Written for the Daily Record by: Alana M. Fuierer and Shanna K. Sanders
The surge of user-generated e-commerce and social media platforms has provided individuals, regardless of location, experience or financial status, the power to become a commercial artist, author, designer, musician or photographer. For emerging entrepreneurs, traditional barriers to entry have been removed by e-commerce websites such as Zazzle, CafePress, Threadless and Etsy. For many of these sites, all the individual needs is a computer and an Internet connection; everything else (e.g. manufacturing, printing, packaging, inventory, shipping, invoicing, etc.) is handled by a third party e-commerce website. Similarly, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter provide a platform for inspiring authors, photographers and musicians to post and spread their creative content worldwide, and the opportunity to generate income.
Given the access and ease with which one can generate and distribute products and/or creative content, many are drawn to these websites with aspirations of earning money and/or being discovered. These platforms provide a sense of empowerment, opportunity and endless possibilities for success.
