If you’re an Etsy shop owner or a fan of handmade clothing, you might be familiar with the name Alicia Shaffer. She is the founder of Three Bird Nest, a successful Etsy shop that was once considered the richest seller on the platform. Three Bird Nest specializes in handmade bohemian clothing and accessories at affordable prices, and at one point, it was raking in an impressive $70,000 a month in sales.
However, in a recent interview with Yahoo Makers, Shaffer revealed that she has closed her shop on Etsy and moved on to other platforms. The reason for her departure? She claimed that she could no longer trust Etsy.
As someone who has followed Shaffer’s success on Etsy, I was immediately intrigued when I heard the news. I wanted to know why someone who had built such a thriving business on the platform would choose to leave. So, I did a bit of digging and found out what led to Shaffer’s decision.
According to Shaffer, her problems with Etsy began when the company changed its algorithms, which affected her shop’s visibility in search results. She also claimed that Etsy’s policies had become more favorable towards resellers and manufacturers, making it difficult for small handmade businesses like hers to compete.
Shaffer also expressed her frustration with Etsy’s lack of transparency when it came to communicating these changes to sellers. She said that Etsy’s support team was unresponsive and that she felt like she had no choice but to leave the platform.
As someone who has sold on Etsy in the past, I can understand Shaffer’s concerns. Etsy has undergone significant changes over the years, and some of those changes have not been well-received by the community of sellers. In particular, many small business owners have expressed frustration with Etsy’s increased focus on mass-produced items and the platform’s failure to adequately support and promote handmade goods.
That being said, Etsy remains one of the most popular platforms for handmade and vintage items, and many sellers continue to find success on the site. It’s also worth noting that Etsy has made efforts to address some of the concerns raised by its community, such as by introducing new features to help promote handmade items and by cracking down on resellers.
So, what can we learn from Shaffer’s decision to leave Etsy? Firstly, it’s a reminder that platforms can change at any time, and it’s important to be aware of those changes and how they might affect your business. It’s also a reminder that there are other platforms out there, and it’s worth exploring your options if you’re not happy with your current platform.
As for Three Bird Nest, the brand is now focusing on its own website and other online marketplaces. Shaffer has also launched a coaching program for other small business owners who want to learn from her success.
While it’s unfortunate that Alicia Shaffer felt like she had to leave Etsy, her decision is a valuable reminder of the importance of staying informed and adaptable as a small business owner. Whether you’re selling on Etsy or another platform, it’s important to stay up-to-date with industry trends and changes and to be prepared to pivot if necessary. And, of course, it’s always inspiring to see someone turn their success into an opportunity to help others.
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