Imagine that. . .

I have been accepted to a new marketplace platform, which shall remain nameless for now because I haven't got my shop set up yet. 😉  Plus as a brand new site it's still in a beta testing phase so I want to let them get the kinks and glitches out before widely promoting it and really driving traffic.  

I was excited like this last year when the zibbet people announced the deal with A.C.Moore and I thought it would great but it did not turn out that way. Zibbet never got their shit together and ac moore went out of business so the whole thing just kind of flopped due to lack of advertising and commitment. 😞 What a huge disappointment for me after spending not only $100+ on the year long subscription but really an absolute ton of hours on importing, editing, and setting up listings.  😕  My time runs out there in about 3 months and I plan to remove everything and leave because I have not sold a single thing, heck half the time there isn't even any traffic. 

So while I am ~woo-hoo~ excited about this I am also trying not to get my hopes up too high.  Although, this seems to be off to a better start with people who really want to work at it and make it work which is a good sign.  I was starting to wonder if I would get in because I have been waiting for nearly a month for approval of my application, BUT at least there is an application approval process unlike other places where any one with an internet connection can create a shop.  

One of the love/hate things I've always had with Etsy is that there is no screening of anything really.  There is a certain appeal and fairness to anyone can open a shop but there is also a downside, like anyone can open a shop. 😏 Yes it's super easy for single moms and grandma ladies to open a shop and sell their knitting and soaps but that also means any scammer can open a shop and re-sell imported junk as handmade. Also etsy's lack of screening process means there is tons of counterfeit merchandise and illegally produced infringing items, and general intellectual property theft that etsy cannot and will not do anything about because they don't want to act and give up their immunity and suddenly become legally liable for all the crap they have turned a blind eye to for over a decade. 😐

So the fact that the new place has a screening and application process that includes 20 questions and requires links and proof and photos is great. They are talking of limiting the number of sellers in each category so as to not become overwhelming to buyers like etsy's 65 million+ listings where nothing can be found. Also they are talking of enforcing intellectual property rights so no one can pop up and start selling knock off disney stuff or unlicensed superhero stuff which I find a refreshing notion, ya' know enforcing right. 💪

Now, I have lots of work to do setting up shop and getting things lined up and spiffy lookin' once I have everything listed, squared off and ready I'll start sharing links and let everyone in on the secret.  😇