(PRWEB via PRWebDirect) November 10, 2008 -- Artfire.com, a new interactive artisan community launched in October, allows users to list handmade items, including pictures, with no fees. The basic user level allows sellers to list up to 10 items at a time for absolutely free. There are no insertion fees, no picture fees, no final valuation fees. There are no fees. Everything is completely free.
There is a DIY renaissance taking place in America. Fear over the safety of imported products coupled with a new thrifty mindset brought on by the economic crisis has magnified this trend. In homes across the country knitters, soap makers and crafters of all types are creating high quality handmade goods every day.
Until now, the only ways to start an online business and sell these items required money up front in the form of either a website or insertion fees on sales sites. Artfire.com is making the start-up of an online business free, and people are flocking to it. In the sites first month of beta testing, with no real marketing, almost 1900 people have already joined.
So what's the catch? How does this website make money? For larger sellers, there is a premium level that allows users to have a custom shop and list unlimited items with up to 10 pictures per item for a flat rate of $20/month. Premium accounts have access to blogging, trade guilds, forums and other social media focused on crafters and artisans.
However, it costs nothing to use the site as a basic user and a small artisan could sell hundreds of items per year using this method for free. That's a far cry from the 10-15% fees that eBay charges when coupled with its subsidiary pay pal.
As if the price wasn't enough, artfire.com has partnered with Trees for the Future to plant a tree for every free member who joins. The company's goal is to plant over 1 million trees in the first two years. They have already planted the first 5,000 as a welcome to new members.
"American crafters are ready to turn their talents into additional income," says Tony Ford, EVP of Marketing for Artfire.com. "We feel that the entrepreneurial spirit and the creative talents of real people need to be set free from old business models that prey on their hope and tax their creativity."
"It's all about the artists,'' said John Jacobs, President of Art Fire. ''There are so many talented artists out there who do fantastic work, but are struggling to get a foothold due to the costs of our competitors. Art Fire offers them an outlet for their talents."
Contact:
Tony Ford, MBA, EVP, Marketing
Artfire.com
tony@artfire.com
1668 S. Research Loop, #322
Tucson, Arizona 85710
Toll Free: 1-877-688-2323
Mobile (864) 276-8319
Facsimile: 520-722-1206
www.artfire.com
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