handmade2.0 - exclusiveness preferred.

WeFew, as twittered yesterday by reBang, are joining the pool of marketplaces for all things handmade / homemade / self designed. This new marketplace, though, is a platform that exclusively addresses professional designers and has its members hand-picked by a jury:

WeFew.net, an e-gallery for designers to showcase and sell their original designs and to engage with consumers and design professionals. (link)

WeFew, thus, not only follow what has been declared one of the hottest e-commerce trends for 2008 -online marketplaces and showcases for artisans, crafters and designers- but they actually place themselves in the "elite" niche of the market. Those designers who deem themselves elitary are invited to apply for a WeFew membership,  (hopefully) get selected by the jury and may then offer their exclusive designs for sale in their storefront hosted by WeFew.

WeFew's pricing model does not provide for neither listing fees nor limited time commitment, but merely charges a 15% provision per sold item. In addition, there is the option to reduce the provision percentage by actively reviewing aplicants for about 5% per 10 reviews. In addition to that, sellers will get the chance to speculate for a 3% commission per each five successfully recommended new members.

So who can join, really? WeFew have a clear idea about what can and what cannot be showcased:

At WeFew, we do not showcase graphic design, calligraphy, fine arts such as painting, photography, lithography, etc. except when incorporated into the departments and creative media listed here.

Embellished objects such as painted boxes, stones, shells, buttons, candle making, country crafts, folk art and objects made from commercial kits or plans are not acceptable.

WeFew showcases product design - design services including interior or set design, graphic design, makeup or styling are not accepted at this time.

Those whoever, who see themselves fit and talented and who design fashion, accessories, jewellery, furniture and homewares as well as innovative design objects utilizing ceramics, glass, metals, textiles and other special materials, are invited to apply for a membership - and can hope to receive a positive answer within ten days.

WeFew's motto is "We stand apart. You stand out.", and it once more stresses the site's demand on exclusive, if not  even elitist, design. A jury of top-class design professionals currently selects the first generation of designers for WeFew, though apparently the jurying will be taken over by WeFew sellers in the future.

There is an option for thought exchange via an in-house forum, news will be available via the new site, and Typepad hosts the official WeFew blog.

Taken together, the website appears slightly flashy, uberhip, probably, in regards to graphics and colours; in my opinion, this is not exactly what designers would associate with exclusiveness or elitist design really, but that's certainly the point where tastes split. Interesting: the innuendo on "i"-pop culture.

WeFew was created by Autumn Gehring, an American in Paris Singapore, whose background in art history and experience in the field of marketing certainly bring along the necessary sure instinct for the needs of top-class designers.

It seems that initially, WeFew was meant to launch as Cherry Collective; after all, the company behind WeFew is Cherry Collective Online Pte Ltd, and its director is Autumn Gehring (logo genesis here).

WeFew received support through the Creative Business Fund of the Creative Community Singapore (CCS).

Previously discussed marketplaces:

vondir |  | ShopWindoz | Big Cartel | pinkdoodle