More Videos - Less Etsy

As a small business owner, every day counts—especially in the last quarter of the year. That’s why I was shocked when Etsy notified me to confirm my business info within ten days or face “holiday mode.” Before I could even react, my shop was shut down just five minutes later.

My Etsy Shop Front

Your response however was incredible. Many of you reached out with kind words, shared similar experiences, and even reassured others about shopping on my website. Your loyalty turned a frustrating situation into a reminder of how amazing this community is—thank you!

But this experience was a wake-up call. I’ve had issues with Etsy before and haven’t been thrilled with some of the changes on the platform. Over time, I’ve scaled back my offerings on Etsy, listing only around 20 PAC-PEN items and a few leftover miniatures. You can read more about my ups and downs with Etsy here. And there are some more problems I’ve never mentioned before. One that rarely gets talked about—the changing customer base.

More for Less

Etsy’s audience has shifted dramatically over the years. Gone are the days when buyers were predominantly those who valued handmade craftsmanship. Now, with cheap mass-produced items being sold as “handmade,” the platform attracts a much broader range of shoppers—some delightful, others far less so. The value of handmade items has been lost, as more and more buyers expect to pay less and get more. Quality no longer seems to be the priority for many. I’ve even met customers who thought my products were made in a factory and prepacked. It’s disheartening to see how this change affects small businesses like mine, where every product is crafted by hand from pricey premium materials.

And also there is an increasing number of buyers who struggle to interpret written descriptions or photos accurately. While misunderstandings have always occurred occasionally, they’ve become far more frequent in recent years.

This isn’t something I experience on my website. Despite its intentionally complex navigation, website customers rarely reach out with confusion, and their questions are usually thoughtful and relevant. The stark difference suggests this issue isn’t universal but rather specific to Etsy’s evolving customer base.

The Scammers Among Us

One of Etsy’s biggest problems—aside from their own missteps with “handmade” guidelines—is the rise of scammers.

When I opened a new Etsy shop last year, I was bombarded with over 20 scam emails per day. Eventually, I got fed up and closed the shop after few sales and tons of scam messages, moving those items to another platform. But scammers don’t just pose as buyers; they’re also masquerading as sellers, which is a much larger issue for my senior shops.

Here’s where it gets frustrating for honest sellers like me. Etsy actively encourages us to share links to our website or social media with our customers. Yet, when I send a customer an email with a link, Etsy displays a warning asking if they’re sure they want to leave Etsy. This creates distrust, making my message seem suspicious. How many customers hesitate or never visit my site because of this? I don’t know, but even losing a few is too many.

The main problem that Etsy is becoming increasingly unreliable and untrustworthy in multiple ways.

Finding Alternatives

I am lucky because my website is my primary platform, and I’ve managed to generate nearly our entire income from it. However, I still keep my Etsy shop open for two key reasons:

1. Backup Plan: If my website ever experiences technical issues, like a server glitch, I need an alternative platform to display my products.

2. Reaching New Customers: Etsy now generates 1-2k sales monthly, which is still better than nothing. But more importantly, it helps me reach a broader audience that I might not connect with otherwise. About 80% of Etsy customers eventually visit my website for more. I’ve worked hard to make this transition happen. Here’s how I guide Etsy customers to my website.

   
   

To move forward to less Etsy, I need to replace two key things Etsy still provides: a secondary platform and marketing support.

A New Secondary Platform

For a secondary platform, I’m considering creating a second website with a different provider. I haven’t decided how to structure it yet. Should it be a PAC-PEN-only site, separate from my miniatures? Or should I use it to sell other products we make, leaving my current website as-is? I haven’t figured out the details yet, but one thing is clear: a second website seems like a better option than relying on any marketplace.

New Marketing Strategies

Marketing is the second challenge, but I’ve come up with some ideas to address it. Implementing them, however, isn’t just up to me. Here’s what I’ve planned:

1. Verified Social Media Accounts - I pay Meta for account verification to protect my business’s social media presence, as 100% of our livelihood depends on social media.

   
   

   

   Meta Verified

   
   

2. Paid Ads - I run paid ads on my social media accounts to increase visibility and reach new audiences. I currently spend nearly £200 per month on Etsy fees, excluding postage, and I’ve decided to redirect that budget into social media ads instead.

3. Buying Your Videos - I want to create more videos content showcasing PAC-PEN, but my focus on miniatures makes this challenging. Many of you, however, are already making amazing videos using PAC-PEN for your own social media. When you tag me, I usually share these in my stories—but what if I went further?

   
   

Here’s my idea:

• I can buy your video where you’re using PAC-PEN. Videos can include anything from your product demonstrations to creative uses—whatever showcases PAC-PEN micro tools.

• If I decide to use your video, I’ll share it as a post on my social media, tagging and crediting you.

• I may even feature your video in paid ads, which could bring more traffic to your own accounts.

And I don't want this for free. If I use your video, we’ll pay £5 in reward points (equivalent to 500 points/1 cutter). For those unfamiliar with my loyalty program, it recently got an upgrade! Now, you can see your points at checkout and redeem as few as 100 points at a time.

This way, your video benefits you more times—you get exposure and loyalty rewards, while I get valuable content to share. It’s a win-win for both of us!

Got Videos? Let’s Trade!

If you already have videos using PAC-PEN, you might be able to exchange them for cutters! Check out all the details on my website to see how you can participate.

Trade Videos for Tools

I know many of you are also navigating the challenges of running a business online, and I’d love to hear your thoughts. What have you found to be worth your time—another marketplace or your own website? How would you approach replacing Etsy if needed? And what do you think about the idea of buying videos as a way to promote our products?

Let’s start a conversation—your insights could inspire new solutions for all of us!