I Watched a Very Blunt Etsy Video — and Honestly? She's Not Wrong.
Every now and then, I watch a video that makes me pause, nod along, wince a little… and then sit with it.
Recently, that video came from Starla Moore — and yes, it was blunt. Very blunt. The kind of blunt that's bound to ruffle feathers. But the more I listened, the more I found myself thinking: she's not wrong.
So rather than rehashing the rant (you can watch the video embedded below 👇 if you'd like the unfiltered version), I wanted to talk about the ideas underneath it — because they matter, and they're not going away.
YouTube video: Are Etsy sellers getting LAZY???
Etsy Was Never Meant to Be a Reselling Platform
Let's get this out of the way first, because I agree with Starla 100% on this point.
Etsy is not -and has never been- designed to be a reselling platform.
If your business model is buying mass-produced items in bulk and flipping them for profit, there are plenty of platforms built specifically for that:
- Amazon.
- eBay.
- Your own Shopify store.
Etsy, at its core, is supposed to be a marketplace for handcrafted goods, original designs, and items that feel personal, intentional, and one-of-a-kind — even when they're produced at scale.
When that distinction gets blurred, everyone loses:
- Buyers lose trust in the platform
- Genuine makers get buried
- Etsy becomes "just another marketplace" instead of something special
And once that perception shifts, it's very hard to undo.
A Quick Clarification: POD Isn't the Villain
One thing worth clarifying (because it often gets lumped into the wrong category): POD stands for Print on Demand.
POD is not the same thing as reselling.
For artists and designers, it's a legitimate and often essential tool. You create the artwork — the original design — and a third party handles the printing and fulfilment. That's no different, conceptually, from selling art prints instead of the original painting.
The problem isn't POD itself.
The problem is low-effort, copy-paste, trend-chasing products with no originality or artistic input — whether they're POD or not.
Etsy Isn't "Broken"… But Expectations Might Be
A lot of frustration around Etsy right now comes from wildly mismatched expectations.
Somewhere along the line, a narrative took hold that Etsy is a "set it up once, get rich quick" platform — and that idea has been aggressively fuelled by:
- Clickbait videos
- Outdated trend advice
- Creators who are paid for views, not accuracy
Many of the loudest voices promising overnight success:
- Don't have shops that back up their claims
- Haven't sold on Etsy recently
- Or got lucky during a very specific moment in time that no longer exists
Watching a stack of viral videos does not equal market research.
Following a trend does not equal a strategy.
And "luck" is not a business plan.
Effort Still Matters (Even If That's Not a Sexy Message)
This is the part that's uncomfortable — but important.
You can't ask vague questions like "How do I make money on Etsy?", throw together low-effort products and listings, and then be shocked when nothing works.
That doesn't mean you're a bad person.
It doesn't mean you don't deserve to make a living.
It does mean Etsy might not be the right platform for what you're trying to do.
The sellers who consistently do well are usually the ones willing to:
- Learn how buyers actually search
- Improve their photography and descriptions
- Create with intention instead of chasing trends
- Play the long game
It's not glamorous. It's not instant. But it's real.
Please Don't Build Your Entire Business on Rented Ground
This is where I want to add something Starla didn't dwell on, but I feel very strongly about:
No small business should rely 100% on Etsy for their income.
Etsy is a platform you borrow. You don't own it. You don't control it. And yes — shops do get shut down suddenly and sometimes without clear explanations.
At an absolute minimum, I strongly recommend:
- Having your own website
- Building an email list
- Creating some presence outside Etsy
If Etsy disappeared tomorrow, or your shop was suspended, what would you do?
That question alone is reason enough to diversify.
Standing Out Isn't About "Hacks" — It's About Care
Despite all of this, I don't think Etsy is doomed. I also don't think sellers should give up.
What is changing is what it takes to stand out.
- Care is becoming a competitive advantage.
- Thoughtfulness matters.
- Originality matters.
- Trust matters.
Ironically, the harder the platform gets, the more room there is for sellers who are willing to do the things others won't.
Final Thoughts
Starla's video could've been intense to some people. Not everyone will like her delivery — and that's okay. But beneath the frustration is a message I think a lot of genuine sellers need to hear:
You're not crazy.
Etsy has changed.
And the answer isn't shortcuts. It's clarity, intention, and planning.
If you're here because you care about what you make, how you sell it, and who you're selling to — you're already ahead of the pack.
And honestly? I'm glad you're here.
