Is Etsy worthwhile?

jennyjelly

I enjoy crafting and hope I don't sound pompous if I say I do make some really nice, and I think saleable, items.

I'm thinking of opening an Etsy shop, but before I take the plunge I wondered if anyone had experience of selling through Etsy. If so I would be very grateful for your opinion.

Thanks.

JJ

soolin

I'll bump this a little even though I can't offer any advice as it isn't a site i have used. However, I am aware that I have seen positive mentions of it in the past, although I seem to recall people said it was very slow to sell and barely worth the effort, it was still one of the better 'other' sites.

Hopefully a successful user will log in soon and give you some good advice.

Jo_F

You need to do a lot of self promoting, and if you are doing jewellery, then you really have to have something that stands out against the rest of them, it can be worth it, but it does take a lot of work to make it happen.

jennyjelly

Sounds like I might be better sticking to craft fairs then!

I've always wondered how the sellers on, say, page 547 of 839 actually get anyone to look at their goods. I just have a feeling that's where I'd be.

Thanks for the answer Jo_F and the bump Soolin.

If anyone has any different opinions I'd love to hear them.

sequence

I tried selling some of my crafts but never had much luck. It doesn't help that most of the users are in the US (well it seems that way).

jennyjelly

Yes I do think the US bias is a drawback. UK sellers are such a tiny minority.

Anybody ever heard of Folksy? (if the answer is no that writes that one off too!)

lallysmum

jennyjelly wrote: »

Yes I do think the US bias is a drawback. UK sellers are such a tiny minority.

Anybody ever heard of Folksy? (if the answer is no that writes that one off too!)

I'm not remotely crafty, but I buy a lot on Folksy

Mrs_Money

jennyjelly wrote: »

Yes I do think the US bias is a drawback. UK sellers are such a tiny minority.

Anybody ever heard of Folksy? (if the answer is no that writes that one off too!)

I don't have a Folksy shop yet - but I believe a lot of people on here do - some on the Trash to Cash Thread HERE. They may just be starting, but I get the impressiuon from there that there's less competition on Folksy than on Etsy!
Good luck with it!

jennyjelly

Ooh thanks, that gives me hope - Folksy it is then!

nancypearl

I've bought from folksy and etsy and have had no problems. The real issue is that it is difficult to make money from handcrafted items as a lot of people won't pay the price for a hand made item. With so much stuff being made abroad very cheaply, it is hard to compete and make a profit.

You just have to look at a recent handknitted scarf in a popular discount high street store. It was on sale for £3. Everywhere I looked, women were wearing them. You would be hard pressed to find a ball of wool in the UK for £3. You need 4-6 to make a scarf.

I have made handbags which have won a craft award, and someone seriously thought they were doing me a favour by telling me that I could "sell them for about £15 each"

They genuinely believed that the items were worth that. I spent about £40 on materials for each bag, and that doesn't include labour!

bigbrummygirl

hi
there is also a site called misi..make it sell it that you can list on, i have had a little success on there
the web address is www.misi.co.uk

beverley