Hi sellers,
Supply chain issues are top of mind for retailers around the globe, including our seller community. However, Etsy sellers can be better positioned to weather supply chain disruption than the average retailer. Read on for our top 4 tips on how you can get ahead of these challenges.
In this Chain Store Age overview of an Oracle study, 45% of the 1,000 U.S. respondents “admit they never thought about how products were delivered prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, but now 91% consider the supply chain when making a purchase.”
So why are shoppers thinking so much more about the supply chain now than before the pandemic started? If a clothing manufacturer can’t get the yarn they need to make their best-selling sweaters, they can’t make their sweaters. And if that manufacturer can’t make their sweaters, shoppers can’t buy them—they’ll have to go elsewhere to fulfill their sweater-based needs. For shoppers, that might mean using more time, energy, and money to do holiday shopping. And for manufacturers and retailers, that means the potential for lost sales.
But the good news is that small business owners like you can be better positioned to weather the storm than the traditional big-box store. We saw evidence of this right here on Etsy in 2020, when both brick-and-mortar and online big box retailers had trouble keeping face masks in stock, Etsy sellers quickly pivoted into making handmade face masks to fulfill that demand. By the end of 2020, Etsy sellers had collectively sold more than $740 million worth of masks.
So how can you help ensure the current supply chain disruption doesn’t leave you in a bind—and maybe even turn it into opportunity? Here are some tips to help you prepare for the holiday season:
Market your holiday super power: Remember, in an unpredictable climate, small business owners like you can be positioned to intercept shoppers who can’t find what they want at big box retailers. When marketing your shop, adjust your messaging to reiterate the benefits of shopping small in the midst of supply chain disruption.
Restock your supplies: Build up a collection of things you need to make each item in your shop. That way, you’re ready to handle any sales in the coming weeks. We know that significant upfront costs for some supplies might prevent you from stocking up as much you might like, so do what feels reasonable for you and your business. One extra yard of fabric for making your best-selling pot holders just might save you a whole lot of grief.
Don’t forget about shipping and packing materials: Make a list of what you typically use to pack up an order—think tissue paper, compostable mailers, shipping labels—and replenish those things now. That way, you’re not frantically searching through every drawer looking for that last roll of clear packing tape.
Only list what you have: No matter how much you try to prepare, supply chain issues still might make it hard to come by the materials you need. Simply put: If you don’t have what you need to make something, don’t list it for sale.
