Move Over PayPal; Goodsmiths' Swipe App Helps Vendors at Craft Shows, Farmers Markets

A new mobile application offered by the West Des Moines online craft marketplace Goodsmiths should simplify sales for vendors at farmers' markets, craft shows and other events.

James Eliason co-founded the company with Levi Rosol, both Waukee residents, after his wife and other users expressed frustration with Etsy.

The Des Moines Register reports that Goodsmiths' app, Swipe, works using a Pay­Anywhere card reader on an iPhone, iPad or othr Apple device such. Once a credit card or cash sale is made, the software automatically deducts the product from the vendor's Goodsmiths online store.

LINK UP WITH PATCH: Like us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter. Have Waukee news delivered to your inbox every morning by signing up for our newsletter.

Goodsmiths has surpassed 5,000 shops total and more than 40,000 users, the newspaper reports.

The device is part of Goodsmiths’ most-expensive shop owner plan, the $12 per month Rockstar plan, and co-founder James Eliason said about 25 people have downloaded the app Swipe since the Apple store approved it April 30.

The application is free to download and a deal with Pay­Anywhere gives Goodsmiths users free transactions for the first $1,000 in sales during the first 30 days of using the device, the Register said. After that, a 2.69 percent transaction fee is deducted from all sales.

Other Patch stories on Goodsmiths:

ENCORE: Etsy Gets Crafty Competition from Waukee Entrepreneur

West Des Moines E-Commerce Biz Goodsmiths Wins Office Makeover Contest

Silicon Prairie Favorite Goodsmiths West Des Moines Chamber’s 2013 New Business of the Year

PHOTOS: Goodsmiths Launch Party

Two West Des Moines Companies on MSNBC’s List of Five Silicon Prairie Start-Ups to Watch