Etsy Vs Folksy

[Former_Member]

Hi there,
I was just wondering if anyone had any experience of selling on Folksy?
It strikes me that we who are selling out of the UK have a harder job to sell to American buyers due to high shipping costs. Etsy isn't that well known in the UK and I've communicated with a couple of other makers here who say they sell more through Folksy, so would be interested to hear other views on this?
On first impressions I don't like the look of Folksy as much, but is better for sales? Which is the important thing at the end of the day!
Thanks!
Helen

[Former_Member]

A lot of us Folksers have just moved over here as Folksy has "tightened up" the rules and made it difficult to list, particularly for jewellery makers. Sales there to UK are probably better at Folksy at the moment, but with enough promoting it must be possible to get sales up here too.

[Former_Member]

Thanks!
I think I'll put my efforts into making my Etsy shop as good as can be first, the thought of starting all over again somewhere new isn't too appealing!

[Former_Member]

I've had a shop on folksy since almost their beginning, but I have always sold more here. I've pretty much given up on folksy to be honest, kept the shop open because I get occasional magazine features and a sale now and then.

[Former_Member]

I'd be interested to hear more opinions on this, as I've been thinking about joining Folksy too.

[Former_Member]

I opened my shops on both at the same time and have had no sales on Folksy. I have found Etsy much easier to promote on and I really enjoy the interactive side of it. I get much more site traffic on here than on Folksy despite doing exactly the same thing in terms of networking for both. I just think there are better ways of generating interest on Etsy than on Folksy, on Folksy there are just the forums whereas on Etsy you can join circles, do treasuries etc, all of which help people know you are there.

I would love Folksy to be more interactive and hopefully when they bring in some of the changes it may improve

[Former_Member]

I started both my shops at the same time with the same items and same amounts of promotion etc. My folksy shop does great without a huge effort, but here on etsy my sales are awful compared with folksy, I don't really no why as I promote if anything a little more for my etsy shop xx

[Former_Member]

so funny to read your two posts, gardenshed and fabthomson - exact opposites!

[Former_Member]

I thought that too niftyknits! I guess it just goes to show that there isn't one definitive answer and the only way to know is to try - if you can be bothered!

I might try a new product line through Folksy and see how it goes.....

[Former_Member]

go for it, you have nothing to lose really :-) xx

[Former_Member]

well - nothing except lots of 20pences and time. And in my case, temper - I find the folksy forums particularly frustrating, I think I expect it to be simpler over there because of the lack of language barrier (I mean the barrier here between American English and English English)

[Former_Member]

I have limited experience of both but my thoughst so far are that strangely Etsy is better for me.

I find listing easier on Etsy and despite only having had my items on here a few weeks have had plenty of views (well, at least when compared with my Folksy store) and even an order which was quite big.

Have had the same items on Folksy for so long most have now expired and not had one sale and very little views.

I am using both just now until I get my own shop up and running on my website but, from my experiences so far, if I was to only keep 1 going once having my own site up I would choose Etsy.

[ImogensImagination]

well, i confess having had a wonderful year on folksy...things have downhill very sharply :o(

however, all this has done is made me realise that i had to stop procrastinating and share my eggs around and not put them all in one basket....all i have to do now is learn the ropes here! :oO

x

[GracefulDeviant]

I have two other shops on Folksy and decided not to open Graceful Deviant there for several reasons.

Firstly, I have had a better response from Etsy (when I put the effort in mind you!) with respect to interest & sales. It takes time though which can be disheartening :( Plus, I do find a few people who have heard of Etsy - Folksy, not a clue!

Secondly, now Folksy are VAT registered, they passed the costs on to us so now it's going to cost more to list and pay in commission.

And lastly, as mentioned previously, it's got pretty nasty over there recently with changes to what they deem 'handmade' and the dodgy criteria they have applied.

So for me, I'll stick here I think :) But there are loads of alternatives out there so as Sophie says, you don't need to stick your eggs in one basket!

Ellen x

[Former_Member]

I saw Folksy for the first time today! I really didn't like the layout.. Etsy looks way better.. BUT if u want more than one source I would def advice u try an ebay along side etsy coz it's REALLY well known by EVERYONE and the ebay shop layout is a bit like folksy.. GOOD LUCK! :)

[Former_Member]

I do well on Folksy, and I really like it there, but Etsy is good for promotion, as you get to see what other people are favouriting and so your items tend to 'bunny-hop' round the site and get seen more. Both sites will never cease to surprise me, with regards to what sells on each, I've been proved wrong a few times. Definitely give it a go, one of the good things is you pay to list up to 5 items whereas on here you pay per item. I think Etsy is better for selling art and illustration, but I have a fondness for Folksy. I'm going to give each another year and see which one fares better. :-)

[Former_Member]

I have a shop on folksy but dont like it as much as etsy. I also find it more expensive to list on there to.
I have had sales on folksy but i feel i would prefer to put more effort into etsy, however if you have the time to do both shops justice then theres no harm having a go.

www.folksy.com/shops/englishrosecrafters

[Former_Member]

This is a really useful discussion. Although I set up my Etsy shop last year I have only just started to list products so I'm now starting to look at all the options. Has anyone used DaWanda?

[itslauracrow]

I've found all the comments in this thread really helpful - thanks!
I was debating starting a Folksy shop as I thought it'd be easier to reach the UK market but then I heard about the 'strict' rules.
I've been wondering weather it'd be worth using folksy to sell just my cushions/homeware alongside my Etsy...
How much does it cost to list on Folksy?

[RowanSongCrafts]

I had a shop on Folksy until recently, when I decided to move over to Etsy. I had opened up both a Folksy and Etsy shop back in April but found myself mainly stocking and promoting the Folksy shop, which didn't have loads of sales, but enough to make it worth it. I decided to shift my focus when all the trouble got underway over there.

All I would say about Folksy is that their rules about what you can and can't list seem to be in a constant state of flux at the moment and there is a lot of confusion and bad feeling circulating about it. Unless you are absolutely certain that you won't be breaking any rules, I would be inclined to wait till the dust settles....

[Former_Member]

I have a shop on both, I started on Folksy first and although I have had the same amount of sales in both, I prefer Etsy. Things turned nasty on Folksy recently so I have left my shop to fester there. I don't understand what Folksy's vision is so am waiting to see what their new website will look like when it launches soon. I think Folksy have made people feel alienated and have left them lacking in confidence so until I can see what it is they are trying to achieve with this I am leaving well alone.

[Former_Member]

I have a folksy shop although I've not really given it a proper go so I can really say how good it is really must concentrate on it properly and see if I can get it going so I can give proper opinions! :)

[cloudhopping]

I have a few things listed on folksy but get most views and sales here on Etsy so tend to devote most of my energies here - will see how the new folksy website looks like too before I decide how much energy to invest over there - don't have enough time as it is!

[Former_Member]

I've always disliked the way Folksy works as a buyer so never bothered to set up a shop there. Etsy is so much clearer and cleaner and more user friendly. But I decided to set up a shop and list a few items today so will see how it goes.

[Former_Member]

I've blogged about the new Folksy if anyone would like to look:

http://illustratorrobinson.blogspot.com/2011/11/new-folksy-first-impression.html