Our Research Process

Our initial research pointed towards the order fulfillment process as the best area for intervention, so we began by contacting Etsy sellers for interviews. We reached out to over 30 Etsy sellers, and most declined or ignored us... We decided to change up our method, and we leveraged our existing network to find potential interviewees through our acquaintances. This method proved to be more successful, and we were able to complete 4 virtual interviews!

After conducting the interviews, we wanted to confirm our findings with a larger sample, so we created a survey that was informed by the data from our interviews. We sent out surveys to Etsy discord channels (Automated Printing Community Server & Etsy Sellers) and r/EtsySellers. Our survey received a whole whopping 33 responses! Empowered by the amount of data we had collected, we dedicated time to analyze the information and look for insights.

Below is the affinity map we created using the interview and survey data:

Affinity map created during analysis sessions

Click the image to see expanded version.

Overall, we reached eight impactful research findings that would help inform our design.

Research Findings

  1. Cost is the biggest impediment for Etsy sellers to make sustainable business decisions.
  2. Etsy sellers are more receptive to sustainability when it is part of their brand identity.
  3. Most Etsy sellers consider their packaging materials unsustainable.
  4. Etsy sellers need an easy way to source sustainable packaging materials online.
  5. Etsy sellers want comprehensive and easy-to-understand information on sustainable shipping options.
  6. Current packaging options do not meet Etsy sellers’ needs.
  7. Most Etsy sellers run their business from home.
  8. Etsy sellers want to avoid waste during production and order fulfillment.