3 Things I Wish I'd Known Before Reopening My Etsy Shop

A year ago I reopened my Etsy shop after putting it in vacation mode for a year and a half - thanks for that, 'Rona. The Etsy I left at the start of 2020 was a completely different platform to the one I returned to in the summer of 2021.
In this video I'm sharing my three biggest take aways from the past year and how it's changed everything I do.

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(To see more of what I sell in my own Etsy shop and follow my progress)

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[KimBliss]

I would love to hear from sellers who launch product drops: Apart from being organised, do you have any tips? 😁

[KariGibsonArt]

I do seasonal "collections" now and find they work very well at creating interest. That reminds me, I really ought to be getting on with my autumn collection. 😬

[Marta_QuidemClay]

Yay!! I thought I was the only one who did not enjoy collection launches. :-) Lovely to hear that. I think I'll just stop feeling guilty and continue adding my products one by one as it comes much more naturally to me.

[sarahricecreativellc]

When I started on Etsy last year, I was screen print tees. It took off in December, did pretty well for January considering it was January, and then I let it die. So I started back a few weeks ago adding new, but sublimation and embroidery items. Still dead. I decided last week to deactivate my screen print tees and just keep my sublimation and embroidery shirts active. I don’t know what happened, but I’ve gotten a sale and more likes in the past week than I have in 6 months 🤯 The algorithm just throws me. So now I will keep on pushing and see how it goes. Another good video! ❤️

[AnnieEclectic]

😂 apples and cars… perfect description!

[BorrowedYourHeart]

I started my Etsy in January 2022 and only made 1 sale so far. The rest was from family. Currently working on my Shopify!

[JohnLee-mktj]

Good points Km for anyone with or starting an Etsy shop.👍 One thing for sure is it's changed and is a lot tougher to make a good go of it without something completely original.😊

[OldtoNewRestorations]

You have to wonder how many of those etsy sellers are still active, though. Probably a lot of people took the lockdown and furlough as a chance to chase their dreams and have now gone back to work after it didn't work out like they hoped. For example, I have three(!) etsy shops, only one I'm really doing anything with now. The other two I'm winding down because they're not really working out.

[TCTCTCTCTC]

Thanks, this has been very enlightening & helpful (am a complete newbie, about to start a shop!)

[Stinky_Frog_Games]

I love that Embroidered looking flower hoop behind you, did you make it? Also, I found you when you were still doing those little bags, do you plan on making any more of them or completing switching over from them?
I also struggle with my deadlines; I was supposed to have this goldfish drawing done last week and I barely touched it 😅 luckily it's not a commission, just a me project but I still wanna finish it to create prints lol

[pumpjackpiddlewick]

Interesting. As always. Just love your videos. Your energy and topics are always great to watch.
Would love to know your thoughts on repeats. Eg you make the same thing over and over again to sell rather than diversifying. I have been playing with this, though in vintage (not easy) as opposed to handmade, with some... interesting results. (PS. this is a tip - smiley face emoji if I were writing this from my phone.)

[reneehawk]

I saw your video regarding reopening an Etsy Shop, and was hoping you might be able to help me. I was in the process of getting my shop set up, had alot done already, and I accidentally hit the open shop button. When I realized what I had done, I immediately hit close shop, as I didn't want it to go public with it being half completed.
I have been in contact with Etsy for 2 days now, and keep getting the run around.
After explaining that I wanted to see if there was a way to continue with what I had already setup, without opening my shop, they took it upon themselves to open my shop. I look like an idiot on Etsy because 50% is not filled in.
I'm at my wits you have any suggestions?

If I close my shop do I start over?

Help!!

Thank you,

Renee

[JayBenedictBrown]

I really like your observations. Testing 1, 2, 3…is this thing on?

[michaelbuckingham]

Resellers killed my chances of an etsy shop, after making one last month i was banned with 24 hours. apparently I committed some policy violations not sure how as I make handmade (turned on a lathe) wooden pens and only put one product up for sale. All appeals fell on deaf ears and was treated to what i can only describe as a f*** off email from them telling me never to contact them again. To top it off they ended the email with #standwithsmall. Sorry this probably was not the experience you were looking for.

[CricketsBay]

Don't forget the 4th Category: Mass-produced supplies made in China and sold by sellers in China, shipped worldwide from China.
Also, the 5th Category: Factory-made, mass-produced "handmade" items also made in China and sold by sellers in China, shipped worldwide from China.

[patriciawiley]

My question is how can something you are selling be called handmade if you have manufactured somewhere else? I can understand original artwork but that still is not a handmade good.

[teaformulamaths]

How do you know when it's become a business?

[myiridescentlovecandleco.]

I tried a product drop - still no sales 🤣🤣🤣 xxx

[nfthero]

What a missed opportunity. Imagine shutting off your e-commerce store during the biggest boom in e-commerce history.

[pri]

Scammers delight now for items over $250