Etsy is a site that allows anyone to create an online store in which to resell products purchased elsewhere, or sell items made with their own hands. Etsy's purpose is to bring supply and demand together; Opening a shop allows sellers to find potential buyers for their products. Here's how to open a shop on Etsy.
Steps
Step 1. Decide what you want to sell on Etsy
You should choose something that you know you can sell, so that you can plan for it to promote as well. You can sell just one type of product, or multiple types that are somehow related to each other.
- Check out the other shops on Etsy to get an idea of what you might be selling, but also try to think about how you can add a personal touch to it.
- Dos and Don'ts: Remember that some products cannot be sold on Etsy: alcohol, tobacco, drugs and medicines, items that have to do with the consumption of prohibited substances, animals, pornographic material, weapons, products withdrawn from the market, real estate, motor vehicles, products that incite hatred or illegal activity, or any other item considered illegal in the seller's country. You can't even sell some services, unless they result in the creation of an object; for example, offering to carry out repairs is not possible, but one can offer oneself to carry out graphic works.
Step 2. Familiarize yourself with Etsy's rules
Review the section on what is not allowed; this way you can understand what Etsy expects of you as a seller, and what you can expect from Etsy in terms of support. The rules tell you who can open an account on Etsy, how many accounts you can have, and how to post ads.
Step 3. Create an Etsy account
You will need to provide Etsy with your name, username, password, and valid email address to which Etsy will send an account activation confirmation message. You can also decide to receive a newsletter by email, and provide the name of whoever recommended you to sign up on Etsy.
Step 4. Choose a name for your shop
The name you choose will be inextricably linked to your account, and if you want to change it you will have to create a new account. Your shop name should be a powerful name, but not too complicated to spell - potential buyers need to be able to find you easily by doing a simple search on Etsy.
- Think of a list of possible names, and then do a search on Etsy with them, to check if there are already any shops with similar names. Try to choose a name that cannot be confused with the name of another store (if you intend to open a website in the future, also check that the name is not already used by some other site).
- If you intend to sell different types of products, try to choose a name that is not too specific, or that refers to a particular category of products.
- Don't choose a name that looks like a chat nickname. Try to give your shop name a professional look: start each word with a capital letter, and use numbers only when strictly necessary.
Step 5. Create a banner
Your banner is one of the first things potential buyers see in your store. Etsy banners must have a size of 760x100 pixels, with a resolution of 72 dpi. You can create your banner using Etsy's Bannerator, your favorite graphics program, or you can contact another seller on Etsy who specializes in graphics.
Step 6. Create an avatar
An avatar is an identifying image for your shop. It's smaller than a banner, but it needs to be equally eye-catching, and it should help set you apart from other stores.
Step 7. Write your profile
A well-written profile should inform potential buyers about who you are, how your shop works, and why they should be targeting you. The profile should start with an attention-grabbing introduction, followed by clear, concise paragraphs. Include some personal information so shoppers can get an idea about you, but don't overdo it - you might look unprofessional.
- If you have multiple usernames on Etsy, you are required to list them all in your profile. Likewise, if your shop is run by multiple people, each of them should be listed on your profile, with a brief description of what they do.
- Your shop's terms of purchase must comply with Etsy's general terms and conditions.
Step 8. Create the list of items you want to sell
You have to decide a price for each item, write short descriptions, insert keywords (tags) to make it easier for buyers to search for, and finally attach a photo.
Advice
- Even if you have a good assortment of products, a strong name, great graphics, a well-written profile and good publicity, it will take anywhere from six months to a year before you can get a loyal customer base and steady sales.
- Once you've set up your shop, you'll need to advertise both online and offline if you want your business to become profitable.
