After 17 years of selling one-of-a-kind goods on Etsy, a prominent seller said the marketplace placed a hold on her account and won't tell her why or what she can do to resolve the issue.
The seller, who goes by the name Katwise, posted on
Facebook on Sunday evening. Within 22 hours, it generated 600 responses, which climbed to over 900 responses in a matter of days.
A reader who forwarded us a link to the post said Katwise had been around Etsy for years making and selling recycled clothing, writing, "Her brand is really well known," and included a
link to her Etsy shop. A quick look at her own website reveals Katwise (Kat O'Sullivan) is known for more than her Etsy shop, and a profile of the artisan last year in
Insider gives a taste of her fame as an artist.
In her Facebook post, Katwise said Etsy's handling of the situation (she said it deemed her shop "high risk" and won't disburse her earnings, but won't tell her why or what to do about it) made her furious and said the experience was demeaning - and was a catalyst to explore other platforms.
She asked her Facebook connections for advice on which ecommerce platforms work best for sellers of unique goods that sell out right away. "My shop has some unique needs and I would love to see examples of how similar business have built their own shops."
It was clear she was experiencing the same trepidation other marketplace sellers face when contemplating running their own websites. "I have been hesitant to leave Etsy because I have such a history there," she wrote. "I am nervous about having to manage my own shop (particularly the moments of high volume sales that can get glitchy and upset people). Oof. But I guess it is time to learn and grow!"
"To be clear," she added, "I am not closing my Etsy shop - I will still have my tutorials there. I am just hoping to move my sweater sales to my own site."
The hundreds of responses to the weekend Facebook post included advice from sellers who suggested platforms and social media sites, from Shopify to TikTok. They also pointed to sellers of unique goods who powered their own ecommerce shops.
Katwise's Etsy profile includes the following praise for the site she's been a part of since almost the beginning: "Etsy has been a blessing in making it easier for my free spirit not to ever have to sit behind a desk...The response to my work here on etsy has been so life affirming! Thank you all a million times over for your enthusiasm, which continues to inspire and overwhelm me!"
But the artist now seems determined to find a new home on which to sell her unique sweaters.
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Outcry after Etsy Deems Prominent Seller's Shop 'High Risk'
by: The End