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This week I have finally set up my own Etsy shop! I’ve been talking about it for a couple of years now, but decided that the time was right to sell some of my own hand made items. Are you thinking of doing this? Well, in this post I am going to talk a bit about how to set up an Etsy business.
*This is a collaborative post – for more details please see my Disclosure Policy
How To Set Up An Etsy Business
I have been thinking for a couple of years that I should sell some of my own handmade goods on Etsy, but just never got around to starting it. I even made an account but never used it. This year, however I got the push to actually do it. How do you set up an Etsy shop, ands what are some of the things that you need to think about? Here are my main tips for doing it yourself.
Have A Product
Obviously, you do need to have a product that you are happy to sell. This year I have made a tonne of masks for the pandemic. And whilst I know that I am probably a bit late to the market for selling masks, I also know that we will probably be needing to wear masks until spring next year. Even though there is a vaccine coming out I do think that logistically we are looking at least until Spring next year until a lot of the population will be inoculated.
So I decided to sell some quirky Christmas masks, in Kevin The Carrot fabric. These may be niche, but I like niche. And I am sure that i will be adding some of my other products in time. Maybe some hand gel holders, or even some zero waste reusable kitchen roll.
What Else Could You Sell?
Well, if you go to take a look over on Etsy there is a huge range of ideas that you could be crafting to sell. Anything from crochet to hand made jewellery. Why not consider making
- Handmade cards
- Resin jewellery and ornaments
- Polymer clay jewellery and figures
- Cake topper decorations or
- Personalised printables?
There is so much to choose from, that however crafty you are, there is sure to be some way of turning your craft passion into a side hustle.
As you immerse yourself in this enjoyable crafting endeavor, you might even find yourself inspired by the flourishing opportunities for seamstresses in London, a city that thrives on creative expression and craftsmanship.
Plus, you could even make something eco friendly. Here are some ideas.
Insurance
You do also need to think about being insured before you start selling online. Product liability insurance is a must if you are selling your own products to people. There are plenty of companies out there selling this, and it does mean that you are covered should anyone have a problem with your product. Unlikely, but so important in the world today. Do look at the level of insurance and the regions that you are covered for, as some may not cover the USA for example.
If you are selling at craft fairs, you will need this kind of insurance for that too. And if you are considering selling children’s clothes or toys, then you may need added certification that your goods meet certain safety standards. Do look into this if so.
Setting Up On Etsy
Setting up on Etsy is actually quite easy. You need to make an account, and link the payments options to either PayPal or your own bank account.
Etsy do take a cut though. And to some people this is a bit of a disincentive to even start. I guess in the future I may consider adding a shop to this site, but for the moment I just needed to get started making my own items.
Listing products can be quite time consuming, but you do need to take the time to get it right. And once you have done it a couple of times it does get quicker and easier. Which is a bit like selling on eBay.
When you are listing your products, it is always good to remember some great rules for listing. Make your products stand out with great pictures. Make sure you describe each item well. And ensure that you are happy with where you are selling to. I am only selling to the UK at the moment, as I am unsure about international postage fees (ands want to see how Brexit affects everything) but who knows? In the future I may wish to sell worldwide.
And so you make some sales, and the money starts rolling in. This brings me to the next part of having a business.
Tax
You do have to think once you start paying money how you are going to be taxed on it. Here in the UK there is quite a complex system for when you need to declare and how much you can earn before you have to declare what you are earning. If you are unsure about what you need to do then do take advice from a reputable source, such as an accountant or business advisor.
Now that my blog is making a bit of money I have needed to start declaring my business earnings. Which is another good reason for starting up my Etsy shop this year. Multiple income streams are in my opinion a great way to make money.
But all this does mean that you need to keep good records, both of what you buy for your business, the postage that you pay, and for any materials you use.
Packaging
And one of the things that you will need to buy for any budding easy business is packaging. Customers come to expect pretty and well packaged goods. And it is often a brilliant way to show off your brand too.
I have bought some lovely tissue paper and branded stickers, and have ensured that my packaging is plastic free. This to me is so important.
Promote Your Shop
And lastly, and most importantly maybe, you DO need to promote your products. Share them on your socials. Get your friends to share too. And hopefully soon you swill get your first sale!
I hope that this has given you a good idea on how to set up an Etsy business for yourself? Why not go check out my shop on Etsy here? Do you think you might do this? I’d love to see your venture. Let me know in the comments or find me over on my social media channels.
And please do pin this post for later.
Great guide, I never thought about product insurance, I should look into that. I’ve been meaning to set up an Etsy shop for over a year now!
It’s actually not too expensive, mine was about £70 for a year. But it is really essential.
That’s a great starting point post to getting on Etsy. The insurance is a really good point. I started an Etsy shop this year to sell my own sewing patterns. (shameless plug: https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/SussexSeamstress)
One point that caught me out was the listing fees. I thought this would be a one-off fee for listing an item; but actually each time you sell an item it is classed as being “re-listed”, meaning you pay the listing fee again. So basically you need to account for paying the listing fee on every item you sell, not just when you initially list it. Hope that’s a helpful tip!
It’s been hard to get some initial sales, as there is so much competition on Etsy, but I’m starting to make a few, and getting some “favourited” items. I’m running my own website alongside it (www.sussexseamstress.com – second shameless plug – sorry!) which is doing better, but I’d say running your own website is much more work than having an Etsy shop, so Etsy could be a better option for dipping a toe in the water.
Good luck to anyone who gives it a go!
Thank you for pointing these things out. There are probably many pros and cons to having your own site for selling rather than Etsy, but your points are really valid.
I’ve also had people point out that Etsy puts the competition right there next to your product. So if you list something, at the bottom of your listing Etsy puts ‘other items you might like’ and this may include a cheaper competitor!
This may also put people off. But I did want to give it a whirl. And do not apologise for plugging your site! Thank you for reading.
Really useful information (love your Christmas masks by the way.) I have a blog and one day would like to maybe make a bit of money out of it too – a handy list of things to think about when I get round to it!
I have been wanting to set up a cross stitch card and knitted decoration business but was unsure where to start. Thanks for the tips (especially on insurance, I hadn’t a clue!) and linking up with #dreamteamlinky