I’ve had several people say they are interested in selling
on Etsy and have asked me for advice about how to get started. I don’t claim to
be an expert, but I’m always happy to share my experiences. I started out
selling handmade items, but when I went back to work full-time, I decided to
switch to the vintage market. Having experience in both of these markets has
given me a unique view of Etsy. While I did enjoy the handmade side of Etsy, in
my opinion, handmade items are a lot harder to sell than vintage items. I’m not
saying don’t sell handmade items! Do what you love! For me selling vintage
items was something that was easier to do with a family and a full-time job.
Here’s some of the things I’ve learned from selling both handmade and vintage
items on Etsy:
1.
Do your research. If you know what you are going
to be selling, look at Etsy shops that have similar items. Look at how items
are photographed and described. What prices are they selling their items for?
What do they charge for shipping? What are their shop policies? What payment
options do they accept? Another really great resource on Etsy is the community forums.
If you have a question, chances are the question has already been asked in the
forums. Changes to Etsy’s policies and procedures are also announced (and
sometimes strongly debated) in the forums.
2.
You get what you give. The more you list on
Etsy, the more you promote your shop, the more active you are in the forums,
the more you will sell. This is especially true with handmade items. The
handmade market is highly competitive and your items can get buried in a hurry.
If you aren’t regularly updating your shop, shoppers will have to click through
many pages to find your items.
3.
Take good photographs. This is the first thing a
potential buyer will see. I have actually seen blurry photos on Etsy, which
makes me cringe. I would have liked that item, but if you can’t take the time
to take a quality photo, what does that say about your product? Photos with
visual appeal also help to draw people to your shop. You don’t have to have a
top of the line camera, but do invest in a quality camera. Also invest in a tripod. Again, you
don’t have to spend a lot of money. Tripods are a must have for getting quality
closeups of your items.
4.
Know where to promote. Facebook and blogging are
my two favorite ways to promote, but there are so many other options out there.
Maybe Twitter or Pinterest is more your style. Maybe you’re a social media
queen and you use every social media outlet available. Etsy also has promotions
available that feature your items at the top of search results. I tried Etsy
promotions a couple of times with limited results, but give it a shot and maybe
it will work well for you. Networking can help as well. There are groups on
Etsy that work together to help promote each other, but this takes time and is
another “you get what you give” option. Etsy groups work for some, but I just
have never had the time for it.
5.
Don’t give up. It may take some time to get that
first sale. Even if you’re lucky and get that first sale quickly, you may still experience periods of slow business. Everyone experiences this at one time! In
my experience the time of year is a big factor on my sales. Winter and spring
are the busiest, just because people are indoors on their computers more.
Depending on the types of items you are selling you may notice busier and
slower times as well.
6.
Have fun! While I loved selling handmade items,
it got to be more of chore than a fun side job. I took a break and eventually
came back selling vintage which fits in better with all the other demands on my
time. And it feeds my need to hoard, I mean, collect things I don’t need. Find
something that you enjoy doing and you’ll love Etsy!
If you have an Etsy shop what are your tips for anyone
thinking of taking the plunge?
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