# Altruistic Artisan E-Marketplaces
ArtZoco's Social Marketplace Brings E-Commerce to Artisans

By Laura McQuarrie | Published 2013-11-25 | Social Good
Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/social-marketplace
References: [artzoco](http://www.artzoco.com/)

ArtZoco is an incredible social marketplace that totally levels the playing field by providing a place for all international artisans and social entrepreneurs to sell crafts from around the world.

The social marketplace was created by Julie Frieswyk and Vince Hartman, after their time volunteering in the Peace Corps. The crafts that artisans were creating were beautiful, but locals found them less appealing and more expensive in comparison to the cheap products from China. Unfortunately, systems like [PayPal](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/next-chapter) aren’t yet available in developing countries, which eliminates the possibility for the handmade crafts from being sold on Etsy or eBay.

ArtZoco is completely unique in that it lets local artisans sell their crafts through its online marketplace — without having to have bank account and through a site that is in their own native language.

Truly, ArtZoco is an incredible platform to support talented artisans around the world. On its site, shoppers can sort products available for sale by country or categories like art, clothing, jewelry and woodwork. If you’re looking for a truly unique gift to give, the products on ArtZoco give back in more ways than one.

**Contact Information**
[ArtZoco Website](http://www.artzoco.com/)
[ArtZoco on Twitter](https://twitter.com/ArtZoco)
[ArtZoco on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/ArtZoco)

## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter)

- Score: 5.8/10
- Popularity: 68% | Activity: 99% | Freshness: 8%
- Audience gender: 30% men, 70% women
- Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X
- Top markets: South America, Africa

## Categories

[Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Social Good](https://www.trendhunter.com/socialgood) > [Social Business](https://www.trendhunter.com/socialbusiness)

## Key Themes

### What's Driving This Trend

- **Social Marketplaces for Artisans:** Creating online platforms that connect local artisans from developing countries with global consumers, providing an opportunity for them to sell their crafts without the need for a bank account or knowledge of a foreign language.
- **Supporting Talented Artisans:** Fostering the growth and recognition of artisans around the world by offering a platform that showcases their unique products and provides a fair marketplace for them to sell their crafts.
- **Localized E-commerce Solutions:** Developing e-commerce platforms tailored to specific regions and languages, enabling local artisans to participate in the global market without barriers.

### Who This Affects Most

- **E-commerce:** Creating innovative solutions and platforms for online marketplaces that empower artisans from developing countries to showcase and sell their crafts.
- **Art and Crafts:** Supporting the growth and recognition of talented artisans globally by providing them with an inclusive marketplace to promote and sell their unique handmade products.
- **Social Entrepreneurship:** Facilitating social impact and economic empowerment by connecting social entrepreneurs and artisans from developing countries with consumers worldwide through online platforms, fostering sustainable and fair trade practices.

## Related on Trend Hunter

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