Business Matters - Marketplaces - Nest

"Everyone needs beauty as well as bread." John Muir

As part of my series of reviewing different places to sell your arts and crafts, this week I'm going to tell you about Nest. Nest is great! It is a non-profit organization that raises funds to support women artists in developing countries using micro-credit loans. You can read lots more about them on their website and blog and I encourage you to take a look.

I started working with them last year. They have three different programs for artists to get involved with - and I like the idea that what I do is helping another woman do her art too.

The main program is that Nest has an online marketplace where you can sell up to 15 products. You then select to donate either 25%, 30% or 35% of each sale to Nest and their micro-loan program. They deduct their percentage and send you the rest. I currently have 13 items for sale with Nest on their marketplace. The women who receive the loans also sell their products on the website too.

Their second program is called "Shop to Save the world". This is a shorter commitment where you dedicate a certain percentage of all sales from a specific event (like a trunk show or house party) or a specific time period (ie 1 month of online sales) to Nest. Nest then helps you promote the event and provides literature about their organization. I did a show at home last December and donated 20% of all sales. It generated a lot of interest in Nest from my buyers.

Their third program is called "Friends of Nest". This is a longer term commitment for a minimum of one year. During this time period you dedicate 1 - 3 products as Nest items. A percentage of the proceeds of these sales is then donated to Nest, wherever you sell them. Nest provides tags and marketing assistance so customers know what their purchase is supporting.


You can choose which program(s) you wish to be involved with and what donation level you want to give.

Nest provides alot of information on the recipients of the loans so I feel well connected with where the funds are going. The staff are all great there - and respond very promptly to any questions you may have and are very supportive of the ways you get involved.

As you can probably tell, I really like it! It feels good that my sales are helping women in developing countries start or expand their creative work too. It's small, friendly, and connecting.

"One is not born into the world to do everything but to do something." Henry David Thoreau