Since the launch out of beta in August of last year, Etsy Wholesale has committed to helping designers scale by providing a platform where they can grow their businesses, offering support to sellers through seller education and workshops, and creating special programs to directly connect them with independent boutiques and established retailers. For special programs, Etsy takes careful consideration to select retailers who share our same values: offering quality handmade goods, building long-lasting relationships and supporting independent designers. Today Etsy launches Etsy Wholesale Open Call, a new program with five amazing retail partners: Nordstrom, Lou & Grey, Clementine, the Walker Art Center’s Walker Shop, and The Land of Nod. Open Call is the newest way Etsy Wholesale is helping designers elevate their businesses. Through Open Call, up to 50 Etsy Wholesale designers will have the opportunity to be selected to attend a one-day event at Etsy’s headquarters in Brooklyn, NY where they will pitch their product lines face-to-face to buyers from each of the retail partners. Throughout the day, attendees will also participate in workshops and seller development discussions led by retail industry leaders and experts in photography and printing from Canon. Editor for Refinery29, Erin Cunningham, will also be in attendance to serve as a trend expert and speak to sellers on what the media looks for in new product. Following the event, buyers from each retailer will place orders to stock their shelves with select products from Etsy Wholesale designers for the upcoming holiday season.

“We’re always so inspired by the artists we work with, and collaborating with them is one of our favorite parts of creating new products. We are really excited to be a part of Etsy Wholesale Open Call because it will allow us to explore and create relationships with so many new artists.” - Michelle Kohanzo, Managing Director, The Land of Nod

From today to June 4, sellers accepted to Etsy Wholesale for Open Call consideration will automatically be entered for a chance to win products from Canon USA, Inc., who is generously supporting the program. Sweepstakes prizes include one EOS 70D DSLR camera with EF-S 18-135 IS STM Lens kit  and three PIXMA iP8720 Wireless Inkjet Photo Printers  per monthly drawing. Canon USA, Inc. is excited to help designers improve their brands’ professional wholesale presentation — through exceptional photography and high quality printed collateral, linesheets, packaging and art prints.* To apply for Open Call, designers are required to post an image of their best product on Instagram, include a brief pitch to the participating retail partners in the caption, and tag the post with #EtsyOpenCall @EtsyWholesale. Designers, who must also be approved for Etsy Wholesale if they’re not already, will be selected by the Etsy Wholesale team and the retailers by June 23 and announced on July 1 on the Etsy Wholesale blog. Open Call continues to build on our success with Nordstrom who, just earlier this spring, launched two trunk shows in California locations introducing Etsy designers into their jewelry category with designer, Anne Loarie. The program also follows the success of Etsy Wholesale’s collaboration with the American Museum of Natural History in March. The Museum curated a selection of more than 140 items for their gift shop from designers sourced through Etsy Wholesale, including Smidge Co., Redraven Studios, and MulleinandSparrow. As part of the collaboration, the Museum hosted a group of seven Etsy designers on a behind-the-scenes tour of their collections that inspired a unique product designs for the shop. [caption id="attachment_8816796" align="aligncenter" width="476"] American Museum of Natural History. Credit: Marina Robel.[/caption] This month, Etsy Wholesale worked with designers to launch Etsy pop-up shops in the Whole Body department at select Whole Foods store locations in New York City. Some of the featured designers include: Tina Produce, Claudia Pearson, and Art Goodies. In addition to selling their handmade items in the three New York City locations — Chelsea, Tribeca and Brooklyn — the designers will also be making in-store appearances, giving them a chance to personally connect with Whole Foods Market shoppers. [caption id="attachment_8816797" align="aligncenter" width="476"] Whole Foods Pop-up Shop. Credit: Marina Robel.[/caption] The Open Call program is another creative opportunity for wholesale designers to interact with respected retailers in different categories and have the potential to grow their business. Etsy Wholesale will continue to build relationships with like-minded retail partners and open doors for growth for the Etsy community.

“I’m looking to discover something I haven't seen before at Etsy’s Open Call. When I come to Etsy, I come for three reasons: to fill a current void for a specific product in the shop, to see what's trending and to be surprised and delighted by new products.” - Emily Blistein, Store Owner, Clementine

For more information on the Open Call program please visit etsy.com/wholesale/opencall. *[NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER. Promotion is open to legal residents of the 50 United States, and District of Columbia, ages 18 or older. Entries must be received between 12:01 PM ET on April 20, 2015 and 11:59:59 PM ET on July 20, 2015. Sixteen prizes available. Odds depend on number of eligible entries received. Go to www.etsy.com/wholesale/opencall to enter and for Official Rules. Sponsor: Etsy, Inc.]