The return of cottage industry
Industrialization and mega corporations have been the death of cottage industry. It used to be that every town had a local grocer, bookstore, cobbler, jeweler, etc. The advent of mass production meant that the majority of people were no longer willing to pay the price for handcrafted items. The few left who did, were not enough to keep the small businesses running. This has changed. The internet provides a way for cottage industries to thrive again. It is possible for someone to make a living handcrafting jewelry because the whole world is available as a marketplace.
Obviously my family has benefited directly from this trend. Schlock Mercenary succeeds because people all over the world are able to read it and buy books. We were able to print the books ourselves and send them directly to the people rather than being forced to go begging for an alliance with a corporate publisher. We may eventually hand some of the work over to a corporate partner to reduce the burden on our family, but we will enter into that partnership from a position of strength.
I like the thought that there is space in the world for craftsmen again. I like that someone with skill and the love of the work can succeed. I want to be able to support such endeavors. I want to buy from artisans and craftspersons.