Small-scale sex toy makers may struggle to stay afloat under Etsy’s updated seller guidelines

Simply Elegant Glass has been a staple in the adult product industry, offering hand-crafted sex toys on Etsy for nearly a decade. Their unique glass dildos, anal plugs, and other insertable items have garnered over 7,000 sales and more than 1,500 mostly five-star reviews. However, their success on Etsy is now in jeopardy due to the platform’s new restrictions on sex toys.

The Adult Nudity and Sexual Content policy, quietly updated at the end of June, prohibits the sale of adult toys that are inserted into the body, applied to the genitalia, or designed for genitals to be inserted into them. This policy change came as a shock to many sellers, including those at Simply Elegant Glass, who have relied on Etsy for the majority of their sales.

Etsy’s decision to ban sex toys has been met with disappointment and frustration from many sellers in the adult product industry. For businesses like Simply Elegant Glass, Etsy was the primary platform for reaching customers and generating income. With no alternative marketplace currently available at Etsy’s scale, many sellers feel like they have been left with limited options for selling their handmade products.

While some sellers have tried to shift away from Etsy by launching their own websites or migrating to other platforms like Shopify, the reality remains that Etsy was a key driver of traffic and sales. The ban on sex toys has left sellers scrambling to find new ways to connect with customers and make up for lost revenue.

Many sellers have expressed concerns about Etsy’s handling of the situation, noting that the platform has allowed questionable practices like dropshipping while cracking down on adult products. Sellers also question why Etsy couldn’t implement other safety measures, such as creating an adult-only section, instead of outright banning certain items.

The impact of Etsy’s ban on sex toys extends beyond the affected sellers to the customers who rely on the platform for unique and handcrafted products. Etsy has been a go-to destination for shoppers looking for alternative products, and the ban on sex toys has left many wondering where they will now turn to find these items.

As the dust settles on Etsy’s decision, sellers are left contemplating an uncertain future. With no communication from Etsy about what will happen to their accounts or listings, sellers are left in the dark about how the ban will be enforced.

Despite the challenges faced by sellers in the adult product industry, there is hope on the horizon. Emerging indie marketplaces like Spicerack are working to provide a better option for sellers in this space. While these platforms may not yet have the reach of Etsy, they offer a promising alternative for sellers looking to connect with customers in the adult product market.

Overall, the ban on sex toys at Etsy represents a significant shift in the platform’s policies and has left many sellers feeling uncertain about their futures. As the industry adapts to these changes, it will be important for sellers to explore new avenues for reaching customers and growing their businesses beyond Etsy.

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