The Power of Community

I suppose this post could be considered a little off topic, since it's not really anything directly related to the shop, but it's something that I believe helps fuel our desire to run a shop. Putting time and effort into making something that you hope other people will see the value in and want to buy becomes hard when no-one is purchasing from your shop. It can make you feel that your creations aren't good enough, and that you are simply wasting your time and money on supplies and listings. However, I think this is where Folksy really comes into its own as a site for selling home-made stuff.

The community area on Folksy is where I spend most of my time on the site. When the shop was first opened, this was because I knew promotion was going to be key. However, two months in, and I now look forward to spending an hour or so on the forums. Everyone is friendly and encouraging, and there is a lot or diversity in terms of things to talk about. It's also full of really helpful people - I've been assisted with enquiries about public liability insurance within minutes of posting, which was really helpful.

I've also seen lots of other people being given help, be they relative newbies or old hands. As a long time user of forums and chatrooms on the internet, the atmosphere at Folksy really surprises me. There is no semblance of clique-i-ness, and I haven't seen even a hint of nastiness between posters - surprising when you consider that the forums are unmoderated and all users are technically in competition with each other when it comes to making sales and having your shop noticed. This feeling of almost family that exists there should be celebrated, as it is far from the norm around the internet.

So thank you, Folksy community for your support, advice, wise words, good humour and all round friendliness. It is a pleasure to run a shop alongside you all.