Etsy NZ

A site that really stands out is Etsy, a one of a kind e-commerce site that specialize on handcrafted vintage items including arts and craft. How does Etsy differ from the other e-commerce sites? We are here to guide you through those questions and so much more, stay tuned and enjoy the review!

In the past couple of years, countless e-commerce sites are emerging all around the world. As a seller or buyer, all of us have our own favourite sites, but one thing that has benefited us is the fierce competition between e-commerce sites. Just like what happened in most industries, competition forces innovation, and that is why we are seeing more and more unique innovations within the e-commerce industry.

How to makey money on Etsy

Etsy is a great marketplace for buyers looking for niche products, and if we look at it from a seller’s perspective, Etsy may be one of the best marketplace for you to sell your products. As a marketplace with unique and niche products, it is only normal for Etsy to have less consumer base than other marketplace that sells absolutely anything. However, this may actually work as a benefit for your business, as it will help you funnel more customers down your niches.

When it comes to selling on Etsy, it is really convenient especially for small businesses and even hobbyists looking to sell their crafts/artwork. While there are medium to large scale companies selling on Etsy, everyone has the same fighting chance especially if you are selling something unique and collectable.

Opening up a store on Etsy is free, but there are some things that you have to consider before selling on Etsy, such as the followings:

• Do your market research

This is no big deal if you are only looking to sell your old belongings. However, market research is crucial if you are looking to set up a business on Etsy. Fortunately, doing market research on Etsy is not hard. You can simply look for the niche of your products and look at what kind of products are listed. Since most sellers are relying on branding and identity instead of price wars, you can try applying similar strategies with your fellow competitors

• Product differentiation

As mentioned above, sellers on Etsy offer unique products, often personally made. Thus, do not worry if the product category you are selling on is swarmed by other competitors. As long as your product offers unique values to your customer, there will most likely be a customer waiting for you on Etsy

• Scale of your business/production

Again, it does not matter if you are a one-man hobbyist looking to sell your work or a large business looking to expand your consumer base, Etsy is perfect for anyone offering niche products, just make sure to apply the ideal strategy according to the scale of your business

Those are some of the few things you have to consider before selling on Etsy. Yes, it is not as complicated as selling on other e-commerce sites, and it is practically for anyone, so why not start selling?

How to Sell on Etsy

Selling on Etsy is suitable for almost anyone. For us, what really sets Etsy apart for sellers is how they provide high quality service and security for all their sellers. According to their website, Etsy commits on 3 words for their seller, which are simple, transparent, and secure. When you are selling on Etsy, you will not have to pay monthly fees, you will receive automatic deposits, your transaction will be secured, and you will receive seller protection directly from Etsy. We have mentioned that it is easy to set up a store on Etsy. Regardless, we will help you with a step-by-step guide on setting up a store on Etsy, make sure to read each steps accordingly:

1. Familiarize yourself with Etsy

When a business tries to set up stores on different marketplaces, it is usually not that hard and they will not need much time or changes in strategy. Unfortunately, that may not be the case when selling on Etsy. Etsy has similar interface and practicality with most large e-commerce sites, but they offer totally different products with their own consumer base. You can try familiarizing yourself with Etsy by joining the Etsy buyer and sellers community or simply read the blogpost on their website.

We also recommend going through the seller policies and learning more about the fees involved for you and your business to adjust.

2. Create an Etsy account

This is necessary for both sellers and buyers. The step is simple and can be done in less than 5 minutes, just click on the sign-in icon and you will be guided by Etsy’s friendly interface

3. Set up your shop

Unlike creating an account, this process will be a little longer. Regardless, it is still easy to do. Simply click on the sell on Etsy icon on the top right of your screen. Then, you will be guided to select your language, country, and other details. Finally, you can pick a name for your shop

4. Build your store display

Before listing your products, it is important for you to build an attractive store display. The store display will involve banners, logo, sections, background, shopping policies, and shipping details.There is no right or wrong when it comes to a store display on Etsy, and you can always check on fellow sellers for inspirations

5. List your products and start selling

After completing the first 4 steps, you can start adding your products on your store display. When listing your products on Etsy, it is important to:

• Use title and tags to optimize your product
• Use high quality and detailed image of your product
• Add a detailed description
• Set a reasonable and accurate processing time for customers

Once your products are listed, your store will be ready and well online! You can start working yourself to be a star seller to gain an edge over other sellers. Another great thing about selling on Etsy is you are not required to have a selling or business license.

Other Things to Do on Etsy

For all users of Etsy including both sellers and buyers, here are some of the other things you can do on Etsy:

• Etsy forum

You can always hop on to the Etsy forum and find out more about shopping tips, new shops, or any other topics that you want to talk about. The forum is highly popular amongst buyers but sellers have also been using it to attract more customers.

• Etsy blog

Find out news and Etsy events directly from the people who run it, you can also find helpful tips on shopping on Etsy

• Join a “team”

Etsy teams are communities on Etsy where you can find people who share similar interests with you. This is the kind of feature that sets Etsy apart from the other e-commerce sites, feel free to ask questions to fellow consumers on new and interesting products of your interests.

Buying on Etsy

As we mentioned before, Etsy has accommodated more than 40 million buyers from all around the world. You might notice that each country has their own leading e-commerce sites, but why do people keep buying on Etsy? We now know that Etsy is the place to go for unique, vintage, and handcrafted products, but what are these products? Well, here are the 8 main categories of the products sold on Etsy:

• Jewellery & accessories
• Clothing & shoes
• Home & living
• Wedding & party
• Toys & entertainment
• Art & collectibles
• Craft supplies & tools
• Vintage

While the prices on Etsy may not be the cheapest, Etsy is irreplaceable for their users. We collected customer reviews from multiple websites, and here are the reasons why people shop on Etsy:

1. Extraordinary product

As mentioned in the list before, Etsy is quite different compared to most e-commerce websites. Unlike the other leaders of the industry, Etsy does not sell absolutely everything, and they take pride in selling unique and rare products. If you are looking for products within the 8 categories above, Etsy will most likely offer you products that are hard to find anywhere else

2. Product feels more personal

Etsy commits in providing real connections between buyers and sellers. Whenever you buy a product on Etsy, it will be directly sent to you by the sellers. The reason why the product felt more personal is because there are a lot of handmade and crafted products sold on Etsy, so buyers can really know about where their product came from without going through multiple chains of distribution. Besides, there are many sellers on Etsy offering personalised and customisable items

3. Affordability

Compared to large producers of factories, the products on Etsy may be a little more expensive, but remember that products on Etsy are uniquely made, which often contributes to the slightly higher price. Regardless, products on Etsy are available at different affordable price points

4. Complete features and easy navigation

Etsy has all the staple features that most e-commerce sites have, such as a list for your items and favourite list. The website also has a user-friendly interface with easy navigation. Once you are on the website, you are only one click away from choosing your desired products

5. Transparency

Nowadays security is no longer a problem for online shoppers. In various shopping sites around the world, people can conveniently shop knowing that the products will arrive on their doorstep safe and sound. A more common problem involves sellers using different photos from their original product, which often happens even in the biggest marketplace. When using Etsy, you do not have to worry because every seller is verified and will directly answer your inquiries. Etsy also has a transparent review system where it is nearly impossible to post fake reviews, so make sure to always double-check with the reviews!

6. Sales event

Throughout the year, Etsy offers special days where you can get discounts on the product you buy. Some of the existing sales event includes labour day, cyber monday, and mothers day

Conclusion

Etsy may not be the biggest e-commerce site in the world, but it is definitely the place to go for buying and selling niche products. Etsy often emphasised themself as a unique marketplace selling handcrafted, vintage products. While that is true, what truly sets them apart is how they connect people across the world through a simple and secure marketplace.