Throwback Thursday: Etsy in 2007
This video was made to celebrate Etsy’s year in 2007. That was the third year the company was in business and the second year we were invested. I think this does an incredible job of showing what the secret sauce was that made Etsy what it is.
Comments (Archived):
Looks like a hell of a lot of fun.
“Culture eats strategy for breakfast”Attribution to Peter Drucker, when he observed that you can’t create or implement a strategy that’s incompatible with a company’s culture. He said it’s like a country’s culture- you don’t change it, but you work with what you got. Luckily for startups, you have the luxury to create/boot-up a cool/effective culture from the ground up, like Etsy seemingly did.
At what point in a company’s growth does culture get locked down?
I wrote a long post on the evolution of startup culture – let me know if this doesn’t answer it:http://startupmanagement.or…
Yes! And a phenomenal reading list too.
And a test at the end 😉
William that was a Great well rounded post covering all aspects of Company culture .
Thanks! Glad you liked it.
.Culture never stops evolving. Ever.JLMwww.themusingsofthebigredca…
.Agree more with you than you do with yourself.Do not be forced into a false choice — Vision, Mission, Strategy, Tactics, Objectives, Values and CULTURE all work together when done correctly.JLMwww.themusingsofthebigredca…
It looks more like a social movement one joins than a marketplace.
That was true then and still is
The emotional connection made with the community is key.
Any company video that has a kitten in it is a winner in my book.I feel personally good about their success. That is how core their brand is to the market.
Congrats on the IPO.Whats Etsy.org? that’s being funded
a non-profit that will educate etsy sellers and people like them (women, creatives, etc) on entrepreneurship
“Sew useful” <—hahaha, I get it…I’m in stiches. (wah, wah, wah)
Button it.
He couldn’t zip it.
With such a rich seam of puns this could become a very long thread.
It will be tailor-made. Measure twice, cut once.
Upvoted all…you seem to have a vested interest in puns, despite all the hemming and hawing.
You are the master tailor of puns.
These puns are duds.
It’s unravelling now.
‘frayed not
They aren’t as fashionable as other ones from another season.
AVC = A Very Cool Marketplaceforpuns
Abunchof Veracious Commenters
Oh good, I was hoping someone would help…I’m a little off my game on the pun front lol
That must have cost a lot! What’s the business value of a video like this?
1. Biz value: emotional connection, employee morale, cementing culture and values, recruiting tool, investor pitch. And as Gerry the Elephant said: HAVE FUN!2. Not sure it cost a lot – it’s ETSY after all – all that’s required is some footage and editing on a desktop tool, then add soundtrack. Could be a fiverr job. Welcome to the new economy. So totally worth it.3. Paraphrasing, “if you have to ask how much it costs, then you don’t get it”Congrats Fred and Brad. Great company, well done!
Thanks for replying. I posted then deleted the question because it seemed a bit snarky, but I value the reply.
Congrats on the exit.
Is it an exit? Can’t seem to find which shares are being sold in the flotation. Raising $267 million doesn’t leave much for founders/Friends&Family, etc….
Found it – If I read it right, USV is only selling about 6% of their Etsy holding unless the underwriters call on more…. So they’re in it for the longer haul.https://www.sec.gov/Archive…
Congratulations Fred, to you and the team. Well deserved win and a testament to building great businesses for the long haul.
thanks Mark
Taking it back even further, I went to high school with Kalin. Etsy is a total extension of who he was, even then.
that is correct
Just this morning I am sitting in a Starbucks in Texas. A women behind me has a kick-ass cover for her laptop. Some guy comes up and says “where did you get THAT!””I ordered it on Etsy!” The tendrils are everywhere. Great stuff.
yessssss
Congratulations again! Great for the company, the investors, the buyers and sellers on the site – and for NYC!
thanks Rich
Congratulations! I love Etsy and have found some truly unique and awesome products there.
.There is nothing as gratifying as seeing a plan come together.Congratulations!Enjoy it. You earned it.JLMwww.themusingsofthebigredca…
All I can say is CONGRATULATIONS and the move of bringing Chad in from the west cost as CTO and then showing how he aligned the tech on a successful trajectory was great. He then became the CEO and took the company public. I had a chance to meet with him a few times back when he came on board so to see him today….it is just a great success. Again congrats to all. JOB WELL DONE!
Fitting post on this momentous day. Wow and Congratulations! My 17 y.o. daughter (18 tomorrow) probably had a small part in that valuation. 😉
hehe
It’s pretty wild on its first public day, congratulations to all shareholders
Congrats to Etsy and the USV team for their investment.Quick question: Did Etsy’s B-Corp status affect the IPO process at all? If not technically, was it something that needed to be explained to new investors?
Etsy Infographic from Equityzen
Yes-Huge congratulations to you and Etsy and USV-a fun day!
Congrats aside, Fred. How much did you make from this deal ? Feels sheepish while asking but curiosity kills
More than I deserve
Good things happen to good people. You deserve it.
Read this quote somewhere, I believe it’s very fitting to share today…”It’s time for you to live up to your success – smile and take a bow!”Cheers to You and USV Family!
Just want to add my congratulations to the mix as well. Success is hard and always worth celebrating :).
awesome. You and brad developed and executed on one of the more incredible investment theses.
congrats. #rockstar stuff
Fred, would it be possible to post Etsy’s pitch deck? I heard it was one of the best you have seen.
Loved the tour we got of Etsy at an event there last month. The mix of culture, creativity, and analytics was infectious. Congrats to you all. Very cool and must be very satisfying for you to have nurtured their success.
Thanks Charlie
Sadly the Hobby Lobby/Michael’s contingent is still a good 20 years back…gal that brings her dog to local park is the manager of an HL, and even she thinks they are bound to fail.
It really is, especially something like what Craftsy/Sympoz is doing