Sites like Etsy and Foodzie have helped artisans, artists and craftspeople connect directly with a market of interested buyers. Schemes like FairTrade have helped raise people’s awareness of, and appetite for, a better deal for producers in emerging economies.
So what would happen if you blended the two concepts?
Malaysian-based startup Elevyn is a web-based platform that allows craftmakers in marginalised communities to connect with a marketplace of socially-concious buyers.
How Elevyn.com Works
According to figures on their site, in some cases the current model leaves the craftmaker with as little as 10% of the final sale price of an item they create; Elevyn hopes to make that figure closer to 75% and raise money for community causes at the same time. As Devan Singaram from Elevyn explains:
“We initially met Indigenous Peoples who inspired us with their culture and crafts, but did not have access to markets because of their rural location … we realized that skilled artisans who were poor remained that way, because they either could not increase their export or get a fair price or receive fair wages, when people between them and the buyer were making most of the money.”
Supporting Craftspeople and Their Communities
Setting up a shop on Elevyn (which is free) works in much the same way as selling via Etsy or other similar services. The principle difference is that each shop holder must select a community cause (say, ‘buy 100 books for the local school’) which will receive 5% of whatever is sold via the shop.
Users can set up their own causes or select from existing ones and the company works closely with NGOs and other partners to help ensure access and training.
The success of Elevyn will come down to their ability to attract participants on both sides of the equation – not a small task when considering many marginalised communities have little or no access to the tools required.
Either way, the site is a great demonstration of the internet’s ability to disintermediate markets – bringing buyers together directly with sellers in a way that benefits both.
Site: www.elevyn.com
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Everything dynamic and very positively!