Artisan Marketplace ArtFire.com Launches New Commercial Marketplace and Offers Discounted Rate

Tucson, AZ, October 12, 2011 --(PR.com)-- After a year-long discussion with ArtFire members on how to handle commercial sellers entering the Handmade Marketplace, ArtFire.com has launched their newest top-level marketplace, the “Commercial Marketplace.” The new Commercial Marketplace creates a space for sellers with items that do not otherwise meet the criteria to fit in existing marketplaces like Handmade and Vintage. As part of the grand opening of the Commercial Marketplace, ArtFire is offering an Early Bird Special price to new Commercial sellers.

The first thousand Commercial sellers to set up new accounts on ArtFire qualify for the Early Bird Special: One hundred dollars for one year. This special rate is more than a 30% discount off the current rate. Sellers in the Commercial Marketplace will not be able to list in the Traditional Marketplaces (Handmade, Fine Art, Media, Design, Vintage, and Supplies). The addition of a commercial section to ArtFire is designed to eliminate the confusion between artisan and factory-produced products and to eliminate misrepresentation.

ArtFire COO Tony Ford comments, "Every artisan marketplace runs into a challenge in trying to ensure that artisan product is clearly artisan product, and that shoppers can trust they are buying from the artisan. With the Commercial Marketplace, ArtFire clearly marks all commercial product so that both shoppers and artists can clearly see the difference. This simple adaptation reduces the need for commercial sellers to misrepresent their wares as a method of joining the community and gives them their own space outside of the artisan market."

To ensure that Commercial sellers are placed correctly in the Commercial marketplace, shops will be policed by the community via "report this shop" links only visible to other logged-in sellers. Clicking on the link will pop up a report form which will then go to customer service for review. The Early Bird Special will also be offered to existing sellers on the site with Traditional accounts, but the offer ends on October 31st or when 1000 Commercial sellers have signed up.

More about ArtFire.com

ArtFire offers unique selling tools, interactive features, and a culture of community directed development for artisans and small business owners across the globe. ArtFire allows sellers to set up fully customizable studio storefronts to sell their items and helps members promote elsewhere on the web with the Facebook Kiosk, Rapid Cart, and Coupon Code system. These tools allow sellers to distinguish their brand and have more control over their business.

###