CraftMe.Co Australian & Kiwi arts crafts online marketplace, xmas gifts and Aussie fashion design

CraftMe is a growing Kiwi and Australian arts and crafts online marketplace. It allows artisans to manage, in a very user-friendly way, simple (and free) listings of their items or have the added clout of a more comprehensive online gallery.
An own online gallery allows each store-owner to describe fully the nature of their creations and philosophy. This store can also be linked to already existing websites or blogs. Alongside the marketplace we want to develop forums, blogs, chat-rooms and a media collection relating to the activities, events and community of the practitioners of CraftMe. Set-up of a store/gallery is very easy. However, assistance is offered in the setting up of individual galleries with artists who are intimidated by technology and have been disadvantaged by not being visible online.
CraftMe as a collection of online Australian galleries, unlike isolated websites, works to give the artisan maximum exposure and representation. It is an affordable, accessible platform which enables artisans to exhibit and sell their work, including fine art, craft, and home crafts, in a global capacity. Within this online 'stable' of practitioners, each creator can easily manage their own career and sales administration.
Currently, each month, a new Australian practitioner is profiled on the home-page. This is expected to be a dedicated section which can be can be expanded to reveal an interview or article about the artist/craftsperson. We also have a section 'Artist and Creative services', whereby a creative person or groups can offer tutoring, workshops mentoring or liaise concerning commissioned work.
As part of our marketing, we pay particular attention to the Search Engine Optimisation which ensures a very high ranking on Google search results for the listings on the website. Our excellent search results are usually ahead of other established websites in Australia and New Zealand.
We would like to avoid advertising on the site however we will consider local, relevant advertising (such as local art supplies) which is in keeping with the mission of the site of promoting local artisans, events, artistic endeavours in the community.
There is a resurgence in home-craft and a related ecological awareness globally as well as in Australian and New Zealand: 're-purposing fabrics' and 'up-cycling' being two aspects of this. CraftMe recognises this and offers the artisan an affordable platform to share their ideas, promote their wares and work from home.
CraftMe seeks to develop the representation of Australia and New Zealand paintings, sculptures, carvings and other art-forms on the site. As with other categories, concepts relating to an artist's listed work can be conveyed by YouTube clips embedded in the listing (for example, an interview with an artist). This kind of virtual representation in the arts in Australia and New Zealand has been little utilised so far.
Roy Rodriguez, The founder of the site is aware that to date, there are few 'big' websites that deal primarily with 'serious' fine art. Craftme's plan is to gauge the interest registered by painters and sculptors. It accepts that the online galleries and other services offered by CraftMe may be primarily utilised by emerging fine artists who have little or no dedicated representation in the dealer gallery world. It hopes, however, to also provide an alternative for more established artists who seek to represent themselves- and manage their own administration.
Craftme's overall project brief is to act as an online cultural community hub for artist groups throughout Australia and New Zealand. Instead of or as well as stand-alone websites CraftMe could 'house' many such community groups, their art/craft and associated activities; including reviews, exhibitions, chat-rooms and video. CraftMe is currently one small business, hoping to help other small home based studio/businesses.