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Wed Jan 20 2016 14:34:51

Will Seller Advisory Board Help Etsy Hear Sellers Voices?

By: Ina Steiner

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Etsy created a 15-member Seller Advisory Board to provide feedback about the challenges sellers face and, in its words, "to play a key role in shaping the way future decisions are made." We spoke to Robert Brunson, Etsy's Community Outreach Program Manager about how the program will work - you can read more in Wednesday's Newsflash article

The program reminds me of eBay's Voices program, but with many differences. Voices was a secretive program - participants felt they were unable to even disclose they were members due to non-disclosure agreements they signed, even when talking to journalists. 

eBay Voices participants, who were able to remain members for many, many years, benefited tremendously from the program: 

- They received advance warning of what changes were coming down the pike. 

- They could also reach out to people at eBay to get any problems with their accounts fixed (and frequently did so, from what we could see).

Ultimately the eBay Voices program appeared to become more of a sounding board for eBay to help it package unpopular changes by knowing in advance what objections sellers would have.

Etsy's program is different in several key ways. The company is encouraging all sellers to reach out to advisory board members - it can be as simple as using the company's Convo messaging system to provide their feedback, which they will pass along to the company. 

While members of the board will have to sign non-disclosure agreements, Brunson said Etsy wants participants to discuss their experiences, while keeping quiet only about such things as products Etsy may be working on. Etsy will also share videos and be open about the board meetings.

Each SAB member will oversee one of 15 subcommittees, each made up of about 15 members, drawing more voices into the program.

And the term for Etsy Seller Advisory Board members is 10 months (through the end of 2016).

What do you think of the program? Will the transparency that Etsy is trying to bring to the board help it avoid some of the problems other such programs have encountered? Will you feel comfortable providing Etsy with your feedback through the program?

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Perminate Link for Will Seller Advisory Board Help Etsy Hear Sellers Voices?   Will Seller Advisory Board Help Etsy Hear Sellers Voices?

by: Robin This user has validated their user name.

Tue Feb 2 20:34:55 2016

I was pretty neutral on the committees and really still am.  A "whatever" attitude.

But the threads on Etsy by one of the committee members has already dinged the PR benefit, imo. It's hard to imagine ETsy tasked their inspiration/committee member to do that, but stranger things...

Perminate Link for Will Seller Advisory Board Help Etsy Hear Sellers Voices?   Will Seller Advisory Board Help Etsy Hear Sellers Voices?

by: Let it Rain This user has validated their user name.

Wed Feb 3 14:43:42 2016

Jeebits Jerry , for some one who likes nothing better than kicking people off your many teams you seem to be quite sensitive regarding muting.  

Perminate Link for Will Seller Advisory Board Help Etsy Hear Sellers Voices?   Will Seller Advisory Board Help Etsy Hear Sellers Voices?

by: ForPetesSake This user has validated their user name.

Fri Feb 5 13:40:50 2016

Geez Jerry, Can't believe you're complaining about Etsy's mutings after kicking so many people off the SellerGroup team for no reason at all. Here's an Esty gift I found just for you: https://www.etsy.com/listing/230491233/if-you-could-shut-the-fck-up-ma
ture-gift

Perminate Link for Will Seller Advisory Board Help Etsy Hear Sellers Voices?   Will Seller Advisory Board Help Etsy Hear Sellers Voices?

This user has validated their user name. by: NiciArt

Sat Feb 6 16:12:20 2016

"But the threads on Etsy by one of the committee members has already dinged the PR benefit" - Thank you Robin for getting it.

And lest we allow a short memory to prevail:

https://www.etsy.com/teams/7722/discussions/discuss/17
100383/page/1

I
want this board to address the issues or if nothing more, start a serious conversation that plants the seeds of change for the next board and the board to follow.



Perminate Link for Will Seller Advisory Board Help Etsy Hear Sellers Voices?   Will Seller Advisory Board Help Etsy Hear Sellers Voices?

by: LookingforVoiceofReason This user has validated their user name.

Mon Feb 8 19:16:40 2016

@ RJ of NiciArt - I think you are not getting it. Your behavior in the forum is what has damaged the reputation of the advisory board. You overstepped your bounds and decided that you were the leader of the Advisory Board and the appointed representative of the sellers, completely ignoring that 14 other people on that board are your equals. When you received push back from the sellers, you threw a tantrum - contacting sellers privately to gain support. You need to check your ego at the door or NO ONE will work with you.  

Perminate Link for Will Seller Advisory Board Help Etsy Hear Sellers Voices?   Will Seller Advisory Board Help Etsy Hear Sellers Voices?

This user has validated their user name. by: NiciArt

Mon Feb 8 23:38:44 2016

FYI, no one acted without discussing and asking for permission first from Etsy, so there is no "self appointed leader" or "just decided" here. Participation in the thread was voluntary and everyone is entitled to their own opinions, so obviously I'm getting it.  

Perminate Link for Will Seller Advisory Board Help Etsy Hear Sellers Voices?   Will Seller Advisory Board Help Etsy Hear Sellers Voices?

This user has validated their user name. by: NiciArt

Tue Feb 9 01:20:11 2016

Oh and that Ego? Do you think I like being this totally amazing? This incredibly sexy? Imagine how it feels not even to be able to walk down the street without people groveling beneath my feet in awe of my splendor or quivering in terror of my shadow. I defy the very metaphors of greatness and grace thee with my excellence.  

Perminate Link for Will Seller Advisory Board Help Etsy Hear Sellers Voices?   Will Seller Advisory Board Help Etsy Hear Sellers Voices?

This user has validated their user name. by: White Rabbit

Tue Feb 9 08:39:17 2016

LOL ok you made my day NiciArt.. and I generally just ignore them...

Perminate Link for Will Seller Advisory Board Help Etsy Hear Sellers Voices?   Will Seller Advisory Board Help Etsy Hear Sellers Voices?

This user has validated their user name. by: White Rabbit

Fri Feb 12 11:53:58 2016

I mean not to be a Soup Nazi or anything ... but..

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Soup_Nazi

https:
//www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2lfZg-apSA

Perminate Link for Will Seller Advisory Board Help Etsy Hear Sellers Voices?   Will Seller Advisory Board Help Etsy Hear Sellers Voices?

This user has validated their user name. by: NiciArt

Fri Feb 12 15:28:29 2016

You just made mine as well White Rabbit. The Soup Nazi was the best Episode ever. I haven't watched that clip in the longest time.Still laughing 20 years later

Perminate Link for Will Seller Advisory Board Help Etsy Hear Sellers Voices?   Will Seller Advisory Board Help Etsy Hear Sellers Voices?

This user has validated their user name. by: White Rabbit

Fri Feb 12 16:53:04 2016

:-) love it too :-)

Perminate Link for Will Seller Advisory Board Help Etsy Hear Sellers Voices?   Will Seller Advisory Board Help Etsy Hear Sellers Voices?

by: Let it Rain This user has validated their user name.

Fri Feb 19 15:39:44 2016

RJ strikes again.

https://www.etsy.com/teams/7722/discussions/discuss/1743
8008/

Unbelievable.

Perminate Link for Will Seller Advisory Board Help Etsy Hear Sellers Voices?   Will Seller Advisory Board Help Etsy Hear Sellers Voices?

by: just passign through This user has validated their user name.

Mon Feb 22 10:58:31 2016

I saw that Let it Rain. That guy is unbelievable.

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