What Etsy Seller Insurance Do I Need
As we edge towards the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year, our young people finally reach the touch line of the exam marathon they have been running, and many of us feel a general weariness increasing, our thoughts begin to turn towards summer holidays. Whether these will mainly be spent at home, holidaying within the UK or enjoying some sunny climes overseas, the dreaming can begin!
The planning and the imagining can become an integral part of the holiday fun, as we consider summer outfits or envision a seasonal refreshing of our home and garden. This dreaming will subsequently turn into an exchange of cash for some new items to add a sparkle to home or wardrobe, and having an understanding of people’s summer shopping habits can open up more sales for hand crafted businesses. While many still flood to major retailers or online stores, an increasing number of consumers are become more discerning in their purchasing and are looking for products which will not only be unique, made with care and which display traditional crafting skills, but will also have longevity and be sustainably made. Quite some list to fulfil! However, if you have a business selling hand made crafts you will undoubtedly tick all those boxes.
With summer holidays in mind, customers might be searching for fun beach bags, breezy cotton outfits or eye-catching sun hats. As the season of weddings approaches, there will also be a demand for elegant linen outfits, stylish hats and classy handbags. While many couples produce a wedding gift list, others may have what they need already, and so guests have the opportunity to buy something completely unique and gift the newly weds with a sparkle of creative charm which will last throughout their lives.
If most of the holidays will be spent at home, it’s a great opportunity to give house and garden a fresh look. Thankfully, this doesn’t have to be repainting the whole house; rather by adding some inviting cushions, light toned throws, outdoor lanterns, pretty plant pots and breezy bunting you can create a space of effortless charm in the aesthetic of your choice. Maybe this will be a place for gathering friends for a barbecue on a sunny afternoon, or for an alfresco brunch on a slow Saturday morning, or simply to share a cup or tea and scone, loaded with strawberry jam, with a good friend.
As crafters, once you have produced a good stock of summer themed items, you will need to find a place to sell them to your delighted customers. Craft fairs are always wonderful ways to not only sell, but to meet customers face to face and make local connections. Do check out our other blogs which offer advice about how to make the most of a fair.
If you want to sell online, you may decide to build your own website. However, if you are just dipping your toe into the world of web-based sales, you may prefer to use a tried and trusted online marketplace, Etsy being one of the most well known of these. One of the advantages of Etsy is that it is fairly intuitive to set up, no technical skills are required, and that listing fees are reasonable.
If you decide to explore this route, you will then need to think about insurance. You may be asking yourself, “Can’t I simply use Etsy seller insurance?” The answer is yes and no! Etsy does have a Purchase Protection Programme, but this does not take the place of professional insurance and as such it is quite limited in its scope. Etsy seller insurance mainly covers products lost in transit or arriving later than the stated date. It could also come into play if a customer is not satisfied that the product matches the listing description, when Etsy are satisfied that it does so. Good to note…make sure your listing descriptions are precise and photographs are clear.
So, while Etsy seller insurance exists, it has clear and limited reach and you will need to consider comprehensive insurance cover. Our baseline package for all craft businesses starts with product and public liability insurance. Product liability covers you for any claim made by a customer that your product has harmed or caused damage to themselves or their property. Even if this is not the case, the insurance will pay for any compensation owed or legal fees involved.
Public liability covers you for any claims, whether founded of not, of harm or injury caused on your premises or by your business activities. While there could be any number of scenarios where this could happen on a business premises or at a craft fair, it might seem unlikely if you are making your goods at home and selling online. However, it is not beyond the realms of imagination to picture a courier slipping on an icy driveway or tripping over a child’s scooter left on the path to your front door, thus making you very thankful that you have public liability insurance in place.
The potential consequences of running into difficulties without these insurances prompt most sellers to investigate further. We are a family run business ourselves and have the benefit of experience and knowledge in the craft insurance industry passed down through the generations. We do not use call handlers; either Naomi or Sam are here to answer calls as they come through. If you prefer to contact us online, you can use the form on the website, and we will reply directly and give you an individually tailored quote based on the information you give us.
We wish you every success as you sell your unique and beautiful products online and look forward to hearing about your business and helping you get the best insurance package for your business needs.