Why I Went Back to Selling on Etsy After My Shop Was Hacked

Etsy is one a leading e-commerce platforms in the world, focusing on handmade, vintage and craft supplies.  Etsy has grown a lot, with million of buyers and sellers using it every day. As a seller I’ve been using Etsy for over 9 years now.  It’s been an integral part of my business growth over the years. When my Etsy shop was hacked, it was a major setback for me. I have spent nearly 3 months trying to get it back and without my main source of income. However, despite the security breach, I decided to continue using Etsy, and here’s why:

It’s a Big Platform with Lots of Customers

Etsy has a massive customer base, with an estimated 40 million customer accounts, and 2.1 Million active sellers.  This means that there’s always a large pool of potential customers looking for unique and handmade items. This is one of the reasons why I chose to sell on Etsy in the first place. Even though there are other e-commerce platforms out there, none have the same level of exposure and visibility as Etsy. So, when the platform was hacked, I knew that I couldn’t afford to lose access to such a vast customer base.

I’ve Invested into Etsy, as a Platform, and in Training on How to Successfully Use It

As a seller, I’ve invested a lot of time and money into Etsy. I’ve spent countless hours optimizing my listings, tweaking my shop’s design, and learning about Etsy’s algorithms to improve my sales. I’ve also taken courses and attended workshops to learn how to use the platform effectively.  All of this investment would have gone to waste if I abandoned Etsy after the hack. So, despite the setback, I decided to stick with the platform and continue building my business.

I’ve Worked Hard to Use Its Systems

One of the reasons why I’ve been successful on Etsy is that I’ve learned how to use its systems effectively. I know how to optimize my listings for search, how to use promoted listings, and how to manage my orders efficiently. All of this knowledge and experience would be difficult to replicate on a new platform. So, even though Etsy was hacked, I decided to continue using the platform because I knew that I could still make it work for me.

I Have a Successful Shop

Finally, and most importantly, I have a successful shop on Etsy with over 15k sales. My shop had over 9 years in the algorithm. My shop has a loyal customer base, and I’ve worked hard to build a reputation as a trustworthy and reliable seller. Leaving Etsy would mean starting from scratch on a new platform, which would take a lot of time and effort. So, despite the security breach, I decided to stay on Etsy and continue growing my business.

What Next?

While I’ve decided to continue using Etsy, I’m also aware that despite having shops on other platforms, I have come to rely on my Etsy shop for my main income. The security breach was a wake-up call for me.  It made me realize that I need to work on my other platforms and become experts in them, just like I have with Etsy. So, I’ve started investing in my own website and creating content for it, along with promoting it much more!  I’m also looking at selling on other platforms, where there is a stronger emphasis on supporting sellers and the problems they have encountered. This way, if something similar happens in the future, I won’t be as vulnerable, and my business won’t be as affected.

In conclusion, despite the security breach, I’ve decided to stick with Etsy because of the the reasons I have discussed above.  However, I’m also aware that I need to diversify my sales channels to reduce my dependence on Etsy and protect my business from potential threats in the future. And I would advice any business follow this, don’t put all your eggs in one basket.