How To Open An Etsy Shop

Etsy has been a rapidly growing marketplace since it was first introduced in 2005. Since then, it has flourished into a thriving business opportunity for artisans, suppliers and vintage collectors. Unlike the other four-letter site which starts with an ‘E’, Etsy is first and foremost a handmade item marketplace, followed by vintage (any item 20 years old or more) and supplies for artists, crafters and store owners. Etsy is an excellent avenue if you’re looking for gifts or items with a unique personality, with a growing focus on eco-friendly products.

If you have experience selling items online, Etsy should be a snap for you to begin selling your items there. However, to be successful on Etsy, you will need to implement some specific elements which are either unavailable, or unnecessary on other online marketplaces. The following are nine tips to help get you started on the path to Etsy success.

Shop Brand - You’ll want your shop to have a certain overall look which buyers will begin to recognize as time goes on. This does not have to mean expensive graphics or anything really fancy, just a look which is clean and professional and can contain specific characteristics unique to your products such as: specialized photography; which could include the same color background in all shots (highly recommended anyway) or extreme close-up shots which feature a recurring prop or model. Alternatively, your shop name can be included in each title regardless of the item (this is a highly recommended practice when listing items in a particularly saturated category such as jewelry).

A brief word about shop names - Etsy just recently implemented the ability to change your shop name ONCE. This has previously not been available, so choose your shop name wisely as you will only get one chance to change it.

Know Your Product - This is something which cannot be stressed enough. Take the time to research other Etsy shops selling similar items. This is a very informative practice and time well spent, especially if you are new to the independent retailing world. Prices, keywords and presentations can vary greatly, so if you get an idea of what is already out there--and successfully selling--you will be a step ahead of others who have haphazardly thrown their items into the internet winds so to speak.

Product Descriptions - A product with a well written description will 9 times out of 10 outsell a product with little or no description. Especially if you are selling clothing or any wearable item, measurements are crucial and flaws (with vintage items of any kind) should be carefully noted. A frame of reference to size of an item is a good practice as well when selling smaller pieces such as jewelry, buttons, magnets or anything where size could be an issue.

When you’ve added the specifics about your item, fill out the description with examples of uses for the product (unless it’s obvious), gift ideas for specific people or occasions, etc. Or perhaps add a humorous anecdote regarding the item; how you made it, where you found it, etc.

List, List, List - Again, something which cannot be stressed enough. You don’t have to list 50 items everyday, in fact it’s better if you don’t. Give your products a chance to be seen, but don’t over-saturate the category in a single day. Listing frequently keeps your items (and your presence) from being buried, while giving shoppers a nice variety of items to choose from. Etsy’s listings run for four months each unless you renew them sooner, which you always have the option to do at any time.

Sales, Discounts & Coupon Codes - Everyone loves a deal. Etsy has a great Coupon Code feature which is really easy to set up and can be turned on or off at your will. This is a great way to offer a free shipping promotion, loyal customer reward or seasonal discount any time you like. Additionally, Etsy On Sale is an approved application which allows you to put all or just specific items within your shop on sale, at any discount you choose. This is also an excellent way to promote your items on another site, as all sale items are posted on http://www.etsyonsale.com for the duration of your sale.

Promote Your Shop - Etsy is fully integrated with Facebook and Twitter to easily post your listings as soon as you list them. Etsy has a huge presence on Twitter especially, and is a great place to connect with fellow shop owners and potential buyers. Don’t forget to promote your sales, discounts and coupon codes when you offer them, as this will no doubt bring in a lot of new traffic.

Business cards, flyers and customer loyalty cards are always a good way to promote your shop, and don’t have to be a huge expense. Websites like vistaprint.com offer very inexpensive but professional looking products by using one of their many ready-made templates, or designing one of your own. Include a card or flyer with every sale to remind your customer to shop with you again.

Customer Service - Providing exemplary customer service is essential in any business venture, no matter how small, and perhaps especially when you are an independent retailer. Promptly answering questions and efficiently solving problems goes a long way toward building a loyal customer base, and as we all know, the best advertising is by word of mouth. People will always tell their friends, family and acquaintances about good and bad shopping experiences. Take advantage of this by shipping sales promptly while issuing courteous, professional communications in a timely manner.

The Right Tools For The Right Job: Proper Packaging - Be sure to have the proper packing materials on hand for your items. There is nothing worse than receiving something broken in the mail, and it reflects badly on your business. Priority boxes can be ordered for free from the USPS website, or picked up at any local Postal Office. Tissue paper, newspaper and other packing materials can be reused from packages you have received and is an excellent way to recycle. Just be sure to take extra care with breakable items so you don’t have to worry if it’s going to reach its destination unscathed. Remember your Mother’s advice, ‘it’s better to be safe than sorry’? Excellent advice.

Patience - Success rarely happens overnight. If you follow the above tips and employ good common sense, you will surely succeed. However, it takes time for potential buyers to find you and let’s face it, the competition grows by leaps and bounds daily. But if you look like you know what you’re doing, they will come.

Personal example; I began selling vinyl records on Etsy two years ago. While I was one of only two shops exclusively selling records, it took me a solid year to get a good foothold within my own niche and obtain sales on a regular basis. Granted, I was focusing on other venues more than I am now, and have since picked up speed after giving my Etsy shop precedence over everything else.

These are just a few tips that should help you gain success with an Etsy venture. Of course there are many more excellent business practices to keep in mind when selling items online. Just try to project what you want to receive and as with most things in life, with time, patience and practice you should do very well.