If you are interested in opening your own small business, an Etsy store (which promotes handcrafted arts and unique goods) is a great place to start as the costs are low and it’s all online. There are over 2 million sellers accommodating 39 million buyers on the platform and some of the top Etsy stores are making over 500 sales a day! If you want to get in on the action there has never been a better time. Read on for some insight into the best selling items on Etsy.
What is Etsy?
Etsy is an e-commerce site focusing on handmade, vintage items and craft supplies. The items vary from jewelry, accessories, bags, clothing, home decor, furniture, and others. Etsy launched back in 2005 and it is still the number one online marketplace for selling crafts, homemade items, and vintage finds.
What does it Cost to Sell on Etsy?
It’s FREE to open an Etsy Shop. You pay for listing products and a transaction fee per sale.
- Listing fee: $0.20 (USD) to list each item for 4 months on the Etsy marketplace. After the 4 months, it expires and you need to relist it for another 20 cents.
- Transaction fee: Etsy charges 5% of the selling price as commission. This also applies to your shipping fee.
- Offsite Advertising: Etsy pays the advertising costs to promote listings on multiple internet platforms such as Google, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Bing. There is a 12-15% transaction fee if you make any sales this way but it’s a great way to get free advertising.
Shipping Cost: You can either charge a shipping fee in addition to your product price or offer free delivery. Note that free delivery will bag you a lot more sales and also help you come up higher in the Etsy search.
15 Best Things to Sell on Etsy to Make Money
The following are the best things to sell on Etsy to make money.
However, if you aren’t creative enough to make goods but you are interested in joining the Etsy community, you can source items to sell from its suppliers.
1. Hand-made jewelry
One of the most loved sections on Etsy is hand-made jewelry. This includes handmade necklaces, accessories, bracelets, and earrings.
2. Party Decorations
People are willing to spend on special events, and that includes spending money on party decorations. This includes banners, cake toppers, party invitations, and unique party necessities and accessories.
If you are good at graphic design and have a creative imagination, you can be very successful in creating party decorations for children’s birthdays and other parties such as baby showers and weddings.
3. Printables
Printables are digital products customers purchase, then download, and print themselves from the comfort of their own homes. This can include resume templates, chore charts, and even photo albums or coloring books. The best part? With printables, there is no shipping to worry about!
4. Toys and baby items
Kids love toys and handmade wooden toys are popular for babies, while slime and playdoh also sell well. Other top-selling items include personalized baby items, silicone teethers, pacifiers with their names on them, and baby accessories like headbands and socks.
The top-selling baby items on Etsy include silicon teethers for babies, headbands, and personalized baby items such as keepsake boxes.
5. Knitted kids’ clothing
Despite what some may have you believe, knitted clothing is not one of those easy things to make and sell on Etsy, compared for example, with printables.
While it can be very profitable, bear in mind that your materials cost will be high for good quality yarn so you need to research your prices well. Knitting patterns, on the other hand, are one of the best things to sell on Etsy to make money. As knitting has made a comeback, patterns are one of the many vintage items that sell well on Etsy.
6. Accessories
Stores that sell accessories are some of the most popular Etsy shops. Headbands for babies, scarves, and purses are all Etsy’s top sellers.
Bows and hairbands for toddlers and babies sell especially well and are relatively simple to make, even if you are not overly crafty.
7. Pet supplies
Pet owners like to buy cute, but ridiculous things for their beloved pets. Collars, leashes, name tags, toys, and other pet items are all top-selling Etsy items. My cat loves cat grass too and it helps her with indigestion. Pet stuff is one of the best things to sell on Etsy to make money.
8. Vintage products
Etsy is one of the few marketplaces offering to shop vintage products. Your useless articles may be a collectible for someone in some other part of this world.
You can dig deeper into the offerings of the Etsy vintage category; it ranges from home and living items to jewelry and collectibles, such as vintage clothing, shoes, toys, accessories, and small items like vintage buttons.
9. Wedding items
Etsy proudly holds a distinction in this field. Wedding preparation without going onto Etsy is never done. Wedding invitations, dresses, and decorations for the big day can be all covered with Etsy.
The best-selling items range from Bridesmaid gowns, Bachelorette shirts, handmade invitations, Jewelry items, and so much more.
10. Paper Crafts
In line with the growing awareness of eco-friendly products, many people are searching for plastic alternatives for straws, bags, and any other plastic products. Selling paper crafts which are an alternative to plastic which is a surefire way to make money on Etsy.
11. Phone cases
Name one person in your life over 10 years old that doesn’t own a phone. Phones have become an integral part of our everyday lives. Protecting our smartphones saves us money in the long run, so many people buy phone cases. The demand for phone cases has shot up on Etsy because customers want to customize this essential gadget to suit their style and needs.
12. Bags and Purses
This may sound a bit weird but luxury designer bags make me feel uncomfortable. However, if I know a handbag is supporting a local business and is handmade, then take my money!
Handmade bags and purses on Etsy are all the rage now as more people want to set themselves apart and have their own unique identity.
13. Stickers
If you are looking for creative things to sell in your Etsy store, stickers are one of the best choices.
For new sellers, stickers are inexpensive and easy to produce and ship – create the design once, then partner with a print-on-demand service that will print and ship your product for you.
And for buyers, well, from bumper stickers to wall stickers, to stickers you put on your phone case or water bottle, they are a quick and easy way to customize your life.
14. Zero-Waste products
It’s been called a “sustainability journey.” In short, the goal of zero waste products is to send nothing to the landfill.
On Etsy, shops are selling things like reusable face rounds, refillable deodorant, zero-waste toothpaste, and even shampoos and dish soaps that don’t contain the harmful chemicals that get into the water system.
And in an era of rising social conscience and responsibility, more and more customers are willing to pay a premium for these products.
15. Buttons and Pins
With an average selling of 34 units a day, this retailer, Beanforest, specializes in buttons. It’s a perfect gift for corporate groups, and it can be tailored exactly how the consumer needs it to look. Buttons are widely used as bag tags, and there are people who collect them. It’s affordable because it only costs $1.50 per piece.
The top seller, Beanforest, sells 34 units of this type a day, with over 130,000 units on sale. What’s great about this product is that you just need a button maker. There are millions of templates that you will find online, and your buyers will also apply theirs.
Final Thoughts
Many sellers begin with one shop and start a second shop when they have a bit more knowledge. It’s perfectly acceptable to have two Etsy shops if you are not sure what to sell. The main thing is to try to do your research and understand what is expected of you.
