Etsy is an ecommerce site with a very special focus, and as such, it might not be right for all sellers. The site focuses on handmade and vintage items and crafting supplies. They categorize vintage as items that are more than twenty years old. They could be clothing, jewelry, glasses, and nearly anything else one can imagine. The handmade goods section is where most of the Etsy sellers are doing business and making money, although the sales of crafting supplies are picking up as well. Those businesses that have products that fall into these categories will find that Etsy is an ideal place to sell.
Some of those who can find success selling through the site include individual artisans, teams of artisans, crafters, boutique shops that sell vintage gear such as clothing, typewriters, or bicycles, and those companies that sell craft supplies.
Etsy Is a Great Place to Sell
Etsy is more than just an ecommerce website; Etsy is a community of likeminded and creative individuals who enjoy expressing themselves through their creations. They have more than 30 million buyers and creators, as well as some great tools to help you improve and grow your brand.
Another one of the nice things about Etsy is that there are no membership fees to become a seller. When you are listing an item though, it does cost .20 cents to list for four months or until the item sells. It is also important to note that you have to list each item separately. Therefore, if you have five rings, even if they are for all intents and purposes identical, you need to have five different listings for them.
How Do You Get Started?
Getting started on Etsy is quite simple, although you do need to provide a valid credit card for verification. If you have PayPal, you can use that to register with Etsy rather than a credit card. While they do not charge a membership fee, they need the PayPal or credit card on file to pay the cost of listing items along with the 3.5% fee. Users do not have to worry about any fees until they start putting up items and listing them. They take care of the ecommerce shopping cart for the customers to make purchases, but you have to take care of the shipping since you are selling goods that you have in stock.
Standing Out from the Crowd
Just as with any ecommerce website, you have to have great descriptions with good keywords. Great photos that present your products in the best light possible are important as well. Sellers who want to succeed need to understand their customers. They are selling to the customers directly much of the time, and they will have direct contact through emails. Ensuring customer satisfaction is important to maintain a good rating on Etsy. With high quality products and good customer relations, it is possible to do quite well through the site.
Summary:
Etsy has been around for several years, and in that time, it has been able to cultivate quite a reputation. It is certainly a niche site for sellers, as they only allow certain types of items – handmade goods, vintage items more than twenty years old and crafting supplies – on the site. For those sellers who fall into those categories though, Etsy is a perfect solution for selling. They have a huge audience, which makes it easier to find more customers. Users can sell through Etsy as well as through their personal ecommerce sites. Etsy simply makes it easier to connect with customers who are on the search for those unique handcrafted items the sellers are creating.
Resource: http://www.etsy.com/sell