5 Non-Craft Items To Sell On Etsy

Today, we're sharing a list of the non-craft items you can sell on Etsy. Very ideal if you're not crafty at all, but want to make some money!

First off, Etsy is popular. So you absolutely can make an income here, crafter or not.

Here is a bulleted list of the things we're going to discuss that you could sell:

• Digital Downloads
• Vintage Clothing & Accessories
• Crafting Supplies
• Specialty Items
• Food & Baked Goods

Read on for more detail on selling the above non-crafty things on Etsy.

1. Sell Digital Downloads On Etsy

Do you know what the best thing is about digital downloads? You create them one time, and then you can sell them over and over.

Digital downloads are an ideal selling options for visual artists and graphic designers. But you can learn to make and sell them even if you're not skilled at those things.

Types of Digital Downloads People Sell On Etsy

If you search “digital downloads” on Etsy, you'll see some of the things people are selling. But here are some of the more common digital downloads people sell on Etsy:

• Printable wall art
• Digital clip art – popular with graphic designers and content creators.
• Patterns
• Fonts
• Printable planners
• Stock photography
• Wedding or other event invitations
• Gift tags
• Stationary
• Resume templates

Don't Know How To Make Digital Downloads?

Not capable of making any of the above? Gold City Ventures has a helpful, free e-book teaching how to create printables for Etsy.

2. Sell Vintage Items On Etsy

This is an entirely different skillset from the ones listed above.

Obviously, you can't make vintage items. You just have to get good at knowing where to find them and how to identify them.

It's also important to understand if you're getting a good enough price to resell at a profit.

Types of Vintage Items To Sell

Many stores on Etsy sell vintage items, so you must figure out will set your store apart.

It helps to know your brand – are you selling 1950s dresses? Porcelain figurines from the WWII era? China sets from different eras?

Below are some types of vintage things people look for to resell on Etsy:

• Old books
• Clothing from different eras
• China or other glassware from different eras
• Old records
• Vintage jewelry
• Old toys
• Old video games for systems no longer in production
• VHS tapes
• Old magazines

Where To Find Vintage Items To Resell

Finding these vintage items won't be as hard as you think. Vintage stuff is everywhere, and it's a popular category on Etsy. So, there is a market for it.

You could look for vintage items at …

• Flea markets
• Thrift stores
• Yard sales
• Garage sales
• Estate sales
• Antique stores
• Ebay and sites like it
• People you know

It can be tricky to know if you're getting a good price on something you want to resell.

Over time, as you figure out what types of items you want to specialize in, it will become second nature. But there's definitely an initial learning curve.

To help you learn what to charge, I'd recommend doing your research first. What are the items selling for on Etsy currently? You should price your stuff in that range.

You're also going to want to invest in an antiques pricing guide. Amazon has a ton of these. Some of them are even for specific types of items.

If you know the worth of vintage items, you don't have to worry so much about accidentally overpaying.

3. Sell Crafting Supplies On Etsy

Etsy is not only a haven for all things handmade, it's also a great place to get the stuff to make your handmade things.

And non-crafty people like can make money selling craft supplies to crafters.

Types of Crafting Supplies To Sell on Etsy

The sky is really the limit here since people make crafts out of everything under the sun. But to give you an idea of the more popular things people buy, here's a list with some ideas:

• Beads
• Crystals
• Fabric
• Fabric scraps
• Yarn
• Thread
• Felt
• Shape cutouts
• Glitter
• Walnut shell halves

You can really get creative here. Crafters will use almost anything to make stuff.

Where To Find Crafting Supplies To Sell On Etsy

You may be thinking, where exactly do I find this stuff to post it for sale?

You could ask your crafty friends and family if they have an overstock of supplies they plan to throw out.

Another ideas is to scour Craigslist or your local periodical for items.

Is a major department near you having a clearance, going out of business, or half off sale? Take advantage!

And of course, a great option is to buy them wholesale and resell.

Side note – reselling is allowed on Etsy only in the crafting supplies and vintage categories.

Some Tips For Selling Craft Supplies On Etsy

To successfully sell craft supplies on Etsy, you must know your audience. It's also important to understand how to create good listings.

Etsy suggests “captivating writing” skills and “product photography that turns window-shoppers into customers.”

While all Etsy tips for selling crafting supplies are general, they are still good tips to keep in mind.

For example, “optimize your shipping and inventory processes” is a top suggestion. This means shipping crafting supplies fast is key to customer satisfaction.

You must also make sure your inventory is extremely organized. And whatever shipping methods you use should be cost-efficient.

It can't be emphasized enough. You need to show – don’t tell – what the consumer is going to get. Etsy sellers take photos of every angle, color, texture, size, etc. of their supplies. It's worth taking the time to do it.

Also, don't ignore your customers’ demands. Etsy sellers take the “customer is always right approach,” particularly with crafting supplies.

After all, Etsy is the go-to website for crafting pros. It makes sense that those who buy crafts on the retailer will only accept the best of the best!

4. Sell Food & Baked Goods On Etsy

You may not be crafty, but can you cook or bake? If the answer to that question is ‘yes,’ then Etsy’s food and baked goods section(s) may be the best option for you!

Types of Food To Sell On Etsy

Again, the sky is the limit. You can sell almost anything you can make and ship efficiently. Consider the following:

• Jam
• Pecan and date bars
• Food coloring
• Mushroom powder
• Edible chalk chunks
• Spices and rubs
• Honey
• Edible glitter
• Cakes
• Cookies

Definitely browse Etsy's food category for more ideas of what to sell.

Know The Government Regulations On Selling Food

There are many government regulations for making, selling, and packaging food.

We won't go into detail on these regulations, but Etsy provides a good overview. This overview includes applicable links to government-run sites. You will need to do plenty of research on your own before diving into this line of business.

You can also contact USPS and other shipping carriers about properly packing food.

UPS actually has a good overview here on how to ship food so it stays fresh in transit.

5. Sell Specialty Items On Etsy

Hard-to-find or unique items are big sellers on Etsy. Items like monster masks sell well. Also, there was a large acrylic teardrop bead that sold at $2.99 per bead (someone bought 291,188 recently!).

Stuff like that can lead to a lot of dough in the bank for non-crafty Etsy sellers.

Like vintage clothing, it’s important to know your market, and find the right niche for what you’re selling.

Love horror movies? Then try the monster mask route – and have a blast collecting all those scary Leatherfaces. Are figurines your thing? What about collectibles? Make sure to pack them well, so you never have to worry about a negative customer review.

Whatever your unique thing is, you can easily turn it into cold, hard cash on Etsy!

Do: Find your niche – believe me, it’s worth repeating, especially with specialty items. Don't stretch yourself too thin.

Don’t: Price incorrectly. Example – If you don’t have beads that actually cost $2.99 per bead, don't sell them for that. Be honest.

It’s the same as lying to your customers, which is something no legitimate seller wants to do. Being upfront and honest leads to repeat customers. This is something we all want, no matter what business we’re in.

More Help With Etsy

If you'd like more Etsy help, check out these posts:

Etsy Seller Overview – This is a general overview for how to sell on Etsy. It might help you if you're completely new to the site.

11 More Sites Like Etsy – This is ideal if you want to sell Etsy-type things, but want to branch out from them. Or maybe you just don't like their listing fees and need a cheaper alternative.

15 Etsy Tips From Savvy Sellers – You can't beat learning from the pros! In this blog post, I've gotten some tips from people who are already having success on Etsy.

In Conclusion

Whatever non-crafty items or trinkets you end up selling on Etsy, keep us posted. We love hearing new ideas, tips, and tricks for how to be successful working from home (it’s kind of our thing)!