Online marketplace ArtFire announces closure

According to foreign media reports, the online marketplace ArtFire was completely shut down at the end of 2021 .

Founded in 2008, ArtFire is an online marketplace that brings together a variety of art products. The platform mainly sells handicrafts, fine arts, antiques, art design items, traditional craft supplies, etc.

The company's president and co-founder John Jacobs recently issued a statement saying that the main reason for ArtFire's decision to shut down was due to regulatory changes. Changes in regulations and the increasing complexity of operating an online market have made ArtFire 's operations in the last few years a challenge, and members of the founding team decided to start working on new projects.

A message posted on the ArtFire website recently stated: "Over the years, ArtFire is proud to have helped artists sell more than $250 million in merchandise worldwide, with very low or zero commissions on these sales. For this reason, ArtFire employees believe that our support of artists has helped change the lives of millions of artists and improve their business capabilities. Helping these people makes us feel that these years have been good."

It is reported that ArtFire has regarded Etsy as its competitor since its inception. Both allow the sale of handmade and antique goods, fine arts, digital art and craft supplies on the platform. However, ArtFire is significantly smaller than Etsy.

The transaction commission on the Artfire platform is lower than that on Etsy, but Artfire charges sellers a monthly subscription fee. Over time, Etsy continues to gain market share, and there are now 7.5 million active Etsy sellers.

Seller Scott Zrubeck said he has been selling on the ArtFire platform since 2009 and believes that the closure of the ArtFire platform is inevitable. Scott Zrubeck said : " There are many previously active sellers who have gone silent on ArtFire due to a decline in sales . In addition, the number of orders on the ArtFire website has really dropped significantly in the past few years . If I can sell two or three items a year, it's a good year for me. "

Other sellers said that ArtFire did not inform any sellers of this matter. Eileen Grobeck, a jewelry seller on ArtFire, said: "I am very angry that ArtFire did not inform any sellers about this. I am very disappointed with them. Now I have to copy all my store data and find a new venue. All of this happened during the busiest sales time of the year."

ArtFire

Online Marketplace