On March 11, 2015
If you’re at all familiar with my blog or my history with Etsy, you’ll know I extend to them no real kindness. In fact, though I’m no longer a seller, my soul withers with every purchase I make using that platform. Pretty soon, I’ll be nothing but a morally ambiguous shell ready to sell my creative spirit for a knitted fox scarf. Sniff. Last fall, Huffington Post posted a remarkably inspiring tale of a stay-at-home mother who raised a million dollar business from the ashes of domesticity, in part, thanks to Etsy and its handcrafted philosophy. But the viral coverage sparked controversy when it was discovered her items were mass produced in India and altered with “lace and buttons” before sale. What was being branded “handmade” was only “hand altered”, and then only just. Etsy has tried desperately, over the years, to maintain its presence as a handcrafted marketplace while encouraging, whether with blatant abandon or not, mass production and big business. And then this happened. Etsy announced, with idealistic corporate glee, their IPO, which means great things for suits and shareholders and much less for the handcrafting sole proprietor. Since public companies are under intense scrutiny to remain profitable and increase profits, this could spell disaster for the micro business while impacting large manufacturers in much smaller ways. Etsy has built its brand on the handcrafted ideology, and then abandoned the artists who popularized it in favor of profit-driven resellers. Suppliers, vintage, mass production are all terms now synonymous with Etsy’s global “handmade” marketplace. Ironically, however, handmade is in short supply. Customers are searching for, and purchasing, what they believe to be handmade goods, often on the backs of real artisans, but not for their benefit. And Etsy clearly understands these self-incriminating moves, having recently changed its “handmade” tagline to “unique goods”. Ahem. Nice move, Etsy. In light of the never-ending string of epic Etsy failures and disappointments, I’ve made the decision to cut the cord. Refusing to maintain an Etsy shop was a personal trial. It pushed me into a series of monumental self-expressive episodes which have improved my selling experience, as a whole. It wasn’t easy, but it was worthwhile. And, as a result, I discovered a world of possibilities for artistic sellers. As such, I will no longer support their hypocritical business model by purchasing via this platform. I know, I know… but what about the honest sellers producing legitimate handcrafted goods? I hear what you’re saying. Etsy is easy. It’s known. It provides internal traffic. Promotions. Advertising. I’ve heard it, and I believed it once myself. And then I left and my business didn’t die, so I can assure you there are other (perhaps more) affordable solutions. And I surprised even myself, in the end. But really, I get it. This isn’t a particularly popular opinion to have when so many hopeful artisans are struggling to maintain a presence in the ever over-populated Etsy marketplace. However, by purchasing products via the Etsy platform, I’m condoning their blatant abuse of artists. And it’s just not worth the guilt! If you get a message from me via Etsy asking for black market sales of your items off site, don’t be surprised. I still want to support you, but not if it means supporting them. Now give me all the knitted fox scarves. All of them!
13 Comments
3/20/2015 11:49:09 pm
Nicole,
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Sandy
3/24/2015 12:40:42 am
Hi Nicole,
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3/24/2015 10:20:41 am
Here you go! http://www.nicolehannajewelry.com/blog/introduction-to-wire-wrapping-types-of-weaves
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Sandy
3/27/2015 04:09:19 pm
Hi Nicole, Thanks for getting back to me so quickly. I followed the link you attached, and it goes to "Types of Weave - Part 2", which is the current one I have. I'm looking for its predecessor - Part 1. Do you have that link? 3/29/2015 01:17:09 pm
Hi Sandy! For some reason I can't reply to your latest comment (hence the late response). Part 1 isn't a weaving tutorial. Just an intro to wire wrapping with a wrapped bead dangle. That can be found by looking at the categories on the right "Tutorials".
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First of all congratulations for your amazing work. I've just discovered your work and I will be following you from now on.
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Wendi Reamy
5/5/2015 12:12:42 pm
I can't help but agree with you on this, Nicole. Etsy is miles away from its original intent, and the company seems wholly devoted to deceiving both sellers and buyers by claiming to be something it's not.
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5/5/2015 12:51:17 pm
If they wouldn't push the "handmade" branding so blatantly, while allowing resellers, I probably wouldn't have a problem with them. Their fees are reasonable, and it's an otherwise decent platform. But I just can't handle the ongoing deception, which hurts every handmade artisan selling on that site. Sigh.
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Wendi Reamy
5/5/2015 01:26:58 pm
I use it mainly for inspiration at this point, though I have purchased a couple of needlepoint patterns and wire tutorials recently. I already follow most of my favorite artists on Facebook, but I never considered asking them for alternate sales channels until you mentioned it. Thanks for a great idea!
Sandra Smith
1/6/2017 10:31:48 am
I am so glad I read this particular blog even though it is a bit older. I was thinking of joining Esty this coming year but began to wonder when one of the vendors I use as a source indicated they also had an Esty shop. I thought wow, this is not what I understood Esty to be and it has become just what I do not want. The artists are lost. So, just my website to come on line later this year and I guess I will have to join Facebook. But your information, coupled with what I found, has saved me from a potential mistake.
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Nicole Hanna
1/6/2017 02:10:05 pm
Etsy can be a great avenue for many, so definitely still consider it if it's in line with your brand or business model. They've just sadly changed their policies (as sites do when they grow) to mirror those I don't particularly agree with.
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Wendi
1/6/2017 07:16:43 pm
What a difference a year and a half makes! It's so weird to read my own comments here because my opinion of Etsy (although it hasn't strictly changed from a philosophical standpoint) is pretty different today than it was when I responded to this blog post back in May 2015.
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Sandra Smith
1/6/2017 10:40:40 pm
Wendi/Nichole Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
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