Are you wondering what the best things to sell on Etsy are this year? If so, you are in the right place. I recently started an Etsy shop and did a ton of research on what sells best on Etsy and I am excited to share with you in this post. With more than 4.3 million sellers on the platform, Etsy is one of the best places to sell items and make money from home.
Starting an Etsy shop is super simple and can help you get your products out to the public super fast and because of that, I do recommend selling items on the platform when you are just starting out. Additionally, a lot of people including the CEO of Etsy believe now is the perfect time to invest in marketing for a business.
So if you are looking to market products to the world now is a great time to start. One of the things that I researched about the platform was the best things to sell on Etsy to make money. So this post will share some of the best things to sell on Etsy and additional information on how to be successful on the platform this year.
Table of Contents
What Is Etsy?
Etsy is an e-commerce website that focuses on handmade, craft supplies, and more to sell online. A lot of these items fall under a lot of different categories such as jewelry, toys, arts, clothes, bags, home decor, and much more. This site was founded in 2005 and now has more than 4.3 million users.
This platform has made it easy for creatives to sell products and make money online fairly quickly. Because there are so many users on the Etsy platform it helps with getting eyes on the products in your shop. Additionally, if you are looking to start a dropshipping business Etsy works directly with print-on-demand companies such as Printify and Printful. Therefore you can set up your business on Etsy and make passive income.
Is It Worth Selling on Etsy?
Selling on Etsy is one of the best ways to get products out to the public. While they have fees it still can be a cheaper option to sell items online when you are just starting. So I think if a person is just beginning, Etsy can be an amazing option for them to make extra money.
If you aren’t sure what sells best on Etsy this post will help point you in the right direction.
What Can I Sell on Etsy to Make Money?
If you are asking what sells best on Etsy you are in the right place. There are a lot of awesome things you can sell on Etsy, and this post will cover 15 of the best items you can sell on the platform to make money. But some of the best items you can sell on Etsy now are bags, clothing, jewelry, and home decor.
What Are Some Things To Sell on Etsy?
Some of the things to sell on Etsy are jewelry, crafts, pet supplies, T-shirts, and much more. This post will share some of the best things to sell on Etsy this year.
What Are Some Additional Ways to Make Money?
Speaking of making extra money, if you are looking for an additional way to make extra money check out completing surveys online. Completing surveys online is one of the best ways to make extra money on the go. In 2020, I did most of my Christmas shopping with money I earned from Swagbucks. Below are some of my favorite additional legit survey sites to make extra money.
1. Stickers
One of the best things to sell on Etsy is Stickers. If you are looking for items to sell on Etsy, this one is a great one to look into. Because of the high demand for this product this item makes my list of top items to sell on Etsy. You can also buy stickers in huge quantities which makes this item a huge win to sell.
2. T-Shirts
When I first started an account on Etsy, I started with selling t-shirts. T-shirts are a great way to start on Etsy because it’s very easy to get started. Because it’s so easy to get started this item is one of the best things to sell on Etsy. You can team up with a drop-shipping company such as Printify to help you create and sell t-shirts directly on Etsy.
This is a great way to make extra money with an Etsy shop, and if you browse the T-shirt selection on Etsy, you can get ideas on what’s popular on the platform.
3. Printables
Printables are one of my favorite Etsy items and one of the easiest things you can turn into products to sell online. It’s also one of the greatest things to sell on Etsy.
I created a budget set of printables, and I was able to create them really fast in Canva. Printables such as budgeting templates, life, and cooking templates all do very well on Etsy. So if you are looking to create printables to sell on Etsy, it can be a very profitable side hustle.
4. Craft Supplies
Craft supplies are another great item to sell on Etsy. Items such as cotton crochet yarn and charms to put on bags sell really well on Etsy. So if you are great at creating craft supplies, you can create an Etsy shop and sell those items.
5. Baby Items
I have 3 children and let me tell you, I have had days when I am on Etsy all day looking at the cute baby stuff for my kiddos. Some of the best items on Etsy are the “coming home outfits” for newborns and matching outfits for siblings. Because this item is in high demand it’s one of the best items to sell on Etsy.
6. Wedding Decorations
If you are looking for one of the best items to sell on Etsy this is it. Since people have weddings throughout the year, wedding decorations are always in season. Because of that reason, wedding decorations do great with sales on the Etsy platform.
Some examples of wedding items that do well on Etsy are wedding signs, wedding neon signs, Mr. & Mrs. cake toppers, and much more.
7. Pet Supplies
Do you have a pet? If so, you probably buy a lot of different cute items for your pet. When I was younger, my family and I used to buy my little dog cute little outfits similar to the ones I have seen on Etsy today.
Some other pet supplies I have seen on Etsy are dog houses, dog beds, pet tags, and much more.
8. Home Decor
I am currently looking at different home decor for my home, and I found some of the best items on Etsy. Home decor such as wall art, frames, vases, and home knit blankets all do great on the Etsy platform.
9. Jewelry
Jewelry is another item that is great to sell on Etsy. There are a lot of different jewelry items that I have seen on Etsy that sell great such as rings and bracelets.
You can also create personalized jewelry for your customers to make even more sales.
10. Personalized Clothing
If you are looking for some of the best items to sell on Etsy, this item might be great for you. Creating personalized clothing such as t-shirts do great on Etsy. Have you ever seen shirts for newborns with their names on them or personalized shirts for wedding parties? If so, it’s a great chance that they got them from Etsy.
11. Invitations
For my son’s first birthday party, I turned to Etsy to get his invitation created. I was able to pick out a design and have the designer put the correct information on the invitation. When he was finished, I got the invitation sent to me as a digital download.
12. Party Decorations
Similar to wedding decoration, party decorations are always in season. Decoration such as curtain lights, balloons, table covers, wall curtains, and table garlands all do very well on Etsy when it comes to sales.
13. Mugs
I absolutely love mugs, and finding new amazing mugs is always a huge win for me. From my research, mugs also do very well on Etsy and are one of the best things to sell on Etsy. You can also customize the mug or cups for even more sales on the platform.
14. Vintage Items & Collectables
If you have any vintage or collectible items that you don’t want anymore, you can totally sell them on Etsy to make extra money. Vintage items such as rugs, plates, and t-shirts all sell great on Etsy.
15. T-Shirt Mock-up Templates
T-shirt mock-ups are the images that t-shirt designers use to promote and sell their photos. If you have a photography background, this can be another way to make extra money on Etsy. When I first started my Etsy shop, I bought a few t-shirt mockups to help me sell them online.
T-shirt mock-ups help your products look really good. Mock-ups also help get more sales for your products. Check out my t-shirt design on mock-ups I got from Etsy below.
16. Bags & purses
Bags and purses also sell amazingly well on the Etsy platform. I have seen a lot of great purse designs on Etsy, and a lot of them are best sellers on the platform. Because of that, I had to put them on this list of things to sell on Etsy for profit.
How Do I Make My Etsy Shop Successful?
One of the best ways to make an Etsy shop successful is by knowing your target audience. Before you create products, make sure to do some research to see what your audience would love to purchase.
After you complete your research and find the perfect product, it will be time to promote your shop. It’s a great idea to promote on platforms such as Pinterest.
After you upload your products onto Pinterest, people will be able to pin the images of the products that you upload over and over again on Pinterest. This is huge because this could mean a ton of potential sales for you. If you are new to Pinterest, check out my Pinterest Starter Guide by clicking here.
If you are looking for more additional tips on how to make sales on Etsy, check out this YouTube video “How To Make Daily Sales On Etsy” by Etsy seller and guru Lauren. She has made thousands from selling items on Etsy.
How Do I Promote My Etsy Shop?
I covered this topic a little bit above, but I am going to go into more detail in this section. One of the best ways to promote your Etsy shop is by promoting on social media platforms. Let’s break down the biggest platforms to promote items to sell on Etsy.
Instagram: Instagram is a great platform to promote the items that you sell on Etsy on a daily basis. One of the ways you can promote your items is by posting them up on your page and then sharing them in your Instagram stories.
If you are new to Instagram and have no idea how to get started, I have a post on my site that shares how to grow an Instagram profile for beginners. Click here to read the post and to get started on Instagram. Additionally, make sure to connect with others in your niche on Instagram as well.
Pinterest: Pinterest is a goldmine if you are looking to promote your Etsy shop items. One of the best ways to promote your items on Pinterest is by uploading your items onto the platform and linking them back to your Etsy shop.
Pinterest is moving more in the direction of creators selling products on their platform, which makes it the perfect platform to jump on.
Since starting my blog, Pinterest has been one of the best ways to generate traffic to my blog very quickly. If you are new at Pinterest, I have a post on my site that goes over how to grow a blog and a business on Pinterest fast. Click here to check out the post.
How Do I Get Traffic to My Etsy Shop?
One of the best ways to get traffic to an Etsy shop is by putting the products on Pinterest. You can post a picture of your item and link it directly to your Etsy shop and people can purchase it directly.
This is huge because you can make sales on autopilot. That’s why Pinterest is my go-to platform to sell products.
Shopify vs Etsy: What’s Better?
When I first started my shop, I did a ton of research on which shop was better between Shopify and Etsy. To me, there are pros and cons to selling on both. Let’s go over the pros and cons of both platforms individually.
Etsy
Pros
- It’s a trusted website that can drive a lot of traffic to the products that you sell online.
- It’s very easy to get started on the platform. You can create an Etsy shop within minutes.
- Great for bringing in trusted buyers to buy your products.
Cons
- Etsy has a lot of different fees they charge their users, such as a .20 cent listing fee. This fee is also charged to you when someone purchases your items and if you bump your item up to renew them. If you have a bigger shop, this small fee can add up. Additionally, Etsy takes a percentage out of your sales and charges additional transaction fees.
- Since Etsy isn’t your own personal website, you will be totally dependent on Etsy to make sales. This can be a con because you never know when Etsy might stop running online. I’m not saying they will, but it’s good to understand the ins and out of that.
Shopify
Pros
- You can customize your shop the way that you want on Shopify.
- You can have a domain name and your own website how you like it.
- Shopify is great if you are looking to scale your business to a larger size.
- There are no hidden fees, just the monthly fee of $29 per month.
- If you are looking for more creative freedom, Shopify will be great for you.
Cons:
- You will have to drive all the traffic to your shop. This means you will have to do all the promotion, in the beginning, to get eyes on your products.
- If you don’t have a lot of money to invest, the monthly price could be a con for you.
What Is the Easiest Thing to Sell on Etsy?
This will vary depending on what you are great at making, but some of the easiest things to sell on Etsy are stickers, t-shirts, and wedding items. If you are just starting out maybe consider starting a dropshipping business on Etsy.
Dropshipping is when a seller works directly with a third-party vendor to sell their products. The vendor also has the order sent directly to the buyer. For example, in my shop, I work with Printify to fulfill my t-shirt orders. This means when a person orders a shirt from my Etsy shop Printify will get the order, prepare the order, and ship it out for me.
As of right now, I am almost completely hands-off with my shop while Printify does all the work. The only thing I do is monitor my shop, add new products, and answer all customer service messages. So, if you are looking to get started quickly maybe think about starting a dropshipping business.
Can Etsy Be a Full-time Job?
Creating items and selling them on Etsy can definitely be a full-time job. Like any other business that you may start, it will take hard work and dedication to grow a business, but it can be done. Sellers, such as Planner Kate, make a full-time income with their Etsy shop.
If you are wondering how much the average person can make on Etsy, this will vary depending on the item you are selling and how much promotion you do each month. I have seen a lot of people make well into the 6- figures with their shops on this paltform.
Is Selling on Etsy Hard?
Like any other business, selling on Etsy can be work, but it’s not impossible to succeed on the platform if you don’t give up. If you are just starting out, it’s a great idea to research and study how to grow a business on the platform.
Watch YouTube videos from other Etsy sellers who are crushing the game. Below is a list of videos to help get you started.
- How to Get Sales on Etsy
- Use Pinterest To Increase Etsy Traffic; How to Get More Sales on Etsy
- Ranking in the Etsy Algorithm; How to Show Up High in the Etsy Search
Tips to Sell on Etsy
If you are looking to start an Etsy shop, here are 3 tips for beginners to get you started.
- Set Goals: Write down your goals for your shop. Write down your income and product goals that you have for your business for the year. Studies have shown when you write down your goals, you are more likely to accomplish them.
- Create New Listings Often: Look at your competitors on Etsy to see how many listings they have in their shops. The more listings you have, the more chances you have to be seen on Etsy. Also, Etsy boosts new listings on the search every day so the more listings you have, the more sales you can potentially make.
- Focus on SEO: Similar to Pinterest, put strong keywords in your titles, descriptions, and tags on Etsy. If you are looking for more ways to succeed at Etsy SEO check out this video. It goes over everything you need to know about Etsy SEO.
- Post-High-Quality Photos: One of the best ways to make sure you make sales on Etsy is by having high-quality photos for your products. You can achieve this by using a high-quality smartphone or by using a really nice camera. If don’t have time to take photos of your products it might be a good idea to hire a photographer to help with the images. It’s true that the images of a product can make or break it so make sure to always have great photos of your product.
- Use Pinterest: We went over this above, but definitely make sure to promote your items on Pinterest. Pinterest is a great platform to get free traffic to your Etsy shop fast. Check out this video about how to use Pinterest for your Etsy shop.
What Do People Usually Sell on Etsy?
As mentioned in this post some of the best things to sell on Etsy are T-shirts, printables, and stickers. Usually, on Etsy, most people sell items that they create themselves and that’s why Etsy is also known as a place for unique handcrafted creations.
If you want to get started on Etsy think about what you can sell and what you are good at creating. If you are great at graphic design maybe creating some form of templates might be great for you to create and sell on Etsy.
Can You Be Successful on Etsy?
Yes, you can totally be successful on Etsy. With dedication and hard work, you can start and turn your shop into a successful business. One of my tips for growing an Etsy shop is to always make sure to have great customer service.
Recently a shopper reached out to me on Etsy about one of the shirts located in my shop. I made sure to get back to her as soon as possible to assure her of the quality of the shirt. If you go days without replying back to someone’s message you might lose a sale so make sure to always reply back to messages in your Etsy as soon as you can.
Additionally, I think it’s a great idea to research other Etsy sellers that are doing really great in your niche. One of the best ways to learn about the platform is to study the platform. So look up people in your niche that are doing great and see what’s working for them.
Best Things to Sell on Etsy: Final Thoughts
If you are thinking about selling on Etsy, totally go for it. This post shared some of the best things to sell on Etsy for profit. Starting my Etsy shop has been super fun and was very easy to start up.
Do you have an Etsy shop? What are your favorite items to sell on Etsy? Let me know in the comment section.
Additional Resources
- 15 Side Hustles To Make Extra Money
- 50 Crafts To Create and Make Money This Year
- Best Online Yard Sale Tips To Make Extra Money
