Etsy

Etsy is an online marketplace for handmade goods, craft supplies and vintage items, founded in Brooklyn in 2005. It connects millions of independent sellers — many of them one-person businesses run from home — with buyers looking for products that mass retail does not offer.

The platform's appeal is the direct line to the maker: items are often customizable, and purchases support individual craftspeople rather than large brands. Etsy reports that its marketplace is powered by renewable electricity and has invested in carbon-offsetting every delivery.

Since its 2015 IPO, Etsy has faced recurring tension between shareholder growth and its artisan roots: rising seller fees, mandatory ad programs and an influx of mass-produced and dropshipped goods have prompted seller protests and stricter "handmade" policies. It remains, however, one of the few large marketplaces where buying from an actual person is the norm.