Every day I go and look at the new Folksy shops.
I am often horrified that a lot of them fail to give good descriptions of their items…often no sizes, no mention of what the items are made from, often copyright enfringement and a total lack of safety regulations and if the items have been tested.
Then we get shops like this who say that Folksy is not a good place to sell because of THEIR lack of sales. Failing to realise that the fault is their own.
I used to contact new shops to try to give advice but realised that this was often ignored or berated.
Of course new people just starting out could do with some advice and encouragement but I now just sigh and think…“what are they thinking”!
Is it just me?
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No, it is not just you. I do the same, ever since you gave me the link to the new shops list!! I am also amazed at items that have no sizes etc and often so little description that I don’t actually know what it is or what one would use it for!
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When I joined Folksy in May, I got a series of emails to help me set up my shop and listings. I have been selling online for almost 10 years and still found the emails helpful. Setting up online is a steep learning curve especially if you are completely new to SEO and also product photography.
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As part of the Folksy support team, I do often wonder if there is more we can do to help a new seller have a better understanding of setting up their shop.
The emails we send out and then the subsequent seller’s news and tips correspondence should cover every aspect of selling online with Folksy. There is also a lot of information on the blog for specific areas of improvement too - such as photographs and product descriptions https://blog.folksy.com
Sarah @sarahloucrafts - I’ll ask you because you have only recently joined Folksy, did you find that we offered enough guidance? If you hadn’t already had experience of selling online previously, do you think our information is simple enough to understand?
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I thought it was a excellent set of emails and there were plenty of links to the various blog posts too. Although I have experience with other online platforms the information received made sure I set up correctly for the Folksy platform.
The fact that you have this fabulous forum and also the Facebook group means we can ask any questions as we go too.
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Hello, I’m very new to Folksy, been open 10 days now and am still in the process of listing items. I’ve never sold online so I’m finding it a little daunting, the emails I received were helpful, I’ve kept them to refer back as needed.
I only managed yesterday to get my banner sorted, so I was pleased with myself there
As just starting out with the basic plan to test the waters as it were, I feel I’ve got good product descriptions and added drop downs for colour choices
I did ask some questions on the Facebook group and had some help, Sue from Aquila Crafts especially
I did ask what is SEO and didn’t get a concrete answer though
So far I’m enjoying it here, just waiting for a sale (crosses fingers)
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Hi, Melanie.
SEO stands for Search Engine Optimisation, it means having clear listing titles and descriptions so that when someone either searches on Folksy or on Google the algorithms (the technical bit behind the sences) can read your listings, understand them and then show them to buyers that match the search terms used.
Well done on the banner and we are happy to help with any questions. That is why this forum is so lovely.
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I agree this forum ( and Folksy) always has someone to help and it is good to know that helpful emails are sent out to new shops. It is sad though that a lot of people just list and run .
Well done Melanie @freesiahandmade on getting your banner done. When I first joined, I had to get help with that.
I still struggle at times but I have to say that admin are ALWAYS helpful. They are only a small team , so sometimes you have to wait for an answer but they always do their best for us.
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Thank you for clarifying Sarah Lou, I appreciate that and I’ll double check my listing titles
Yes I’ve already had contact with admin and it’s good that it’s actual real people, fed up with bots on so many places
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Sarah @dotterypottery
I have often wondered if a step by step guide to setting up a shop could be put on youtube as a series of short videos? Some people often find a visual guide more helpful.
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Is there also some way to corral all the advice that’s given on this forum by sellers? I so often see new people posting and asking for help and so many sellers spend lots of time giving great advice and guidance only to watch the thread slip away over time. Is there some way we can index what’s useful and pin it to the top of a board - something like: “New here? Looking for advice?”
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People do not read emails and are not that interested any way, the way to stop Folksy looking like eBay is vetting but that will never happen. Hence why so many original sellers will gradually leave.
I am fed up with it all and no longer bothering to report, just concentrating on my own shop and sorting out my own website.
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I changed ny email address last year and as such I received all the emails from Folksy in setting up a shop, they were really informative, they didnt all arrive in one chunk they were staggered over a few days and covered everything needed. It was like a step by step guide to setting up covering seo, photography etc etc so i never quite understand why so many shops don’t even know the basics when they open. The only thing I can think is that some perhaps don’t bother to read them .
@teabreaks as for copyright and safety etc a lot of sellers don’t look into anything before they open their shops. When I started my business I scoured the internet for as much info as possible, asked other people online, even spoke to HMRC and asked what I needed in place, it surprises me how many people just open a shop without looking into anything beforehand and how many set up shop, ask for advice on here then get defensive about the advice they are given. A few times I have asked why they bothered asking for advice if they won’t take it on board.
Agree there are an awful lot that have very little in their descriptions, one terrible photo, no tags etc. Too many shops opening with bought in pieces as well.
There are of course new shops that genuinely do want the help offered and take it all on board and follow the steps sent by Folksy,
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When they open a shop now Folksy send emails staggered iver the first week with everything they could need on setting up, photograohy, seo etc. I chajged my email address and although i didn’t need the info I actually read through it all to see if there was anything I was missing.
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Yes… vetting is the only way it will improve
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There may be good news on the untested toys etc front as the Government are working on something called “The UK’s new product safety framework” which when implemented is likely to make online marketplaces like Folksy equally responsible as the individual sellers to make sure anything they allow on their platform has the necessary testing/certification etc.
From what I can see the Framework has gained Royal Assent which means it can be put into law I think. There has been a consultation asking people who this may effect, sellers, marketplaces etc for their opinions and comments on the proposed changes to the laws. This consultation finished on the 23rd June and they will now take around 12 weeks to look at the consultation replies and they will then decide exactly which and how they will implement the changes to the existing safety rules.
This is only my opinion on what I have read so I may have misunderstood some bits as I am no legal expert, I prefer yarn to law 
If anyone fancies a peep here is a link (if it works) to the UKs new Product Safety Framework on GOV.co.uk website…happy reading x
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I am frequently amazed when i look at new / newer shops to find that they havent even bothered to look at their shop once they have set it up..After all how many times do we see that they have set sale prices which are negatively or even funnier 0% discounted, postage prices same as listing price. How much effort does it take to just run your eye over your very first listing before copying your mistake for the next listing. Would i buy from one who lists so carelessly. No I would not as i would expect that carelessness might well carry through into their cratting.
Do I sometimes have little spelling mistakes tucked away in my listings. Yes I do, I touch type faster than my keyboard but when i spot a mistake i correct it. 
** and yes i did just remove the extra l from the ‘all’ at the top
Not forgetting the new, not Plus, sellers who totally ignore the commission structure and add listings with multiple quantities even though they are warned commssion is due on every single one…Either an incredible optimism, can’t read or be bothered to or just plain silly …
Almost forgot to mention the many who add links to their social media but never check if they got the link right. ooops probably not Would this give me faith as a customer that the lisiting details are accurate, Nope !
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wonder how that will fit with the Folksy hands off, zero curation approach which relies on other sellers to report trangressions enough already
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ha ha ha …it won’t Joy 
I have just been having a more in depth read and there are likely to be lots of new requirements, we may even be required to let customers have a copy of our declarations of conformity for tested toys where now it is only trading standards and perhaps markets that can and do ask to see them. They are looking at going as digital as possible so my toys may end up with a digital passport probably accessed with a QR code where all my safety testing and documentation can be looked up by the purchaser. I honestly look forward to this as I cringe every time I see an untested toy which just from looking at it I can tell it would never pass UKCA/CE testing. Bring it on I say, those who have taken time to know their craft and its regulations will not mind the extra scrutiny at all and children will be safer x
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Hi can you elaborate on this if you don’t mind please, as I’m very new and haven’t got a plus account as yet. Therefore I’ve listed an item with 6 colour options, on the drop down menu, as I custom make to order.
I imagine plus users have greater choice for listing in this style
Thank you
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