Etsy Shop Ideas: What to Sell on Etsy (50+ Ideas)

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Etsy Shop Ideas

Operating an Etsy shop is a great way to make money online, with more options than you may imagine. Etsy has gained a reputation as a place to sell handmade craft items online, but it’s so much more, and it’s a very accessible platform.

Etsy is a well-regarded American e-commerce business that can help you to get started as an online seller. To give you some inspiration, we have collated a list of Etsy shop ideas, the best things you can sell, and some useful tips to help you become successful.

What Can You Sell on Etsy?

The Etsy platform has expanded in recent years to sell a wider variety of products that can help you build a business and brand with global reach. Many people use Etsy to find personalized and cute gifts for their friends and family.

There are Etsy sellers that have created a significant business by monetizing their unique interests and hobbies. The main draw is that you can work an Etsy business from home and choose your work hours.

Some of the more unique Etsy shops ideas and categories we’ve found include DIY tutorials, hobby patterns (sewing, knitting, crocheting, and needlework), budget printables, handmade craft goods, and trending items like adult coloring books.

It’s easy to believe that you need to be a “crafty” or “artsy” person to set up and run an Etsy store as a shop owner, but this isn’t necessarily true.

As an Etsy seller, you get to choose the products you want to sell and the level of skill or knowledge that you can bring to your Etsy store. So, if you’re not skilled at crafts, you can try one of the Etsy concepts in this article or something else to see what’s a good fit for your skillset.

If you have advanced skills that may not seem relevant, such as photography, painting, writing, and graphic design, it’s important to understand that you can also sell digital downloads.

Specific Etsy Shop Ideas 

1. Planners and Organizers

Planner
Planner refill pages from KHDStickers

Even in this digital age, many people prefer a printed copy of a planner or organizer to make important notes. The niche planner field is where you can really set yourself apart from the competition. Some interesting examples include bullet journals, budget planning diaries, customized pregnancy planners, and many more.

You can limit your sales to digital downloads or sell hard copies with unique artwork and covers. There are many other interesting options, such as banners, bottle labels, signs, food tags, spreadsheets, shopping lists, and many more. Etsy printables sell well, and checklists and habit trackers are always popular sellers on the platform.

2. Printable Checklists

We briefly covered printables above, but what are they? A printable is a digital product that the buyer can purchase and then print at their leisure.

Some popular printables include chore charts, photo albums, resumes, and planners. Printable checklists are very popular now, and they’re regularly the number one seller in these categories. Some of the hottest-selling checklists are blog post schedules, fitness goal trackers, meal planners, social media content planners, and more.

People like content that helps them to stay focused and productive, and printables are a great source of passive income. With this shop idea, there’s no need to worry about shipping physical products to your customers. Selling digital downloads means you won’t have to deal with inventory or manually fulfill Etsy orders.

Great Side Hustle
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Access this free workshop and learn how to generate passive income by selling printables on Etsy. You'll learn about the types of products that sell, how to get your Etsy shop set up, and how to make sales and ensure that your shop is a success.


This is the perfect side hustle if you:

  • Want to work from home
  • Don't have much time
  • Like the idea of selling on Etsy
  • Don't have prior experience

3. Motivational Printables 

A motivational printable is a special sub-category desirable for many struggling to stay motivated over the medium to long term. A simple decorative print with aphorisms or motivational sayings can encourage people when they need it most.

4. Budgeting & Financial Printables

In the current financial climate, it should come as no surprise to learn that budgeting and financial planning printables are popular. For the thrifty buyer, these are ideal. They can be printed and used repeatedly, making them good value for money. The best-sellers are daily or weekly short-term planners over monthly and annual alternatives.

5. Wedding Printables

Wedding items are profitable because people are happy to spend money to make their special day memorable. So, it’s not surprising that wedding printables are a top Etsy seller. Some items you could create to sell include favors, games, invitations, save-the-date cards, signs, and more.

6. Entertainment Printables

Printable board games, puzzles, card games, and activity books are popular Etsy sellers. Parents often look for new ways to entertain kids on vacations and long car rides, and if a printable is lost or damaged, they can print a fresh one. Kids can learn counting, numbers, and other useful skills and have fun at the same time.

7. Stickers

Stickers are always trending products on Etsy. They can be used to decorate greeting cards, notebooks, and postcards, and promote a business, school, club, or association. Stickers are cheap and easy to make, and they can be stored for a long time.

Creating a viable sticker business is possible if you have good ideas and a flair for expression. You can create your designs on the computer, print them at home, or arrange for a third party to fulfill your orders.

8. Canva Templates

Canva (online design software) is free to use and comes with many pre-sized documents for users. Making useful Canva templates that users can edit and change fonts, colors, and other elements can be profitable. People are always looking for a quick and easy way to put their own creative stamp on something they can use.

9. Social Media Templates

Most people use one or more social media platforms, but making a profile stand out from the crowd can be hard. If you create engaging designs that customers can edit to enhance their presence, this can be monetized.

10. Baby Clothes

Baby clothes are a big seller on Etsy because those little outfits and shoes are hard to resist for a favorite child. So, if you can crochet, sew or knit baby or child items, you can make good money selling your creations in your Etsy shop.

11. Baby Accessories

Baby hat

The desire to spend money on handmade baby clothes can also be extended to other accessories. Creating a swaddle sack or baby bow for that first-ever picture can be extremely lucrative. Another possibility is handmade fashionable outfits for infants and toddlers that people can buy and give as gifts.

12. T-Shirts

Another popular clothing item to sell in your Etsy shop is custom t-shirts. The design possibilities are endless. They can be evergreen or reflect current events.

This is an ideal fit for people with a graphic design background but it could be done even if you don’t have design skills (you can hire a designer on Fiverr to create items for you). T-shirts are always popular, can be a low-risk item, and offer a fantastic return on investment for a savvy Etsy seller.

13. Personalized Clothing & Accessories

The skills you use to create custom t-shirts can be applied to other items of clothing and accessories. People like customized products with event names or company logos on them. Some examples could be totes, bags, beanies, scarves, and more.

14. Handmade Jewelry

If you have an artistic talent and a practical mindset to use tools precisely, you may be ideally suited to make jewelry to sell in an Etsy shop.

Many people love custom or personalized jewelry items that aren’t available in a regular store. There are many stamping techniques and modern styles to explore, and it’s possible to learn this skill by watching Youtube videos.

15. Vintage Jewelry

Vintage Jewelry

Vintage jewelry that you may find at a garage sale or antique store may be a viable item to sell in your Etsy shop. Some older jewelry can be revived with proper care and cleaning techniques. But you must watch your margins carefully to ensure you make a healthy profit.

16. Vintage Clothing

Good clothing designs tend to come back into fashion regularly because they’re fun, unique, and thrilling. Some people buy retro clothes to make a fashion statement, and others may wear them as an outfit or costume at a special event. If you can source good vintage clothes and fix them up, you can make good money selling the items on Etsy.

17. Fashion Accessories

If you’ve purchased classic retro clothes, you will likely need some accessories to go with the outfit. Selling hats, belts, sunglasses, scarves, and other items on Etsy can be lucrative because many people dislike modern high-priced designer labels.

18. Craft Supplies

Craft Supplies

Selling craft supplies in your Etsy shop can be very profitable, and these items are often top sellers. You can buy and sell craft items for artists and other Etsy sellers to use, and sales tend to soar around the holidays.

Some good products to sell include paint, yarn, glue, cut-out shapes, and more. These items can be purchased in bulk to lower costs and maintain stock over a longer period.

This is a competitive and large group of items to sell. Here are seven handy tips to follow:

  1. Always source product samples to make sure you know what you’re buying to sell on to your customers.
  2. Buy in bulk when possible to maximize profitability.
  3. Optimize your Etsy shop listing with words describing the craft supplies you’re selling to help people find your items.
  4. The inventory should be organized to help you process incoming orders quickly.
  5. Increase sales with gift bundles on special occasions and during the holiday season.
  6. Always have extra stock on hand for the upcoming holiday season.
  7. Add the fees to the item selling price to ensure you cover all your costs.

19. Coloring Books & Pages

Selling coloring books and specific pages for both kids and adults is popular with many buyers on the Etsy platform.

Like other printables we showed earlier, there are many ways to turn this into a viable business. Some of the trendiest coloring printables on sale at the time of writing this article include coloring pages for kids, quote coloring pages, adult mandalas, and many more.

20. Sewing Supplies

You can sell sewing supplies and related accessories if you want a small and easy-to-manage Etsy shop. Many sellers have had success selling sewing fabrics, notions, patterns, and other items used to make clothes, quilts, drapes, and more.

21. Beads

Beads

Among Etsy’s top ten seller lists, bead supply stores are consistently present, and they’re always a popular choice for potential buyers. This is especially true if you can source unique beads that cannot be purchased in rival Etsy shops. Many people buy beads for their craft projects or to make ornaments and costume jewelry.

22. Ribbons

Giving a gift is certainly enhanced if the item is wrapped nicely and dressed up with ribbons. Many Etsy shoppers are always on the hunt for new and cute lengths of ribbon for this purpose, or to tie up their hair.

If you’re selling ribbons, don’t forget to offer decorative tape to maximize your selling potential.

23. Blankets

If you can put together items using fabric and yarn, you can make excellent money selling them in your Etsy shop. People love unique crochet or knitted items, and blankets are popular as beautiful and practical gifts.

A well-made one-off blanket is a potential heirloom that multiple generations can own and enjoy.

24. Home Organization Products

Some of the more popular printable products on Etsy are home organization tools. Some popular options include finance planning sheets, jar labels, tote labels, closet storage tags, home filing labels, and more.

People are always looking for ways to make their lives more productive and efficient with better organization, and your labels could help.

25. Face Masks

The Covid-19 pandemic brought face masks into the public consciousness, and it looks like they are here to stay. Many people continue to wear face masks, and their demand has remained constant. Selling unique printed masks that cannot be found in other stores is the key to making good money.

26. Patches

Another popular range of products sold on the Etsy platform is unique iron-on embroidery patches. Many people like to customize their clothes and accessories with patches they can sew or iron on. Selling interesting designs with great quotes is the key to selling success.

27. Pet Supplies

Pet owner’s like to spoil their furry friends with cute outfits and personalized accessories. These are among some of the best sellers on Etsy, and the unique or handmade items are highly desirable. Pet toys are another possibility here.

28. Greeting Cards

If you enjoy making your own greeting cards, you can monetize this hobby with your Etsy shop. Handmade craft items are always good sellers, and discerning buyers hold unique card designs in high regard.

29. Holiday/Seasonal Decor

Christmas Decorations

Many people love to get into the holiday spirit with handmade, vintage, or custom holiday decorations for their homes or businesses. Home decorating is a real passion for some buyers always looking for unique and well-made items.

30. Party Supplies

Etsy is a great platform to sell party decorations and goods for themed parties. Supplying personalized and customized items that people want to use can be lucrative. Look at what the other Etsy stores are selling and try to offer desirable alternatives.

31. Wrapping Paper

If you’re considering ribbons for wrapping presents, it makes perfect sense to sell wrapping paper too. Many people are interested in unique wrapping paper to surprise their family and friends when they give gifts.

Find some unique wrapping paper, purchase it in bulk, and offer themed packages to your Etsy customers. Adding printable tags to go with your products is another point-of-sale item that can boost your sales.

32. Party Favors

Party Favors

Many people like to offer party favors to take home after the celebration. These party favors could include printed games, coloring pages, card games, stickers, and more. If you offer themed party favors for certain celebrations, this attention to detail can help drive sales.

33. Costumes

Dressing up is for more than Halloween now. Many people enjoy cosplaying for conventions and other events. If you’re selling premade items or your own costumes, it’s a good idea to focus on popular video games or anime characters.

34. Invitations

Selling prints and invitations is popular on Etsy, and it’s possible to make good money. You can sell items for many types of events in this category, including birthdays, showers, weddings, and many more.

35. Phone Cases

The latest phones are expensive, people want to protect them with a case, and they are always searching for a unique design. Having a fun phone case can set a user apart from their peers, and you can offer custom cases in your Etsy store.

These unique designs can be supplemented with premade cases that you can purchase in bulk to maximize your profit margins.

36. Cooking & Baking Supplies

The kitchen is another area where people enjoy using unique and custom items. An Etsy shop that sells hard-to-find baking items and supplies can be very profitable.

Some examples of products you could sell include food molds, decorating tools, special ingredients, out-of-print cooking books, personalized cooking aprons, and more.

A consistent best seller is a silicone baking mat with a fun and unique design. On a more practical level, you could sell specialty knives that are hard to source, clever kitchen gadgets, and even gift baskets with apple corers, avocado slices, and other handy tools.

37. Photo Props

Photo Props

Fun photo props are popular for DIY photo booths at weddings and other events. You can also sell props used for newborn photos, maternity photos, family photos, and more. Great props can be found in various places, and you may be surprised at what sells best in your Etsy shop.

38. Photo Backdrops

Photography backdrops also sell well on Etsy. Some popular options include digital, vinyl, photographs, backdrop stands, and more.

39. Lightroom Presets

Lightroom is a popular app for editing photos to a high standard. Although it’s possible to make very deep changes to photos, this task has a steep learning curve.

Casual users may not have the time or patience to master Lightroom, and this can be a profitable opportunity if you understand how the software works. Lightroom presets allow users to make dramatic changes with a single click.

40. Photo Overlays

A photo overlay is a texture or element that can be added over an existing image. This work is typically carried out in Adobe Photoshop and gives digital photographers an extra image that they can use to enhance or exaggerate certain effects. If you know how to create overlays in Photoshop, you can monetize your skills with Etsy.

41. Photo & Art Prints

Many people purchase photographs and wall art prints to decorate their homes or offices. If you’re an artist or photographer, this may be an ideal way to monetize your skills. You can sell original or limited edition artwork for a higher price.

42. Custom Frames

If you have an Etsy shop that sells prints, you may consider selling custom frames to accommodate them. This is especially true if your prints are unusual shapes or sizes that don’t conform to standard sizes.

Offering a buyer a unique print and a selection of suitable frames is a smart way to drive extra sales.

43. Camera Straps

Camera Strap

Although phones are the default choice for taking casual photographs, it’s interesting to note that cameras have remained popular. On Etsy, you can find many shops that sell custom and personalized camera straps.

44. Scrapbooking & Digital Scrapbooking Accessories

Digital and analog scrapbooking is popular with people who like to keep a craft-focused record of their experiences. You could sell unique and printable digital scrapbook pages, home decor signs, DIY notices, and other useful items in your Etsy store.

45. Yoga Products

Many Etsy customers are avid yoga practitioners. This is a huge potential market you can access with your Etsy shop. Selling yoga pants, mats, printable motivational pages, planners, and other accessories can be profitable.

46. Dinnerware

Many people express their personalities with their dinnerware for everyday use and entertainment. With some patience, it’s possible to create a package that could rival those in large retail stores. A custom matching dinnerware set can be a good seller if the design is attractive and practical.

47. Engraved Items

People love engraved and personalized items for their homes, including plaques, wooden signs, noodle boards, engraved cutting boards, and more. These may be great gifts for newlyweds and people setting up their first home.

Adding items with popular quotes, special dates, and holidays is a great option for your new Etsy shop.

48. Candles

Unique and beautiful candles and the candle holders to present them properly are popular products on Etsy. It’s possible to upcycle materials to create these products, and even simple candles can be made into something special.

49. Toiletries & Skin Care

Soap

Special bathroom products are always popular on a craft-driven selling platform such as Etsy. Best-selling products include bath bombs, lotions, handmade soaps, bubble baths, facial and body scrubs, and more.

You can sell items you make yourself, items you source from a wholesale supplier, or both. Put together special gift baskets for Valentine’s Day, the holidays, and birthdays to drive extra sales.

50. Plants

There is a huge online market for hard-to-find and heritage plant seeds. If you’re interested in plants and have a green thumb, you can leverage that knowledge to make money with an Etsy shop.

51. Custom Woodworking

If you’re a competent woodworker, you can sell your unique creations. Personalizing these wood items with laser-engraved patterns and messages will further drive sales.

What If I’m Not Crafty?

Among the top 100 Etsy sellers, around 50% sell crafting supplies rather than completed or handmade products. The ratio has increased to this level in the last year when more people were forced to stay home during the pandemic.

People with time on their hands and a desire to make money began crafting items to sell on Etsy and other platforms. But, if you’re not accomplished with crafts, you can make good money selling crafting supplies and other items to your customers.

Digital products are also a possibility. Many of them require design work, but you can outsource this to a freelancer if you don’t have design skills.

How Much Does It Cost to Start an Etsy Shop?

The start-up costs for an online store are significantly lower than a brick-and-mortar enterprise. Most of the initial investment will be spent on stock, as the Etsy costs are not prohibitive. You get the shop storefront included in the pay-as-you-go fees.

Before you begin, there are three Etsy fees to consider:

1.   The Listing Fee

Etsy will charge a nominal fee for each item you sell on their platform. In the United States, this fee is $0.20 for each listing.

2.   The Transaction Fee

Every item purchased in your Etsy shop incurs a 5% fee based on the total price paid by the customer.

3.   The Payment Processing Fee

Etsy has a service called Etsy Payments which handles ten separate payment options for customers. A 3% processing fee plus $0.25 is applied to every transaction in the U.S.

Is Etsy Too Crowded for Sellers?

It’s important to understand that you will compete with other Etsy sellers within your chosen niche. But, it’s possible to be successful and stand out from the crowd if you follow four simple rules:

1.   Pick the Right Products

Many Etsy sellers start out with products that underperform until they hit on a formula or shop idea that works for them. A single good product can provide a solid foundation for the rest of your Etsy shop, and this should not be underestimated. Success will be limited if you sell the same things as other Etsy sellers with more experience and a loyal customer base.

2.   Create Batches

If you’re getting a lot of orders, they need to be shipped quickly to prevent customer unrest and bad reviews. Selling items created or sourced in batches can significantly lower the order processing times. If the focus of your Etsy shop is bespoke or customized items, it’s important to clearly state the fulfillment period.

3.   Etsy SEO

Search engine optimization (SEO) on Etsy is driven by the titles, imagery, tags, and product descriptions you choose for your Etsy listing. A good image is extremely important. If you want to photograph your items, consider investing in a good camera and lights. The written content must be up-to-date and relevant to drive traffic to your listings.

4.   Extra Marketing Efforts

Driving extra traffic to your Etsy shop listings with content on other platforms is a smart marketing strategy. The best site for this purpose is Pinterest because it places a focus on high-quality images.

It’s estimated that approximately 58% of “Pinners” are influenced in their buying decisions by the content they’ve seen on Pinterest (source).

Around 52% of Pinterest users spend $500 or more on bath and beauty products, and 70% purchase watches, jewelry, and other accessories they’ve seen on the platform.

So, if you get your Etsy shop items pinned on Pinterest, you can generate extra sales.

Aside from Pinterest, you can also use Etsy ads to help jumpstart your shop.

How Much Can You Make Selling on Etsy?

The Etsy marketplace has 3 million sellers and 60 million customers across 234 nations and territories. So, this is a great platform to join if you’re looking for a small side hustle or an online business to grow into something more.

Many sellers started Etsy as a part-time gig, and now it’s their entire income, plus they get to work from home. But, success is not guaranteed, and many people fail to make much money because they don’t approach Etsy as a true business. It takes time and consistent effort to become accomplished at anything, and executing your Etsy shop idea is no exception.

If you implement the tips and advice in this article, you can increase your chances of success on Etsy. It’s possible to make a lot of money, and some Etsy sellers are banking $30,000 per month or more. Others use Etsy as a side hustle to make extra money, pay a few bills, or save for their next vacation around a full-time job.

It’s estimated that an average person could make around $100 up to $500 profit per month. The potential income will be determined by your attitude, marketing, speed of delivery, and the demand for the products you sell. There’s no magic formula. Some trial and error may be needed until you find success.

Etsy Shop Ideas: Final Thoughts

If you have some time to dedicate to creating a small business, Etsy is a great place to get up and running quickly. It’s possible to make money and build your brand with small ongoing fees that you can recoup per sale.

Etsy is a platform where people purchase handmade goods, unique wall art, craft supplies, vintage items, prints, and more. Following our tips and the Etsy shop ideas mentioned in this article will boost your chances of early success.


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