Earlier this year we did quite a lot of research into how designer-makers worked, sold, browsed and ultimately did what they you do. Many of the improvements we’ve made to Folksy this year stem from that research. But one of the things which stuck out from the research was how important offline sales through markets and fairs were to many people – and how unconnected and messy this world was compared to the world of online sales.

So in spare time, between moving houses and running marathons and feeding the kids, some of the people at Folksy started building a service to support that community of people who exhibit at markets and fairs and who also run or attend workshops. It’s called GoGoMargo and it launched in full public beta* today (Tues 6th Nov 2012). Go See!

The goal of GoGoMargo is to be a useful and to be useful in doing just a few simple things really well. The heart of the service – which is just focused on markets, fairs and workshops around the world – is about discovering, favouriting and sharing events.  Aside from the website (which is also optimised to work on mobile and tablets) you’ll get a weekly email digest (which you can opt out of) notifying you of the events you favourited and other upcoming events in your area.

It’s easy to start using GoGoMargo; if you want to create or edit an event just sign in using Twitter** and start adding events or editing them to add exhibitors you know of or better location information.

Event Organisers

GoGoMargo are keen to work with event organisers to show how the service could work to promote events to potential exhibitors, visitors or attendees. If you’re running an event in the next few months then get in touch with the GoGoMargo team and let them know.

If the event you’re organising or facilitating has already been listed by someone then you can claim the event on the event page. Claiming the event will give you the ability to promote it through GoGoMargo.

Our favourite events so far? The Introduction to Backyard Chickens workshop sounds er, fun and the Roller Derby photography and events day looks good and the Handmade Makers Market in Oxford looks great (the page itself looks so nice when you add exhibitor information). What’s your favourite?

How is Folksy related to GoGoMargo?

GoGoMargo is totally separate from Folksy as a business. However, Folksy is partnering with GoGoMargo and in the coming weeks and months you’ll see this partnership on both sites.

1. On your Folksy shop you’ll be able to pull in which events you’ll be showing at next. So people browsing and seeing your work have the opportunity to see your work at a market or fair, or attend a workshop you’re running.
2. On GoGoMargo, if you’re an exhibitor you’ll be able to pull in examples of your work from Folksy to show the kind of work you exhibit.

Both of these developments are part of our commitment to help designer makers reach a audience of potential buyers and showcase and sell their work. But on another level it’s also about trying to connect Folksy to the offline world where many people trade and love exhibiting and which is currently so messy (even great fairs often have a poor online presence – finding opening times and locations never mind exhibitor information is difficult).

Here’s to a better offline world of selling and learning, online.

* For the uninitiated beta refers to the early release of service or software. It’s used to help manage expectations of customers and is a way of saying “we’ve just started, give it a whirl and let us know what you think!”.

** Using Twitter means that people can add exhibitors to events that then have information already there. It also means you don’t have to remember yet another password. It just works. In the future GoGoMargo may choose to use your social graph to show you relevant events your followers / people you follow have favourited or are exhibiting at. Some people still don’t use Twitter of course and unfortunately they won’t be able to use the service for now.