I don't know about you, but I love to shop at Etsy! You can find some of the most unique vintage and handmade items there. If you're creative and are looking for a good online outlet to showcase and sell your stuff, you might want to consider becoming an Etsy seller.
What can you sell at Etsy?
I have seen all kinds of things for sale, but their rule is that it has to be either handmade, vintage (20 years old or older), or fall under the category of commercial and handmade supplies.
How much does it cost to list an item on Etsy?
You'll pay 20 cents to list one item for four months. Etsy will also charge a 3.5 percent transaction fee when you sell each item you list.
How does shipping and payment work?
If someone buys one of your items, they pay you through Etsy (the money goes straight to you). Then, you ship the item to the customer.
Can you set up your own Etsy store?
You can. And if you have lots of Etsy shop idea, you'll be happy to know the sky is the limit there and it's all very customizable. As an Etsy seller, you get the option to design your store with banners and also add your own store policies, which would be useful to have in place when people want to return things, etc.
You are also welcome to accept other forms of payment from your customers instead of Paypal (check, money order, etc.) if you are comfortable doing that.
More questions about becoming an Etsy seller?
If you have more questions about becoming an Etsy seller, I would recommend reading through their FAQ here. I didn't see much there that they didn't cover already.
I also have a helpful round-up post with successful Etsy selling tips.
Setting Up Your Account on Etsy
To go ahead and set up your Etsy seller account, go here. They have the option available to sign up using your Facebook account, but this is not required. You're free to just sign up with your email address if you'd prefer.
If you are looking for alternatives to Etsy or simply want to spread your items around, you might also check out this list of places to sell your crafts online.
I have a shop on Etsy, and I love to work with them. They are so helpful, they do everything what they can by their part to make the Etsy sellers successful. We can find everything in Etsy “seller’s book” what we need to have a nice and successful online shop. Just must to learn it, and do it. It isn’t easy anyway to sell in our days. I think Etsy has got thousandth of online shops from every part of the world. Big competition, it is true, but everybody must to fight the own battle. The most important thing the patient. The business wont grow very fast, it takes time. I have this shop more or less 1 year on Etsy. I didn’t sell many items, but I have learned a lot. I don’t give up, and I hope that soon or later on my shop will be successful. I can recommend to everybody who has some skills and would like to make profit on it.
I LOVE Etsy. I’ve used it for many years to sell hand made dolls, childrens clothing, hair bows and accessories. Many things have changed at Etsy over the years but the cost has remained pretty much the same. If you have a big month, it does seem expensive to sell there, and most sellers mark up to make up for that.
My Etsy is http://www.etsy.com/shop/justplainbeckyw
Becky – I am STILL carrying the purse you made me, and it’s still perfect! I get compliments on it all the time 🙂
Also, it’s been washed dozens of times and it’s holding up fabulously.