3 Things You Should Know Before Starting An Etsy Shop

So you are thinking of opening your own Etsy shop and you have no idea where to even start? That’s okay, we will get started together. Today we will go over just a few things you should know before starting your own Etsy Shop. First, what is Etsy? Etsy is a unique marketplace where people all over the world can start their own shop and grow their business.

What can I sell on Etsy?

First things first, what exactly can I sell on Etsy? There are three categories of items you can sell on Etsy, this includes handmade items, vintage items and craft supplies. A lot of items can fall into these categories, let’s go over the specifics.

Handmade items

Anything from a hand knitted sweater to a digital design such as our planner printables, are considered handmade items. As long as the item is designed and crafted by you, it’s considered a handmade item. This can also include items you design and work with a production partner to make. What you cannot do is resell items you bought and did not make or design yourself, even if they were handmade by someone else.

Vintage Items

What are vintage items? Many items may be considered vintage to others; however, Etsy only considers an item to be vintage if it is at least 20 years old. As long as the item is at least 20 years old, it can be anything from clothing to housewares and more!

Craft Supplies

Etsy considers craft supplies to be tools, materials or ingredients whose primary purpose is to create an item or throw a special occasion.  Craft supplies may be handmade, commercial, or vintage, even party supplies can be sold as craft supplies.

What can’t I sell on Etsy?

Some items, even though they may be handmade, vintage or craft supplies, may not be able to be sold on Etsy. Prohibited items include tobacco, drugs or drug paraphernalia, weapons, hazardous materials and others. Items that use the intellectual property of someone else, even if you made the item, also are not allowed. There also may be local laws prohibiting certain items from being sold or shipped.

Choosing an Etsy Shop Name

Choosing your Etsy shop name is very important. This is how your buyers will see you and will also be the web address to get to your shop, for example, my Etsy shop name is NicsCreativeChaos so the web address to get to my shop is http://www.etsy.com/shop/nicscreativechaos or http://nicscreativechaos.etsy.com. If you are indecisive like me you may have trouble deciding on a shop name, but don’t worry, your Etsy shop name can be changed later in your settings if need be.

Do I need a business license to sell on Etsy?

Nope, Etsy does not require sellers to have a business license to sell on Etsy. You do however need to follow any laws that apply to you as a small business selling online.

That’s pretty much the basics when it comes to opening your own Etsy shop. Our next article we will explore more into how to get started. What else would you like to know about starting an Etsy shop? Let me know in the comments if you have any questions or suggestions, I’d love to hear them!

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