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Find what to sell on Etsy

Updated on July 20, 2013

What should I sell on Etsy?

You may have recently discovered Etsy and are now very determined to find what to sell on Etsy. Or you may have been buying handmade Etsy items for years and are now ready to start your own business. Need some ideas on how to get started? I have had several Etsy shops and have been a successful Etsy shop owner for over 4 years. Back in 2009, when I found Etsy, I was immediately hooked. I have a great appreciation for handmade, and I simply could not stop browsing through all the amazingly creative items sold by talented artists and crafters. I later discovered that many Etsy shop owners also bought their art and craft supplies on Etsy, so there were also plenty of opportunities for craft suppliers as well. My inspiration and ideas for what to sell on Etsy came from browsing through Etsy treasuries and Etsy item categories. In my first Etsy shop I sold hand sewn baby items. Later, I opened a craft supplies shop and a shop where I sold hand knit gloves. Between the 3 shops, I have sold over 15,000 items and have had over 10,000 positive feedbacks left by my happy customers.

Image credit: Get inspired to find what to sell on Etsy.

Are you thinking about giving Etsy a try?

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Learn from successful Etsy sellers

Even with natural talent and good business skills, finding the right items to sell on Etsy requires research. If you have a general idea of what you would like to sell in your Etsy shop, I suggest that you start browsing through Etsy categories, such as Art, Home Living, Jewelry, Wedding, etc. You can find all the categories right here, on the left hand side of Etsy home page. Are you really good at something? Can you draw, paint, sew, do embroidery, knit, work with wood, do web page design, design digital art, bake homemade dog treats, make soap, do screen printing, make jewelry, create unique wedding favors, work with clay? Is there a specific niche you want to get into - making handmade baby items, sewing purses, creating crochet, knitting, or sewing patterns, or maybe making cards for different occasions? The most successful shops start with a very definite plan. It's very important to find a good combination of something that you are really good at (or are ready to put effort into getting really good at) and something that is in good demand. In order to get started on Etsy, you don't need to invent a bicycle (but please do, if you can) - instead, you can learn from the most successful Etsy sellers and create your own, one of a kind items, inspired by creations by others.

Nourish your creativity at home

Decorate your creative space. A simple art poster, a wall decal, or an art piece can give you daily inspiration.

Artissimo Designs, Imagine Create Live, 23348CMBG0, 2-Piece Sign Image, Two 12-Inch by 24-Inch Printed Canvas
Artissimo Designs, Imagine Create Live, 23348CMBG0, 2-Piece Sign Image, Two 12-Inch by 24-Inch Printed Canvas
The canvas featured here are simple, beautiful, and very inspiring. It's easy to hang on the wall to give your working space an instant makeover.
 

Creativity Quote

"Think left and think right and think low and think high. Oh, the thinks you can think up if only you try!"

- Dr. Seuss

Find what to sell on Etsy

50 things you can make and sell on Etsy

Here are some random ideas - hopefully, that's enough to get you thinking in the right direction. Need more ideas? Start browsing through Etsy Treasury and discover unique handmade items. Not sure what an Etsy treasury is and how to make your own, check out this blog post: Etsy Treasury is a great promotional tool. You may also want to browse Pinterest for items tagged #Handmade.

1. Artwork

2. Wedding, baby shower, or birthday party invitations designed by You

3. Handmade candles

4. Handcrafted soap

5. Organic lotion

6. Hair accessories made by You

7. Handsewn doll clothes

8. Aprons

9. Bracelets

10. Earrings

11. Hand knit gloves

12. Dresses

13. Necklaces

14. Wall decals

15. Dog collars

16. Cat tree

17. Dog bed

18. Cat toys

19. Diaper bags

20. Personalized T-shirts

21. Dog treats

22. Pillow cases

23. Handmade or hand-painted picture frames

24. Chalkboards

25. Wedding favors

26. Flower girl headbands

27. Dog clothes

28. Horse photography

29. Iphone cases

30. Jewelry organizer

31. Unique key chains

32. Baby leggings

33. Mermaid dolls

34. Crayon rolls

35. Mermaid tails

36. Screen printed fabric

37. Wedding cake toppers

38. Terrarium

39. Shoes

40. All occasion cards

41. Upcycled clothing

42. Crochet animals

43. Pottery bowls

44. Placemats

45. Wedding ring holders

46. Brooches

47. Digital Scrapbooking paper

48. Sculptures

49. Felted scarves

50. Reclaimed wood shelves

Pick up a few books about your field of interest

Teach yourself a new skill to make supplemental income with your own artisan shop and, one day, maybe even quit your daytime job. Many successful entrepreneurs start out small and then gradually turn their start-ups into successful full-time businesses.

Learn new skills for free

If you are a visual learner, Youtube is great for learning new skills.

Creative packaging and promotion

Once you find what to sell on Etsy and open your store, be prepared to turn your start-up into a real business. Professionally designed avatar, business cards, creative packaging, and good customer service will help you take your shop to the next level. When you are first starting out, don't get discouraged by low item views. It takes time and effort to get your Etsy shop discovered. It takes even more time to build a regular customer base. Don't expect quick returns, but, instead, be prepared to work for your business. If you are persistent enough, one day your business may start working for you. I have read some very inspiring stories about artisans who started on Etsy and turned their business dreams into reality. They were able to hire a team of creative professionals and are now running their own online stores, bringing in hundreds of thousands of dollars in profits annually. Need help getting your shop off to a good start? Be sure to check out the article below.

Find your inspiration - and discover your creative side

Etsy is a very creative community, so it's a good idea to get some help in getting your creative juices flowing. Even the most talented artists need inspiration. We are all born with a creative side, but, as we get expertise in different areas of life, we stop thinking "outside the box" and seem to loose the desire to find new, not so standard solutions to problems. Here are a few books that may help you change your perspective of the world :)

Discover your creative side!

Discover your creative side!
Discover your creative side!

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