I wanted to share a quick update here, mainly because transparency has always been the backbone of how I run Earthy Crunch UK, and that has not changed.
Over the past few months, my Facebook business account has been repeatedly reported by a small number of sellers based in the United States, which has resulted in my page being taken down and my account receiving a six month restriction.
What makes this particularly frustrating is the simple fact that the overwhelming majority of my customers are in the UK and Europe. I am not competing in the same space some people seem to think I am, there is room for all of us here, genuinely.
My intention from day one has been very straightforward, to help make global clay, chalk and sensory products more accessible to European buyers. For a long time, a lot of these products were either difficult to access, expensive to ship, or simply not offered to this side of the world. I wanted to change that in a small, honest way.
Since starting, I have also made a point of supporting other sellers wherever I can, sharing businesses, highlighting creators and generally trying to contribute to a wider ecosystem rather than a closed circle. I have never believed this space should revolve around one voice or one brand.
Because if a community only amplifies a handful of sellers, it stops being a community and starts looking more like a funnel, and that has never sat right with me.
I have tried very hard not to get dragged into drama in this space, I do not care for cliques, and I do not participate in behind the scenes politics.
But I will not pretend it has not been exhausting at times.
I have had people reach out for advice on everything from branding and packaging to SEO and websites, while also being part of the same circles that later created issues for me. I have even been asked to receive and forward parcels internationally after disagreements between sellers. It is a lot for one person running a small home based business alongside a full time job.
So yes, I have stepped back and blocked a number of accounts, not out of anger, but out of self preservation.
What has been hardest to deal with is not just the reporting itself, but the nature of some of the claims.
I do not post crunch or swallowing content, yet my page was flagged as promoting harmful content and even causing suicide.
As someone who has recently lost a family member to suicide, I do not really have words for how heavy that felt to read. It is something I would not wish on anyone, and it absolutely crosses a line.
I want to be clear, I do not hold bitterness towards individuals, truly.
There are also genuinely kind people in this space, people who have supported me, shared opportunities, trusted me with their products, and helped me grow something I am really proud of. I have not forgotten that.
But I am drawing a line under the parts of this that are toxic, performative or quietly destructive.
I will continue building Earthy Crunch UK in the way I always have, slowly, honestly, and with the intention of making products accessible to European customers who were often overlooked.
I am one person running this alongside a full time job. I pack orders, manage messages, write, source, organise and keep everything moving from a small setup at home in England. It is not a big operation, just a very real one.
Original announcement
To whoever has been reporting my account,
I wanted to take a moment to address this directly, because I believe in transparency, it's something I've built my whole page around.
Since becoming a seller, I have done nothing but champion this community. I'm a small, home-based business based in little England, proudly serving the European community with passion and care. I have never set out to compete aggressively with anyone. In fact, I actively promote other sellers on my blog and website, because I genuinely believe there is more than enough space for all of us.
I stock a wide range of products, and I've always been completely open about who I stock and why. Transparency isn't a strategy for me - it's just who I am.
What has happened as a result of these reports goes beyond my business page. My personal page was taken down too, and the timing could not have been worse. I had organised an in-person trip to the "Museum of Edible Earth" for people in this very community, and during the ban I had absolutely no way of communicating with those who had wanted to come along. Real people, a real event, left without any information, because of reports made against content that has never been harmful or dangerous.
That is not a side effect. That is cruel, and it was entirely unnecessary.
I want you to know: I harbour no ill will. But I won't be silenced either. I will continue to show up for this community, continue to promote fellow sellers, and continue to do what I do with integrity.
What I will likely stop doing is interacting through Facebook community groups. Not out of defeat, but because my energy is better spent on people who appreciate what I bring to the table.
There is room for all of us here. I truly hope you come to believe that too.
P.S.
I would just like to take a moment to talk about what I actually bring to this community, because I think it needs to be said.
I am the only clay seller globally with publicly available reviews on Trustpilot, Reviews.io and Google Business. Let that sink in. Not because others haven't been asked - but because I am the only one putting myself out there to be held accountable in that way. And yes, I get review bombed on Etsy - coincidentally enough to strip my Star Seller status. This is not paranoia. The pattern speaks for itself.
I am the only seller in this space using sustainable, eco-friendly and plastic-free packaging. I am having the clays and chalks I sell independently tested and posting those results publicly on my website, because you deserve to know what you're consuming, and your safety matters to me. I only take payment through a secure website. I do not ask for money through DMs. Ever.
I am out here trying to be the seller I would have wanted to find when I was a buyer. Every decision I make is about raising the bar, for transparency, for safety, for sustainability, for trust.
And I'm being reported for it.
I genuinely hope that whoever is doing this takes a moment to reflect, because it is not me who suffers most. It is this community. The people who deserve access to honest information, safe products, and a seller they can actually trust.
That's what I'm here to be. And I'm not going anywhere.
With kindness regardless,
Earthy Crunch UK
Disclaimer: Earthy Crunch UK products are natural clay and chalk materials sold for sensory, hobbyist, and ASMR use only. They are not food-grade certified or promoted for consumption. All personal use is at your own risk; we make no claims regarding health benefits and accept no liability for any adverse effects arising from handling or ingestion. Products are prepared in a home environment.
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