Selling on Etsy: What you need to know

By Jessica Trueblood, Shop Review Crew - First in a Three-Part Series

In the world of ecommerce, Etsy stands out as a unique platform that offers tremendous opportunities for creative entrepreneurs and artisans. By leveraging the platform’s expansive buyer base, user-friendly interface, and builtin traffic, sellers can establish a strong online presence, reach a global audience, and thrive in the thriving handmade and vintage market. For laser owners, Etsy is a great option for your business!

Here are a few reasons why: Built in Buyers!

One of the primary reasons why selling on Etsy is a great idea is the platform’s extensive buyer base. With over 90 million active buyers worldwide, Etsy provides sellers with a vast pool of potential customers seeking unique, handmade, and vintage products. These buyers are attracted to Etsy’s reputation as a marketplace that prioritizes craftsmanship, creativity, and personalization. This means even if you currently have your own website, setting up an Etsy shop can be an additional venue for your business.

According to Etsy’s 2021 Annual Report, approximately 60% of Etsy’s gross merchandise sales come from traffic generated by Etsy itself, indicating the substantial impact of built-in traffic on seller success. A healthy Etsy shop can see a breakdown of about 70% Etsy generated traffic vs 30% self generated. That means as a shop owner, you can focus your efforts elsewhere!

According to Etsy’s 2021 Annual Report, the platform recorded a remarkable 71.4 million active buyers in the year, representing a 56% increase compared to the previous year.

Global Reach

The diversity of buyers on Etsy is also worth noting, with 83% of them being women and approximately 40% residing outside of the United States. This global reach allows sellers to tap into international markets and expand their customer base. Digital shops can reap these benefits even more by offering products that can be purchased in any location!

Ease of Setup

Etsy’s user-friendly interface makes it incredibly easy for sellers to set up their online shops and manage their listings efficiently. The platform offers intuitive tools and resources that enable sellers, regardless of their technical expertise, to showcase their products effectively and provide a seamless shopping experience for buyers. There are also many forums and groups that you can join to help you along the way!

Low Startup Costs

With any business, the costs to start will vary. Etsy attracts millions of visitors who are actively searching for unique, handmade, and vintage products. This traffic saves sellers the effort and expense of generating their own website traffic or investing in extensive marketing campaigns. What does this mean for a laser business? You’ll pay to