what to do before opening an etsy shop

You should build these initial costs into your pricing to pay yourself back for your investment over time. Fortunately, this is not a difficult problem to overcome. The shop avatar is where your logo should go (your personal photo should already be featured under your shop owner profile). For more information about pricing, check out this guide from the helpful folks at Etsy. Etsy entrepreneurs will obviously want to track sales and profits; but, you’ll also need to keep an eye on your start-up costs. Visit the Etsy homepage, click the Sell on Etsy link, then click Open your Etsy Shop. Depending on how prolific a crafter you are, you may already have a substantial stock of crafting supplies. The very first step is to register your account. The Standard Plan allows users to list products on Etsy, buy and print discounted postage, and market their products with sales and coupons. And, once you get past this mental barrier, you’ll be free to build your Etsy business. Etsy also asks for your bank account information so you can receive periodic deposits of the money you’ve earned in your Etsy shop. Social media is also the perfect platform to help future customers get to know you as well as your shop. Writing your bio is a great way to start thinking about who you are, why you’re opening a shop, and what you’re passionate about. SEO is too big a topic to do justice here. How to Start an Etsy Shop: Your Ultimate, No-Stress Guide to Opening an Etsy Shop in 2021 - crowdspring Blog. And, we’re here to help. Some of the technologies we use are necessary for critical functions like security and site integrity, account authentication, security and privacy preferences, internal site usage and maintenance data, and to make the site work correctly for browsing and transactions. You can use it to pay your Etsy bill — including the $0.20 listing fee and 5 percent of the price that Etsy takes when your product sells — or choose to pay your bill via PayPal. A website gives any business more credibility. For example, if your registered company is an LLC and is named Three Brothers, LLC, you cannot operate that business lawfully in most states if you’re selling products under the trade name Three Tigers. This includes material costs and the value of your time. Although there are a number of steps, Etsy makes it easy. Use short, descriptive sentences to describe what your product is and how it can fit into a buyer’s life. Etsy’s terms and conditions describe craft supplies as “tools, ingredients, or materials whose primary purpose is for use in the creation of an item or special occasion. Try occasion- or recipient-based tags such as “co-worker gift” or “wedding jewelry.” (Pro tip: If you’ve already added an occasion, color, or other attribute to the category section of your listing, you don’t need to repeat that same information in your tags.). You may benefit from setting a regular shopping schedule to keep you on track. Your brand identity’s importance cannot be understated – especially in the authenticity-driven world of Etsy. You’re okay. I don’t have an Etsy account. Your business name, your business logo, your shop banner or cover photo, and the items you list should all be informed by these core brand ideas. So, if you’re ready you can follow these steps to get up and running today! Learn how. Ready to start selling on Etsy? If you’re struggling to come up with a name for your business that hasn’t been used already, try some of these ideas: Don’t worry about making your shop name perfect. So, reach out to friends and family – they’ll want to support your endeavor. You’ve got this. Your branding can influence how your product is perceived, as well. Each time you add a new product to your shop, Etsy will charge $0.20. If your hand-made items are complex, consider a complex logo. And, that’s great – but, what happens after this stock runs out? But, I’m here to tell you – don’t sweat your shop name just yet. Opening your own shop might sound daunting, but you can get up and running in a few simple steps. The platform brought in revenues of over $600 million in 2018! It’s a good idea to set production goals for yourself – like making X items per week to keep your shop well-stocked. After deciding to leave academia behind, Katie now focuses her efforts on small business marketing and branding, design and copywriting. A recent study shows that 97% of consumers research their purchases online before they buy something. Setting the right prices can make or break your shop. Now, she uses titles like “Wrapping Paper - Floral Gift Wrap in Black, 3 Sheets or Single Roll, Hand Printed Giftwrap, Floral Kraft Wrapping, Paper Table Runner” that are loaded with keywords. Only 24% of people answer all 5 questions correctly. If you’re opening a shop, you probably have an idea of what you plan to sell on Etsy. That’s because the registered name, and your trade name, are different. Maintaining your shop properly is key to your success. Writing your bio is a great way to start thinking about who you are, why you’re opening a shop, and what you’re passionate about. All business names should be brand-specific, memorable and unique – this helps to set you apart from your competitors. It also never hurts to ask them to talk up your shop to their friends! This means that you will need to follow the same legal requirements your state has defined for any other business. unique and memorable, custom-branded logo for your Etsy shop, Grow Your Small Business with Consistent Branding, 15 Tips for Turning Your Craft Hobby Into a Successful Business, 10 Legal Mistakes That Can Destroy Your Small Business And How To Avoid Them, Grow Your Small Business With These 7 Website Design Best Practices, How to Start a Business: The Complete Step-by-Step Guide to Starting a Business in 2021, The Definitive Guide to Successfully Rebranding in 2021, How To Create a Unique and Memorable Brand Identity in 2021: The Definitive Guide, How to Start a Consulting Business in 2021: The Complete Step-by-Step Guide, How to Start a Real Estate Business in 2021: Complete Step-by-Step Guide, How to Start an eCommerce Business: A Step-by-Step Guide To Take Your Business Online (2021), Nonprofit Branding: Complete Guide to Building a Strong Nonprofit Brand in 2021, How to Start a Cleaning Business in 2021: The Complete Guide, 6 Businesses You Can Start For Less Than $1,000, Marketing Psychology: What You Must Know To Supercharge Your Marketing, What is a DBA and Hot to File One For Your Business, How to Start a Clothing Line or Clothing Brand From Scratch in 2021: The Definitive Guide, How to Start a Brewery Business in 2021: The Complete 9 Step Guide, How to Start a Medial Marijuana Dispensary Business in 2021, How to Start an Etsy Shop: Your Comprehensive, No-Stress Guide to Starting an Etsy Shop in 2021, How to Start a Photography Business in 2021: The Complete Step-by-Step Guide, How to Start a Business in Texas: The Complete Step-by-Step Guide (2021), The Definitive Guide to Creating a Compelling Visual Brand for Your Restaurant in 2021, Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO) Guide: How to Make Your Website Work Smarter (2021), Facebook Messenger Chatbot Marketing: The Definitive Guide (2021), Branding for Food Trucks: The Definitive Guide (2021), Learn How to Grow Your Business With Beautiful Design. A full page of listings gives shoppers more to browse and makes your shop look more professional. To create a listing, you’ll need photos of the handmade product, vintage item or craft supply you want to sell. Etsy will be dropping support for older versions of your web browser in the near future in order to ensure that user data remains secure. You can view your shop by going to your new web address: etsy.com/shop/[yourshopname] (type your new shop name after the last forward slash). A simple, well-executed website is enough to accomplish all of these benefits. Then place these coupons in all of the packages you ship. But, Etsy adds a few additional requirements for shop names. If your product is available in different colors, sizes or styles, you can add listing variations. First, you’ll need to choose a legal structure for your new Etsy business. You can come back to this step and change your shop name as many times as you like before you complete the shop open process. Make it easy for visitors to see what your shop is all about by featuring those fabulous photos of your products in a Facebook album. Top Etsy shop ModParty uses their cover photo to advertise their shop name as well as to show off some truly excellent product photos. For example, A well lit, clear photo of the item you plan to sell, A photo that shows alternate angles of the product so shoppers can make an informed purchase. Here’s why. So let’s say you have 25 products ready before opening your shop. In fact, you probably do. Etsy allows three different types of shops: hand-made goods, vintage items, and crafting supplies. To create an effective pricing strategy, you have to start by knowing how much it costs you to produce or acquire your products. Starting an Etsy business is a really user-friendly way to start a business. Supplement these more time-intensive items with staple products that are quick and easy to make. But, you need to think beyond just the logistics. Let crowdspring help! They’re shopping with your competitors, too. For vintage items, research going rates for the brand or time period. So, what does a compelling Etsy listing look like? Listings and art by Antoaneta Ivanova of PebbleArtDream. Or, you have an amazing eye for vintage finds but your closets are overflowing. People have come to expect speedy shipping and top-notch communication. Never plagiarize their carefully written copy. A photo that shows the scale of the item. Here are the important stats you should know about Etsy shops: But you haven’t started that Etsy shop, yet. Small banners only appear when your shop is viewed on a computer. Taylor Combs, a writer, and editor for Etsy’s Seller Handbook explains; First and foremost, your price should account for the cost of the materials that went into making the item and your time. Luckily, Etsy knows that shipping is important and they’ve got a system in place to help their vendors ship more easily. You don’t want to run out after your first few sales and have to scramble to produce more. Once your complete all four steps and open you shop, you can change your listing currency if necessary. To learn more about corporations, partnerships and other legal mistakes people commonly make when setting up a small business, take a look at our post and video: 10 Legal Mistakes That Can Destroy Your Small Business And How To Avoid Them. You get the idea. “It’s also flexible enough to apply to anything I decide to create and sell.”. Okay, let’s take a deep breath and dive right in. 1. And if a customer is trying to make a decision between two similar Etsy shops and one has a professionally designed website while the other does not…. Shop names can’t include spaces, punctuation or more than 20 characters. ), any crafting tools you need to acquire to make your products. Start-up costs for an Etsy shop are likely to include: Running smart calculations to determine how much it will truly cost to get your shop up and running will allow you to plan ahead and avoid expensive surprises along the way. Opening an Etsy shop does not necessarily equate to immediate sales and success. Maintaining (at a minimum) a Twitter and Facebook presence will help you build an audience of devotees. But, more importantly, it creates a professional impression and makes your shop seem trustworthy and credible. How do fees work on Etsy? Your logo, like your shop name, should be directly informed by your business brand. Once your shop is open, shoppers will be able to find your listings when they search on Etsy. What is a realistic production goal for you? For example, Bonnie styles the photos for her linen table runner with a teacup and saucer.   United States   |   English (US)   |   $ (USD), Learn more about what you can sell on Etsy, 5 Tips for Writing Stellar Product Descriptions, remembering account, browser, and regional preferences, remembering privacy and security settings, personalized search, content, and recommendations, helping sellers understand their audience, showing relevant, targeted ads on and off Etsy. Think like a shopper and use words and phrases that buyers might use when searching for your item. You’re set for a while. And, for oodles more information about Etsy Search and SEO, check out these articles. Finally, take a look at the descriptions your top competitors write. That means you need to be aware of what your competitors are charging, too. Then they’ll ask you to do the scariest step of setting up your shop – choosing a name. to running an Etsy business. While you obviously don’t need a website to open an Etsy shop, it’s an excellent tool for helping your business grow. So, Etsy hobbyists may get away with stocking their shops as they find items or when they feel like it; but, Etsy entrepreneurs need to be more proactive. Whether you knit cozy hats in your spare time, design wedding invites for friends or find the best mid-century treasures at your local flea market, Etsy is a great place for you to start a creative business. We suggest that you read Section 2: Brand Your Etsy Shop and really think about your branding before you decide on your final shop name. Product photos are something you can experiment with and improve upon as your shop grows. If you made the product, be sure to talk briefly about your process. Once you’ve done the math, it’s time to start considering the less-tangible aspects – competitor pricing and perceived value. Encourage them to make a purchase or two and leave a positive, honest review. Include some information about the techniques you used to make the item. Opening an Etsy shop does not necessarily equate to immediate sales and success. The easiest way to get affordable, high-quality custom logos, print design, web design and naming for your business. How your products look plays a role. Craft supplies. You must have an Etsy account to open a case. You should acquire new items consistently – an empty shop is bad for business. Styling a photo with other recognizable props or by having volunteer models hold it in their hands can help. But, your brand identity is the way your customers and potential customers will perceive your shop. Advice and inspiration for successfully running your Etsy shop. Etsy is a booming online marketplace full of amazing hand-made items and vintage goods. For a great example, check out ClaraLoo’s logo above. Once you’ve created your first listing, keep going! Subscribe to the crowdspring newsletter and never miss a beat. You just need to assess what numbers are important when starting an Etsy business. Depending on what country you are in, you might need to enter your credit card number to open your shop. Pick something memorable that speaks to the vibe you hope to create for your shop. This is your opportunity to tell the story of your product. Based on which category you choose, you’ll be able to add more attributes to your items, such as the size. Select your shop language, country, and currency, then click Save and continue. "I also read a lot of other product descriptions to find a layout that I thought worked for me." While the pros I just listed with starting an Etsy shop might make Etsy seem like a dream for beginners, you should also be aware of some of the cons. It takes time to build a presence and a customer base. Perceived value is the amount that a customer thinks a product is worth. Creating compelling listings can help your sales skyrocket – while lackluster listings will stagnate. There’s more you can do to customize you shop after you open, but you’ve taken the first step in running a business on Etsy. Will you sell downloadable digital goods (like prints or crafting patterns)? So, without any further ado – let’s talk about branding…. Not to mention, you’ve gotten pretty darn good at it. The U.S. Small Business Administration tells us that some form of license or permit is necessary for virtually every type of business. Choosing the right category will help shoppers find your item in search or when browsing category pages. Kevin Jones of Debt Free Happens (an Etsy entrepreneur, personal finance expert, and blogger) explains: If you sell cute stickers it may not make sense to also sell customized beer mugs in the same shop. But, that’s not where branding ends in your Etsy shop. Share in the comments below. The Small Business Administration has all of the details about these common small business structures and others. Managing your inventory can be simple at first, start with about 10 of each product you aim to sell. The first step to starting an Etsy shop is simple: You need to create an account. You can print shipping labels, calculate shipping charges and track packages right from your Etsy shop. So plan ahead to figure out your shipping logistics so you don’t ever keep customers waiting. Help your potential customers envision how the product might fit into and improve their lives. You are the sole owner of the business; and, as such, are solely responsible for the assets and liabilities accrued by the business. Take photos with natural light (instead of camera flash) – this makes a world of difference. You have an Etsy shop. Shopping on the internet involves more uncertainty than shopping in person. If you’re not already sitting on a large stockpile of craft supplies you can sell, you may want to develop buying relationships with wholesalers to increase your profit margin on the items you sell. Most customers have no idea how much time, money or effort actually goes into making a particular item. When Bonnie started her Etsy shop, she named each of her patterns after friends, for example "The Hannah Tote Bag," and used that as her listing title. Find out more in our Cookies & Similar Technologies Policy. A classy logo and high-end brand positioning will lead to a higher perceived value than an amateur logo and shop banner. And, you’ll be better served by making conscious branding choices instead of leaving it to chance. It increases the chances of finding customers who don’t already shop on Etsy – widening your potential customer pool. Start with a few sentences about the product, how shoppers might use it and what makes it unique. Also, remember that most states require you to register your business if the trade name under which you operate your business differs from the legal name of your business. Whatever you choose, be true to you and your shop’s brand. If you’re unsure, try searching for similar items on Etsy to see what the average price point is. Etsy shoppers are looking for a personalized shopping experience. Use your name as your shop name. These technologies are used for things like interest based Etsy ads. More than 2.1 million sellers offer over 60 million items for sale on Etsy. When Bonnie Kaye Whitfield opened her shop Bonnie Kaye Studio in 2014 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, she was excited to be starting a business on her own. Go to Etsy.com to Get Started. As you’re first starting out, look to your friends and family to make your first sales. But after you’ve built your shop to $1k/month in profit or more, you probably want to access the markets of other search engines and platforms. Who wouldn’t want to be a part of such a successful venture? “Success, no matter what that looks like to you, is not going to happen overnight,” Bonnie says. A basic listing should include five photos. There are three basic selling fees: a listing fee, a transaction fee, and a payment processing fee. Planning ahead for how you’ll stay stocked will increase your odds for success. Ready to open your Etsy shop? In our digital culture, people expect businesses to have a website. Consciously or not, they are gathering data about what they think a product like yours should cost. Your shop name will be displayed at the top of your shop — the page that shows everything you have for sale — and it will be part of the URL or web address of your unique Etsy shop. Start by ensuring that your website design is a clear extension of the brand you’ve established in your Etsy shop. They’ll force you to think of a short, interesting name. DBAs are also commonly called “assumed name”, “fictitious business name”, or “trade name”. “One reason I used my name is that it’s inherently unique to the brand I’m creating,” Bonnie says. This step-by-step guide will take you through the process, from choosing a shop name to opening for business. Etsy uses cookies and similar technologies to give you a better experience, enabling things like: Detailed information can be found in Etsy’s Cookies & Similar Technologies Policy and our Privacy Policy. Here is how you can start selling on Etsy and set up your own online shop. A photo showing any unique details of the product. You can showcase what makes your product special and why customers can’t live without it before they’ve even clicked through. Those are generally easiest to remember. It has a simple, child-like, rustic charm that perfectly reflects her playful and homey nursery decor. Add “workshop,” “studio,” “and Co” or something similar to the name you were hoping to use. Customers should feel that all of your listings belong in your shop. When you open a shop on Etsy, you join a thriving community of makers, craftspeople and curators. Finally, a strong website design will lend credibility and legitimacy to your business. Your Etsy shop will continue to be a work in progress as you add more items and learn what works for your products. That means you have a brand whether you choose to or not. And, be sure to get familiar with Etsy’s own legal policy for sellers. If you’ve chosen to sell vintage goods, you probably already have a collection of vintage items just waiting to be sold. But, you will need to jump through a few minor hoops before you can do so. Your potential customers are shopping for more than just your goods. So, keep those customers in mind and style the photos accordingly. A cheaply-made necklace that looks fancy may have a higher perceived value than a beautifully-made simple necklace. It might feel like there’s a lot to learn and do now, but keep in mind that every successful small-business owner was once where you are, too. You can learn more about the nuts and bolts of establishing and maintaining consistent brand identity in  Grow Your Small Business with Consistent Branding. 1. Create an Etsy account. But you don’t need to write a formal business plan if you’re not seeking outside funding. Each of these three categories will have different requirements for maintaining your stock. Now, shoppers certainly aren’t consciously seeking out Etsy vendors who also have a website. For more details about legal considerations for your Etsy shop, read this article from legal compliance experts Wolters Kluwer. All types of businesses strive for strong word-of-mouth marketing. 5. "I looked at a lot of product photos, but mostly products that are similar to mine, and took notes," she says. Customers can’t touch the products they want to purchase on Etsy. For that reason, we recommend that you choose a cover photo over a banner.

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