How To Start an Etsy Shop with No Money? (2023)

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Creativity and Uniqueness are the two most important qualities required to start a successful Etsy shop in 2023 and beyond. Selling your items which is not available easily in the normal marketplace, to a large number of buyer traffic can make you a lot of money.

Etsy has become one of the most famous eCommerce online stores in the world, and people who buy from it love the platform. Giving a wonderful surprise to someone you love, creating a memorable experience with unique gifts is absolutely priceless. So let's see some tips on how to start selling on Etsy to Make Money working from home.

A Step-by-Step Guide on Starting an Etsy Shop.

What is Etsy? - A Brief History:

Etsy was first founded in 2005 on June the 18th, by Robert Kalin, Haim Schoppik, Chris Maguire, Jared Tarbell and is headquartered in Brooklyn NY. It is one of the most famous eCommerce platforms, pretty much like Amazon and eBay, but it sells unique handmade items.

Etsy differs from its giant mass manufacture counterparts and it focuses on handmade crafts including unique vintage items. It is a huge online marketplace featuring 10,000s of Artisans from across the globe each with their unique items.

Some of the most common item categories sold on Etsy are Jewelry, Accessories, clothing, toys, and every kind of unique product. It is one of the most complete one-stop-shop for one-of-a-kind products and gifts to create that smile or a memorable moment for someone you care about.

Etsy in 2005:

After watching an Italian comedy-drama, called 8 and a half by Fellini, Robert Kalin gave the name Etsy - which means 'oh yes' in Italian. In Latin, it also means 'what if' & in Greek - 'Just Because'.

Etsy in 2007:

In the month of May, the company crossed $1.7 Million in sales & in November more than 300,000 items were sold online. However, by the end of December Etsy didn't do well in terms of making a good profit from those sales.

Etsy in 2008:

Etsy received additional funding from Hubert Media (Germany), Breyer Capital, and Union square ventures for $27 Million. Maria Thomas took over as the CEO of the company & Chad Dickerson a former Yahoo employee became the CTO.

Etsy in 2009:

In the month of April Etsy.com got a boost in its sales reaching $13 Million a month after a promotion on Twitter, called 'Etsyday'.

Etsy in 2010:

In the month of December, the company had exponential growth and more than 7 million users were registered on the platform.

Etsy in 2011:

In the month of March, Etsy.com introduced 'People Search' which was much similar to social Media Like Facebook, for buyers and sellers to connect. One of the most unusual things happened this year, as Rob Kalin the Founder was Fired from his own company by the board of directors, making Chad Dickerson the CEO.

Etsy in 2012:

Etsy.com raised another $40 Million with Series F funding in the US and became a certified B-Corp Company, from B-Lab. This helps the company to further expand its business in the international market like Australia, France & Germany.

Etsy in 2013:

The CEO of the company announced that the company will permit drop shipping and factory-made goods only if the seller abides with certain terms with the platform.

Etsy in 2014:

In the month of June, Etsy bought a French company called 'A Little Market' for $100 Million, which was an eCommerce site selling food wine, and handmade goods.

Etsy in 2015:

Etsy.com reached 54 Million registered users on its platform and a total transaction of near $2 Billion. In the month of April, the company went public with 13.3 Million shares. The same year Etsy also faced a class-action lawsuit from several investors, because of copyright infringement & rampant trademark.

Etsy in 2016:

In the month of November, Etsy acquired a start-up company called Blackbird Technologies which builds AI software for better shopping experiences.

Etsy in 2017:

The board of members appointed a New CEO, Josh Silverman replacing Chad Dickerson the company was not doing well in terms of profit in the market.

Etsy in 2019:

Etsy acquired another company called Reverb.com founded by David Kalt, which was an online marketplace for vintage music gear for $275 Million.

Etsy in 2020:

In April 2020, the company launched a campaign to inform all its sellers to sell face masks as the world was fighting Covid Pandemic. This gives a real boost in the turnover and also the share price was almost quadrupled the same year.

Etsy in 2021:

On June the 2nd the company had its biggest investment by acquiring a company called Depop, a social sharing App based in London for $1.63 Billion. In 2021 Etsy hit 87 Million, active users, on the platform and reaching a Net worth of approximately $25 Billion.

How Does Etsy Work in terms of Costs?

The buying and selling on the Etsy.com platform are the same as Amazon, eBay, or any other eCommerce platforms, whereas there is a slight difference in the terms of service. Especially when you are a seller and wants to start with the platform, these are a few fees or charges you are going to pay;

Listing Fee of $0.20:

When you are listing any type of items in the platform it will initially cost you $0.20 cents per listing which will be valid for 4 months. It will be renewed automatically or manually by the seller. If your item sold out and you are listing a new item, you will be charged again with $0.20 per item listings.

Transaction Fee of 5%:

This is charged only when a customer purchases a product from you plus the shipping and handling fee. This fee is deducted from the net pay or the final payment customer makes if you happen to have any discount or offer.

Etsy Payment Fees:

This fee is charged when you use the Etsy payment system. There is a huge list of countries that accepts Etsy payments and if you are in one of those countries you might have that option. Especially in the US, the fee for using Etsy Payment is $0.25 plus 3% of what the customer pays including shipping.

How To Start an Etsy Shop? Beginners Guide:

WEBSITE SALES ROBOT - CLICK HERE

Starting an Etsy shop can be a little confusing, especially when you are a beginner and doing it for the first time. In Fact, the platform is quite simple.

Make sure you set up your shop carefully as it will represent your business to many customers creating a brand image in the long term.

This guide will help you through the configuration of your store and to add your first product listings.

Before creating your shop, sign in or create a Free ETSY account - Here

Once you complete the process of creating your free account follow these steps below:

Click 'Sell on Etsy' on etsy.com.
You need to Click - Open Your Etsy Shop.
Select your preferred language, your country, currency, and Click - Save and Continue.
Choose your preferred shop name, after that click Save and Continue.

Set your Store Preferences:

Here you will Select the preferences of language, your country, currencies, and time:

Language:

The language you choose will become the default language that you use to describe your item listings. You will not be able to change it later so choose it carefully, but if you want to add translations to other languages, you also can register in other languages after opening your online shop.

Shop Country:

Make sure to select the right country for your shop when you register.

Shop Currency:

Choose the currency you will use to get your ads. Currency conversion fees may apply if your bank's currency is different from your store currency.

Your Time Commitment:

Select if the sale of your products on Etsy.com is your full-time or part-time job. This is just for references and will not affect the configuration of your shop.

Choose your Preferred Shop Name:

When you choose the name of your shop, choose something simple that reflects your style and products. The names of your shop must meet the following requirements:

Between 4-20 characters long
No special characters & spaces allowed
Don't use profanity
Should be unique and not already used by an existing Etsy seller.
It must not infringe on the trademark of other sellers or business

Even if the shop name you prefer has already been used the system will always provide other unique names, which use can always use.

Stock Your Shop with Listings:

Adding products to your seller account is pretty simple. Add lists of your top products to your shop and you are almost ready to start selling.

Choose How you will be Paid as a Seller:

Choose the different ways of payment methods you want to avail in your shop. If you are in an eligible country listed by Etsy, you can use the Etsy Payment option. This option gives online buyers many options to pay for their purchase and also consolidate all payments from your ETSY account.

If you are trying to open a shop after April 26, 2021, where Etsy payment options are not available, you might not be able to do it. This is temporary and will get an update soon from the company.

Set up Billing:

As per the country, you are living in you need to have a debit or a credit card to start with the Etsy.com shop. You must have;

Visa
MasterCard
Discover
American Express
Carte Bleue

The credit or debit card is also used by Etsy as a means to verify the seller's identity for security purposes. Once you complete the card verification, a small charge may be deducted which will be reversed and refunded again. After the card is verified you will get the amount back in your statement.

Etsy used 100% secured payment processing, hence your information is safe always. You will also have an option to use a reloadable prepaid card for all your future payments with the platform. Those online sellers who are living in Germany, Austria & the Netherlands, are not obliged to have a credit card updated.

Then Finally Open your shop:

After all these steps are set and done, you need to click 'Open Your Shop', and also you will be able to make any changes later. The web address to visit your online Etsy Shop will be: https://your-shop-name.etsy.com or https://www.etsy.com/shop/your-shop-name

Congratulations, You just became an online seller with Etsy.com.

Related: How To Start Selling on eBay?

Top 10 Best Selling Items on Etsy:

The custom-made items available on Etsy are so awesome and unique, that customers who bought something from a good seller are 90% likely to return. There are several items that are making a huge profit for many sellers on the platform and it's a wise thing to do research on that.

Once your setup is completed it's time for you to do the listings for your products. Even if, you have a product, make sure to check out these Top 10 Items which are the best selling in 2021:

Craft Supplies:

Craft & Supplies are undoubtedly the most products on Etsy right now. Some of the top-selling craft items on the platforms are Antique charms, Beads, Hooks, Claws, and Stickers.

Art & Collectibles:

Items related to Arts categories are huge and there are more than 20 million items listed right now with Etsy. Original painting, classic prints, and clip arts are some of the most popular items. Amongst the collectibles top listings include figurines, memorabilia, stamps, old advertisements, and coins.

Handmade Items:

Etsy.com is famous for the term called Hand-Made or Custom Made products, which makes buyers feel special when they buy something online. Some of the most famous Handmade items are Metal Jewelry, Handmade Stickers, and Pendants.

Accessories:

The accessory items are also some of the most popular and trending items on Etsy.com. Some of the most commonly listed items include Baby Headbands, Crowns, Cufflinks, Crochet, Hats & Trendy caps.

Jewelry:

When it comes to Jewelry online shopping, Etsy comes at the top of the list. You will get every kind of unique, used, or new in the platform. Some of the listed items are with minimalistic design and this makes people wanting to buy more.

Clothing:

When it comes to clothing items on Etsy, people really love to buy those uniquely designed and printed dresses, that reflect someone's likes and dislikes. Anybody can shop for anything they like including Hobos, swimwear, T-shirts & Trousers, from the millions of listings.

Digital Art Works:

Surprisingly Etsy sells digital products online, which can be downloaded and printed by the buyer without any hassle of shipping and handling. These downloadable image files can be greeting card designs, wall arts, and other stationaries.

Vintage Items:

This is another item listing which Etsy.com is quite popular for, and makes useless items of someone to be sold to another person who will value the same product. Etsy Vintage items can be Jewelry, accessories, apparel, and toys.

Wedding Items:

The Term Wedding item is something that can make you a lot of money when you become a seller with these items. As you know how personal a Wedding can be in someone's life, it's where many people sell high ticket items. Some of the best-selling items range from Handmade Invitations, Bridesmaid gowns, Jewelry items, Bachelorette Shirts, and many more.

Toys:

For many loving parents, making their kids happy with some of the most unique toys can be a great moment of their lives. Etsy has unique toys for all ages of children and adults too. A few of the most famous toy listings are wooden toys, personalized toys, climbing toys, traditional toys, sensory toys, and educational toys.

Pros & Cons of Starting an Etsy Shop:

Considering the fact that, you want to start your shop with Etsy.com learn the pros and cons of selling in it. No matter how good anything is online, there are always good and bad sides to it. It is only those few who really know how to exploit the advantages of the platform that makes good money, whether it’s Shopify or Etsy. Here are some to be noted;

Pros of Etsy Shop:

To start an Online Shop with Etsy is always Free
Selling something online with readymade buyer traffic is great
Etsy will promote your shop on their platform
An awesome platform for beginners in online eCommerce Biz
It’s a great platform to work from your home
Unique & Handmade products sell like crazy
Listing of your items cost just $0.20 per item
You set your own time, just like an own biz

Cons of Etsy Shop:

It’s a rented space, where someone owns the platform
Fees are sometimes quite frustrating for many sellers
There is too much competition for unique gift designs
When it becomes bigger, you might get less brand awareness
You will never build any followings or lists here

Final Words About Starting an Etsy Shop:

Starting an Etsy Shop to start selling your unique products is extremely easy, as it's free to join. But if you are planning for a long-term venture in the eCommerce business, think carefully about how to make it work in the long term. Etsy, even though has got a huge number of buyer traffic is a platform own by Etsy.com. You don't own the store and it's pretty much like a rental space. But, you will do great in terms of promotion and getting consistent buyer traffic, which is so great for new sellers.

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