse Gathering — Artisans with an old-fashioned flair
9. With Love — Front Page curators with a heart
10. Sunshine Farm Girl Co-op — Friendly folks who advertise cooperatively

InFire

Etsy Italia Team at an event.

Congrats to all of the organizations above for the impressive number of votes they earned! Even more than numbers, the touching testimonials we received from folks nominating teams told the story of what Etsy Teams are all about. A few excerpts:

ElevenHandmade

Latvia Team at a meetup.

“As a part of the CAST team, I feel a sense of belonging. This team is always there for each other in innumerable ways, from helping a member with the expense of an international adoption by donations of artwork for an online auction to purchasing a wedding gown for a member bride by PayPal donations for fabric and a stipend for a team seamstress to make it. During Hurricane Sandy, a Canadian team member actually phoned the police in the New Jersey town of a team member we hadn’t heard from. Police checked. She was okay.” — Christian Artists Street Team

sammysgrammy

Members of the Christian Artists Street Team.

“Our team has offered a strong sense of unity, support and connection over a common interest — Etsy and creativity!” — Western Austalia Street Team

“Although we’ve never met, many of us feel as though our teammates are our life-long best friends! There is genuine love among us, generosity, sharing and support.” — Homespun Society

“This is a group of women (and a few men) who are all competitors in the same business, but we have this really unique group [that is] willing to share ideas and resources.  I think that is pretty unprecedented. We have built a support network that cheers us along on our business and personal journeys.” — Handstamping Crazies

ShinyRabbit

Educational event with the Western Australia Street Team.

“We are friends, and share our lives, families, joys and sorrows with other members. I look forward to it every day, and as soon as I get my first cup of coffee, I have to see what the team is up to in the discussion thread.” — Quiltsy

EmSewCrazy

Emsewcrazy from the Pattern Patter Team.

“It is more than a team; it is a support group. It is like the old sewing groups of the Colonial period. We have all become great virtual friends and it has been a source of wisdom and strength as we travel life’s road together.” — Pattern Patter

“I never really felt part of any group until I joined this team. The members are fun, caring, and really trying to make a difference in the world.” — Queer Etsy Street Team

“This team is a community of artists who know each other by name, celebrate sales, life’s milestones, and sympathize when things are not so peachy. I have learned so much from the team leaders and find Etsy to be a warm and inviting marketplace because of them.” — Supporting Artists

“Being a member of EGST has saved me a fortune in psychotherapy since talking with each other on a daily basis, interconnecting and sending out good energy makes me feel at ease. Most of all, this team has achieved something amazing: giving warmth through the coldness of a computer screen!” — Etsy Greek Street Team

J. Astra Brinkmann

Leaders of SFEtsy.

“This team is the epitome of the word ‘community’! Members have called it their ‘soft place to land’ and appreciate the sincere support. As one member put it, ‘When one of us gets cut, we all bleed a little.’ This team is small in number, but not in strength or faith! There have been many, many times that we have pulled together and prayed, sent energy, light and good will.”
—   Integrity of Vintage Team

We will be working hard over the next few months to reward each team and its leadership for a job well done in 2012, highlighting featured teams in upcoming editions of our newsletter, so be sure to sign up to get stories and community updates delivered straight to your inbox.

Thanks to everyone who participated in this year’s Team Spirit Award campaign for all of your participation in our community!