The MeFi Mall is open for 2016

November 30, 2016 12:32 PM

It's that time of the year again: the MeFi Mall is open for 2016. If you'd like to be listed there, add your shop now.

If you had a shop in the mall last year, re-adding it should still be a one-click step. Just check if you'd like to make any changes and click add.

If this is your first year, welcome! The MeFi Mall is for things that you make and sell online. Please only add your shop if it's stuff that you created: not your friends, family or the company for which you work. We'd like it to be a place where people can buy personal gifts hand-crafted by other MeFites. Thanks and have fun.

posted by frimble (staff) to MetaFilter-Related at 12:32 PM (37 comments total)

And of course, if you see a mall-related bug, do let me know, either here or via the contact form.
posted by frimble (staff) at 12:36 PM on November 30, 2016

I had a shop (I think) two years ago but not last year. Is there a way to resurrect it? No big deal if not, just an exceptionally lazy individual.
posted by jessamyn (retired) at 12:52 PM on November 30, 2016

oh man I clicked through in an excited frenzy only to find no shops. MEFITES ADD YOUR SHOPS I NEED TO GIVE YOU MONEY.
posted by corb at 1:01 PM on November 30, 2016 [10 favorites]

Jessamyn, I found my old MeFiMall entry by changing the link to the 2015 shop back a few years.
posted by alynnk at 1:08 PM on November 30, 2016

I've just made an experimental change: Rather than the entry from last year, it should now show the last shop you posted. So, say you posted a shop in 2014, didn't list it on the mall in 2015, but would like to list it this year, it should now be visible again. (Shops from 2015 should show up the same as they did before.)

Please give it a try and let me know if it works for you.
posted by frimble (staff) at 1:22 PM on November 30, 2016 [2 favorites]

That works, thank you!
posted by jessamyn (retired) at 1:24 PM on November 30, 2016

to clarify...
the Mefi Mall building is open for shop owners to set up--
it isn't ready for actual shopping yet...

[ and I was so ready to spend, spend, spend...]
posted by calgirl at 5:30 PM on November 30, 2016 [3 favorites]

YayYayYay! Shop is updated and added (link in my profile if you want to get in early.)

This may totally help me with some gift ideas this year because I'm stumped!
posted by Crystalinne at 6:19 PM on November 30, 2016

Yay yay! This is the first year I've had a shop to post. I finally got off my butt a few months ago and made a Redbubble shop for my collage art.
posted by showbiz_liz at 6:27 PM on November 30, 2016 [2 favorites]

Last year, I received a mug from a halcyon day (link in last year's mall) and can confirm that it is gorgeous and the first thing I reach for on most mornings because it is such a warm and comforting piece. If ahd has a shop this year, go and look around!
posted by MonkeyToes at 6:45 PM on November 30, 2016

*hangs out in parking lot, menacing shoppers*
posted by jonmc at 6:50 PM on November 30, 2016 [4 favorites]

My shop is ready to go. You can even find out the answer to my t-shirt question from last month!
posted by robocop is bleeding at 6:53 PM on November 30, 2016

Is there a food court or someplace in here I can get coffee while I wait for the stores to open? I want to stay away from jonmc out there in the parking lot....
posted by easily confused at 5:24 AM on December 1, 2016 [5 favorites]

Finally a chance to self-link!
posted by Mchelly at 6:28 AM on December 1, 2016 [3 favorites]

frimble: And of course, if you see a mall-related bug, do let me know, either here or via the contact form.

Question: is the mall supposed to be open now now, or soon now? Because this is what I see when I click on the Mall link:

MeFi Mall

We're preparing the MeFi Mall for 2016. Please submit your shop if you'd like to be listed.

Wonder what the MeFi Mall is usually like? Here is the MeFi Mall 2015.

(Which is fine by me, because that gives me more time to actually get some photos up somewhere, maybe Society 6?)
posted by filthy light thief at 7:09 AM on December 1, 2016

It'll be open-open as soon as the first round of shops are approved. What you're seeing is normal, just because shops aren't shown until there are already a few.

As it is, a whole bunch of people have added shops since yesterday, and they're in the moderation queue awaiting the go-ahead.
posted by frimble (staff) at 7:14 AM on December 1, 2016

Ah, thanks for the clarification! And thanks for your work on this and everything!
posted by filthy light thief at 7:19 AM on December 1, 2016

I got Will It Waffle? last year as a gift after I found it on the MeFi Mall and I can assure you that many things Have Waffled in the past year. It's a really nice book and now I see there's a forthcoming Will It Skillet? book so yay!

Thanks frimble and mods past and present for putting this together and supporting it. I appreciate the chance to see what fellow MeFites make and support them. It's also the least stress I've ever felt in a mall.
posted by Clinging to the Wreckage at 7:52 AM on December 1, 2016 [4 favorites]

Yay yay it's up!
posted by showbiz_liz at 9:05 AM on December 1, 2016 [2 favorites]

...sidebar?
posted by robocop is bleeding at 9:53 AM on December 1, 2016

Are shops belonging to family members allowed? My mom is a weaver, and I suspect that some mefites might enjoy her goods, but I don't want to overstep any boundaries.
posted by jferg at 11:57 AM on December 1, 2016

...sidebar?

Yeah, not a bad idea. Banner's eye catching but might as well cover the bases.

Are shops belonging to family members allowed? My mom is a weaver, and I suspect that some mefites might enjoy her goods, but I don't want to overstep any boundaries.

If you don't mind essentially vouching for her with your honor/customer service liability, I'm willing to say sure, go ahead and submit a mall entry a long the lines of "here's my mom's shop".
posted by cortex (staff) at 12:00 PM on December 1, 2016 [2 favorites]

I have 3 new shirts up for sale this year, & I've improved the paypal buttons a bit, going with the super-fancy "add to cart" option so that it's not impossible to buy more than one.

Please, please, buy some shirts -- I have to justify this madcap venture to an investor.
posted by Devils Rancher at 2:25 PM on December 1, 2016

When should we expect to see the next round of shops approved?
posted by dame at 5:12 AM on December 2, 2016

About a minute ago! Just made a pass through the queue.
posted by cortex (staff) at 7:31 AM on December 2, 2016

Hurrah! I love shopping the MeFi Mall every year, and I am so pleased to be in it this year.
posted by DarlingBri at 11:26 AM on December 2, 2016

I did not know that the Will It Waffle? guy was MeFi's own veggieboy! I just recommended Will It Waffle? to another mefite! Spoiler: leftover stuffing definitely waffles mmmm...
posted by headnsouth at 4:28 PM on December 4, 2016 [3 favorites]

I know this is going to sound like whining, but I'm a brick and mortar store owner. The tag at the top of the home page says, "shop local." I get that you mean "shop within your community," but for some of us, it's more than a witty slogan. I really rely on folks to literally shop local. Could you change it to "shop your community"? It would make more sense, and it wouldn't dilute the message that truly puts food on the table for those of us who do work retail. Again, sorry if this comes off as petulant; I don't want to be that way, but "local" means something specific that is kind of the opposite of the internet. Both can be good! But can we not confuse them for each other?
posted by rikschell at 7:45 PM on December 4, 2016 [1 favorite]

I don't think it's petulant, but I think it is putting an unreasonable level of expectation and weight on a light-hearted thing happening in what is pretty explicitly an unrelated context. I don't think anybody's going to see "shop local" in the banner of the site and be confused or become discouraged from actually shopping geographically locally as well in their meatspace outings.
posted by cortex (staff) at 9:05 PM on December 4, 2016

Light hearted to you, I suppose. But less so to people whose livelihoods depend on customers recognizing the difference between shopping locally and shopping online. Too cute by half. But never mind me, I'll just go shake my fist at a cloud till I feel better.
posted by rikschell at 4:34 AM on December 5, 2016 [1 favorite]

Is it strictly for goods that people make? I sell vintage stuff on Etsy, does that count?
posted by fixedgear at 6:19 AM on December 6, 2016

I sold four t-shirts!

And yeah fixedgear, I think having an online store of curated stuff counts.
posted by jessamyn (retired) at 6:28 AM on December 6, 2016

The announcement post reminded me that I'd meant to order robocop is bleeding's amazing Pokemon woodcut panel. I ordered last week, and got it promptly! And it's so great! Recommend.
posted by purpleclover at 5:57 PM on December 6, 2016 [3 favorites]

Calling all Steven Universe fans! I have new jewelry designs for this year! I was sure I took care of adding to the MeFi shop this year but I just looked and it wasn't on there, so resubmitted :/
posted by fiercecupcake at 12:19 PM on December 9, 2016 [1 favorite]

I've also ordered from robocop is bleeding's Corey Press a couple of times, and their art is so awesome. They sent me a bonus Pokeball ornament for my girlfriend! It's all really affordable for original art prints too.
posted by One Second Before Awakening at 5:55 AM on December 12, 2016

I gave fiercecupcake's Steven Universe jewelry to my favorite SU fans last year and they were a huge hit!
posted by gingerbeer at 6:19 PM on December 12, 2016 [1 favorite]

Thank you so much, gingerbeer! :D
posted by fiercecupcake at 8:06 AM on December 13, 2016