This Week’s Etsy Strike, and the Corporatization of Independence
It is currently Thursday. And I woke up early, well before dawn, a bit restless in my thoughts. This may be due to a general lack of sleep, as I work towards finishing a scenic design drafting packet, painting commissions, and all my prep for upcoming market events. Or maybe it’s the change of season, with the days lengthening and my motivation igniting a highly active state of being. In any case, I have many thoughts this week! And a lot I’d like to discuss…
In this week’s open journal, I decided to do a video instead of my usual written chapter to summarize the latest happenings in my life. This week in particular is an eventful one, and I decided to focus my discussion around the current Etsy strike.
The seven-day strike is a first step organized by experienced Etsy sellers that took effect on Monday, April 11th, in response to increased transaction fees and problematic corporate policies imposed by the company.
Diving in to this topic also opens a broader conversation around the emerging policies of large tech platforms that limit the earning potential of independent creators, and how to best navigate those changes to protect the ability to have a prosperous business.
I’ve included some starter resources for those interested in exploring the roots of the Etsy sellers movement here:
Instagram: @etsy.strike
Petition: etsystrike.org/petition
Organizers’ Blog: etsystrike.org/blog
Here is my ‘open journal’ video (linked to our YouTube Channel). Please feel free to share your insight, experiences, and questions in the comments below!
Open Journal: April 14th, 2022