Virtually thriving: More artists and entrepreneurs take advantage of growing online market

Artistic expression is at the heart of a quiet business boom taking place in Missoula, but you would never know it by driving through the city’s commercial corridors.

These new entrepreneurs – 87 and growing – don’t have storefronts, but they can all be found at the same place: http://www.etsy.com.

This virtual marketplace opened in 2005 and operates 24/7 selling tangible, beautiful, sometimes quirky and always unique handcrafted items from artists around the globe.

Among the 400,000 sellers and artists who have more than 5.7 million items listed for sale, 750 are from Montana, of which 87 live and work in Missoula.

By BETSY COHEN of the Missoulian

Full Story: http://missoulian.com/news/local/article_4ee82a1c-6adc-11df-87c3-001cc4c002e0.html