Why You Shouldn't Worry About Etsy's Latest Update... YET.

[@suzannestrutt7827]

So true, people love to be invited behind the scenes, it gives you the same feeling as when you get a 'vip' pass at a festival, it makes us feel special. Also, your personality is so cute, thank you for sharing your shop tips with us. ❤

[@jennykay780]

I would like a whole separate Etsy website for digital.

[@alchepske]

thousands pluses

[@GettinStitchy]

Digital and POD for sure. POD stuff belongs nowhere near the handcrafted stuff I do.

[@Eowyn4724]

I so appreciate your calm response to the newest announcement!!

[@jf5336]

Kim, I think you are on the right track in sharing a personal project. I am not a content creator and I don't play one on TV...but it is pretty obvious when a creator I follow has run out of ideas and starts flailing. You'll see "unboxing videos", sudden new sponsorship deals of items only tangentially related to their channel and rambling vlogs.; I lose interest at that point and stop watching. Your perspective is both honest and shows that you strive to provide content that interests you and the rest of us. I am a nascent maker...and your experience and advice is of great interest to me, even though my niche is very different from yours. Thank you for your work.

[@KimBliss]

You're welcome, and thanks for taking the time to leave this comment. It helps me know I'm on the right track here, and it's appreciated. 💚

[@GettinStitchy]

I love chambray, but I never see you in anything other than a pullover. I think that's the obstacle. I've made lovely dresses that I'm proud of but I don't wear dresses, so they languish away in drawers for lack of me coming up with a suitable occasion to bother wearing a dress.

[@GuitarsAndWoodenBoxes]

I'm just about to open an Etsy shop this week. I make different types of handmade wooden boxes which are designed by AND made by me, so it's not a very good Etsy update really if I have to pick one. They should've had a third category - Designed AND Made By

[@georginavlog]

sorry very well said

[@hookinateacup]

Just a thought, add on crochet sleeves to the existing denim sleeves. Carry on with embroidery leaves across the shoulders, maybe add some small flowers. Pop a flower and some leaves on to the collar points. 🍃🍃🌸🌼🍃🍃

[@KimBliss]

I don't think I can with this one because I really dislike that much, but I am LOVING your crochet sleeves idea! I'll have to look out for a top I like and give it a go... actually I think I have one in the back of my wardrobe! Watch this space!! 😍😁💚💚💚

[@eileenaherne3793]

Encouraging words about sharing your progress 🎉 thank you Kim 😊

[@KimBliss]

You're welcome and thank you for watching the rest of the video. 💚

[@sarahmiller8604]

I've always liked seeing that that shirt back there. :) And I like just the little bit of embroidery you did on it. :) And I appreciate this encouragement towards being more of a "content creator sharing evolving stories that are inspiring and engaging" than just "a maker".

[@paradehandmade]

Love the sharing more projects too! So Much fun! You share great stuff. Blankets nd cardies, disasters too. It's all great. 🎉

[@KimBliss]

Aw you legend Amanda, thank you. I think I have a plan brewing for a new project by the way, I'm taking a moment to away from fabric cutting to respond to this. Hope to share more shortly! 😁💚

[@paradehandmade]

@KimBliss Yippee! Looking forward to see it! 😎

[@WendyLMacdonaldCreations]

As always, I love your advice. You've encouraged me to continue sharing personal projects as well as products for my Etsy shop. My subscribers seem to appreciate my posts about things I made for me. And I love the joy of creating something without the pressure of being good enough. I learn a lot too as I feel safe to take chances with creativity. 🥰

[@KimBliss]

Yes! This is exactly what I've found too. I've started being more adventurous and playing with ideas a little more now because there's no expectations on the outcome. 😁💚

[@CurvyEmsUK]

omg i love that jacket

[@christycastille1125]

I look forward to your videos, you speak truth and what I need to hear as a handmade business!

[@KimBliss]

Thank you. ☺️💚

[@CreativeStitchingwithAnn]

I like what you have done so far on the shirt. Maybe you could just simply show what you intended on the shirt and then give it as a gift to someone. Sometimes I work through something even though I've gotten frustrated with it or lost interest. Sometimes when I get all the way through I have a lightbulb moment and it finally clicks. Just a thought.

[@KimBliss]

I'm sort of planning on doing that. I say sort of because I'm not going ahead with my full plan. I'm just going to embroider some leaves on the other shoulder so it matches and then I'll donate it to a local charity shop. ☺️💚

[@jaskiart9697]

Why is no one talking about the sales tab update?! We use to be able to offer free shipping on orders after an amount or quantity was purchased from our shop now we can’t. It’s either free shipping on all orders or none or we have to use Etsy’s free shipping guarantee. They’ve also added a bulk buy discount to promote a higher average ticket?

[@JohnLee-mk1tj]

Yes! Back to basics 👍 Process and content! 😁 Cheers to a good week!

[@KimBliss]

Cheers John! The ultimate OG! Hope you have a good week too my good sir. 😁

[@falcieridesigns]

I think some of it is a bit glitchy especially the personalised section. I've been in and started changing my listings but it apparently says you don't need to, and then apparently you should also wait a few weeks because there are bound to be more glitches. I would say without any shadow of a doubt, Etsy does not pay any attention to ANY Etsy sellers about what they should be doing.

[@KimBliss]

Do they listen to one seller? Absolutely not. Do they listen when sellers, buyers, investors AND THE MEDIA start calling things out? You bet your bum they do.

[@falcieridesigns]

@@KimBliss I hope so. They don't have a particularly good track record of doing the right thing. :)

[@slimplynth]

The last part is true struggle, I'm just really boring on video.. maybe not so much if I'm being wreckless and or a clown.. as such, I very rarely p!mp my etsy out on social media... Have tried on Pinterest, FB and tiktok but have seemingly given up 😁

[@KimBliss]

I doubt you're boring and there are loads of people who hate the high energy, clown-like content. I've had comments before from people saying I talk too fast or am too over the place. I mean, I can't argue! But my point is that folks like all sorts of things. You don't have to be anything other than yourself. Thank you for coming to my TED Talk. 😁

[@purrfectdesignstm]

Lets hope they get rid of people selling M&S items and even taking the product photos in the M&S stores on their displays. I reported them to Etsy & M&S and nothing was done. Also I stopped doing social media over a year ago and found my sales increased - it gives me more time to spend making and less time to be scrolled past.

[@KimBliss]

Oh for goodness sake, are people really doing that?? That's up there with the person who found a shop selling Pot Noodles. The best part? They were out of date! 😆

[@belindaroadley]

Girl, I felt that sass-grump at the beginning 😂 I have lots to say about the etsy update, mainly coz dear Josh said that nothing was changing and that's a LIE, but I'll save my rants for somewhere other than a youtube comment section. 😅 Kim, if I could ask, how did you approach youtube/social media posting BEFORE you had any following? I've avoided social media like the plague because I've always just felt like I was quacking into the void. I'd LIKE to start a youtube channel, but I'm already awkward when I'm sitting alone talking to my camera. Let alone when I know there's NO ONE THERE waiting to see the video when it gets uploaded. 😅 I like talking directly to people (I hear your gasp of disbelief!), and I'd love to find "my people" on youtube, but good grief please don't tell me it's months of talking to an empty stadium. 😅

[@CricketsBay]

Start making shorts and use the hashtag #shorts. People will watch, although maybe not the audience-building type of people. Be sure to reply to any comments on your videos. Block trolls. Do not leave troll comments visible under your videos. Use video hashtags appropriate for your content. Always link a longer video where that feature is available on each short you post to direct viewers to your actual content instead of keeping them trapped watching shorts.

[@KimBliss]

Life is one continuous sass-grump at the moment. Etsy picked the wrong bloody moment to share their 'news'. 😄 As for the social media question, oooh dear. You won't like it I'm afraid. It takes time and yup, starting off small. Also with social media specifically, I personally find most of my traction comes from KZbin rather than the social media platforms themselves. I never worked out how to grow organically there without paying for reach, which I refuse to do. 😄 Sorry love, i know that wasn't the answer you were looking for. 💚

[@TiffanyM3]

Sass-grump!? I'm stealing that one. 😂🩵

[@HolidaysLane]

Not to dwell on the topic but yes, anytime an item is personalized it will be listed as "Designed by ..."

[@KimBliss]

Even if it's completely handmade? From scratch? Not to mention my other personalised products have been allocated as made by. I'll be honest, I'm happy either way as long as it's consistent. ☺️

[@jennyjumpjump]

All of my handmade items are showing up as "designed by" no matter what I do. I tried copying a listing without any changes, it showed as "made by". So I think there's definitely some bugs to work out

[@KimBliss]

It's to be expected to be honest.

[@the.toxic.phoenix]

Oh, they've automatically allocated the categories? Ugh, I'm not really in my shop right now, I don't have the time or head space to go in and check / change them... Can we change them? Can we set them up at time of listing?

[@boldfacedtruth]

For new listing these options are available. Once they switch everyone over with these categories, we should all go in and fix anything that is categorized incorrectly. I've heard people saying some of theirs are let's say handmade, but in the sourced by category.

[@KimBliss]

Yeah you can set them up yourself, but they have automatically doke it for existing listings and this is where some errors have occurred. You can go in and change the settings if this is the case, BUT. As I stated in the video, these changes may not be recognised by Etsy.

[@hannahmitchell87]

I'm confused. None of mine have been given a new category? All the new options are blank

[@boldfacedtruth]

@hannahmitchell87 they are doing them over time. Some people have all of their listing changed. Some have only Some of their listings changed. I think it's supposed to be completed within a few weeks from what I've heard. Some people are doing it themselves so they know their categories are correct. It's getting rolled out.

[@hannahmitchell87]

@@boldfacedtruth Ahh, ok. Thanks! I'll delegate getting on top of it to future-me then 😊

[@CoventinaSoapery]

Oh Kim, lemme tell ya... Etsy's new AI generated sorting hat needs a bit of a... I noticed on the 11th July that Etsy placed virtually all of my products in the 'Designed By' not the 'Made By' category. The only ones they haven't are made to order items. I make ALL of my products with my own brain & hands, thus all are handmade & unique to my shop. I 'design' them first, rigorously formulating to ensure compliance & workability, then I carefully source ingredients & packaging supplies, then I make the things. I am utterly baffled at how my productes have been deemed 'designed by'. I have made Etsy aware, but the customer service could do nothijng but flag it to be looked into. They looked at my products and agreed with me, but could do nothing to change anything. I am waiting for things to be corrected, but nothing yet. It has P**sed me right off. And yes the back end' is all correct. I feel like Etsy has slapped me in the face!

[@KimBliss]

Omg, your description is perfect! "..AI generated sorting hat". 😄

[@CoventinaSoapery]

@@KimBliss Hehehe ✨

[@nice2nettles]

Ah, I think I'm one of those ones you're talking about who was dragging my feet about doing the online work to grow an online business. Well, I actually made my first sale last week (yippee!!), and it did spur me into action a bit. I joined Instagram (and got another sale - yippee!). I do get what you're saying here. I've just been posting one product a day so far, but I feel like I'm just advertising at people, and the only people who are starting to follow me are other Folksy sellers. I still feel like I want to hold back from putting all of myself on social media again though. I did it for years, and it was so freeing when I stopped and got out of that mindset. But yes, I know what you mean about engagement and storytelling. Cognitive dissonance anyone?

[@KimBliss]

Oh but you absolutely don't have to put all of yourself back on social media, it's definitely not all or nothing. Maybe just start a creative project that'd related to your work, but not something you'll be selling, and just share the progress with folks on social? It gives them something to connect to and you don't even have to share your face or make videos if this isn't a good fit for you. 💚

[@UnderWarranty]

There should be a option for designed and handmade. Etsy need to focus more on the none hand made seller, buying stuff from aliexpress and putting your name on it is not handmade but if you report them etsy won't listen.

[@madebychristie]

Imo Etsy has been very clear that they want shoppers to come to Etsy, but they are not interested in promoting individual makers. I don't think they will ever create a handmade category as the more options they give outside of a refined search the more chances a shopper will stumble upon what they want (Etsy hopes). That being said Etsy is still the best place for me to sell my handmade goods. Even with all the noise of frustrated Etsy sellers, the pros outweigh the cons for me so I'm not going anywhere anytime soon.

[@KimBliss]

Here's the thing though. I buy from Etsy a lot, and I've talked before at my frustration at not being able to find a handmade mug amongst all the POD mugs. While it doesn't have to be a handmade category specifically, having a way to filter out the truly handmade goods would serve buyers too because while some buyers don't care about handmade, there an awful lot that do. This would benefit them which would in turn benefit sellers and of course, Etsy.

[@madebychristie]

@@KimBliss As a buyer I would love that function. I see where you’re coming from. Unfortunately, Etsy’s become “big box store” minded while performing empty gestures to hopeful handmade sellers like calling clarification to existing policies “updates” when they’re not. I totally feel you.

[@tamshort8958]

I have alot of listings labelled sourced by instead of designed by which I haven’t been able to change, anyone else?

[@KimBliss]

Etsy bots being drunk and disorderly again. Don't worry too much, this is very early days and won't affect sales right now. Etsy need time to roll it out and iron out the issues. 💚

[@ModBloomArt]

Same, my shop is all messed up as far as that "labeling" badge.

[@tamshort8958]

@@ModBloomArt I changed some notebooks to journals section and then it changed to designed by but I haven’t figured out my other listings yet

[@ModBloomArt]

@@tamshort8958 Thanks, I will try to see if that could work for me!

[@shara-la8629]

Hold on - you have a teenage doughter? You are 29 right?

[@KimBliss]

Oh I *LOVE* you! I wish though. My knees remind me daily that my twenties are long gone. 😁

[@shara-la8629]

@@KimBliss Young Lady, please...I am 60 year old Serbian/British (ex Chelsea Girl "89-"06) I don't give compliments easily. Regards from boiling Belgrade

[@KimBliss]

😄 In that case, I will pipe down and gladly accept the compliment. 💚

[@jf5336]

@@KimBlissNo no no....we are ALL 29. Forever!

[@pinkscampi]

Rubbish bought from temu will still get listed as “handmade”

[@KimBliss]

Probably! 😄... but also, 😭

[@CristinaRiveraBeauty]

Oh man Kim I was going to send you a post on Instagram but I figured it wasn't something you didn't know. But I saw an Etsy ad you had to scroll through. And there was a RYOBI drill on there! How is that handmade?? 😂 Good point on showing the process. So simple and yet it didn't occur to me that it would take the pressure off. Gold nuggets yet again 🩷

[@KimBliss]

I lost faith in Etsy when I found out of date Pot Noodles on there listed as handmade. I'm keeping everything crossed that their upcoming plans will put an end to the worst of it, but as always, we're going to have to wait and see! 😊