Technology advances as people find new ways to replace man power with artificial intelligence. The trend seems to make home cooks and crafters (1)lose their ground. Emails and e-cards replacing hand written letters and greeting cards, store bought instant meals (A)substituting for homemade comfort food, and mass produced clothing flooding our closets become common sights. While many view ever-evolving technology as detrimental to handmade products, many crafters rediscovered their passions and confidence with online marketplaces that fueled enthusiastic crafters and home cooks to turn their hobbies into a career.
人們不停追尋以人工智慧取代人力，科技進步了，但這個趨勢反而讓烹調達人及手工達人失勢。電子郵件及電子賀卡取代傳統信件、快餐取代家中溫馨料理、量產的衣物淹沒衣櫃的場景都隨處可見。某方面來說，科技扼殺工藝產業，但也有一些手工達人在網路裡重新燃起的熱情和自信，他們的興趣因此變成了事業。
In searching a new method to share and advertise their creations, many crafters join online market places, such as eBay and Etsy. Unlike the brick-and-mortar method, which would cost shop owner rent, electricity and utility fees, online market places charge only a small percent of each item sold and even less for listing items. Eliminating the extra cost benefits both the seller and buyer since lower cost tends to translate to lower price.
手工達人為了分享並宣傳自己的作品加入了eBay及Etsy等網路市場。不像實體店面要付租金、水電及其他開銷，網路市場只索取一小部分各個賣出商品的交易手續費及為數極少的刊登費，省去多餘的開銷讓買家賣家雙方受惠，因為低成本通常代表低標價。
Before Etsy, many crafters crowded eBay because it was the first to allow crafters to sell their handmade items. However, some crafters turned to Etsy when it was launched. Each website has its (2)pros and cons; thus a considerable number of crafters use both market places to target different customers. For variety, eBay offers thousands of categories and three purchasing options, auction bidding, buy it now and best offer while Etsy only features craft-related items and provides one simple purchase option. Unable to (B)rival eBay’s diverse categories and competitive pricing, Etsy focused on meeting crafters’ demand. The blog feature on Etsy optimizes the quality of communication between sellers and buyers, and provides a chance for crafters to share the making process to better inform the buyers
在Etsy之前，多數手工達人擠進當時唯一讓賣家銷售手工藝品的Ebay，但有些達人在2005年Etsy正式上路後投入了Etsy的懷抱。兩個網站各有利弊，所以頗多的達人兩者皆用以吸引不同的顧客群。在多樣化方面，eBay有上千種的產品類型並提供三種不同的購買方式－競標、最高報價、即刻購買，Etsy則以手工藝品及材料做為號召，只提供簡單的即刻購買方式。雖然不及eBay多樣化，價格也不能與其競爭，Etsy則專注於手工達人的需求。Etsy的部落格功能不但讓賣家買家賣家更有效的溝通，也讓達人們分享他們的作品製作，好讓買家了解每位達人製作過程的苦樂。
With eBay and Etsy, crafts and handmade goods are no longer deemed as (3)old fashioned. Regardless their reasons—to make their hobby self-sustaining, to (C)bolster their children’s college fund, or to transform their hobbies into a full time job—the crafters and home cooks all share their perpetuating creativity and boundless enthusiasm. Ebay and Etsy are the perfect platform for showcasing their true selves. The launch of these online marketplaces proves that imagination goes far. However, when imagination clashes and combines, the result may even surpass the original expectations!
Ebay 和Etsy讓市場感受到工藝品仍未過時。無論是想自給自足、為援助下一代大學基金，或是將興趣轉成全職工作，這些達人都有同樣永不止息的創造力及無限的熱情，而eBay 和Etsy則提供了讓他們展現自我的完美平台。網路市場的創立證明想像力無遠弗屆，但當想像力互相衝突整合之後，效果將會超乎預期！
文章出處：世界公民 College
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