Etsy sellers continue to "revolt"! They are planning to form an independent sellers association

It is learned that after protesting against Etsy platform policies by closing stores in March, Etsy sellers are forming a seller association to fight against the platform's unfavorable policies, including lack of seller support and soaring transaction fees.

According to the association's interim secretary Chiarra Lohr, this is a non-profit organization that will draft association regulations in the future. The association will be officially established on September 5, and more than 30,000 sellers have signed up to support it.

Lohr said the association is aimed at making it easier for sellers to operate on Etsy. For handicraft sellers, Etsy remains an irreplaceable sales channel, and many sellers have been operating on the platform for a decade or more.

But as Etsy changes its platform policies and prioritizes growth, third-party sellers are in a tougher spot. Lohr said: "We are not trying to confront immediately, but sellers have been without recourse for a long time, and the association is committed to enabling third-party sellers to defend themselves in a coordinated and public manner."

Lohr said that strike organizers and the association had not received any response from Etsy following the strike action. Although Etsy acknowledged the strike in media reports and a call with investors in May, it said the strike had no "material impact" on sales.

During and after the sellers' strike, some Etsy sellers frustrated with the platform tried to find other ways to sell their products, such as setting up their own websites or selling on other platforms.

But Lohr said it's not that simple, for sellers of handmade, vintage and handmade products, Etsy is the gathering place of the main consumer base, and this dominance is the main reason why the association wants to defend and work directly with the platform. Although there are many other platforms to sell, there is still no comparable market.

The association's initial priorities are the same as those raised during the strike, including lowering platform fees and allowing merchants to opt out of mandatory paid advertising. Lohr stressed that there is no labor-capital relationship between the association members and the organization, and the association plans to communicate with sellers after the official launch to understand what changes they would like to see.

Editor✎ Ashley/

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