Company Description
Etsy, Inc. (NYSE: ETSY) operates two-sided online marketplaces that connect millions of buyers and sellers around the world. According to the company, its marketplaces share a mission to "Keep Commerce Human," using business and technology to strengthen communities and empower people. Etsy’s primary marketplace, Etsy.com, is described as a global destination for unique and creative goods where buyers look for items crafted and curated by creative entrepreneurs, and sellers gain access to tools and services that address key business needs.
Etsy also owns Depop, a fashion resale marketplace. The company states that its marketplaces operate independently while benefiting from shared expertise in product, marketing, technology, and customer support. In its public communications, Etsy highlights that buyers come to its platforms to be inspired and delighted, while sellers can use marketplace tools to support and grow their businesses.
Business model and marketplaces
Etsy describes itself as operating two-sided online marketplaces, meaning it facilitates interactions between buyers and sellers rather than selling goods itself. The company connects what it calls passionate and creative buyers and sellers, and emphasizes human connection and creativity as central elements of its marketplaces. For sellers, Etsy notes that it offers tools and services focused on key business needs, while for buyers it focuses on discovery, inspiration, and a personalized shopping experience.
The company has disclosed that it generates marketplace and services revenue and that performance is influenced by gross merchandise sales (GMS) across its marketplaces. In its earnings releases, Etsy distinguishes between marketplace revenue and services revenue and reports metrics such as active buyers, active sellers, GMS transacted on the Etsy app, and take rate (revenue as a percentage of GMS). These disclosures illustrate how Etsy tracks the scale and activity of its marketplaces over time.
Scale and market presence
In its financial reports, Etsy has discussed consolidated GMS in the billions of dollars across its marketplaces, including Etsy and Depop, and has reported tens of millions of active buyers and millions of active sellers. The company has also highlighted that Depop has reached a multibillion-dollar annualized GMS run rate and that Etsy and Depop together represent a significant volume of marketplace activity. These figures, presented in quarterly earnings releases, indicate that Etsy operates at a large scale within the online marketplace space.
Etsy has also reported that a substantial portion of its marketplace GMS is transacted through the Etsy app, and that it invests in improving search, personalization, and discovery experiences. The company has described initiatives such as enhancing search ranking models, using AI-powered matching and discovery, and improving app experiences with more personalized and browsable shopping features.
Technology, product, and marketing focus
Etsy’s disclosures describe an ongoing focus on product development and technology. The company has discussed improving search quality by testing additional signals in ranking algorithms, expanding AI-powered discovery experiences, and launching seller tools to simplify shop operations. Examples mentioned include task prioritization tools, marketplace insights, and AI-powered features such as title suggestions and writing assistance for sellers.
On the marketing side, Etsy has described strategies aimed at more personalized retention and engagement, optimization of product listing ad data feeds, and the use of paid search and paid social channels. The company has also referenced brand investments designed to highlight what it views as Etsy’s differentiation and to amplify the human connection within its marketplaces.
Depop, as part of Etsy’s portfolio, has been described as focusing on apparel resale, with initiatives such as brand campaigns, new in-app styling features, and efforts to improve search and recommendation relevance. Etsy’s disclosures show that Depop’s growth is supported by marketing investments and product enhancements tailored to its fashion resale audience.
Corporate structure, governance, and capital allocation
Etsy, Inc. was founded in 2005 and is headquartered in Brooklyn, New York, according to repeated statements in its press releases. The company has described itself as having a global scope and has noted that it faces a range of operational, regulatory, and competitive risks typical of a large, international online marketplace operator.
From a governance perspective, Etsy has disclosed updates to its bylaws to address procedural and disclosure requirements related to shareholder nominations of directors and to reflect regulatory developments. The company has also reported on annual meeting voting results, including director elections, advisory votes on executive compensation, ratification of its independent registered public accounting firm, and approval of amendments to its certificate of incorporation.
Etsy has also described a leadership transition in which its President and Chief Growth Officer, Kruti Patel Goyal, is expected to become Chief Executive Officer and join the Board of Directors, while Josh Silverman will transition from Chief Executive Officer to Executive Chair. The company has filed details of related letter agreements outlining compensation and equity arrangements for these roles.
In terms of capital allocation, Etsy has disclosed stock repurchase programs and share repurchase authorizations approved by its Board of Directors. The company has discussed using cash, cash equivalents, and investments to repurchase shares while also funding investments in Etsy and Depop. It has also reported a private placement of convertible notes to raise additional cash and has described its intention to manage debt, continue repurchases, and invest in its marketplaces.
Stock exchange listing and symbol
Etsy’s common stock trades under the ticker symbol ETSY. The company has disclosed that it previously listed its common stock on the Nasdaq Global Select Market and that it determined to voluntarily transfer the listing of its common stock to the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). According to an 8-K filing, Etsy expected listing and trading on Nasdaq to end on a specified date and trading on the NYSE to begin shortly thereafter, with the stock continuing to trade under the symbol ETSY.
The company has also filed a Form 25 notification of removal from listing and registration under Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 in connection with the voluntary withdrawal of its common stock from the Nasdaq Global Select Market. Etsy has stated that its common stock has been approved for listing on the NYSE and that it will continue to trade under its established ticker.
Risk and regulatory disclosures
Etsy’s press releases and SEC filings include cautionary statements regarding forward-looking information and risk factors. The company identifies risks such as macroeconomic and geopolitical events, demand for services and products sold in its marketplaces, the importance of trust and safety, technology vulnerabilities and cyber incidents, dependence on third-party services and infrastructure, payments-related risks, global regulatory requirements, competition, and the need to adapt offerings to changing buyer and seller needs.
These risk disclosures are intended to frame the uncertainty around Etsy’s forward-looking statements and to direct readers to more detailed risk factor discussions in its periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Frequently Asked Questions about Etsy, Inc. (ETSY)
- What does Etsy, Inc. do?
Etsy, Inc. operates two-sided online marketplaces that connect buyers and sellers around the world. Its primary marketplace, Etsy.com, focuses on unique and creative goods, and the company also owns Depop, a fashion resale marketplace.
- How does Etsy describe its mission?
Etsy states that its marketplaces share a mission to "Keep Commerce Human" and that it aims to use the power of business and technology to strengthen communities and empower people.
- What is Etsy.com?
Etsy.com is described by the company as the global destination for unique and creative goods. Buyers visit to find items crafted and curated by creative entrepreneurs, while sellers use the platform’s tools and services to support their businesses.
- What is Depop and how is it related to Etsy?
Depop is a fashion resale marketplace owned by Etsy, Inc. The company states that its marketplaces, including Depop, operate independently but benefit from shared expertise in product, marketing, technology, and customer support.
- How does Etsy characterize its marketplaces?
Etsy refers to its marketplaces as two-sided platforms that connect passionate and creative buyers and sellers. It emphasizes human connection, creativity, and a distinctly personal shopping experience.
- Where is Etsy headquartered?
Etsy has stated in multiple public communications that it was founded in 2005 and is headquartered in Brooklyn, New York.
- On which stock exchange is Etsy listed and what is its ticker symbol?
Etsy’s common stock trades under the ticker symbol ETSY. The company has disclosed that it voluntarily transferred the listing of its common stock from the Nasdaq Global Select Market to the New York Stock Exchange, where it continues to trade as ETSY.
- How does Etsy describe its use of technology in the marketplace?
Etsy reports that it invests in improving search ranking models, AI-powered matching and discovery, personalization, and seller tools. It has mentioned initiatives such as AI-powered title suggestions, writing assistance, and enhanced app experiences to make shopping more personalized and engaging.
- What financial metrics does Etsy highlight for its marketplaces?
In its earnings releases, Etsy highlights metrics such as gross merchandise sales (GMS), revenue, take rate, active buyers, active sellers, GMS per active buyer, and the share of GMS transacted through the Etsy app.
- What governance and capital allocation actions has Etsy disclosed?
Etsy has reported updates to its bylaws, results of shareholder votes at its annual meeting, leadership transitions within its executive team, share repurchase authorizations and stock repurchase activity, and a private placement of convertible notes to raise cash for corporate purposes.