Got a product you know people want to buy? Whatever you love to make, chances are there are people out there that are looking for your product and one of the easiest places to sell them is Etsy!
Etsy has made it easy for crafters to sell their wares, the more niche the better. From enamel pins of your favourite cats to stickers of your own face, this platform is ideal for first-time sellers and seasoned pros looking to make money from their products.
If you’re planning on turning your designs into saleable items, we’re here to help. At Zap Creatives, we’re pros when it comes to creating enamel pins, stickers, charms and more. We’ve worked with brands across the globe and thousands of small businesses selling their collections on Etsy, so we know what works! Before you start selling, read on for our tips on setting up an Etsy shop.
Why Etsy?
There are over 1.8 million sellers on Etsy already, all taking advantage of the easy set-up, support and training that the platform provides. Think of Etsy as an online shopping centre; your customers are browsing to find those one-of-a-kind items they didn’t know they needed. Etsy is the ideal place for artists, designers and crafters to find their audience, but with competition at an all-time high, your store needs to stand out from the rest in order to succeed.
What should I sell on Etsy?
People using Etsy want one thing - unique products at a reasonable price. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that you can make a mint off selling cheap goods, Etsy is the place for high-quality goods and shoppers won’t appreciate items that fall apart or look shoddy - and your reviews will soon show if you’re selling substandard wares! If you already have designs ready, take the time to scope out the competition. For example, if you’re looking to launch a collection of enamel pins, you want to look at other sellers who are offering similar products and note their prices, shipping costs and the way that the shop itself is set up. Check out their reviews and see what customers like about your competitors, could you offer unique packaging? Maybe you could add some freebies to an order or a handwritten note saying thank you, there’s plenty of ways to ensure you stand out.
Who is your Etsy Audience?
Whenever a product is launched, whether it’s by a global brand or a small independent seller, it’s important to research exactly who is buying it. Taking the time to explore your demographic will prove invaluable when it comes to creating the sales text, product descriptions and marketing messages for your store. For example, if you’re selling custom charms of your latest comic book themed designs you will want to target the 18-35-year-old age bracket. Not only will aligning your brand messages to your store ensure you look credible, but it will also help establish your brand as something new and different in the marketplace.
Building your Etsy Profile
A great store name makes all the difference and it pays to take the time to research other stores to ensure you’re not stepping on any toes! Etsy has a downloadable sellers handbook that helps you navigate setting up your profile, with handy tips and guidelines for first-timers.
If it is your first time setting up an online store, you need to start selling yourself! Customers will have trust in a seller that offers transparent, accurate information about themselves, so take advantage of the profile section and add in some engaging text that tells your story and plenty of high-quality imagery to sell yourself and your products. Think of your Etsy profile as a business card, you want the design to be good enough that people remember to ‘call’.
Selling on Etsy
Before you put your store live, you need to ensure that you have enough stock to meet demand. Test the waters with sales on platforms such as eBay to see which designs are proving popular. Etsy works on a ‘first come first served’ basis but you want to make sure there's enough stock to go around. At Zap Creatives, we offer bulk order options on all of our products, from sticker printing to enamel charms. By ordering in bulk you can get your inventory at a healthy level and order more as you start to monitor demand. Shoppers on Etsy expect to receive their products in a reasonable time and your delivery times should be clearly stated on your profile. Don’t get caught out having to wait for your shipment to arrive before fulfilling orders!
For more information on how we can help you create stock for your Etsy store, get in touch with the Zap Creatives team today. Or, follow our tutorials for step by step guides on creating your custom merch.
