Etsy signs agreement to take in users from German competitor DaWanda

Etsy has taken another step forward in its European expansion. The American online marketplace for handmade and vintage items has signed a deal with its struggling German competitor, DaWanda, which is set to halt operations on August 30. The agreement aims to make it easy for vendors to transition from DaWanda’s to Etsy’s selling platform.

”We share a common vision, goals and values”, said Claudia Helming, DaWanda’s Managing Director, to FashionUnited. “We’re developing a tool together that allows DaWanda’s sellers to move their shops easily, conveniently and free of charge, including all current offers and shop reviews”. Helming added that the company aims to ensure that DaWanda’s vendors’ keep their source of income, and that their businesses can keep growing in the long run.

DaWanda’s user base includes not only merchants from Germany, but also from Poland, Austria and Switzerland. The transition to Etsy is not automatic, users can choose wether they want to make the move or not.

DaWanda reported a total revenue of 16.4 million euros (19 million US dollars) in 2017, a growth of 21 percent in comparison to the previous year. Although this has reduced the company’s costs, it was just enough to break even in the last quarter of 2017.