@@lucienelson you’ll be fine, just make sure that whatever you do, you do it because you love it. Don’t chase the money just try to be honest and you’ll have a wonderful business.
I made $500k on Etsy. I focused primarily on Etsy and those other platforms instead of my own. I was paying $30/day advertisement. They shut my store down April of this year. I was not infringing, my pictures were showing up all over the internet. I am in the process of putting my all into my own platform. Thank you for posting.
This is exactly the type of video those who are considering opening a business, any business, should watch. There are so many videos that make creating and operating an e-commerce business look like an easy source to make 'passive' income, or a no-brainer way to get rich quick when neither is true. So, I appreciate your transparency regarding the pitfalls one should watch out for, and the importance of creating a brand/business that not only focuses on providing a quality product, but one that epitomizes efficiency, integrity, and honesty.
This is the most helpful, honest video I've seen after a year of doing as much research as possible. Priceless 👏 especially because she endured after having lost everything at one point.
Yep, I wasted my years as well. Amazon suppressed my listing and took my money. Only to scam me later saying it's because I didn't reverify when I did(I have all of this saved from my interactions with them). Etsy has a bunch of scammers that refused to leave me alone about my art. I paid for all of that out of my own pocket. Then I paid out for advertising as well and the only ones that came to harass me and my legitimate business were scammers from overseas. You should see the comments from these scammers. I have all of this saved I had my account hacked on ebay and lost 7k worth of money that could have been profit if someone hadn't of used a bad credit card and eBay literally suspended my account ... I got my account back but everything was refunded? They said its because I didn't verify my account. I verified my account and have that proof as well. Yep. I paid out at least 3k for the last almost two years and no return back. My website which I have advertised for (not on ebay bc it is not allowed) doesn't really have as much traffic according to advertising that is supposedly supposed to work if you pay out like Instagram etc. Also, all the ideas you have will be stolen by some company that has the money but your dreams can't come true bc they can afford to make them happen and you cannot. And bc I' m complaining here RU-vid will probably ban me for telling the truth ... bc facebook did. lol
I had been on Etsy since 2007. I started with handmade items created from recycled vintage linens then I transitioned to vintage. I closed my store last year because it had become such a hassle. For many years, I was very loyal but I saw them treat sellers horribly and I had no desire to keep up with the constant changes. It makes me sick that they don't support sellers. You are absolutely right to build your own home. I hope it works out for you, you deserve better!
Amen. I haven’t been able to get my products seen on Etsy regardless of adding a video, reworking SEO, marketing, social media, mockups…. Everything that is pushed to do. I kept seeing Grinch, Christmas Vacation and other copywriter characters all over Christmas items while mine couldn’t rank. I went to InsightFactory and the first product they showed me contained characters you can’t legally use!!! So, I am transitioning to Goimagine. Because it doesn’t have the traffic of Etsy and maybe I won’t sell, but I’m not selling on Etsy, either! Maybe there is hope as it grows and isn’t as overstated as Etsy and not competing with AI crap and POD! Good luck! You deserve better than you have received. ❤ Shirley
I started with handmade jewelry and transitioned to vintage on there as well. Things are not easy on there. I have to constantly list new product in order for the algorithm to pick me up at all.
This sounds exhausting. It's interesting because anytime I hear someone tout entrepreneurship as a way to 'not answer to anyone', the experiences you describe is what I think of. I believe that no matter what you do in exchange for money, there will always be someone to answer to. There is always an overseer to money.
Having had our website and cookbooks for 25 years now you are 100%%%%%%% RIGHT on EVERY SINGLE POINT! Just keeping up with the Google changes every 3-6 months is a FULL time job! This video need 10 million views!
There are so many false success stories on the Internet. I'm a business owner as well, and I know that 99.99 percent of the people on the Internet about this subject is not telling the truth. ( You are one of, if not the only truthful person on the Internet about this business. I just seen your video this day, and I'm going to follow you. You're awesome.!!!
So agree with you @londonstar3657 I am selling on different platforms, but eBay has by far charged the most. They used to allow sellers to take advantage of discounts for shipping so I would make a few extra dollars off every sale, but they took that away and said all customers will get the shipping discount. I seriously wonder how any sellers on eBay make any money. I assume they lower their prices because either the item has been sitting too long or they just have a mass inventory of items for sale so it doesn’t make any difference if it sells or not. eBay has made so many changes in order to keep up with other platforms so I’m wondering if they will be the next Etsy like the way Etsy is treating its sellers. I used to find fantastic pieces of art made by family or individual owned businesses so the money goes back into the community you know when you buy from mom & pop places. However, lately it is over saturated with business owners owned by corporations that utilize AI or technology to recreate art pieces. I’m sure it sells but it’s not handmade and takes money out of pockets from individuals & families all over the world. Ridiculous. Tik Tok has by far paid me the most with little to no effort, however you almost never have a live human to talk to and when posting products it’s such a hassle dealing with the “product certification,” part when posting items for sale and then TikTok randomly takes an item off your store for sale after they already approved it weeks or days ago and then terminate a product with no CLEAR explanation or telling you what to do. Yes you can submit an appeal, but TikTok expects for you to know what you’re doing & how you need to submit the appeal they offer zero guidance. I’m seriously considering a website, I’m just not sure of the cost to pay someone to create it. At this point even Shopify sounds expensive 🤷🏻♀️
I'm riveted by this video, as someone who is not going to ever do an Etsy shop, because of your raw experience as a powerful creator and businesswoman.
@@Elisa_DoesLife I hve no intention of doing Esty, but many of the same emotional elements, and dependence on the shifting seas of corporate policies, are present for selling my books.
Finally someone who is advocating for not using licensed designs without paying royalties. Its unfortunate how saturated the buyers market is with handmakers using copyrighted designs. Its so frustrating to compete with that. I am on the same path as far as not selling on amazon anymore and to be honest the day I quit amazon was the biggest relief ever. Its so true about the fear mongering that Amazon does to its sellers. I was selling on amazon for 10 years and finally I had enough. Thank you for providing this video for other sellers and spreading awareness
Etsy was great when it first started out. It was full of handmade sellers and I did purchase many items from different shops. Now those sellers are all gone and all shops practically look the same with those silly white vases and fake succulent plants, wood crates and boring colors. There is nothing on there I want to buy now.
This video is like a breath of fresh air. When I decided to open an online store, I started watching videos on RU-vid. I found many with captions like “Sell fast on Amazon” or “Start selling today on Etsy,” each claiming it’s easy to open an account and start selling right away. Well, I tried, and I’m still trying. After five weeks, I’m still struggling to understand the Amazon selling platform. It took me three weeks just to post a listing because there are so many verification steps to go through. It’s insane! And I’m from the generation that grew up with computers, and I work in the tech industry. I build websites! Yet, I find it so hard. Thank you again for your story; it’s encouraging because you didn’t give up!
This video is a prime example of why it's vital to your brand to build your own website and drive traffic to it. That hampster wheel is some crap. I hate hearing these stories
@@kurisu3000 Yes, ads cost money. But they bring in customers. I know several business owners who are millionaires (not etsy or internet, real life businesses) and they ALL pay for ads.
I get this but her point is that having your own website isn’t always enough either. I’m a web designer and I 100% agree. The industry is very volatile and there are a lot of scammers propagating fake stories to try and sell you a dream
I was suspended before i sold one item. And good luck trying to find an explanation from a REAL person..Thank you. You've helped so many through this video
So I started out on Etsy in 2011. 2013 attempted to build my own "home" with Big Cartel 😳, then again in 2015 with Shopify. Had no clue what a theme was back then. Had a phenomenal website and sold jewelry globally, even reached celebs. I quit in 2017 and now in 2024 about the relaunch better than ever. I have kept my Etsy open the whole time but I've witnessed it go downhill for years! Can't wait for my home to be completed. Good luck to you all!!
Thank you. I can’t even express how helpful you have been to me today. Like you, I’ve played on everyone else’s playground for 9 years. I too was in fear every day on Amazon Handmade. Etsy completely threw our vintage business under the bus by give a refund to a scammer and refusing to help us get the expensive vintage item back. I’ve been overwhelmed for months in fear that they would do this again. No seller support, competing with junk drop ship items etc. thank you so much for helping me know that I can build my own playground successfully. Like you I have had a website that I didn’t give enough attention to.
Yeah they're really full of dishonest and scamming and terrible item drop shippers which I'm not even sure how that's allowed on Etsy... Amazon is overwhelmed by them at times and I mean they've always been on eBay so I'm not concerned with them because at least for most eBay shops it says they're in China so you can filter most of them out.
As a webmaster for more than 24 years in the tech industry. We finally have an honest person showing how hard it is to manage sites and the work you have to put in to get results. I always laugh at companies who hire me and think it’s instant. Worked in many industries. Nothing is immediate. It’s all about being constant. Never breaking your stride. Trying new things, ideas but you have to keep platforms in motion. It’s never a one and done. You advance over time.
Thank you for this! As an artist and creative individual I have kept all of my stuff off line for fear of people stealing it. I have so much experience building other peoples "playgrounds" you have given me motivation to build my own. Thank you!
I was about to use online photos in my art. I read the law on “fair use” and it gives a lot lee way for my intended usage. So I went ahead and copied various images. After watching your video, I am in the process of deleting all the images in my files and public platforms. I am an artist and have a catalog of my own work that I can use and feel proud of. I would be devastated someone copied and profited from my hard work. Thank you for sharing your insight and years of experience. I will subscribe. 😊
WOW! Thank you for your transparency, vulnerability, and most importantly your wisdom. I'm not even sure how I found myself listening to your video but am sure glad I did! Thanks to you, I will get back to building my own playground. You are an Earth Angel! Thank you!🐝💙
I am pleasantly surprised that this message was in my feed. Over a decade ago, I had a lovely Etsy shop. I curated several nice community pages. Then a random person/entity begun providing unsolicited messages about my photos. The photos were originals, clear and our products were handmade by me and my partner. I was new at creating titles and using the hashtags. I received a message from Etsy that I was in copyright violation for my hashtag on 5-6 products. I went through every item (so I believed) and removed the hashtags. Then Esty suspended my account. We had lots of sells, was prompt with communication, and everything was blocked. I was so angry. I wrote Esty, but nothing changed. I walked away. I do not even shop on Esty, barely read the emails that I receive.
@@zombieravioliI almost created an Etsy account, but backed out as well. I saw many sellers not happy any the way they were being treated & that Etsy was no longer being supportive of them. How could I do business with a platform that doesn’t value its sellers? I couldn’t there has to be some sort of improvement, but I don’t think that will happen. 💯
I personally never shop on Etsy because of stories like this that I've read about how badly they treat people. I'm very sorry that this happened to you.
I love your hair! Thank you for sharing your experiences. I’m new on eBay and knew one day I would start my own site. I was going to first start on Mercari & Etsy but you’ve got me thinking that starting my own site now. Thank you! I’m so impressed with your accomplishments.
I do not sell products on the internet but by heart goes out to you. You have put your heart and soul into your business and i am appalled as to what you went through. It seems like the major platforms rule the world. I can't imagine the stress. You are a beautiful well spoken beautiful lady and I wish you all the success and happiness in the world.
They are monopolies like In the late 1800s that created a very unequal society. Only massive regulation starting around the. forced them to act fairly to workers. Modern right wing politicians just roll back all these improvements. I wish people knew the history i know.
Wow! Amazing and impactful, Elisa. I am glad the RU-vid algorithms fed your channel into my queue of videos. Thank you for sharing your experiences with us. Be well and best wishes in the continued growth of all your businesses and please groom your children with the skills sets to inherit it and carry it to the next generations. Madam C.J. Walker is probably smiling wherever she may be knowing there are Sisters like you carrying the torch!
I’ve been on eBay for about 10 years full time. Im watching Chinese products take over on Etsy and eBay. The platforms will not police those sellers, but they will shut us down without asking us. Now Etsy allows ready make fake jewelry as “handmade” and we can’t compete with their prices. My business is 20% of what it was in 2020. Temu has ruined jewelry sellers on eBay. ;( so I hear you!
I had this issue. I'm poor but I wanted to buy handmade jewelry on Etsy so I bought a cool octopus necklace listed as handmade. Paid at least $30 for it and a few months later found the same necklace from China for $1 that made me feel sick
@@supreemgame7963Temu, Shein, and Aliexpress have a feature where you can put a photo through it and it’ll find products on their site that are exactly like that. That’s what I do when the stock photos look too “stock photo” like as in I can tell that it’s from a dropshipper.
Thank you-I am a new reseller of costume /vintage jewelry and I almost cried hearing your story. The corporate world is absorbing all us little guys, and the rules are structured to make it easier for them. You keep going dear lady! Wishing you all that is good. It will pay off. It will. Keep on the straight and narrow-it's not over until it's over. Good always wins. (Sometimes -it takes awhile but it will work out). ❤❤❤
Everyone thinking of selling online should watch this video. In the last month or two, I have heard sellers say they are being sued over infringement rights. No warning letters or threats of being sued. You are being sued. How devastating this must be. However, even after watching your video, many will argue or not believe you. And thinking you can do something because others are doing it no longer matters. Thanks for sharing your hard earned knowledge and educating people. Best of luck to you.
Thank you for taking the time to watch. 💕I know a lot of people don’t care but it really is scary to get sued. I hope people start taking it seriously.
I think some of those people are being scammed. To sue you have to be personally served . People are saying they are being served via email and having to pay 250 to get out of the lawsuit. That’s just not how the court system works.
@@jenettejackson991 Nailed it. Those people tried to come at me the day I made my social media pages for my art. I told them they should hire a scam teacher because I wasn't falling for it, and they disappeared.
@@jenettejackson991it’s scammy but legal and real. That’s why they’re typically filed in Florida and Chicago. I had three lawyers look at my case. Service through email is allowed since they allege the sellers are “foreign”. This language may help U.S. sellers to get dismissed from the suit. Unfortunately my suit moved to settlement in a very real court before I was even aware of the case and my lawyer negotiated a settlement.
Thank you! I have been “working” for over 30 years in different industries and was recently laid off. I have been looking at several of these get-there-quick videos on different platforms, and something just seems off. I was wondering if it was just my own limiting mindset. So, I am so grateful to you for sharing your true journey with us. Your voice is needed now more than ever….. Thank you.
I sold on all those platforms. I made the most money on eBay and Amazon but the fees and rules just got too much. They were a primary hustle but I went back to work full-time and put them as a side hustle. After a while even that became too much. On some sales I was making such a small amount after fees that the work wasn't worth it. I started selling in 2004 and ended around 2014. It was so much fun in the beginning but then it felt like I was working for a corporation that was keeping most of my pay.
It is so hard to be a creative. The public doesn't take understand how we can be ripped off. I'm so sorry you've had these obstacles. I wanted to say your studio is adorable 😻
Love your build your own home perspective. As someone who has been in tech for over 30 years, I have told many people "if you think you can be successful on a big platform, then why not just build on your own?" So refreshing to see your video, laying out the truth.
So many people think that they can just purchase a course, and walk away making millions. Ha! Your story proves this is not the case. You can put in thousands of hours, thousands of dollars, and just break even ( if you're lucky).
@@Dani-ICU-RN Why were you trying to buy Stanley products on etsy instead of the stanley website? Were you trying to save a buck and get knock off prices for a top tier product?
I’m a new subscriber and I have to say that you are one of the most genuine people that I have seen on RU-vid. Thank you so much for sharing your experiences with us! I’ve been a reseller one by for bout 18 years now and it doesn’t get any easier, especially with all the changes. I love eBay and it is my main income. I used to do poshmark and mercari, but I couldn’t keep up or deal with their policies. I’m a mom of three as well between the ages of 18-22, I know how you feel girl 100%.
The same thing happened to my friend's Etsy shop. The Chinese stole all of his designs and products...and then sold it on Etsy, Alibaba and Temu. Etsy did absolutely nothing, he just quit Etsy!
You are speaking my language the last 10 minutes of your video. I started my jewelry business in 2003 in a boutique. I’ve never sold much of it online. It taught me graphic design (I do mostly typography) and I stared selling instant downloads on Etsy in 2018 and made $8,000 my first 3 months. It’s completely different now. Thank you for your input. ❤️
Wow Elisa You singlehandedly stopped me in my tracks! I am just starting out trying to wade through the complexities of owning a small business. THANK YOU, I appreciate you!
Its true people will come after you for trademark, infringement, holding your mouth the wrong way, etc....but also keep in mind, there are also lots of scammers out there coming after small business's trying to shake you down! Thank you for sharing your invaluable experience and never give up the fight!
The returns after using the product for an event is disgusting! My neighbor works at Costco and tells me of picnic tables, ice chests/coolers being returned Used after for example the 4th of July. 3D printing is also the wild wild west with printed files (for personal use only) being sold online.
It’s the bad habits Costco creates, I have a friend of mine that is 45yrs old & she was like,”oh yeah I return stuff to Costco all the time. I even returned this 1 item (a sofa) that I bought like 3 years ago & they took it.” 😳 I was shocked! The conversation was brought up because I purchased a massage gun from there back in November and it recently stopped working & doesn’t seem to be charging. 🤷🏻♀️ When she recommended that, my husband looked at me like “what do you think?” I was dumbfounded and I just felt like I couldn’t do that it’s been soooo long. I don’t like to return things never have. I know some people it’s like a hobby for them like my friend, but I just can’t. lol 😅
Thanks for sharing your story. You come across as very truthful and honest. Why not start your own website and domain name instead of setting up on Etsy or Amazon. I just heard a RU-vidr yesterday speak of that based on what you’ve been going through. Then they can’t suspend your business or have you walking on egg shells. All the best sister. 🙏🏽 😊
Starting your own website will require you driving traffic to the site…many of these selling platforms already have millions of shoppers on the platform and market your business indirectly…hence why they are a benefit to your small business
I just came across this channel you sound & come across as an intelligent hard working authentic person .I subscribed because I want to keep hearing you I wish you much more success God Bless
This is my first time listening to one of your videos and really appreciated your content and have subscribed to your site. I am so inspired by your entrepreneurial spirit. People like you who work so hard and so long and are so creative in originating new ideas and products should not have to fight all these corporate predators. Having someone steal your ideas is a wound to the core and a horrific crime and very hard to ever get it out of your head. How resilient you are to fight for your business. Your knowledge and experience from going through all of these challenges is valuable to other people trying to start their businesses. Also, I am amazed at your positive attitude. Thank you for sharing.
You’re amazing. I’ve sold part time on eBay for over 20 years. It helped pay off our mortgage in just a few years. Sometimes I get fed up with eBay but it’s been good overall. I’ve never liked other platforms. Thanks for sharing. ❤
There are so many people that just jump right into entrepreneurship, thinking it’s so easy if you are your “own boss”. When it’s actually quite the opposite. I admire you for your honesty and transparency. Thank you for protecting others from making the same mistakes. These large companies don’t care who you are. They show no mercy when they want to keep control. And, I wish you all of the best with your business!! In fact, I’m going to your shop now to see what you have. 😁
I had a profitable handmade business with Etsy from 2014-2018. I noticed my shop was slowly losing visibility over a 90 day period and then, one day, I woke up in March to find out my shop was completely wiped out. To this day, I’ve never gotten an explanation from Etsy. It was devastating. I had gross sales of almost $500K in 2017 and paid them $100k in promoted listing fees. I had embroidery and vinyl/sublimation equipment, employees, etc. It all vanished it in one day. I had no back up plan. Be careful putting all your eggs in one basket. Etsy will cause just as much emotional stress.
Great video on what not to do. Sorry to hear you had to experience and lost everything. I would also like to note that if you make a short video of your product, do not just pic out some music to add to the video. You also have to get consent from the artist to be able to use the music or pay for a for the license to be able to use the music. Even after you pay, there still may be stipulation on how long you can use the music for. Remember, if it's not in writing, the conversation never happened.
Yeah. I saw Condé going out of business in my email. I was stunned. I almost didn’t believe it. It’s tough out there. The key is adapting to change and keep moving. Never get comfortable
Thank you so much for your honesty! Those of us trying to get into this business need to hear from people like you who will be honest about this industry. God bless and much love to you and your family!
Omg I stumbled across this video and thought geez this woman is telling my story. It just shows you how hard it is for sole trader to make it work. No one see all the extra hr and hrs that goes into making it work on those platforms. I have given someone else the task of working on my website and like you I have taken everything off Amazon almost everything off eBay and slowly now off Etsy. Good luck with your business x
Thank you for your honest video. I used to sell scrapbooking products on eBay around 2004 and then later on etsy. The internet was a completely different beast then, It was so much easier to make sales, it was an optimistic environment and fun. I only stopped as the cost of postage in Australia couldn't compete with Chinese suppliers that sold similar items and I couldn't get the price needed for my handmade items to make it viable. I am now re-entering on-line as an artist, so thought I’d go back to etsy and I was surprised at what etsy has become. Your video confirmed my suspicions that all these etsy you-tubers are not being honest - they are probably focusing on click- bait rather than etsy sales. You have convinced me to focus on building up my website and local sales, otherwise I will become a slave for these big platforms that are no longer the fun places to sell on. AI spamming is also killing internet trustworthiness, which is another thing making the internet harder for small sellers. I hope all goes well for your business and your channel
A must watch for those of us in business and those considering getting into business! Elisa is a true businesswoman who imparts great information without the typical guru hustle.
Great video..as a struggling reseller myself I find your comments helpful, encouraging, and educational! Thanks for laying it all out there and being so honest.
So glad this video popped up. This is the first video I've ever watched that spoke total reality about business and selling on popular platforms. Your warnings to be careful of advice/courses from "expert sellers" is spot on!!! They repeat the same advice over and over. People get sucked in because they make it seem easy. Problem is there's a lot more behind the curtain of success. Some of the advice may be helpful but no one is getting rich overnight. Thanks for sharing the good and bad of your journey. Many Blessings
With that kind of volume you should become a business consultant. I had no idea people were doing that kind of volume. Holy Toledo. You are an inspiration to the rest of us.
I love this, and I tell my viewers "be careful" even more than you do, so I'm with you on all of being skeptical! I'm going to share this with my channel, so I hope that you get some more subscribers from that, my audience is on board with a realistic attitude about having to do that work.
Hi Kara, I’ve been watching you for years, weekly. Thank you for all you do for the community too. And thank you for stepping up to help me share this message. 💕Elisa
I was on Amzon ended up in losses, they refund on the spot without ur knowledge and do not care that ur items are returned and u are not supposed to contact the customer the system has blocked that and so some buyers are thieves they pay and immediately they ask for refund and never return the item.
Sister! You have helped me so much sharing this video. God Bless you and thank you for telling us about your journey. You are an angel. Keep strong and focused.
Stumbled on this video and LOVE your honest open account of your experiences. I'm so appreciative of you sharing the struggles. And I am very impressed by your perseverance.
You are exactly what we need out here. I am exhausted with hearing how you can do things in 7 days that take 7 years when I try. I would love to hear nitty gritty content on how to SEO on Shopify, how to advertise and how to start out an gain trust!
Thank you Elisa for sharing your experience & personal stories on selling online & brick & mortar. ❤ Your difficulties in succeeding will help so many people! It was so informative. I appreciate you & what you shared. Beauty for ashes. Wishing you lots of joy in the next phase of your life!
This was a great video. One thing I would add, that a lot of people don't realize, is the credit card processor for your website will also shut you down. You can have a website with no way to process credit card transactions because Stripe has shut you down. I'm licensed to sell NIKE and it took me months to have them acknowledge my letter.
Why would stripe shut you down for selling Nike? Did they assume they were fakes because you were doing high volume in sales? I'm curious because I resell many brands through liquidation and I haven't started a website because I don't want companies making BS claims about counterfeit or claiming IP rights
@@la6136 their rules are exactly like Etsy and Shopify if they feel or suspect that you are infringing on a trademark or copyright, they will suspend your service to process credit card transactions because they can also be held liable when infringement lawsuits occur. Everyone gets named the seller the website host and the credit card processor. Unfortunately the comment section does not allow me to post the letter I received from them, but yes, believe me they will shut you off and you will have to find a different credit card processor, which can be very painful because Stripe is a major player in that space.
Thank you elisa because you have share the most important up/downs of business of have a store vs online and most importantly copy right, you are amazing and resilient. This very timely for me because I was just encouraging my college granddaughter to do business online,that's for sharing your experience and wealth of protection protocol For young college one can bank on and do research. I am proud of you and would love to see your hand made products, you have the right to be emotional given all the things you been thorough. My God bless your journey of the real life and its blessing
This is absolutely one of the most interesting and helpful videos I have seen on the subject in probably forever. Thank you so much for making it and sharing it with those that care.
Thank you so much for this video. This is a refreshing presentation about how to sell online. It's important to know the truth about being a crafter. I am making quilts as a hobby, learning how to design quilts, and giving them to family and friends. I plan to sell quilt patterns, test the patterns, and then sell them. At some point, I would like to provide longarm services for quilts. Quilting is a craft. I'm sorry to hear about the people who are out there buying products that are handmade, using them, and then returning them on Amazon. There also needs to be some accountability for buyers. With digital products, there is a no-return policy, so that may help when I sell patterns, but focusing on "home" got my attention. Thanks again. I will watch more of your videos.
Oh my! Your story is so touching and so many lessons learned. This big conglomerate from Sweden has me so mad!! But thank God for His bigger plan. Thank you for sharing
What a journey. Thank you for sharing all of your knowledge on things. It is so hard to run an honest business. After you pay all the fees, Uncle Sam sweeps in to take what little is left. Thank you for trying to be a fair artist/supplier. I wish you luck and love. XOX
Felt that first 30 seconds heavy. When i use to crush it on Amazon that was a huge fear of mine too along with everyone else. Amazon is soo trigger happy, they're like a bipolar maniac you don't want to set off. Even if its not your fault or some stupid feedback, or a customer trying to get something for free you were always one step away from suspension, no matter your tenure (they say it right on their terms). Don't get me wrong the volume is another beast, but damn waking up every morning almost holding your breath to make sure you dont have anything negative going on with your account is not healthy
Thank you for sharing and opening people’s eyes, I started a RU-vid channel three months ago making miniatures and I was going to make papa Smurf and teach how to make him and his house, after recording my video I showed it to my husband and he pointed out that it was copyright infringement and I can get into a lot of trouble, 😅 I started arguing with him that a lot of the miniaturist that I watch make so many scenes and characters out of movies and TV shows 😮 his answer was ( the minute they become famous they are going to get nailed) 🥴 that made me put the brakes on and change the whole concept and made my own characters and my own stories, I enjoyed listening to your advice, thank you 😊 ❤
I think it depends - there's something called fair use. I would make sure though. I am a miniaturist, too, and I don't think there's anything wrong with showing people how to take their own materials and make some character they like for personal use. You're not selling the item or profiting from the item - and if your channel is monetized - just don't monetize the videos you think would cause a problem. You're also not selling printables or templates to people or courses or tutorials. I've seen too many huge art and craft channels doing licensed character art and they haven't said people have come after them - I'm talking Ace of Clay, Jazza, Bentley House Minis, Sugar Charm Shop, Akamaru Kawaii, ToniEllison, The Square To Spare, and many many many others. I myself make replica minis of brands and items that I have in my house and show people how to make them, so I don't think there's anything wrong with that. I don't know how, if, or when that might change in the future - but I don't think it's an issue now. Again, especially if you aren't profiting off these tutorials in any way. Just my $0.02.
@@TodaysSpecialMinis thank you 😊 Ara from Bentley house minis told me about fair play, but I already started changing things and made my characters so I continued on with my mice 🐁, and I still have some fear 😅 to be on the safe side I will be making my own characters 😆 there’s no limit to one’s imagination 😁
@@TodaysSpecialMinisFair use applies when towards use of content by other creators or mainstream. Using characters might be deemed as theft of copyrighted items. And these companies only come after you when they know they can get enough money out of you. They practically have lawyers on retainers just for these purposes.
Your video is so timely. I feel like I’m constantly coming across materials saying that not everything is for everybody and not everything is as easy as people make it sound. Thank you for this heart to heart❤
I am happy to have found your channel - I subbed straight away. Your frankness and honesty are a breath of fresh air. I have been in the tech industry and a designer/maker for many years. I especially appreciate your wisdom about constantly learning and building your own home/sandbox on the Web. Also, thank you for highlighting that makers should never use well-established, trademarked characters in any manner without permission. Thank you so much for your content! I look forward to catching up with previous videos and watching future ones. Sending lots of love and hugs to you and your family.
I feel proud as I watch you and listen to your story. You didn’t give up, you kept your dignity and you have come out on the other side full of integrity. I have subbed to your channel. I’m a new RU-vidr and I appreciate you very much. Thank you
One thing these companies don’t seem to realize is that the sellers are their buyers. I sell on Etsy, but I won’t buy anything on Etsy. I just don’t see individual sellers. I just see Etsy and since they essentially tell me to go F myself when there is an issue I don’t want to help them earn another penny. The sellers are the real customers. Without us they wouldn’t exist. So maybe not treat us like crap and help these buyers steal from us. It’s like what exactly are they spending all the money that take from us on?? It’s obviously not employees.
WOW! Very helpful information. I started selling on eBay & Etsy starting in 2003. Stopped in 2011 due to some things I thought were unfair. Thought about getting back into eBay/Etsy selling but noticed just how much those sites have changed. Now, after listening to what you had to say I'll be rethinking what I want to do.
Yes, they’ve definitely changed so much. I tried to list some new things on Amazon the other day and the rules are just crazy. I immediately got violation notices. I am so tired of trying to keep up.
Hi Elisa, First, let me say that this is some of the best, most honest and true content regarding right & wrong things to do with an aCommerce business and some sound advice for Internet Marketing in general. Bravo!. Second, you did exactly the right thing by making your own online home for you business. I had a successful small electronics manufacturing business with just two major products. Started out selling our products on eBay but knew from the beginning that we could do much better with our own website, so I built & optimized said website and loaded it with good, valuable content along with easy navigation to our products and checkout. And I was right - about two years in, orders from our website were outpacing eBay sales by about 3:1 and so I stopped all eBay sales bu kept the account and only used it on occasion to increase exposure. Unfortunately I had to close that little company for unrelated reasons in late 2021 but who knows? - Maybe again some day!. Best of luck, Best wishes and God Bless. Take care.
You hit the nail in the head. Selling stuff is very tough. I used to be an eBay seller and I love it. I wouldn't want to sell on Amazon. Setting website, making stuffs, running a company. You're strong woman.
Thank you for sharing your journey and such an important topic. Coming from early years in corporate marketing, business ownership (e-commerce and brick and mortar). Licensing and copyright issues can destroy you. I've advised many over the years to take this seriously. I cringe every day seeing so many online taking risks.
I love this. I was thinking about those platforms and I was reluctant to use them. This is confirmation for me to continue with my own website and build from there. So many people push those platforms and don't give the other side of the experience. Thank you for this video.
I totally get you! Let me say we have been selling on ebay since 1997, we have seen it ALL! Ebay is not what it used to be 5 years, they throttle sales now, we are top rated sellers, providing PERFECT customer service!! As ebay motors sellers, we are in a battle at least once a week with people returning their broken items, switching ours out for theirs. I spend so much time following up to make sure they don't get away with it. It is so sad that people nowadays have NO INTEGRITY and don't mind lying and ripping other people off. Not to mention all the sellers that rip off the post office for the free boxes, etc. AMERICANS PAY FOR THAT STUFF!!! It infuriates me that people are "stealing" those "free" packing supplies!!!!
Companies need to stop taking returns on used items. If it isn't brand new with tags unworn you are not getting a refund period. It is those own companies fault.
i love how bluntly you are talking about this. although i feel for you - the law does not care when it comes to this. its easy to feel connected to these characters which are part of our shared culture, the companies however are incredibly cutthroat and ruthless when it comes to protecting their brands. something as innocent as what you were doing can absolutely sink a business. they're like this with each other as well. im pretty sure there was a story about a videogame dev who put a cute little easter egg of comic page from either sailor moon or dragonball z in one of the books a character is reading. normally what was on the page would be obscured, but due to some gaming mechanics it was revealed that this character was reading a beloved comic that fans of the game would surely know. cute huh? wrong. the videogame company was sued and it was a major scandal due to how much the company would have to pay for copyright infringement for this teeny tiny little cute nod. unfortunately they used a scan from the actual comic. needless to say the dev was fired and a clear message was sent to the industry. its wild though how all these same companies have been so gung-ho with ai considering how ruthless they have been with protecting their own intellectual property but i digress.
Absolutely amazing video. Genuine and not self serving. Thank you for sharing your journey and congratulations on still being in the business and staying positive and strong. 😊
