Kansas City makers eagerly await Etsy’s renewed focus on handmade goods

KSHB 41 reporter Abby Dodge covers consumer issues related to personal budgeting and everyday spending. You can email her story ideas.

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Industry expert eMarketer predicts e-commerce sales will exceed $6 trillion in 2024, with Amazon accounting for 40% of U.S. sales.

After layoffs and a stock price plunge, online retailer Etsy is once again focusing on handmade goods.

“I think when buyers pay for handmade items on Etsy, they deserve to get something that was handmade and not factory-made and repackaged,” said Mary Lynn Iskak, owner of Merry Maker.

The Happy Creator — Merry Maker, owner Mary Lynn Iskak

Iskak’s business is a side hustle, and less than 20% of her sales come from her Etsy shop.

She added that users likely have difficulty finding her products online due to the large number of resellers on the site.

“It’s really hard,” she said. “When you’re trying to find even your own items on Etsy, sometimes you have to go through pages and pages.”

Etsy’s new plan for sellers was to add tags like “built by,” “designed by,” and “made by” to items in a bid to discourage sellers through the app.

Iskak sells some of his items to Made in KC, a store that has its loyal customers.

Co-owner Keith Bradley said the company remains competitive with e-commerce giants thanks to its high-quality products and access to local stores.

“Honestly, we really want to be in places where it’s easy to compete with Amazon,” Bradley said. “That’s what they provide, a certain level of convenience. And we think that same level of convenience should exist in supporting local artists and creators.”

Made in KC ensures that each product is personally checked during meetings, and the giants in this field have no equal.

“We would like to make sure the product starts and ends in the Kansas City region,” Bradley said.

He believes customers continue to shop at his store, even when they use cheaper online options, because the history of each item is clear.

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