Have seen a few people closing their shops for good, because of little or no sales this year. This has been a bad year for me but still hanging on as find a lot of my images on google search images.
Just wondered those leaving do Folksy contact to find out why?
Not been the best year for me online either although strangely I have done better than usual on the high street which is the opposite of what I thought would happen. I have also had very little time to dedicate to my shop over the last year so not overly surprised it has taken a downhill turn! NY resolution to do better next year. I will hang on in here, after all it doesn’t cost a fortune to do so and even without the sales the community has kept me sane during these uncertain times 
Folksy might not be aware that people are ‘closing’ their shops if all they do is allow their listings to expire and leave the shop on the site but as an empty/ inactive shell.
I added a handful of items back in October/November on the hope that I would sell a few Christmassy things because there wasn’t many craft fairs happening in my area due to COVID. I didn’t sell anything through it but I’ll give it a little longer before I decide what to do with my shop.
I just stick with it as it gives me a nice surprise every month or two. My main sales have always come from craft fairs, eventhough I’ve put a huge amount of time and effort during covid to (unsuccessfully) grow online sales. The real-life fairs have been really good in the last few months around here, like people wanted to get out there and see things properly before we’re shut down again, rather than staring at a little screen where the colours can be made to show you anything. And it was so good to get out there and see customers again, can’t beat it. So I’ll continue to keep my Folksy shop - in hope rather than expectation!
I will keep my shop going for as long as possible. Love the Folksy community. After reading fab with people going went through my mind if anyone tried. To find out why. Did not think about just leaving the shop empty.
I stop the subscription every now and then as I don’t make the money back. I don’t know what else to do to draw buyers in. Even tho the other side is more expensive, I’d rather that then the items just sat there.
I am going all out in 2022 to make it work, then this time next year may give up and just make for charity events. Not sure what the answer is really, nowt so queer as folk!
I made quite a few sales at the start of the year, but for various reasons I’ve not spent as much time on Folksy and not added many new items either so sales towards the end of the year have been very slow. A lot of this has been down to me, so I’m going to try and do better in 2022!
I also haven’t done at all well over the year with no sales over the Christmas period. This was particularly disappointing as my shop did relatively well last year. I am going to run my shop down and begin again with a revamped presentation in the hope that does the trick.
Could I query why you have deleted the Seam Ripper listings that you have lovely reviews for. The photos on reviews are a great enticement for customers I’m sure but if you delete the listing the photos go too so don’t show on your reviews . Xxx
Thank you for your positive comment and it is certainly helpful. Perhaps I will think again.
Regards
I had my shop open and running about a decade ago. Nothing much happened - a few sales, but not much to speak of. I ‘re-opened’ with the monthly charge and decided to give it a year.
No wonder people close their shops tbh. I had over 100 listings active, and constantly renewing - but 1 solitary sale in November and December.
In contrast my own website several £100’s and another site I use (which is actually less commission than Folksy) over £1300 per week in the latter part of November and December.
I have probably just about covered the plus membership costs in the whole year, but have removed this now and will let my listings expire when they run out.
Unless you are willing to spend hours of time posting and marketing on Folksy, then I really don’t think that this is a good ‘sales place’.
I don’t market my own website - it’s natural traffic and the same for the other site I use.
Good luck to all those who remain on here, I wish Folksy did so much better as it really is one of the first genuine handmade sites, but seems to have never ‘made its mark’, sadly.
My year has been slow and I seriously considered finishing but things picked up again so I intend continuing with my shop.
I do note that your FB page has no link to Folksy just one to your own sales website and your blog goes directly to your website . Neither will help anyone find your Folksy shop and there are a lot of jewellers on Folksy.
Sorry to see you go. Xx
I’m letting mine run down at the moment and unsure whether I’ll start it up again, Folksy has been quite good for me over the years but I was finding it more and more time consuming.
I’ve had a change of circumstance and can’t give the whole making and marketing the time it needs, my hubs was in hospital for 5 months due to an accident then has spent the last 10 months (and ongoing) doing rehab. My time as well as space at home has changed.
I’m selling some made items and supplies on ebay and giving some to local craft groups etc. I’m doing some digital work via PoD sites that I can dip into to keep my creativity going. I’m still dipping in to the site and the community and it’s my go to place to look for gifts etc.
My shop is currently empty due to low visits and sales. I was promoting on the daily listing thread, twitter, Instagram, Facebook page and groups and pinterest. I was getting more sales on the other site with very little effort so it seemed I was just wasting my time putting a lot of time into folksy with very little, or no return so it made sense to me to put all that wasted effort into the other shop. I made over £600 worth of sales last month - I don’t think I’ve ever done that amount in a year here never mind one month.
I don’t want to totally close my shop here though as I do absolutely love the site, the owners and you guys and I’m hoping 
that one day this site will work and I’ll be back.
I’ve only got one item in my shop, just to keep it open, all the quilts I made last year that didn’t sell on here were given to the Salvation Army, which they sold to make funds for the Christmas Boxes that they give to families who are struggling this year. I don’t do social media at all, so the chances of sales for me are absolutely zilch, but as Knittingtopia says I agree, I love the forum and the help that is given by other sellers and Folksy staff. I am making more quilts that will be added in the new tax year and I will have a plus account then also.
Keep safe and keep busy everyone.
I’m quite discouraged. I haven’t had any sales this year. Occasionally I have tried to push it adding new products and doing instagram, but to no avail. I sell well at in person sales so I don’t really understand. I look at other shops selling similar stuff and some are cheaper and some are more expensive, but they seem to do so well. I am wondering whether to close.
@LotfieldJewellery It might help to add a little more detail to your listings, I just had a quick look at a few of your items and none of the descriptions mentioned the size. I don’t buy anything online without knowing how big it is, for necklaces I’d want to know the length of the chain/ribbon/cord and the length of the pendant. For earrings I’d want to know how long they are.