http://indieuntangled.com/make-1m-year-selling-knitting-successful-etsy-importer/
ARTFULLY ANN'S ADVENTURES Highlights of Ann's interest in travel,photography,art and hand made crafts. Promotes Artfully Ann's Etsy Shop. " www.etsy.com/shop/artfullyanns "
This article is a true story, but she is a scam. It is worth reading, if nothing else but to understand what this world is coming to.
How sad to see Etsy coming to this. The article just confirms what many of us already know. When I saw that Etsy changed their categories listing the other day it became apparent that “handmade” is no longer one of their core values. There is no reference at all to handmade items. The listings take most of the key words out for those of us who want to drive the customers to our shops using words that describe our home made, handmade, one-of-a-kind products.
Etsy is stepping on the folks that made their website successful in lieu of assisting those who buy cheap goods, touch them by repackaging them and placing their label on them and calling them “Made in America” or “Handmade”. Even Etsy’s new promotional settings is just set up to making them more money, and our return on investment is nil. As a small business I take offense to this. Etsy is not in the business of assisting small, struggling art and crafts type businesses as it once was. Eventually I can see them setting up an IPO on the stock market. It is just a matter of time. Actually it has come to light that and IPO is going to be offered in the near future. The small handmade craft business has been left out in the cold to allow a select few people to make some big money. Hummmm something sounds so familiar here. History does repeat itself!
Those of us who actually make our product really need to find another venue. One that cares about the small art and craft business people. I’m so very sad, because this is the way the whole world seems to be headed. Quality and price do not seem to have anything to do with each other. Art is not in the eye of many in the general population these days. True artists will continue to create just because it is in our soul, but trying to find a venue to sell it will continue to be a challenge.
Here are some sites that have been recommended to me from various sources. I'm going to check them out!
https://handmadeartists.com
http://www.thecraftstar.com
http://www.deviantart.com
https://festivalnet.com
All of these sites have the systems available for artists and hand crafter's to sell their handmade art. They are not as widely known as Etsy, but with time one of these will probably take over where Etsy is leaving off.
Stay tuned....I'm sure the saga will continue!!
Sleep tight!
Carol Ann