Etsy launches 'Etsy Wholesale,' a platform for retailers

Etsy’s working hard to offer more options to retailers nationwide. The evidence? Etsy Wholesale just launched today from beta and aims to help Etsy sellers grow their business by providing the necessary tools to make that possible.

The new platform allows independent boutiques to buy items from Etsy Wholesale Sellers — at wholesale prices — to sell in their own stores.

Previously, the company partnered with retailers like West Elm and Nordstrom and small boutiques to educate business owners and offer additional growth opportunities.

The beta phase of Etsy Wholesale gave the team behind it an opportunity to get feedback on what sellers want and what would make for the best integration between this new platform and Etsy.com, as most sellers make use of both regularly.

According to the company’s announcement blog post, Etsy Wholesale will see more innovation in the coming months to help independent sellers promote themselves. For instance, it plans to partner with Dossier, a Brooklyn-based magazine, to showcase products from Etsy Wholesale sellers and expose them to a wider audience.

The platform costs new applicants a flat $100 fee and applies a 3.5 percent fee across completed orders for all sellers. Retailers can easily apply for Etsy Wholesale now.

Earlier this year, Etsy bought tech marketplace Grand St. for an undisclosed amount. It also launched an iOS app designed specifically with sellers in mind.

Etsy was founded in 2005. It’s based in Brooklyn and currently employs 300 people. It’s gone through eight funding rounds so far, the last occurring in May 2014 for $5.6 million.