Etsy offers curated selections by category, occasion, or stylistic theme, but those efforts combined with its search feature may not be enough to entice consumers — or sellers, for that matter. The marketplace has faced criticism that it’s packed with cheap imports that crowd out the artisans, and some longtime sellers have had to deal with incorrect charges for seller fees.
The holiday hotline could boost Etsy’s word-of-mouth reputation among shoppers who have previously been frustrated by sorting through search results. It also provides relief from two of the biggest obstacles shoppers face when shopping through Etsy: the higher price tags of some products, assuaged by gift cards, and the fact that shipping is not free.
