Over the past few years, we’ve been searching for a platform that redefines ecommerce—one that puts creative control in the hands of consumers and provides direct access to the manufacturers and makers of the world. This is what we believe the future will look like. 

Today, established brands like Crate & Barrel or Restoration Hardware leverage partnerships with modern tastemakers to attract their passionate followers into their stores. At Inspired, we believe there is an opportunity to shift this power dynamic entirely by enabling consumers to connect more efficiently with manufacturers. Buyers and creators alike should be at the center of product creation, not just passive participants in the retail chain. 

Consider today’s tastemakers: AD100 designers shaping the future of spaces, influencers with millions of followers, celebrity makeup artists setting the beauty trends of tomorrow, or cult-like brands with devout supporters. Their influence now surpasses that of iconic Fifth Avenue department stores and the powerful fashion houses that once dictated style in the 20th century. While platforms like Etsy have long empowered product creators, AI is pushing the boundaries of human creativity to new heights—and with it comes a new era of commerce that will be fundamentally different from anything we’ve seen before.

Leveraging AI, consumers can now articulate exactly what they want to create, communicate it instantly with makers, bring to life the products they dreamt about, and share their creations with the world. 

How? Meet Arcade. 

Arcade combines the power of generative AI with a global network of top artisans to allow users to turn their ideas into one-of-a-kind, personalized products. By offering unparalleled choice and creative control, Arcade allows consumers to dictate what they want to find and allows tastemakers to have ownership over the products they sell to their audiences.

As social creatures, our purchasing habits naturally reflect our desire for connection. We look to others for inspiration and guidance in our buying decisions. Arcade fits right into that ecosystem by allowing users to share their own identity. Put differently, Arcade is unlocking a new form of design-forward social content.

From the moment we met Mariam Naficy, it was clear she and her team had the conviction to turn their vision into reality. Naficy, a seasoned entrepreneur, is no stranger to ecommerce. As the founder of Eve.com, one of the earliest online beauty retailers, and Minted, the highly successful marketplace for premium design goods by independent artists, she has a proven track record of seeing products come to life.

Now, with a team of ecommerce veterans and AI experts, Mariam is once again poised to disrupt the industry. They are on a mission to open the front door of AI and build a new shopping experience. Arcade is poised to unlock a market valued at over $2.8 trillion, and we are thrilled to partner with them in shaping the future of product creation and inspiring the creator within all of us.