I have an Etsy shop where I sell personalized 3d printed items for a niche community. Ive managed to make a good start and am hoping to move this into a full-time business. I have over a 1000 sales and hundreds of 5-star reviews.

I know my product would be very easy to replicate. After a year, I finally had it happen. I’m based in the US and the saving grace is they’re in the UK. Now, the larger market is in the US, but I sell plenty in the UK. He copied pretty much everything he could, down to slightly changing the description of the listing.

I’ve tried to differentiate a bit with my creativity, design and networking. I am trying to use this as motivation to innovate and drive, but I feel a creeping panic that I am trying to fight off.

Someone help me with a good pep talk and advice before I break down!

  • starlynagencyBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    welcome to retail!!!

    seems no one told you, but EVERY product will be copied, even with all the copyrights and laws in your favor to try to avoid it. that is why for example clothing companies have a whole department of “buyers” walking around the world looking for new products, materials etc and change the whole line of clothing each season.

    is not to create “new trends” is to avoid others copying them!!

    tips:

    Do not make yours cheaper. add the word “original” to the title.

    add upsells and cross sells and attachments. ( things that would go with your products)

    UK is a tiny country. soon everyone there will be tired of it so keep doing a great job and you will endure.

    everything you do will be copied, put your mind into new products all the time.

  • flyfightandgrinBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    Work on the branding and make the product an experience.

    A porsche and a honda are both cars, right? But people pay more for the Porsche because of the experience.

    I’m just saying even with an identical product, you can add better packaging, logo, and media coverage and people will pay more for the nicer wrapped package.
    Visibility is king.

  • YT_StoriesOfValueBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    hi can i ask you a question, i never understood etsy,

    do you store product in ur house and ship from ur house to customer?

    or are u dropshipping

    i saw some etsy tutorials but the youtube gurus never explain the backend work