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Post by craftmepink on Jan 25, 2019 0:37:27 GMT
I think there was a thread on this but I can't find it or probably because I'm not using the search function correctly.
But does anyone here have an Etsy shop or sell things online? If so, what do you sell and do you make a good income on this or is it just a hobby?
I'm thinking of opening an Etsy shop because I have made tons of cards and they are just lying in boxes. And also because it might be another source of income. I already have a full time job but can't work b/c of this government shutdown (don't get me started) and I'm trying to find other ways of making money.
So Peas, what do you say? How has your experience been like?
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johnnysmom
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,687
Jun 25, 2014 21:16:33 GMT
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Post by johnnysmom on Jan 25, 2019 0:44:40 GMT
Yes. I sell on Etsy, amazon and my own website. Is it possible to make good money? Yes but it’s a lot of work. It’s not like eBay where you just list it and forget it.
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Post by Sorrel on Jan 25, 2019 1:11:07 GMT
I have an Etsy shop where I sell prints of my original art and wall tapestries that I sew. I net several hundred dollars a month from it. I have a day job also.
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Post by dewryce on Jan 25, 2019 1:20:51 GMT
MichyM sells beautiful bracelets. Tagging her so she might provide her experience as well.
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Post by disneypal on Jan 25, 2019 1:49:04 GMT
I have a Pinterest Board of the refupeas that I know have (or at least had at one time) an Etsy Shop. When I am looking for something, I like to check out their shops first - would rather give my business to a pea |
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Post by KikiPea on Jan 25, 2019 3:35:49 GMT
I make and sell cards as well as other home decor. I had an Etsy shop, but didn’t stick with it, and now only sell on FB. It’s just a hobby for me because I don’t sell a lot. I, more or less, give things as gifts. They are well received, but I rarely get a customer from it. It’s a bummer because I really enjoy doing it.
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Post by chaosisapony on Jan 25, 2019 3:38:51 GMT
I sell digital downloads in my Etsy shop. It's basically signage for people's business. I have signs, banners, business cards, those kinds of things. Since it's all digital there is nothing I have to worry about shipping and it, in theory, is very easy. In real life though, I spend a ridiculous amount of time answering people's stupid questions and teaching them what a JPEG file is and how a download works. I swear some of them have never even used an online check out before. It can drive me absolutely nuts.
This is my slow time of year so I make about $35-$50/month after fees. During my busy months it's usually triple that.
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Post by chlerbie on Jan 25, 2019 4:55:01 GMT
I have a store at ebay, which I do full time. It's a LOT of work but I enjoy what I do.
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Post by craftmepink on Jan 25, 2019 5:15:22 GMT
Thanks everybody. I think I'm just going to set up an Etsy shop and see how it goes. I realize that I'm not going to make much (or anything really).
I really enjoy crafting and have stockpiles of cards to sell. It'll be definitely more of a hobby than anything else. I've sold at craft fairs before and that's never been lucrative. But I do enjoy the process of making cards.
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Post by LiLi on Jan 25, 2019 5:23:07 GMT
Etsy can be very lucrative, if you learn what to do and do it. 🙂 I've sold just under 9k this month. (Before fees)
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Post by lisae on Jan 25, 2019 13:10:11 GMT
I don't think it isn't so much whether you can sell on Etsy but that you are wanting to sell cards. I've yet to find anyone who has sold many handmade cards anywhere. People just won't pay much if anything for homemade cards. I have a friend who started an Etsy shop with her beautiful cards and I'm not sure she has sold any there. She sold a few to individuals who know her but even then, I thought her prices were too low for the effort.
I hope I'm wrong and there is some great way to get people to buy handmade cards but I've seen this discussion over on Splitcoaststampers and other places and so far it hasn't been that hopeful for cardmakers.
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Post by bigbundt on Jan 25, 2019 14:14:42 GMT
Yes. I sell on Etsy, amazon and my own website. Is it possible to make good money? Yes but it’s a lot of work. It’s not like eBay where you just list it and forget it. Could you explain this a little more? I've flirted with the idea of opening up an etsy shop to sell some vintage items figuring it was something I could just throw up there and see what happens. Seemed simpler than ebay. Not looking to make a lot of money, but would be nice to declutter those things that I have collected over the years for a little more than I would make at a garage sale. Thank you! |
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Post by LiLi on Jan 25, 2019 21:28:31 GMT
Yes. I sell on Etsy, amazon and my own website. Is it possible to make good money? Yes but it’s a lot of work. It’s not like eBay where you just list it and forget it. Could you explain this a little more? I've flirted with the idea of opening up an etsy shop to sell some vintage items figuring it was something I could just throw up there and see what happens. Seemed simpler than ebay. Not looking to make a lot of money, but would be nice to declutter those things that I have collected over the years for a little more than I would make at a garage sale. Thank you! The most important thing, is getting found. With people paying for promoted listings, and google ads, you have to put a lot of effort in finding keywords and such that get you found and also, put them in the right locations in your listings. Here is a link to the section in the Etsy handbook that explains everything you need to know. www.etsy.com/seller-handbook/category/getting-found |
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johnnysmom
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,687
Jun 25, 2014 21:16:33 GMT
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Post by johnnysmom on Jan 25, 2019 21:36:20 GMT
Yes. I sell on Etsy, amazon and my own website. Is it possible to make good money? Yes but it’s a lot of work. It’s not like eBay where you just list it and forget it. Could you explain this a little more? I've flirted with the idea of opening up an etsy shop to sell some vintage items figuring it was something I could just throw up there and see what happens. Seemed simpler than ebay. Not looking to make a lot of money, but would be nice to declutter those things that I have collected over the years for a little more than I would make at a garage sale. Thank you! Sorry, I was subbing in the preschool today....after two snowdays those kids were crazy! Anyhow, Etsy's search algorithm is complicated (and even I don't fully understand it) but to rank well in search you have to: 1. have shop/return policies; also having a shop banner, bio and other stuff also helps 2. consistently add new products 3. have many products (the more the better, different people recommend different amounts but I tend to see 50 or 100 recommended) 4. I've found my sales go down if I have unread convos (emails), even if the message doesn't need a response (you can read them in email but that doesn't mark them as read on etsy) 5. must have good search terms (and know how to use them in both search terms and titles) now, granted, this is for handmade and supplies, I don't sell vintage so perhaps that changes things. I'm also no expert I've been doing it for years but most of the time I feel like I'm just limping along (and I know I have a ton of room for improvements). Etsy also tends to make changes frequently so you need to be aware of that. I think it can be lucrative, but I probably wouldn't do it to just clean out the garage, kwim? |
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Post by bigbundt on Jan 25, 2019 22:41:50 GMT
Hmmmm, was thinking about trying it for handmade baby blankets. I've officially reached my capacity with my youngest but run across them regularly for a couple of dollars (which breaks my heart for the person who spent so much time making them in the first place). Selling them for a little profit means I can still "rescue" them without having to actually keep them.  |
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Post by bigbundt on Jan 25, 2019 22:42:23 GMT
And thank you both for the great information!
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Post by papersilly on Jan 26, 2019 0:37:09 GMT
I opened a shop on Etsy in 2007, just a couple of years after it launched. I love selling on Etsy because their listing fees and Etsy's percentage are low compared to Amazon Handmade, where I also sell. (Memo to myself, reopen the Amazon shop now that the holidays are over. Lol).
Etsy's shop set up is very user friendly. Just take clear pictures and provide detailed descriptions of your items. Respond to customer inquiries promptly and have clear shop policies regard returns or exchanges.
To answer type question, I sell online as a hobby. I used to do craft boutiques but those were tedious and they started to wane in popularity when online market places started popping up. If you don't intend on your mortgage or car payment to rely on your online sales, then it will be a fun endeavor. It's still a business so you may have to abide by the rules of your state as well as those of the IRS.
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