Holyoke-based Online Artists Market Celebrates 1st Anniversary

artsEfest.com celebrated two landmarks in its short life. First, Thursday July 15, marked one year to the day that it went online as an arts and crafts marketplace. artsEfest.com also gained its 100th artist.

HOLYOKE, Mass. (PRWEB) July 24, 2004 -- artsEfest.com celebrated two landmarks in its short life. First, Thursday July 15, marked one year to the day that it went online as an arts and crafts marketplace. artsEfest.com also gained its 100th artist.

I started artsEfest.com last year because I wanted artists and crafters to have a place where they could, at a low cost, market the works they are so passionate about 24 hours a day, without solely relying on weekend sales," artsEfest.com founder Brian Appell said. And consumers like to go to craft shows and arts festivals because they have the opportunity to view all types of creations in one location. Now they dont have to wait for the weekend. They dont even have to leave their homes."

artsEfest.com, which launched July 15, 2003, features exhibitors in a multitude of mediums, from apparel and food to painting and sculpture. Appell said he has exceeded his expectation of reaching the companys 100th paid exhibitor so quickly. Packages range from $50 to $120 per year.

Exhibitors from across the United States and Canada have reached eager patrons through artsEfest.com. Multimedia artist Pat Osmundsen says her business, PoKo Designs, has improved its search engine rankings constantly, and that orders are up dramatically.

Ive been with artsEfest just under a year now, and I cant recommend the site highly enough," Osmundsen said. Im filling more custom orders as well, due to the increased visibility artsEfest has brought me."

But besides being a place where artists can connect with potential buyers, artsEfest.com has an important social mission.

Appell said: In the age of mass-produced machine and sweatshop-made products, artsEfest aims to foster public appreciation for hand-made creations."

Artists can glean support in the nurturing environment artsEfest.com provides. Artists and crafters reach to each other for help through online forums, and they can receive pointers through a newsletter.

The mom and two teenagers who make up Always Crafty 2 joined artsEfest.com last fall and have thrived.

artsEfest.com is always a place for us as artists to come and grow ourselves," said the mom, Sandi Ramirez. I did not know anything about websites or photo sizing when I began this adventure, but now, with Brians help, I learn something new every day. Our site has grown from a small, 2-page business to many categories and pages of unique, hand-crafted items."

For additional information, please contact Brian Appell or visit www.artsEfest.com.

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