print by the olive bird on Etsy
Recent changes on my new selling venue Etsy have led to animated discussions in the forums. Some of my readers will know that Etsy is rolling out individual homepages for UK, Germany, France and Netherlands. I have mixed feelings about this, because part of the attraction of joining Etsy was the international flair the site presented and the feeling of being part of a huge global, crafty community.
I also liked the fact that everyone everywhere saw the same frontpage - always a topic of conversation between me, my international friends and customers. Moreover, my stats show that 70% of visitors to my shop are from USA. Followed by UK, Canada and Australia. Italy and Germany tie in fifth place.
I tested the local (Germany) homepage, and the front page items on there is made up of just a handful of European sellers (not me) over and over again picked by admin. Sounds a lot like DaWanda to me (where I am gradually phasing out my stuff), where favouritism is the order of the day! Plus the German version of the Storque (blog) leads out of Etsy altogether! On the flipside there are US sellers who market to Europe extensively, and will most likely become invisible once European buyers set their language and homepage preference. Most of my teammates feel exactly as I do. We've put in our two cents hoping that we will be heard by the powers that be over there in Brooklyn, NY. I'm just glad I've built a strong connection to my US customers and the USA in general via my blog! Here's hoping I won't fade into obscurity...
Haftungsausschluss: Der Autor erklärt hiermit ausdrücklich, dass zum Zeitpunkt der Linksetzung keine illegalen Inhalte auf den zu verlinkenden Seiten erkennbar waren. Auf die aktuelle und zukünftige Gestaltung, die Inhalte oder die Urheberschaft der verlinkten/verknüpften Seiten hat der Autor keinerlei Einfluss. Deshalb distanziert er sich hiermit ausdrücklich von allen Inhalten aller verlinkten /verknüpften Seiten, die nach der Linksetzung verändert wurden.
Hello Duni! I am just beginning to explore Etsy. But based on your account, it seems to me that having individual pages per country would like hinder your connections with your US clients. You and your team still prefer having one Etsy site that is accessible to all countries. You are particularly concerned about your US clients who need to separately access your Germany site. Unexpected things like this come in any business. Whatever will be the circumstances to your business, I pray that you will be able to successfully overcome it. I also believe that no matter how many hindrances may come, you and your team is more creative and resourceful to overcome it. Your beautiful products will after all be your business' main competitive weapon. :)
ReplyDeleteyikes. I knew there were changes, but being in the US, I don't see them. I was thinking it would be the same visually, just a language difference...this way sounds horrible...and yes, you will always have many of us from the U.S. following you :)
ReplyDeleteOh no! Why do they mess around with success. This does not sound good at all.
ReplyDeleteOh, that is horrible. I hope that isn't so!
ReplyDeleteI didn't know these changes were going on. I don't think I like the idea of separating off the international sellers because what I love about Etsy is I get to experience great talent from all over the world like you in Germany. I hope it doesn't happen!
ReplyDeleteP.S. I'm still interested in a winged heart so don't give up on me! :)
Why would etsy do this? There have been so many articles from them stating that sellers need to be open to selling internationally. These new changes make me think it is all double talk and bad for everyone. I certainly want to see what everyone has to offer--that is what makes etsy so great.
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't sound like a very good plan to me. I would think they would want to stay with the way things are.
ReplyDeleteI hope things work out for you and those who are opposed to the changes.
You will never fade away, Duni, never! I was a little saddened to hear that the homepage changed for you guys too. I agree, there is a special feeling that we are all in this together.. seeing the same things.
ReplyDeleteI TRULY believe that you have quite a following and very good at marketing. No way will you fade away :)
ReplyDeleteWow, that's pretty depressing. You know I had no idea because I avoid the forums and the storque like the plague. I just don't see the rationality behind many of their decisions as many of them in the last few years have seemed to cause disjointment about the site. This is a new low though. A big part of the appeal was the international feel, you're so right. Many of my customers have been European and Australian. It will effect everyone in a large way! Don't give up on that website, I guess!
ReplyDeleteHang in there, Duni...you won't regret it.
ReplyDelete