Hi all - does anyone know if it’s possible to open a store without having to post an active listing? I’ve read mixed things online about posting a listing to complete the store set up and then immediately deactivating it, but some people appear to have had their accounts suspended for 7 days for a TOS violation. I’m new to selling on Etsy and don’t want to cause trouble with a violation right off the bat. Appreciate any help!
I’m co-owner of a handmade dice shop that opened late last year and we ended up going for the “list and then immediately deactivate” option. We didn’t seem to have any ill effects from that (we did get hit with the withheld funds thing but that seems pretty standard for new shops). Afaik there was no other way around it at the time, although that admittedly might have changed in the last year.
But of course this is just one anecdote and we all know how random Etsy can be with their interpretation and enforcement of their own rules. Ultimately if you open a shop there you just have to accept some level of uncertainty about how they’re going to react to absolutely anything you might do (or in fact not do).
Good luck with your shop, but remember! Never rely on Etsy as a single source of income, it’s way too easy for them to pull the rug from under you at any time.
Thank you for the response! I’ll take a look at the TOS and see if it specifically mentions this scenario and go from there.
No worries on the single income source - this will likely always remain a supplement to my day job, which I have no plans on giving up any time soon. Way too risky!
Fair enough, just wanted to put it out there!
What sort of thing are you selling?
I appreciate it!
I knit and make cold process soap and bath products. An acquaintance of mine is opening a brick and mortar store locally and asked me to create stock for it, so I needed to purchase insurance, which meant I also needed to officially start a business since I wouldn’t be selling as an individual. I figured since that’s all done, I might as well put the inventory that isn’t ear marked for her store into my own on Etsy. I’m glad I decided to go this way because at this point, her store still isn’t open and I have a ton of stuff just sitting in my house doing nothing.
I also do shuttle tatting, which I’m going to open a separate store for, since it doesn’t really fit the feel of the first one. Plus, I can make and list as much as I feel like with that one since it isn’t involved at all in the physical store.
