Is Etsy Still Worth it in 2023?

If you’re someone who has been considering starting or expanding your handmade business online, you might be asking… Is Etsy still worth it in 2023 or should you consider other eCommerce platforms instead?
Etsy is still a go-to choice for many artists and artisans thanks to its established reputation and massive customer base. But is it the right place for you to sell your unique creations?
Watch this video as I talk about the pros and cons of selling on the online marketplace for handmade products. I want to help you decide if Etsy is the right place for you to sell your unique creations.
So, are you considering selling your handmade products on Etsy? Let me know in the comments below - I'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences!
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[@CreativeHiveCo]

🚨NEW FREE WORKSHOP FOR 2023 🚨 Learn how to create a PROFITABLE handmade business online without keeping up with social media ⏬ Watch the free workshop here: bitly.ws/CXTJ

[@utopiab4u1]

Etsy in the past few weeks is putting everyone on reserve! No one can figure out why except that the main sharehold sold 85% of his shares! Etsy is now holding money from so many legitimate shops counting mine!

[@CreativeHiveCo]

This is really sad. :(( Really hope this gets resolved soon!

[@osorn858]

Very balanced review. Etsy can be very toxic from a sellers' pov because of an inherent lack of control, you cant even block undesirable buyers

[@CreativeHiveCo]

I agree. We don't have much control with the platform. It can be a good source of additional income but it's not very reliable as a main source of income.

[@BrooklyngirlLovesCrochet]

Etsy not worth it to me. The CONS are greater than the pros. Grow your small business slowly but surely without the risk of having all of your hard work shut down.

[@CreativeHiveCo]

Well said! There's no need to rush.

[@238BibleStudies]

Excellent... Always enjoy your insight & lessons! I've been a fan and follower for years. Thanks for all that you do, James

[@CreativeHiveCo]

Thank you so much for the support, James!! That truly means a lot to me!! ❤️

[@alejandrovargas7592]

You're an inspiration for the individuals that want to be entrepreneurs. This is the best, most comprehensive information that I know of, about the ins and outs of ETSY. If I was ever to contemplate going that route, yours is the first source of advice that I'd want for help.

[@CreativeHiveCo]

Aww. Thank you so much, Alejandro! This really made my day! ❤️

[@pattyray4841]

Thank you. Great advice and information. I hope you know how much you are appreciated. Thank you

[@CreativeHiveCo]

Thank you so much, Patty! That really means a lot to me! ❤️

[@lindatoews5265]

Thank you for your videos. They’ve been very helpful over the years. I live in Canada and one of my biggest peeves is how much it cost to mail. The smallest package can be easily $19 to mail! It’s making Etsy or any-other online business almost impossible so I’m rethinking what I have and selling things, this sounds crazy, but as flat as possible! Not what I want !

[@CreativeHiveCo]

I've heard about the costly shipping in Canada. :(( Have you tried looking at other couriers or shipping software? Here's a reddit thread too that might be helpful: www.reddit.com/r/BuyCanadian/comments/110jdgr/shipping_within_canada/

[@Kay_Watermelon]

Ahhhhh that's such a good point about Etsy's branding out-shadowing your own!!

[@CreativeHiveCo]

Thank you so much for watching!

[@rosanneducharme5486]

This was very informative and a great review of Etsy. I was contemplating giving it a go with Etsy to sell my wares, but after careful reflection and the info you provided, No I would not consider selling on Etsy. Thank you for sharing this informative video!

[@CreativeHiveCo]

Thank you so much for watching, Rosanne! Glad this video helped with your decision. 😊

[@recyclingmom]

In addition to this valuable information, Etsy also holds your money until you reach $25.00 in sales for daily deposits or you wait until Monday for the deposit to be processed. Also the micro managing is very annoying. At the end of the day Etsy is only good for using the platform to direct traffic to your own website. Etsy has forgotten that they are nothing more than a platform for others to sell on. Once they went public it went down hill fast.

[@CreativeHiveCo]

Thank you so much for adding in! ❤️

[@SewGrannySew]

I was contemplating closing down yhe etsy and just going all in on a website. I think you confirmed my reasoning, so thank you for this video 😉

[@CreativeHiveCo]

Thank you so much for watching! It's totally okay to keep your Etsy shop kind of running on the background but you want to mainly drive your traffic and sales to your own website. Have you already watched my free workshop? I really think you're going to learn a lot from it in terms of ways on driving traffic and sales to your online shop. 😊

[@SewGrannySew]

@@CreativeHiveCo no I haven't, YET! Thank you, going there now😉

[@CreativeHiveCo]

Got it. Here's the link to my free workshop in case you want to give it a watch: bit.ly/3EGGC47 Let me know if you have any questions. 😊

[@SinisterReality]

I think Etsy should understand who their main profits are coming from. The sellers. Sellers provide the merch, buyers spend the money. Etsy controls the purse, and doesn’t spread the wealth back onto their main stakeholders, if they did, this would lead directly to an increase in profit for shareholders. Keeping stakeholders, specifically sellers happy increases profit. Keeping buyers happy and neglecting sellers will push sellers away and decrease profit. eBay has some shady practices as well. Lots of shops are on hold I do not understand how these companies do their math… 😂 it doesn’t seem profitable in the long run, and now I see why the biggest shareholder sold 85% of his stock

[@CreativeHiveCo]

Selling on Etsy and other eCommerce marketplaces can be very limiting and I agree that it's not very profitable and reliable in the long run. It's okay to have it on the side for extra source of income but you certainly don't want it as your main source of sales/income.

[@sumariashah1449]

I’m new to your channel, and I found it soooo helpful. I’m going to start my new business, and I’m so nervous and confused. Can you give some more tips on how to market these brands, and can you also show how to receive orders online and print them from the printer? Thank u soo much for the great tips!!

[@CreativeHiveCo]

Hi Sumaria! Good luck on your upcoming business! You got this!! ❤️ My blogs below could be helpful for you: www.creativehiveco.com/how-to-ship-your-handmade-products-like-a-pro/ www.creativehiveco.com/save-money-on-shipping/ With regards to marketing/promoting your brand, you can check out my free workshop here: bit.ly/3EGGC47 I really think you're going to learn a lot from it. Good luck!! ❤️

[@sumariashah1449]

@@CreativeHiveCo awesome!!! Thank u :)

[@poonehhashemian]

Thank you!😍

[@CreativeHiveCo]

Thank you so much for watching, Pooneh! ❤️

[@Aeshta]

Only reason I still on Etsy is because looking it from a international perspective (I live in Europe) is that Etsy does the tax/vat. It's gonna be sooooo complicated when I doing it on my own.

[@CreativeHiveCo]

That's definitely one of the pros of selling on Etsy. They take care of those things for you.

[@bdml77]

I started selling on Etsy in 2008. And I hate what it has become

[@CreativeHiveCo]

It's changed a lot. 🙁

[@C.Bourton]

Hi Mei, Great info! I travel around the US. If I log into my Etsy account from different locations will I have issues with my account? Thanks!

[@CreativeHiveCo]

Hi! Here are some related Etsy Community threads that could be helpful for you: community.etsy.com/t5/Technical-Issues/Suspicious-login-when-different-internet-access-in-another-city/td-p/138787641 community.etsy.com/t5/Managing-Your-Shop/Is-it-okay-to-log-in-my-Etsy-account-from-different-laptops-and/td-p/128633936 community.etsy.com/t5/Managing-Your-Shop/Can-we-login-Etsy-shop-from-multiple-locations-and-IP-at-same/td-p/129050808 www.reddit.com/r/Etsy/comments/png3j2/loging_in_from_different_locations/ Good luck!!

[@alejandrovargas7592]

If a person can have a truly unique product that can't easily be duplicated, they have a chance to succeed well.

[@CreativeHiveCo]

Fortunately, that's not always the case. 😊 With great branding and marketing, even if you don't have a truly unique product, you still have a high chance for success.

[@manjitkaur1484]

For me it destroyed my confidence 😢because of no customer and so much competition.doesn’t worth.

[@CreativeHiveCo]

Hi! It's not yet too late to start over. Don't let it destroy your dream of having your own business. You got this! ❤️ What products are you selling?

[@jag5798]

I went on ETSY to buy one of Creative Hive small food jewelry and the shipping was so high, I did not buy. I know sellers have to raise the prices to make up for the fees. Just made the item unaffordable.

[@CreativeHiveCo]

Thank you for checking out my Tiny Hands Etsy shop! Etsy fees are just crazy and definitely eating up sellers' profits that's why I don't focus and direct my sales there.

[@zanetka28]

Hello, thanks for your video. I am using ETSY for many years like a buyer. And now I have just decided to run my own shop. Because many people use that platform and there are many videos that ETSY is a great way how to sell your art, I didn't think about it too much, I was counting with a fact that platform is great and working well and fair. Then after my try to open the shop, I am really confused. I only pay one million fees for almost everything. Without adds nobody never will see your shop. After paying daily adds, still nobody saw the shop, I am still only paying and paying without any profit, any chance for my shop to be visible for others. I set the keywords, and tittle really well but still nothing is happening, no sales, no views, no visits, nothing. And after all they wrote me some strange mail, they will RESERVE the money or what, I didn't understand what's going on, why. I am on start but without any chance to be successful there, so I am starting to be demotivated to continue and I am loosing my dreams about having money from my art.

[@CreativeHiveCo]

Hi Zaneta! Don't let your negative experience with Etsy demotivate you from building your dream art business. It's not yet too late to start your own website which I highly recommend if you really want to grow and scale your business online for the long term. There's just more security with having your own website and is really reliable compared to eCommerce marketplaces like Etsy, Amazon, etc. If you need a recommendation for a great website builder to build your eCommerce business on, I highly recommend Shopify. You got this, Zaneta!! ❤️💪

[@marcialome5308]

i quit Etsy last year. Just too much competition.

[@CreativeHiveCo]

Where are you directing your traffic and sales now?

[@Seekingtruth-mx3ur]

There's competition in everything now. You pretty much have to invent something new and patent it to ensure success nowadays.

[@jordanwhite5470]

You forgot to mention Etsy's ever-escalating fees.

[@CreativeHiveCo]

Oh that one too for sure!

[@ShoshanahShear]

What are the current fees

[@introhub8214]

Is that etsy payment not available in japan. But we can see so many new etsy sellers in japan. How Is that possible?

[@CreativeHiveCo]

Hi! These Etsy Community threads might help provide some answers: community.etsy.com/t5/All-Things-Finance/Japan-is-not-eligible-country-for-Etsy-payment-ANY-alternative/td-p/132963208 community.etsy.com/t5/All-Things-Finance/Why-Japanese-seller-can-t-add-Etsy-Payment/td-p/138630879

[@stephaniegracecaronan7496]

Hii, I'm planning to put up a coffee shop but i don't have a business name yet, can you suggest a coffee shop name related to the word "connect" with friends/families. Thank you in advance. Hope you notice me😊😊

[@CreativeHiveCo]

Hi Stephanie! I'm excited for you to build your dream coffee shop! My blog here could be helpful for you in terms of picking a name for your business: www.creativehiveco.com/how-to-pick-a-winning-business-name-for-your-online-shop/ Good luck! ❤️ Let me know if you have any questions. 😊

[@karolisz815]

So how come competition on Etsy is high if everyone is selling unique products?

[@CreativeHiveCo]

Hi Karolis! Great question! With over a million active sellers on the platform, it's hard not to find someone selling the same items as you. With Etsy's recommendations feature, Etsy makes it easy for buyers to jump over other sellers' shops by showing other similar items buyers may like from other shops so even if your products are unique, you still need to compete with other sellers.

[@preciselyavri7944]

What is you have a website but need Etsy for the traffic “to” your website?? This is my problem im invisible!

[@CreativeHiveCo]

Hi! If you already have a website, I highly recommend driving your traffic and sales mainly there. There are lots of ways you can drive organic traffic to your website. I have talked about it in my free workshop here too in case you want to learn more no how you can promote and market your brand/online shop to your ideal customers: bit.ly/3EGGC47 I really think you're going to learn a lot from it. Let me know if you have any questions. 😊

[@Bekind95]

A con is that you can’t sell your Etsy biz.

[@CreativeHiveCo]

Hi Karen! That's another addition to the con too for sure.

[@christinemoseley5040]

I am unable to open the link to you free workshop, can you let me know how I can access this please.

[@CreativeHiveCo]

Hi Christine! Sure! Here's the link to my free workshop: bit.ly/3EGGC47 Let me know if you still get any issues accessing the link. 😊

[@christinemoseley5040]

@@CreativeHiveCo Thank you Mei, unfortunately if I click on the open now button still nothing opens so I am not sure what the problem is my end 🙃

[@CreativeHiveCo]

Hi Christine! Are you having trouble with registering for the workshop or with opening/watching the workshop itself?

[@christinemoseley5040]

@@CreativeHiveCo hi Mei, thank you for your reply. When I open the link you sent there is a yellow register for free button and when I click on that nothing happens.

[@CreativeHiveCo]

I see. Could you try the ones at the bottom instead (i.e. the 2nd yellow Register button at the bottom or the pink "Choose a session", then click "Register Now")? Let me know if any of those worked. 😊

[@lutrueson9000]

it sucks as a seller and buyer i just closed my account, the biggest issue is it wants more of your time than worth it just for some factory in china to copy what you design and sell for a fraction of what you make it, you work for nothing in the end even you sell a product just if lucky to brake even

[@CreativeHiveCo]

I'm so sorry to hear you had to close down your Etsy shop, Lu. You can consider having your own website instead. It certainly gives you and your brand more freedom and room for long-term growth. Just in case you're interested, I actually have a free workshop that could be helpful for you: bit.ly/3EGGC47 I really think you're going to learn a lot from it. You got this!! ❤️

[@lutrueson9000]

thats a good idea, im not sure ill persue what im doing it seems so many others do things like it and art work is hard to make money in now days, but thanks for your reply and you are super cute btw 😂 @@CreativeHiveCo

[@CreativeHiveCo]

You got this, Lu!! I know you'll find the right product for you! ❤️

[@paulcarr2207]

The trouble in some cases is self proclaimed ‘entrepreneurs’ come online and undercut other sellers prices. They kid themselves that they are doing great while contributing to everyone going broke. Get a real job Karen.

[@CreativeHiveCo]

100%!