Etsy's Policy Update on Manufactured Products: "Stay Truthful"
Breaking News from NYTimes and Google News: Etsy Unveils New Guidelines for Enhanced Transparency and Authenticity in Handmade Goods Marketplace.
Etsy, a leading online destination for handmade items, vintage products, and craft supplies, has rolled out new guidelines for its sellers. The updates aim to ensure transparency and authenticity in the creation process of items listed on the platform, as reported by NYTimes and Google News.
Under the new policy, Etsy's integrity team will scrutinize all submissions and engage applicants in discussions about their business and the external manufacturers they collaborate with. While collaboration is permitted, it must be transparent, with everyone involved in creating handmade items listed on the shop's About page.
The new guidelines, as highlighted by NYTimes and Google News, make it clear that merchants simply reselling mass-produced items do not meet Etsy's selling criteria. To facilitate this, Etsy will mandate the completion of an 'Outside Manufacturing Form' before listing items produced with external manufacturing.
However, the new guidelines do not alter the 2011 handmade category policies, which allowed the use of third-party vendors and collaboration among multiple craftspeople. This has sparked controversy, with critics arguing that these policies were too ambiguous, leading to the proliferation of merchants selling mass-produced items on Etsy.
The new guidelines also do not address the ongoing debate over reselling in the handmade goods community. They do, however, aim to ensure that the merchant is the creator, designer, and maker of each item listed on Etsy, even if some external manufacturing has occurred.
Etsy is also implementing a new review process for items made with external manufacturing. The new guidelines, as reported by NYTimes and Google News, do not specify any penalties for non-compliance with the new external manufacturing requirements.
The new guidelines for Etsy shops, titled 'New Guidelines for Etsy Shops', have been introduced to tackle both issues and provide clarity on appropriate items for listing. The guidelines do not offer additional information about the types of items allowed on Etsy beyond what was previously stated. They do mention 20 more places to sell handmade crafts, but they do not specify any new places for selling handmade goods on Etsy.
The new policies have sparked debate among Etsy users, with some protesting these practices in forums and participating in a mass shutdown of Etsy shops in spring 2012. Some external manufacturers used by Etsy sellers include companies like Mellis BV from Belgium (brand Trixie), which produces high-quality children's backpacks, and the brand Maximo, which manufactures spelt core pillows. Other items like metal signs are handcrafted in small workshops, such as Interluxe, while other items like wooden benches are made by sellers such as LinnardsDE in Germany.
In conclusion, Etsy's new guidelines aim to enhance the authenticity and transparency of the items sold on its platform, as reported by NYTimes and Google News. While some users have expressed concerns, the new policies provide clarity on appropriate items for listing and aim to address concerns about resellers marketing mass-produced materials on the handmade goods site.
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