Tin Shingle Members Hang Their Shingle on Open Sky!

By now you’ve heard the big news: the shopping social network, Open Sky (launched in 2011; currently 3 million members strong & growing) has started an open social marketplace for small businesses---and, ever-true to their enterprising spirit, Tin Shingle members have already hung out their shingle on Open Sky’s virtual storefront! Thanks to the Tin Shingle community, the application process, which requires at least 20 followers to open a store, has been a piece of cake for members: with a simple email to the Tin Shingle group, members reached out to other members for their first 20 followers and got the support they needed in a snap! Already, Emily Elizabeth Jewelry, Tilth Beauty, and Peggy Li are up and running on Open Sky!!
 

Emily Elizabeth Jewelry	Tilth Beauty	Peggy Li Creations
Culver Cutie Boutique

Tin Shingle and Open Sky are a match made in heaven: with Open Sky’s new move to include small businesses in its platform, Open Sky is becoming all about showcasing the work of entrepreneurs—which is, of course, the heart & soul of Tin Shingle! Open Sky’s new initiative is a sign of the times and a response to a big push from consumers looking to buy from small retailers who offer one-of-a-kind product. John Caplan, Founder and CEO of OpenSky, says: “There is a growing appetite to discover products that are unique and different, not mass produced…The OpenSky marketplace is the social platform that connects people with extraordinary things and the small businesses who make them.”

Open Sky presents an exciting opportunity for Tin Shingle members to bring their product to an even bigger audience through Open Sky’s “ripple effect” social network. Open Sky makes it easy for consumers to connect with their friends to share, compare, and purchase must-haves, creating a “ripple” of communication that occurs when people talk about their purchases online. Emily Kolins, of Emily Elizabeth Jewelry, says: "I joined OpenSky because I love the shop interface because it's simple and clean. The heavy social media aspect is also appealing because it makes it easy for people to spread the word about your products."Long story short, Open Sky takes word-of-mouth among friends and translates it into sales for merchants.

Peggy Li of Peggy Li Creations, told us: "OpenSky was a great opportunity to get brand exposure with a large and socially-connected audience of people interested in shopping! Plus, OpenSky provides merchant tools where I may manage my OpenSky store myself, which the control freak in me prefers. This also allows for better margins on OpenSky than you would have with a traditional retailer."

We’re so excited that Open Sky has opened its doors to small businesses, and we’re sure that Tin Shingle members are about to wow the millions of Open Sky fans!