Arts and crafts enthusiasts all around the globe can come together to swap tips, ideas and creations at the Craftgawker website. Launched in 2009, Craftgawker is essentially a collection of submissions featuring hundreds of handmade arts and crafts.
The purpose of the Craftgawker website is to allow artists to share their own work and to inspire others with their own DIY products. The site receives new submissions on an hourly basis and once they are posted on the front page gallery, visitors can click on the image for details and instructions and tutorials to recreate the object. The Craftgawker website has everything from DIY clothing to home decor to jewelry.
Implications - Businesses that offer products through which consumers can actively engage and interact with each other will appeal to a very wide audience. Many consumers relish in DIY concepts, as they allow them to feel empowered and in control each time they use a particular product.
What Makes This Trend Stand Out
- Virtual Crafting Communities
- Creating online spaces for craft enthusiasts to come together and interact can be a potential disruptive innovation opportunity for businesses.
- DIY Revolution
- The increasing interest in DIY products shows a trend towards self-sufficiency and therefore businesses that can cater to this trend can thrive.
- Visual-based Social Media
- The popularity of image-based social media platforms such as Craftgawker signify a shift towards visual-based communication which can be harnessed as a marketing strategy by businesses.
Sectors Adopting This
- Arts and Crafts Retailers
- Craft retailers can leverage the trend towards DIY products by providing a platform for customers to showcase their work and interact with others.
- Social Media Platforms
- Businesses providing online spaces for users to share their creations can appeal to the growing market of DIY enthusiasts.
- Home Decor
- The emergence of the DIY movement has created opportunities for home decor businesses to offer products that allow customers to customize and create their own designs.
