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I think its fair to ask...

loopy avatar
loopy from loopyboopy 7:13 pm Feb 6, 2013 EST
What is Etsy's goal?

I know so many real human beings that have started, built and grown a business on this site. These are not all cut throat business men and women that have degrees or great knowledge on how to run or grow a independent business, some are, but most I've met are craft people, artists that come to Etsy with a dream and a desire to start and perhaps grow an independent handmade business. Some have aspirations of supporting their household, some also have the dream of doing that and supporting their local economy and by doing so make great progress in changing our global consumer habits. Some may also have dreams of making it huge and becoming the next big thing. The wish or desire to do all of this I'm sure is vast.

Last I heard that was still Etsy's mission. If its changed, obviously the community would like to be informed.

Would I be too frank in saying that Etsy has exploited all of these determined and hardworking people by allowing and promoting shops that may have different goals??

It would be really great to fully understand the goals of Etsy. Thus far I hear them saying all of these things are what they too are working toward but the actions they are taking don't seem to be reflect that.

358 Responses

rakubuttons avatar
rakubuttons from rakubuttons 7:22 pm Feb 6, 2013 EST edited
Informing the masses? That is not part of the plan Loopy.

Goal #1: make money for investors.
sherry truitt avatar
sherry truitt from sherrytruitt 7:22 pm Feb 6, 2013 EST
Loopy, before I tell you what I think, I will say that the etsy of today is not the same etsy we signed up with.

Rob Kalin's mission and dreams have nothing to do with the etsy of today.
Etsy is run by folks with different goals fueled by 6 rounds of capital funding.

In all fairness, though, I heard an interview Rob gave to NPR. He said he knew when he took the first outside money everything would change. It did. However, he also said the site would have crashed forever had he not.

I'll be back.
WinchesterLambourne avatar
WinchesterLambourne from WinchesterLambourne 7:28 pm Feb 6, 2013 EST
I feel like I missed something important since I'm not 100% sure what these shops' goals are or what it's in reference to. Do you mean profit being the first and primary aim, or something different?
Yvonne avatar
Yvonne from YAHAccessories 7:31 pm Feb 6, 2013 EST
To make money. To give other people opportunity to make money.
loopy avatar
loopy from loopyboopy 7:34 pm Feb 6, 2013 EST
Profit being the first and primary aim? Is that how you see Etsy and all the sellers here about Win?

oh gawd...profit is good, yes it is good. If I was selling on Ebay or Amazon I would completely expect that to be the number one priority. But alas, I am not selling on those sites I'm selling on Etsy. Who still claims to support handmade business and its success, change of economies and green consumerism (albeit less and less)

I don't think its too much to ask for a company to truly explain its goals. Do you?
Trudy Hylant avatar
Trudy Hylant from TrudysPaintedLadies 7:41 pm Feb 6, 2013 EST
Loopy..I read and reread your post..

The answer to your question is..

Yes, I would also like Etsy to explain their goals to us.

As sellers on any online venue isn't that pretty much a standard question?
sherry truitt avatar
sherry truitt from sherrytruitt 7:41 pm Feb 6, 2013 EST edited
I am an artist. Yet, I rarely sell intricate pieces on etsy because they take too long to make and I have to earn a living. I earn a good living from my craft, but a lot of it is production fabrication. I need to work. I have a son in college. I don't apologize for what I sell. I work hard at my designs, photography, marketing, etc... I even drop whole lines when they are copied too much.

At some point etsy management and the investors must also have realized that the big bucks were not going to come from the little seller making one off pieces.

We may not always like the changes, but there is still room for us. I am not trendy, you'll not see me on the front page more than once a year. But, somehow customers find me and you. We know how to market.


I think etsy's intent on changing the rules was to help small businesses grow and be able to stay. To have employees and outsource some production. I think the letter of the law has been bent, but there is no going back.

It's not all that different than shops on a main street. Some import items from other countries and have no idea whose hand was in the making. Others make everything from bread to jewelry themselves.

I don't ask a lot of questions anymore. I don't think etsy has to explain it's goals Loopy. I think their actions and direction make the goals quite clear.

Goals change. I used to just sell on etsy. Now I have a website and a wholesale business. I still make everything myself.

Like I've said before, the only thing I really worry about is my business. Because, it's my name on the box.
Robert Ellis avatar
Robert Ellis from foodiebords 7:44 pm Feb 6, 2013 EST
loopyfromloopyboopy says

.
What is Etsy's goal?


Would I be too frank in saying that Etsy has exploited all of these determined and hardworking people by allowing and promoting shops that may have different goals??

I think it's a two way street. Both parties exploit each other for gain-it's called doing business. I try not to read too deep in the why's, wherefores; I just know it's probably the best place on the internet for folks making handmade products to sell their wares, both parties benefit from each other.

Besides, theres tons of success stories, and as it is with them, the same is available for all who have the werewithal and determination to do so.

It's not to often you'll find a business site that has some of the friendliest, most helpful people aiding you in your venture!

WinchesterLambourne avatar
WinchesterLambourne from WinchesterLambourne 7:45 pm Feb 6, 2013 EST edited
I don't perceive Etsy or Etsy sellers as being profit-oriented only, I was asking if that was the issue with the new goals mentioned in this quote: "Would I be too frank in saying that Etsy has exploited all of these determined and hardworking people by allowing and promoting shops that may have different goals??"

I just wasn't sure what 'shops that may have different goals' meant (probably because I missed something). So I was asking what you were referring to, is it that profit is their aim, or is it something else?

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