As we approach the holiday season, different marketplaces will deploy their own unique strategies to drive holiday traffic. Michaels has announced their new MakerPlace initiatives for the important upcoming holiday sales season. I am excited to see the continuing evolution of MakerPlace along with the additional integration and support from the Michael’s brand. I’ve been sharing updates on the platform with Handmade Seller readers all year. And here is what they are working on now. Make sure to read to the end for all the interesting announcements.
This season brings the launch of a holiday gift guide by beloved actress and Holiday Junkie ™, Jennifer Love Hewitt. Jennifer has selected 10 items from the MakerPlace marketplace to include in her holiday gift guide.
Jennifer shares “I’ve always felt that the most meaningful gifts are the ones with a personal touch, and there’s nothing more heartfelt than something handmade,” said Jennifer Love Hewitt. “Partnering with MakerPlace by Michaels is a way to share unique, beautiful gifts and support the small businesses and artisans who pour their passion into every piece. I hope these thoughtful pieces brighten your holiday season and bring joy to all who receive them.”
“We are absolutely delighted to team up with Jennifer Love Hewitt, whose infectious passion for celebrating the holidays and deep appreciation for handmade artistry make her the ideal partner for our handmade holiday gift guide,” said Scott Bramble, Vice President at MakerPlace by Michaels. “Her unique vision and creativity will undoubtedly inspire consumers to discover unique gifts, shop small, and support talented artisans this holiday season.”
It’s no secret that it has been a difficult year for many artisan businesses. Some marketplaces are trying to counteract the economic pressures by asking artisans to even further discount their prices in an effort to spur sales. This cuts into already tight margins for many business. However, Michael’s is also offering a discount with a twist.
“To further support makers this holiday season, all items sold on MakerPlace will be discounted 30% off as part of a special Small Business Saturday promotion from November 28 through December 3. This holiday promotion comes at no cost to sellers, giving customers even more reason to shop small for holiday gifts and support MakerPlace artisans while helping sellers boost sales during this competitive shopping season.”
Read that closely, and read it carefully. Michael’s is funding the discount, not asking sellers to fund the discount. This is a refreshing approach to see Michael’s parent company funding the promotion for MakerPlace.
If you are interested in seeing the full press release- you can find that here.
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