Etsy has once again changed the rules of operation on the platform, this time by updating the list of categories of products allowed for sale.Representatives of Etsy assure that they have only rewritten the previously valid norms more clearly, without adding new prohibitions. However, a comparison of the old and new version of the rules shows much more serious changes. Moreover, the update has occurred June 10, 2025 without any warning for sellersand came into effect immediately after publication — so many products suddenly found themselves “outlawed” on the marketplace, leaving sellers no time to prepare.

The purpose of the changes is to remove non-original products

The new rules are designed to remove as many products as possible from the platform, which do not contain the creative contribution of the seller. Etsy wants each productreflected the creativity of the community — was made, designed, assembled or selected by hand. From now on, the resale of factory products purchased in bulk elsewhere is sharply limited, and it is also forbidden to issue automatically created products for Handmade. In other words, bulk, template and non-copyrighted products no longer fitin the concept of Etsy.

Key changes in the rules: what is now prohibited

• Products on automated equipment — only according to the seller's own design.If you use a plotter, laser machine, printer, 3D printer or similar equipment, the file for it must be created by youand not purchased from third-party developers. An exception is possible only if, after automatic production, the goods are additionally processed or finished manually by the seller himself. This rule also applies to products manufactured according to the principle print-on-demand(printing on demand).
• Digital goods — scans of vintage materials — are now banned.Digital images or PDFs with scans of vintage books, postcards, recipes, diagrams or designs that were still perfectly legal to sell on the digital category Etsy, more can not be put up for sale. Such files are allowed to be used only as an element for creating a new product (for example, a print for wrapping paper or postcards), but not as an independent product unit.
• Resale of natural materials is prohibited.If you personally collected pebbles, wooden twigs, cones, dried flowers, etc. — such finds can be sold. But if you bought them from third parties (such as imported natural stones or minerals), resell them on Etsy already not allowed. This change puts a blow to the business of sellers who traded natural stones for needlework (especially imported from abroad), carved stones, crystal candlesticks, metaphysical “healing” crystals, etc. — because in fact they resold objects of nature without author's decoration.
• Factory decor for the holidays can no longer be sold as “Holiday Goods”.Previously, Etsy rules allowed mass decorations for the holidays in the category of party goods, but now items have been removed from the allowed list “holiday decor” and “gifts for guests”. In the new edition, only specific ones were left “Holiday table decorations”, as well as balloons, garlands and gift wrapping — that is, more specific design elements. In this way, sellers who used to sell factory-made Christmas or other seasonal decorations can no longer display them on Etsy under the guise of handmade or vintage.

Implications for sellers and community reaction

The Etsy community of sellers received these innovations ambiguously. Some masters support cleaning the platform of non-copyright goods, because cheap bulk items undermined the idea Unique Handmade. At the same time, many sellers are outraged by Etsy's approach — lack of advance warningand the risk of sanctions. There have already been reports of the removal by the administration of certain goods that for years were considered permissible, but now violate the updated standards. Each removed ad is a “black mark” for the store, and sellers worry that they may get blocked without even having time to figure out the new rules.

At this point Etsy did not provide detailed explanationsregarding the new restrictions. In an official forum post, a spokesperson for the platform claimed that Etsy had only “added more details to several existing policy items” without actually acknowledging the drastic changes. This response caused surprise and criticism from the community, because de facto rules have been revised— in particular, Etsy used to allow 3D printing on ready-made templates and selling vintage scans, but now this cannot be done. Sellers fear that Etsy is deliberately narrowing the list of permitted product categories, which will hit many niche businesses on the platform. Many expect official clarifications and a fair approach to existing listings from the company.

What to do for sellers: alternatives

Sudden and frequent policy changes on Etsy are forcing many sellers to rethink their sales channels. One possible alternative is to create your own online store, for example, on the Shopify platform. Own store gives more flexibility in the presentation of goods and management on your own terms. Although this requires additional effort in promotion, for some entrepreneurs it can be a step towards greater stability. If you're already thinking about diversifying your sales, it's worth exploring different options, including Shopify, as one way to grow.

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