Etsy – one of the best selling platforms provides access to international customer pools far exceeding a local market. Do you want to start selling on Etsy? This guide explores some top Etsy business ideas to inform those wishing to launch careers, including:
- #1. Art
- #2. Jewelry
- #3. Apparel
- #4. Stickers
- #5. Enamel pins
- #6. Candles
- #7. Drinkware
- #8. Handmade pottery and clay goods
- #9. Customized goods
- #10. Crafts supplies and kits
- #11. Baby products
- #12. Self-care products
- #13. Gifts for Pets
- #14. Print on demand
- #15. Furniture and home goods
- #16. Digital products
Whether starting a new project or expanding existing ones, the following reviews for ideas for Etsy shop give you some inspiration for your next store.
How to Source the Best Etsy Shop Ideas for Your Business?
For many creatives, dreaming of sustainable careers doing what fulfills their passion is a goal. As one of the top marketplaces for selling products, Etsy connects global customers directly with artisans worldwide. That helps turn hobbies into a thriving business is increasingly within reach.
Seeking trending ideas for Etsy shop requires researching popular strategies, and there are several efficient ways you can do so.
- Etsy Search Trends: Data on Etsy itself is also a helpful source to find profitable Etsy niche ideas. Recommendations on the platform’s search function indicate current consumer desires. To stand out and find unique Etsy shop ideas, successful sellers often narrow their focus by replacing generic keywords with more specific, long-tail keywords. Otherwise, Etsy Trending Now, or Etsy Editors’ Picks are both the useful ways to find out which products are currently trending and in high demand.
- Using Google Trends: This tool provides a beneficial starting point. It is super handy for analyzing search habits and getting clues about interest levels, regional preferences, and associated keywords. Thus, one can easily evaluate if conceptions align with present demands or are presently outdated.
- Track trending hashtag: Hashtag trends on visual social media sites like Pinterest and Instagram are another great source of niche ideas for Etsy shop. Tracking the favored keywords spread across these creative online communities enables artisans to spot shifting interests with the potential to translate to lucrative product opportunities.
15+ Inspiring and Profitable Etsy Business Ideas
Whether you want to start a traditional business or dropship on Etsy, let’s get inspired by 15+ tried-and-true Etsy business ideas that can set your shop up for wins. You’ll also pick up tips on how to strategize your sales game directly from these Etsy store ideas.
#1. Art
Etsy presents an ideal marketplace for artisans to market their designs as the platform specifically caters to craftspeople and inventors. As a result, art became one of the best Etsy business ideas.
“Etsy art” alone attracts over 8,100 monthly online queries, while “Etsy wall art” garners approximately 10,000 searches per month according to Google Ads keyword analytics. There exist myriad ways to peddle one’s designs digitally through both Etsy and independent websites.
Artists can offer downloadable art as phone wallpapers or desktop backgrounds to circumvent shipping logistics. Some opt for print-on-demand distribution of diverse goods like t-shirts and mugs, whereas others fashion unique items incapable of replication.
Pros:
- Offers great flexibility and a wide range of product options for artists and creative individuals venturing into their own Etsy store.
- Encourages the creative abilities of Etsy shop owners, allowing them to express their artistic vision through their products.
Cons:
- Faces significant competition due to the large number of sellers having these Etsy store ideas.
- Presents challenges in striking a balance between personal passion and running a successful business on Etsy.
Wanna sell on Etsy? Check out how to list an item on Etsy to start selling on this marketplace.
#2. Jewelry
Jewelry is one of the top-selling items on Etsy, and thus, it can be a business idea to start. The search “jewelry” on Etsy gets about 22,000 searches each month on average, and the Jewelry & Accessories category has over 16 million listings.
Starting selling on Etsy with a jewelry shop is a great idea to be part of this busy market. The huge number of people in the category and customers wanting handmade jewelry makes it a good idea to start with on Etsy.
Pros:
- Compact and lightweight, making it convenient for shipping.
- Highly sought-after by Etsy shoppers, ensuring potential demand for the product.
Cons:
- Demands initial investment in materials for production.
- Occupies a crowded niche within the platform, leading to intense competition among sellers.
#3. Apparel
Clothes are another choice for the best Etsy business ideas. “Etsy clothing” gets around 3,200 searches per month. Like jewelry, you can find good Etsy ideas to sell by using the search tools.
- Etsy t-shirts get 9,000 searches.
- Etsy lingerie gets 12,100 searches.
- Etsy wedding dresses get 8,100 searches.
People also search for “fabric” on Etsy almost 5,000 times a month. You could sell extra fabrics or fabrics you make custom designs on through Etsy. There are lots of popular clothing search terms that show what people want to buy. Check the searches to help pick what type of clothes shop you should pick for your Etsy business ideas.
Especially, apparal is one of the perfect ideas to start an Etsy print-on-demand business with a low entry cost.
Pros
- Easily create the clothing yourself or source it from a supplier
- Allows for versatility in setting price points, targeting specific niches, and other aspects of the business
Cons:
- May entail a higher frequency of handling returns compared to other product categories
- Involves a steeper learning curve if you choose to learn how to make clothes yourself
#4. Stickers
Stickers are creative things to sell on Etsy. “Etsy stickers” gets over 4,000 average searches each month. A search for just “stickers” on Etsy shows more than two million results. That means Etsy business ideas for stickers have a ton of competition but also a big chance.
Because stickers can be about anything, you can focus on a small type of theme. You can make your own sticker designs or pay someone else to make them for your ideas. So you don’t need experience drawing.
Selling stickers is easy to do since there are so many different things you could make them about. And a lot of people search for and buy them through Etsy every month.
Pros:
- Requires simple and cost-effective shipping options, making it an excellent choice for initiating an Etsy shop
- Offers unlimited design possibilities, allowing for creative freedom and customization.
Cons:
- Faces substantial competition due to the abundance of sellers in the same category
- Requires a continuous effort to generate new designs or leads to stay relevant and stand out in the market
#5. Enamel pins
Like stickers, enamel pins are also great Etsy business ideas on Etsy too. A search for enamel pins only shows around 170,000 results. So there is a lot of space in this category to open a shop.
Enamel pins are easy Etsy shop ideas that you can make different kinds of them to sell. You can make many types of enamel pins, such as textured soft enamel, tough hard enamel, 3D mold, epoxy, and die struck pins. You can design your own pin art using a program like Photoshop. Or you could pay someone else to help make the designs for you. And since there is less competition than some categories, starting a pin shop on Etsy could work well.
Pros
- Offers a wide variety of pin types and limitless design possibilities
- Experiences relatively lower competition compared to certain other product categories, particularly when selling vintage items
Cons:
- May have troubles when dealing with pin suppliers to avoid potential issues with low-quality products.
- Demands continuous creativity in developing fresh designs to consistently attract new customers on Etsy.
#6. Candles
The candle business is predicted to be worth $545.2 million by 2025. “Etsy candles” gets over 4,000 monthly searches on average. Also, candles can be used in many different settings besides homes, like restaurants, spas and other businesses that want a nice feeling.
So you can see that candles are good Etsy store ideas that sell well right now. The candle market is growing a lot too. Hence, starting a candle shop could be a good way to go.
Pros:
- Provides the option to either create candles oneself or outsource them from a supplier
- Offers versatility in choosing ingredients, scents, niche markets, use cases, target audience, and other aspects of the business
Cons:
- Incurs potential expenses in shipping large and heavy candles, as precautions must be taken to prevent damage or melting during transit
#7. Drinkware
Selling drinkware on Etsy is one of the easiest Etsy shop ideas, especially personalized ones. You can customize it based on special occasions like Mother’s Day or Father’s Day to gain more interest. People often buy them to remember special times or to give to their loved one.
Cups, tumblers and water bottles work great as Etsy shop ideas since you can customize them with drawings, funny sayings, or inspiring words.
This easy thing to make is very popular on Etsy and can make you good money if you stick with it over time.
Pros:
- Handcrafted drinkware is highly sought after on the Etsy platform
- Mugs and water bottles present great potential for personalized customization
Cons:
- The delicate nature of drinkware products may result in higher shipping expenses and difficulties in ensuring secure delivery to customers
#8. Handmade pottery and clay goods
Selling handmade pottery bowls, vases, cups and other related items in your Etsy shop is a really good way to start a business online that makes money. Items done in a natural, relaxed style using neutral colors are very popular right now on Etsy. Lots of people want this kind of thing. Making products in this kind of look is great if you need best-selling Etsy business ideas.
Pros:
- Showcase your creative abilities
- Explore the opportunity to craft truly one-of-a-kind items
Cons:
- Demands a specific skill set and specialized equipment for production.
- Can pose challenges when it comes to shipping due to potential expenses or the risk of damage during transit.
#9. Customized goods
Customized things that are made just for someone feel extra special. That’s because no one else has the same one and people can pick what they like best. Etsy is a great spot to sell things like this. There’s even a section called “gifts for others.”
Personalized doesn’t just mean towels with someone’s name or necklaces with plates for names. It can be any one-of-a-kind Etsy niche ideas you can think of. As long as you make each item special like the customer wants, those kinds of customized gifts are very profitable ideas to sell on Etsy.
Pros:
- Personalized items are highly favored by shoppers.
- Offers flexibility to cater to almost any niche or product category.
Cons:
- Personalization can result in longer fulfillment windows, impacting the time it takes to process and ship orders.
- Managing periods of high demand can be challenging.
#10. Crafts supplies and kits
Anything you already make for fun at home could also earn money on Etsy. Also, supplies for crafting are good things to sell on Etsy. Etsy is a place for people who like making things and want to buy and sell there. Plus, there’s a whole section just for craft supplies.
Kits with everything needed for a project are profitable Etsy business ideas. They’re more about making it easy for the person buying. The kits have all the stuff someone needs to make a certain craft or do a project. Buyers like these kinds of kits because they have everything in one place to do the activity they want.
Pros:
- Benefits from a built-in target audience within the Etsy marketplace
- Allows the utilization of existing skills and supplies, minimizing the need for additional investments
Cons:
- Presents challenges in maintaining consistent quality across products
- May necessitate the inclusion of supplementary items such as instructions to enhance the user experience
#11. Baby products
Baby onesies, t-shirts, blankets to wrap babies in, soft toys, and stuffed animals: the market for baby clothes and products is huge and growing. These sorts of products make Etsy shop ideas 2023.
People buying things for babies want clothes and toys made just for their little one. Offering customized gifts is important to help your Etsy business do really well here. Also sell clothes and toys that don’t have bad chemicals that could hurt babies. This will keep customers happy and wanting to buy replacement things from your Etsy store when the baby grows.
There are lots of rules about what baby gear has to be like. Following all the rules as one person running a shop can be hard when you have other work to do, too. Quality has to stay consistent even when busy.
Pros
- Lots of people buy things for babies
- Customers likely to buy more as baby grows
Cons:
- Clothes may be hard to get right size
- Extra rules to follow to keep babies safe
- Hard for one person to do it all and follow rules
#12. Self-care products
The health and beauty industry has seen significant growth in recent years as more consumers focus on self-care. This thriving market presents opportunities for entrepreneurs to launch lucrative product lines. Etsy has proven itself a popular marketplace for organic skincare, hair, and bath items. Offering a mix of categories like soaps, scrubs and masks in a gift box can be one of the best Etsy product ideas. Customers appreciate the tailored, high-quality offerings found when shopping the specialized wellness niche.
Pros:
- Exhibits high consumer demand, indicating a strong market for the products.
- Possesses the advantage of being compact and easy to ship, making it convenient for sellers.
Cons:
- Products and ingredients have shorter expiration dates compared to other Etsy shop ideas.
- Selling legally may involve additional steps, such as compliance with FDA regulations or other relevant legal requirements.
#13. Gifts for Pets
Pet supplies and gear are always good ideas for things to sell on Etsy. Etsy shows pet stuff on its main page. Over 4,000 people search for “Etsy dog collars” each month. Also, Americans spent $103.6 billion on their pets in 2021. For opening a pet business on Etsy, you could make and sell lots of different products like treats, collars, clothes, feeders, toys, beds and other things.
Starting a shop for pets would be smart because so many people are always buying things for their dog or cat. The searches show collars are popular. With over $100 billion spent on pets each year, the pet market is huge so it would be a good idea to open an Etsy shop with pet products.
Pros:
- Offers the opportunity to contribute to the happiness and well-being of pets.
- Operates within a growing industry that exhibits sustainable consumer demand.
Cons:
- Faces significant competition due to the abundance of sellers in the pet product market.
- Involves potential safety and health liability risks, particularly concerning edible items and chew toys.
#14. Print on demand
A print-on-demand shop sells things with designs that get printed on. Usually, the shop owners work with an outside printing company. The owners get the orders from customers and send them to the company to print the items and ship them.
Print-on-demand is listed in Etsy business ideas checklist because it’s so easy that every selller can work on it. They can open any type of shop they want. Popular things to print-on-demand include t-shirts, cups, stickers, and more. The shop owners don’t have to keep printed items in stock or print and ship themselves. They just make the designs and send orders to the printer.
Pros:
- Enjoys the advantage of fully outsourced fulfillment, relieving the burden of managing inventory and shipping logistics.
- Does not require an upfront investment in inventory.
Cons:
- Involves limited control over quality assurance and fulfillment processes.
- Presents a smaller profit margin compared to other Etsy shop ideas.
#15. Furniture and home goods
Selling furniture online is a good business idea, and also works for an Etsy shop. Many people on Etsy look for furniture. “Etsy furniture” gets 4,400 searches each month. But furniture can be big, hard to make, and almost impossible to ship.
People also go on Etsy to find things for homes. Almost 3,600 people search for “home decor” on Etsy each month. And over 4,200 search for “Christmas ornaments” around that time of year. So decorations and other house stuff also make great Etsy shop ideas, instead of only furniture.
Pros:
- Offers a versatile business opportunity, attracting a wide range of Etsy buyers.
- Provides numerous possibilities for sourcing products like DIY creations, secondhand items, or partnering with outsourced suppliers.
Cons:
- Shipping large items may incur higher costs
- Faces substantial competition, especially within the home goods category
#16. Digital products
Do you know you can sell digital things on Etsy too? Selling online items works well because they fit many topics. This is because there are various types of digital products to sell on Etsy like printable arts or phone apps. So you can see these Etsy business ideas are actually really popular now.
Over 3,000 people search “wallpaper” on Etsy each month. You could make wallpapers for phone and computer backgrounds easily. Another good search term getting 3,500 monthly searches is “wedding invitations”. But invitations don’t just have to be for weddings. They could work for any event too. Selling those types of non-physical products makes sense since people clearly want them and they have wide appeal.
Pros:
- Eliminates shipping and fulfillment costs, streamlining the order fulfillment process.
- Enables immediate fulfillment, ensuring prompt delivery of products or services.
Cons:
- Demands continuous updating and maintenance to keep the platform or service up to date and functioning optimally.
- Entails a higher risk of cyberattacks, necessitating rigorous security measures to protect sensitive information and maintain the trust of customers.
Are you looking for Etsy business ideas as a way to make money? You might also want to check out the Etsy Affiliate Program.
Small Business Ideas for Etsy – 5 Key Tips
If you’ve come up with some Etsy small business ideas to start selling on Etsy, we have some helpful tips that can help you succeed on your selling journey. Keep reading to check it out.
1. Choose a unique shop name
Pick a name for your Etsy shop that stands out and grabs attention. It should give customers an idea what you sell fast. For example, if you sell organic skincare products, you can name your shop “PureSkin”
Follow these easy steps to get name ideas:
- Make a list of words related to your items. Or pick interesting names not about the items.
- Think how each word ties to others.
- Join words together into one name describing your shop.
- Or name it after your brand’s story. Like if you knit clothes for kids, you can use your kid’s name.
- Search that name to make sure no one else is using it already and it doesn’t sound like another shop there which could mix people up.
2. Upload high-quality images
Most people shopping online say how good the pictures are of something tells them if they will buy it or keep looking. You don’t need the best camera but taking nice photos of your things should be very important.
Here are some more tips:
- Take photos from other sides of the item.
- Show what makes your product special close up.
- Take pictures with the product being used where people use things for real.
Making pictures that really show your Etsy business ideas well is key to getting buyers. Even without expensive photo gear, putting time into pictures will help your Etsy shop a lot.
3. Provide excellent customers support
Treating customers well goes a long way to have repeat buyers, get new customers, and help your brand’s name.
Here are some tips to help:
- Make clear, simple rules for shopping at your store so customers know what to expect.
- Do what you say. Make the item details very clear. If you say you’ll ship within 3-5 days, do that.
- Reply to questions and problems quickly.
- Thank buyers each time they get something from you.
- Be friendly when talking to customers. Say “I’ll try” instead of “I can’t” when you might not do something.
Following these tips helps keep customers happy so they’ll come back and tell their friends good things about your Etsy shop.
4. Market your products
Once you have your Etsy store ideas, you should think of how you can promote your products when making plans. Here are some methods to promote your Etsy shop to customers both on and off the site:
1. Etsy ads campaigns: You can increase your shop’s visibility by using Etsy Ads. These paid advertisements help you acquire helpful information and recommendations to adjust your campaigns. This can result in more visits and conversions for your shop.
2. Social media: You can post and promote your Etsy products on popular social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest. This helps your items reach more potential shoppers.
3. Offsite ads: Etsy also promotes your product listings outside of the Etsy website. This includes advertising on social media apps and search engine results, allowing you to reach potential customers who may not be browsing on Etsy directly.
5. Integrate your Etsy shop with other platforms
Small Etsy business owners can further sync listings with an online store on Amazon Handmade or Shopify for improved visibility and selling items through multiple sales channels. This Etsy integration cross-promotion strategy expands the potential customer base and increases chances of higher revenues for the Etsy business.
If you want to sell on multi-channels, you can utilize LitCommerce tools to handle all of your selling channels easily.
Ideas for an Etsy Shop – FAQs
- What products sell well on Etsy?
Best selling items on Etsy include:
- Art
- Jewelry
- Apparel
- Stickers
- Enamel pins
- Candles
- Woodworking projects
- Handmade pottery and clay goods
- Customized goods
- Crafts supplies and kits
- Baby products
- Skin care products
- Gifts for Pets
- Print on demand
- Furniture and home goods
- Digital products
However, it’s important to research and validate market demand to specific your ideas for an etsy shop.
- What Etsy store ideas for a beginner?
If you’ve just started selling on Etsy, the best Etsy store ideas for you are selling digital arts, handmade candles, customized stationery, or unique accessories. Starting with a niche that aligns with your skills and passions can help set your store apart.
- Is selling Etsy worth it for small businesses?
Etsy can be worth it for small businesses due to its built-in customer base, easy-to-use platform, and lower upfront costs compared to traditional brick-and-mortar stores. However, success on Etsy requires consistent effort in product quality, marketing, and customer service to stand out in a competitive marketplace.
Conclusion
Now that you have some of the best profitable Etsy business ideas, you can change your art hobby and talents into extra money or even a full business that earns a lot. If making physical things doesn’t work well for you (because you don’t have room at home or can’t afford supplies), one choice is selling online items through Etsy instead.
If you want to know more about selling on Etsy like how much does it cost to start an Etsy shop, don’t hesitate to contact us.
We also have many other guides that assist you with eCommerce on our blog and Facebook Community. Click the link to access.
