When it comes to the internet’s largest
For small businesses that specialize in selling handmade or custom items, Etsy is an ideal marketplace. There are millions of eager customers looking to buy on the site already. Becoming a seller on Etsy gives businesses and artisans access to that huge international consumer base.
That is not to say selling on Etsy is always straightforward or that anyone can make money doing it. In many cases, the question of what to sell on Etsy is more important than how to sell it. With Etsy’s huge marketplace comes steep competition. Certain products stand out among the rest and sell better than others. If your goal is to make as much money as possible on Etsy, understanding what to sell is important. To make things easier, here is a quick guide on the best things to sell on Etsy.
What Can I Sell on Etsy?
To start, let’s review the type of items you are allowed to sell on Etsy. Taking that question literally, Etsy provides a detailed Prohibited Items Policy detailing what items can’t be sold. This policy covers many of the areas you would expect it to: no hazardous materials, nothing that incites or promotes violence or hate, no animal products, etc. Much of this policy is straightforward and easy to adhere to for most sellers.
Where Etsy’s seller requirements get more difficult is in their manufacturing requirements. Etsy has a firm requirement that all products sold on its marketplace must be handmade. However, in their own words, “handmade is a spectrum.” To reflect this, Etsy has two categories of sellers on its marketplace: makers and designers.
A maker is a seller who physically makes all the items listed for sale in their shop. A maker might create jewelry, pottery, paintings, engravings, etc. Whatever they sell is handmade from start to finish before being shipped out as a final product.
A designer creates an original design for their products but relies on production assistants to craft the final product. Designers are permitted to sell on Etsy as long as they provide information about their production partners.
The purpose of Etsy’s handmade requirements is to ensure that all products remain
Now that you know what you can sell on Etsy, let’s take a look at the best things to sell on Etsy.
Top Selling Items on Etsy
As you might expect from Etsy’s goals and reputation, the
If your item is reasonably priced and attractive to buyers, they will buy it. With that said, there are certain types of items that tend to perform the best overall. When considering the best things to sell on Etsy, it is easiest to break items down into categories. Here are some of the categories of items that traditionally sell very well on Etsy.
Custom notebooks and journals
Etsy is a marketplace for people looking for personalization and creativity. When it comes to those two things, no hobby is more satisfying than writing. As a result, Etsy is a great place to sell custom or handmade notebooks and journals. The Etsy user base is filled with individuals who love to write. Having a custom journal to house and grow that writing is always more inspiring than a simple
Stickers
Another product that is inexpensive to produce, stickers are a great item to add to your store.
Printable items/Digital artwork
Stickers can be considered a popular subcategory of digital artwork. However you categorize these items, printable and digital designs are huge sellers on Etsy. This, again, is a product that can have both practical and creative purposes. Many Etsy shoppers purchase digital artwork because it will look great as decor in their home or office. They also purchase digital artwork because it would make a great gift for somebody else, too. Others purchase these products for signs, graphics, and more.
Selling digital artwork also has a major advantage for Etsy sellers because it does not need to be shipped. Digital artwork is instead shared as a downloadable file or template. This reduces shipping costs to 0, making it a great way to save on fees and maximize profits.
Handmade jewelry
When you think of Etsy, custom jewelry is probably one of the first item categories that come to mind. So it’s no surprise that handmade jewelry is one of the
Manufacturing handcrafted jewelry is not quite as straightforward as stickers and notebooks, of course. Jewelry can be more expensive and
Home decor
Home decor is another staple of the Etsy marketplace. Again, home decor is an extremely broad category. This could be bedding, wall decor, plant stands, vases, or other such crafts.
Home decor can also cater to a variety of tastes, preferences, and needs. For many Etsy users, home decorating represents an extremely satisfying creative outlet. Your home is where you spend the majority of your time. Making this space feel unique and comfortable is an ideal creative endeavor. Handmade custom home decor on Etsy is a great way for shoppers to find interesting items that suit their aesthetic preferences.
Cosmetics
The cosmetics industry is going through a bit of a revolution at the moment. Many shoppers are seeking out alternatives to
Customers can trust Etsy sellers to sell unique, organic cosmetic products that are safe, sustainable, and
Wedding and event decorations
The availability of custom decor on Etsy has been a tremendous blessing for wedding and event planners everywhere. Etsy has made it easier than ever to create custom invitations and decorations for all kinds of events. Weddings are the primary event type to take advantage of Etsy’s endless creativity. But birthdays, family reunions, holiday parties, and more can all be made brighter with custom decorations from Etsy.
Posters and artwork
Last but not least, there is always a place on the Etsy marketplace for original artwork. Etsy is ultimately a place for artisans and artists to sell their creative wares online. Sometimes it really is as straightforward as selling your artwork as it is. Many users love to buy original artwork for their homes as posters or wall hangings to add a unique, creative flare to their living space.
Selling artwork on Etsy is not for everyone, of course. But for those who are artistically inclined, this can be one of the most satisfying ways to turn your passion into a revenue stream.
Final Thoughts on the Best Things to Sell on Etsy
If you want to sell an item that does not fit into any of these categories, don’t worry. There is plenty of room on Etsy for other items and categories. That is one of the biggest appeals of Etsy for shoppers and sellers alike. Ultimately, the best things to sell on Etsy are
And if you want to optimize your Etsy store, Ecwid can help with that as well.
