If you are an Etsy seller - or a seller with an *online presence* anywhere...you really need to read the linked article below- and when you do I guarantee you too will be saying WT!!?? (which is what I did)...and rightly so...because the very well written article in the link below - is indicating yet another huge shift in the Economic climate we know is Handmade.
And - it's not going to be a good one - that is for sure.
Before reading the article - it would be great if you could take a few minutes to read what I've written first..it will make more sense - and - once you've read the article - you will probably be as incensed as I am.
http://www.dailydot.com/business/etsy-brave-new-economy-crumbling/
As the article states -it's about change - and as we know - not all changes end up being good ones for many folk around. All one needs do is look back in history when *new* things came to the fore and see what an impact they had on *other* things that were available at the time.
Several industries within the last 50yrs have changed drastically...some of those changes have been wonderful, but others have seen many people suffer greatly.
Until we change our ways on what we are spending our money on, and stop buying *cheap crap* from department stores - and stop buying imported cheap crap from our suppliers - who in turn purchase the cheap crap from either China - Taiwan - Korea or India...or any other economically stretched country.....WE as a collective community could very well end up kissing our butts good bye.
The past 6mths since Etsy changed the rules now allowing *Third party* manufacturing - has seen declines in sales from store owners of finished goods.
I've even seen things that are on Etsy in $2 shops out here - and they are identical..even down to the *gnarled* bit of metal that must be a fault in the processing machine....yet the same item from the originating handmade artisan who's design it is..charges $35.00 - the *rip-off* Etsy shop flogging *mass produced STOLEN designs* charges $15.00 for it - and then the *El Cheapo* local shop (who also imports from China, Korea, Taiwan and India etc) charges ...$5.00 for it.
And folk - most of the *Jack & Jills* - mum and dads trying to raise several kids - put them through school - college - university - etc...will jump at either the local $5 crap piece or the Etsy $15 crap piece - why??.....because *INSTANTLY!*....they are saving either $30 or $20 straight up.
We know the item won't last...and even they probably know the item won't last - but the catch is - *WE CAN BUY 7!! FOR THE PRICE OF ONE!* [insert loads of sarcasm here and banging head on desk]
So how can we get rid of these *charlatan* stores on Etsy - who are not only ripping off others designs etc - but virtually devaluing *handmade*??
My thought was this.... There are enough *very disgruntled* genuine handmade store owners on Etsy - and other sites for whom *mass produced cheap stolen designs crap* is affecting...so trying to get people to sit up and take notice by maybe doing BLACK OUT FOR A WEEK could work. Maybe place shops on vacation for a week? - and change the store banner to - *THIS SHOP DOES NOT SUPPORT MASS PRODUCED STOLEN DESIGNS* - black background with white writing. On FB - change the settings on ALL albums with photos of pieces to *only me*...that way no-one can see them. If you have pieces on your timeline - simply move them to an album with the setting changed.
As said - whilst this is an idea - it could very well work - and could see THOUSANDS of people getting on board, and whilst it is a gamble to do it- it's also a gamble not too. And yes - there would be a loss in sales - but again - a one week loss as opposed to having to shut down because Cheap Crap Stolen Design Imports are taking over could be well worth it....plus- enough people in the street would soon realise that the *handmade community* is suffering because of cheap crap imports..
I am fully prepared to support this....but if anyone has a better idea...then please share it..... Next thing is to come up with a week that would work well. Hmm...Monday 16th September looks like a good date...
...anyway - SMILE! - it has always been FREE!! ;)
And - it's not going to be a good one - that is for sure.
Before reading the article - it would be great if you could take a few minutes to read what I've written first..it will make more sense - and - once you've read the article - you will probably be as incensed as I am.
http://www.dailydot.com/business/etsy-brave-new-economy-crumbling/
As the article states -it's about change - and as we know - not all changes end up being good ones for many folk around. All one needs do is look back in history when *new* things came to the fore and see what an impact they had on *other* things that were available at the time.
Several industries within the last 50yrs have changed drastically...some of those changes have been wonderful, but others have seen many people suffer greatly.
When TV came about - radio sales dropped - *Radio Halls* shut down, and many lost their jobs. Music video* then came into play and quite literally revolutionised a totally new concept....*instant gratification*.Large department store chains then popped up, and that's when Society changed it's spending. Instead of purchasing things from several independent shop owners like we did - the majority of people flocked to these department stores - grabbed everything they needed whilst there - then left.
And the saddest part is - WE!!! HELPED THAT HAPPEN!! by wanting to spend less time going from place to place to make our purchases.As a society - we are helping to get rid of small Independent shop owners who had a vested interest in not only trying to make a living - but by providing you with Great Customer Services - QUALITY wares, and who also took the time to get to *know* you. But INSTANT GRATIFICATION will see them also become obsolete like Radio Halls.
Until we change our ways on what we are spending our money on, and stop buying *cheap crap* from department stores - and stop buying imported cheap crap from our suppliers - who in turn purchase the cheap crap from either China - Taiwan - Korea or India...or any other economically stretched country.....WE as a collective community could very well end up kissing our butts good bye.
The past 6mths since Etsy changed the rules now allowing *Third party* manufacturing - has seen declines in sales from store owners of finished goods.
I've even seen things that are on Etsy in $2 shops out here - and they are identical..even down to the *gnarled* bit of metal that must be a fault in the processing machine....yet the same item from the originating handmade artisan who's design it is..charges $35.00 - the *rip-off* Etsy shop flogging *mass produced STOLEN designs* charges $15.00 for it - and then the *El Cheapo* local shop (who also imports from China, Korea, Taiwan and India etc) charges ...$5.00 for it.
And folk - most of the *Jack & Jills* - mum and dads trying to raise several kids - put them through school - college - university - etc...will jump at either the local $5 crap piece or the Etsy $15 crap piece - why??.....because *INSTANTLY!*....they are saving either $30 or $20 straight up.
We know the item won't last...and even they probably know the item won't last - but the catch is - *WE CAN BUY 7!! FOR THE PRICE OF ONE!* [insert loads of sarcasm here and banging head on desk]
So how can we get rid of these *charlatan* stores on Etsy - who are not only ripping off others designs etc - but virtually devaluing *handmade*??
My thought was this.... There are enough *very disgruntled* genuine handmade store owners on Etsy - and other sites for whom *mass produced cheap stolen designs crap* is affecting...so trying to get people to sit up and take notice by maybe doing BLACK OUT FOR A WEEK could work. Maybe place shops on vacation for a week? - and change the store banner to - *THIS SHOP DOES NOT SUPPORT MASS PRODUCED STOLEN DESIGNS* - black background with white writing. On FB - change the settings on ALL albums with photos of pieces to *only me*...that way no-one can see them. If you have pieces on your timeline - simply move them to an album with the setting changed.
As said - whilst this is an idea - it could very well work - and could see THOUSANDS of people getting on board, and whilst it is a gamble to do it- it's also a gamble not too. And yes - there would be a loss in sales - but again - a one week loss as opposed to having to shut down because Cheap Crap Stolen Design Imports are taking over could be well worth it....plus- enough people in the street would soon realise that the *handmade community* is suffering because of cheap crap imports..
I am fully prepared to support this....but if anyone has a better idea...then please share it..... Next thing is to come up with a week that would work well. Hmm...Monday 16th September looks like a good date...
...anyway - SMILE! - it has always been FREE!! ;)
