

PODCast E068: Pushing Through Etsy Setbacks w/ Madelyn Sifuentes
How Madelyn Turned Her Etsy Suspension Into a Thriving POD Business
Madelyn Sifuentes shares her journey of overcoming a major setback when her Etsy account was suspended in November 2020 due to trademark violations from selling popular but unauthorized designs. Initially, she lacked a clear strategy and unknowingly copied bestsellers, which led to this painful experience.
After recovering, she rebuilt her business with a data-driven approach using tools like eRank to find high-demand, low-competition keywords and organize her listings systematically with spreadsheets and virtual assistants. Madelyn emphasizes the importance of diversifying sales channels beyond Etsy, such as using wholesale platforms like Abound and Fair, and having everything well-organized to quickly adapt to challenges.
Her story is a powerful example of turning failure into success by learning from mistakes, adopting smart systems, and staying persistent, ultimately setting herself up for long-term growth and stability in print-on-demand.
Etsy Suspension Redemption Story
- Madeline shared how her Etsy account was suspended for selling trademarked designs without knowing the rules.
- She took days to mourn but used the experience to rebuild her business better organized and compliant.
Backup Data Ensures Business Resilience
- Downloading your Etsy CSV backup is vital for preserving product data.
- Organized spreadsheets expedite recovery and relaunch if your account is suspended.