Back in 2015, I was researching the best e-commerce platform for selling my art and crafts. I knew about Etsy’s existence and had an account as a customer (not as a seller); however, the store’s set-up seemed complicated, the fees were intimidating, and the lack of coding or customizing the website prevented me from selling there. That is until I stumbled upon Storenvy.
Storenvy is an e-commerce platform that catered, back then from what I remember, to artists (illustrators, fashion designers, and musicians), crafters, independent brands, and merchants focused on thrift stores (apparel) among other creatives to show and sell their unique creations. A curated platform launched between 2010 and 2012. Besides being an online store builder, it is also combined with a social marketplace.
There are several things that I used to love, don’t get me wrong, I don’t hate it, it is just I’ve grown so much that it no longer suited me, yet it became my first store and I have fond memories from my college days era.
This may seem complicated and intimidating, but I can assure is pretty easy to navigate since it’s user-friendly, simple, and clean. Everything is organized by section, detailed with several analytics (for each function), but overall it contains useful guidelines and explanations of each protocol.
When I used to operate my Storenvy, it drove me nuts the constant pop-ups and the sounds it made whenever I tried logging into my dashboard. I can’t remember if there is a button to disable it, but is the only thing I can think of as annoying.
These pop-ups and announcements serve as reminders for promoting their plans and special events, where you can join (with your products and depending on the theme) to increase traffic and sales.
The good thing about Storenvy is that you have multiple options to earn money by opt-in to their services with different fees, structures, and functions. It accepts PayPal and Stripe as payment services. Remember that credit card processing fees will be deducted from your orders regardless.
Marketplace – they charge a 15% fee commission per transaction promoting your products in their marketplace and, possibly, the front page
Storefront – you’ll keep 100% of the income, however, the storefront handling fee is 6% for each transaction. In this case, you can have the option to deduct it from your transaction or charge it from your customer’s orders.
Managed Marketing – they charge a 25% commission fee when you opt into their marketing program. The marketing team will study your products, analyze data, and search or target customers visiting sites like Google, Facebook, and Opensky to increase your sales by advertising.
Engage Email Services – they charge a 15% commission fee that works as a marketing tool that sends reminders and discount codes to customers whenever they abandon their cart via email. This tool works on both your marketplace and custom store traffic.
Besides the lack of flexibility in coding (I just learned the “Pattern” tool exists on Etsy for custom websites which are free for 30 days only), constant pressure for sellers and clients, and the complexity of the intimidating fees, other stuff stood out. For years, I’ve been hearing horrible stuff that rang alarms due to the lack of control of these specific services that I’ve never experienced in Storenvy, such as:
Honestly, for me, Etsy is all about them contrary to the dedication to their sellers. Sure, everything keeps evolving, adapting to new challenges, and they can raise their fees to make a profit and maintain their business while dealing with capitalism. I think any platform, the majority, will think about their corporation first and then their audience/consumers. It’s very rare to find a company that truly cares about its community and makes balanced decisions to decrease any negative impact on its consumers.
But Etsy seems unstable each year, and with so many battling these challenges, it has become clear I don’t want to be part of them as a seller. Some sellers have remained unaffected by Etsy’s decision and have thrived in the long run, yet that’s not the same situation for others. Each to their own.
Remember, any third-party platform (Etsy, Storenvy, Big Cartel. Ko-Fi, Square, PayPal, etc.) has, unfortunately, any right to cease your operations or account regardless if you are just a client or a store owner. Any scammer, suspicious ethical practices, and absurd policies can exist on these platforms; they will have the final word on what stays and what does not.
In my early days in Storenvy, things did run smoothly as a client and store owner, especially when I encountered issues within their site. I’m aware that it’s been 4 years now since I left for a self-hosted website with more autonomy and creativity (visually as technically). Just because I did enjoy it a few years ago, doesn’t mean it will be the same experience for others. Is about taking risks and dealing with the consequences.
For anyone who is looking for flexible options, loves to code, and can coexist with a “less competitive” niche, then Storenvy is for you. However, to avoid paying for extra services or subscriptions, you may need to market and promote your products organically on your own.
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