I for one would value any advice you could give me Brenda
Sandra x
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Hi I quite understand your query but you have set your listings up perfectly. A quantity of 1 against each listing as each listing is differently sized. Lovely too :),
As a non plus member you pay a fee for every single thing you list and that includes the quantity of each listing. You pay every 4 months. 15p + vat I think it is.
So if you have 6 listings and none of them sell it will cost you 6 * 15P + VAT every 4 months to keep them in your shop with a quantity of 1.
It isn’t listings like those that i refer to though. You have a quatity of 1 against each one. If you sell one you can restock it by setting quantity from zero to one thus minimising your fees.
There are quite a number of sellers who pop up (often at the weekend i note) with a quantity of 20… now I am not suggesting that any one of those 20 things is not worthy of being bought but to be honest the chances of 20 being sold within that 4 month timescale are so low as to be nigh impossible.
I believe that when a non plus seller creates a listing it warns of the fees for multiple quantity but it appears some sellers ignore the warning and happily list 5 different things with a quantity of 10, often more, against each, which equates to 50 * 15p + vat. . That would be quite a hefty fee (£9 ) after 4 months when it would make far more sense to set the quantity to 1 and restock if and when it sells. I note the high quantity use is often against shops which open and close quite quickly and always wonder if Folksy actually manage to get their money ?
Plus users pay fees up front and can list as many as they want, in number of listings and quantity on each listing without paying any extra.
Hope that explains it . You have set up perfectly and I really love your work 
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That’s very clear, and thank you so much for taking the time to explain, I apologise to all if I misunderstood it from the 6 new starter emails.
I am considering a plus account, I didn’t want to commit straight away but as I’m starting to understand the system it’s looking likely
Thank you for your kind comments too
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Just wanted to comment on what super photos you have here and on your social media..
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Thank you so much, that’s good to hear, I’ve spent a lot of time on them 
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I read about this a few months ago, I have mentioned it on the forum and did mention it on one of Folksy social Media posts but they didn’t reply to my comment, it might have been deleted!
In my opinion if vetting had been in place prior it would have made it a lot easier for Folksy to manage but the emphasis has always been on sellers doing it themselves or that they should obviously know what needs doing before they open a shop. Admittedly sellers should but many are ignorant to rules and regulations, this has been in the pipeline for quite some time and to be honest I think it will be a good thing. The report I read said an astonishing 65% of toys sold online are unsuitable for children. Many are sold on the likes of Amazon and people buying them presume they are safe because they are buying in the UK which is not the case.
In the future platforms will be more careful and will have to Vet shops otherwise they will also be liable, a step in the right direction I think.
I wonder whether Folksy have looked into the new legislation coming their way yet.
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I’m sorry but I don’t agree that safety eyes are suitable for crocheted toys for babies and under threes, especially with chenille yarn which is quite chunky, regardless of the test of dropping the fixed eye on the floor, as it’s the fabric or yarn that wears or slackens off and the whole eye is then susceptible to becoming detached. I’ve repaired too many teddies and soft toys over twenty five years working in a Doll and Teddy Hospital and regardless of UKCE testing I would rather use my own experience.
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Hi Janet,
On the subject of safety eyes, during the toy testing the safety eyes do not just go through the drop and impact tests. they are also put through torque and tension tests. They are twisted in all directions and then they have a 9.2kg weight hung from them and suspended for 10 seconds. This is done both before and after washing on each eye so that any effects of washing the toy are also taken into account. The testing we do at home emulates the testing that would be done by a testing house that mass produced toy makers use. I have made many toys now and have not had a safety eye fail. I could put an age recommendation for over 3’s on my toys but I have decided that due to passing the rigorous testing I have carried out to meet the UKCA/CE testing I will class them as safe from birth as the UKCA regulations allow.
I do keep recorded evidence of the eyes being tested in both photos and video form and I am insured to cover my toys with specialist insurance.
I have tried to add a photo here to show one of my toys having its eye 9.2kg weight test but it doesn’t appear to want to upload this morning 
I totally appreciate your point of view too from your vast experience too x
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I’ll try again to show one of my eye toy testing, this poor bear has got a bag of 9,2kg of weight hanging from his peeper x
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Ha ha.And you make everything perfectly clear in your listings, which is brilliant! I keep on reporting toys without any safety information.
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Ha ha ha now that is extreme 
I forgot to mention we can only use certified safety eyes that have also passed EN71 and Reach regulations on our toys that we self test as well as testing them on the finished toy so we can’t use the cheap eyes from @mazon. Temu etc I also bought myself a fancy dan tool that ensure my eyes are inserted as far down the eye stalk as possible and would thoroughly recommend anyone making toys get one of these they are a game changer. x
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Thank you Helen x
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@OhhhWhatAYarn I wish everyone was like you.
Like you I will be pleased when the new regulations come in, if they save just one child then they have to be worth it. Sadly even on Folksy there are too many people who don’t care enough to do it, personally if I had a platform those sellers that don’t comply wouldn’t have been able to open a shop, Folksy along with all platforms will have to take notice now.
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Amazed by the amount of testing work you do! 
I’m a ChatGPT fan (yes, I know that’s not popular, but each to their own!) and I asked it to summarise the link you provided with an emphasis on what it means for handmade and their marketplaces:
The important thing to remember
This is still a consultation, not the final law. The Government is asking for views on a package of reforms, so the exact duties may change before regulations are made.
That said, the direction of travel is very clear.
Why are they doing this?
The current product safety rules date largely from 2005, when:
- Amazon Marketplace was tiny.
- Temu didn’t exist.
- Shein didn’t exist.
- Etsy was in its infancy.
- People weren’t buying huge quantities directly from overseas sellers.
The Government’s concern isn’t really Mrs Jones making knitted toys in Norfolk.
It’s the flood of unsafe products entering the UK through online marketplaces.
What changes for a genuine micro handmade business?
Probably less than many people fear.
The principles don’t really change.
If you’re making toys today you should already be:
- making safe products
- using appropriate materials
- carrying out safety assessments
- meeting toy regulations where applicable
- cooperating if Trading Standards contacts you
The consultation isn’t proposing to abolish those principles—it mainly modernises how they’re enforced and how responsibility is shared.
The biggest change is actually for marketplaces
This is the bit I think Folksy sellers should pay attention to.
The Government is saying that marketplaces can no longer simply say:
“We’re only introducing buyers and sellers.”
Instead they’re proposing duties such as:
- taking reasonable steps to prevent dangerous products appearing
- removing unsafe products promptly
- checking seller information
- identifying repeat offenders
- cooperating with regulators
In other words, marketplaces are expected to become much more active gatekeepers.
What might that mean on Folksy?
Potentially things like:
- clearer seller identity checks
- requests for additional product information
- easier reporting of unsafe items
- quicker removal of listings if there’s a safety concern
That sounds a lot like the systems the other US marketplace has gradually introduced over the last few years.
What about handmade toy makers?
This is where life may become a little more paperwork-heavy.
I wouldn’t be surprised if marketplaces increasingly ask sellers to confirm things such as:
- product category
- applicable safety legislation
- age suitability
- testing where required
Not because the marketplace suddenly cares more, but because it now has legal responsibilities too.
Does this help genuine handmade sellers?
Personally, I think it could.
One frustration expressed repeatedly by UK makers is seeing obviously unsafe imported products remain on sale.
If marketplaces become legally responsible for acting on those products, there should be a stronger incentive to remove them.
That potentially creates a fairer playing field for makers who are already following the rules.
My prediction for Folksy
If I were betting, I’d expect the practical changes to be:
- more seller verification
- more structured product information
- clearer safety declarations
- stronger reporting systems
- quicker response to regulator requests
I would not expect Folksy suddenly to require every handmade seller to submit laboratory test certificates for every product they sell.
That would be disproportionate for the type of marketplace they operate.
My one concern
There is one area where I think micro businesses should keep an eye on developments.
The consultation talks quite a lot about businesses throughout the supply chain having clearer responsibilities and cooperating with regulators.
If you’re a genuine maker that’s usually straightforward because you know exactly:
- what you made,
- what materials you used,
- where they came from.
Ironically, that’s much harder for someone importing anonymous products in bulk.
So in some respects, these proposals could actually favour genuine handmade businesses over resellers.
The consultation repeatedly talks about proportionate regulation. That’s an important word.
The Government recognises there is a huge difference between:
- a sole trader making ten handmade toys a month, and
- a company importing 100,000 electrical products.
So while I do think we’ll see more digital record-keeping and information over the coming years, I would be very surprised if they imposed the same administrative burden on a Folksy maker as on a major importer.
In fact, if I were advising a micro business today, I’d simply say: start keeping good digital records. Save your material invoices, keep simple product codes, note what goes into each product, and consider having basic care or safety information in a digital format. Those habits are likely to fit well with the direction the new framework is heading, whatever the final regulations look like.
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A lot of dummy clips for sale in Folksy with the new safety laws coming in how many have been tested to the letter if the law?
Key Safety and Testing Requirements
- Mandatory Standard: All clips must conform to the BS EN 12586:2025 safety standard, which covers testing for strength, length, impact resistance, and chemical safety. [1, 2, 3]
- Independent Testing: It is highly recommended—and often necessary—to have your materials and final designs independently assessed by a UKAS-accredited test house to prove compliance. [1, 2]
- Length Limits: The total length of the clip (excluding the actual clothing clip itself) must not exceed 22 cm. [1, 2]
- Choking & Strangulation Risks: Clips must be designed with ventilation holes (to prevent choking), and beaded designs require a safety bead or secure knot to prevent beads from sliding off if the cord breaks. [1]
- Toy Certification: If your dummy clip is highly decorative, brightly colored, or includes elements that give it “play appeal” to a baby, it may also need to comply with UKCA/CE Toy Safety Directive testing (EN71
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Hi Debbie,
Wow thats actually one of the best ChatGPT summaries I have ever read, usually I am not a fan but most of the summary is exactly what I deduced from my reading
It does look like Folksy will have a piece of work to do around this new legislation dependant on what the final law looks like. I will be keeping my eye on the GOV.uk website for updates and will be keeping up with my digital records which I already keep as well as paper copies of my testing docs Thanks for the summary I may just copy that to a document for future reference and to compare with the eventual law if thats ok with you x
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Of course - hopefully it’ll be helpful to others who haven’t fully digested it too 
I interact with ChatGPT daily and have found that the more it communicates with you, the better the quality of response, although I still check everything! 
I must admit that I have been wondering if this type of thing may be the death knell for smaller marketplaces with limited resources…
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I am not an expert on dummy clips, but I don’t think they can’t be tested at home like toys, they need sending away to an accredited testing house and I am sure there are many makers who don’t know this or as with toys some choose not to test even when they are aware sadly x
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I reported last week but they are still there, until Folksy and other platforms are forced to check safety records from the seller nothing will change.
Who in their right mind would buy a baby a dummy clip with a length of beads on it, Is it just me or does common sense tell us that these are a disaster waiting to happen, i might be mistaken but I would love to find a toddler who wouldn’t want to pull at and play with the beads.
Fingers crossed the new regulations DO apply to everyone, whether stay at home crafter or big manufacturers the rules need to be the same.
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