How do I make a living on Etsy?

[ChasteStore]

I am creating a thread that i started in a main etsy discussion forum few weeks ago.

Hello I just started a modest clothing brand on Etsy. I have had two sales thus far. Any tips on making it a success. What are your stories? How long did it take you to reach from 1 sale to making a living? And what was it that you did to reach that next level?

[LeedsRadio]

I've been doing what I do, full time, since 1994, after doing it a few years from home while working a full time job.

I don't think there are many sellers who make a living off just off Etsy.
But if you mean hanging up a shingle and being your own boss that's not "the next level" but many levels up. After starting the next level is testing your product with customers and being honest with the results - Is it what they want? Is it the quality they want? Is there room in the market? In reality this should be done before you start.

Carefully calculate the cost of your product, including all indirect costs then look at your cost of living. Calculate how much you'd have to sell to live and the time it would take. You might find out that it isn't practical.

From there you set a realistic first sales goal. If you hit it you may be on your way. If you miss it by a mile you have to reassess your product, marketing and audience.

You'll need to learn about customer service. The hardest thing to learn is to not react/act emotionally when things go wrong. And believe me things will go to go wrong.

Then there's the things you have no control over - 9/11 nearly crushed me – what do people need what I sell when they think the world might end? Depressions, recessions, changes in the currency exchange.

Before you leap, ask yourself if being self employed is what you really want. Yes, there is the freedom of being at the helm, but that means you're responsible for EVERYTHING. Sleepless nights, long days, frustration, making ends meet and an unbelievable amount of hard work.

[maydaylabels]

You have a lovely store, that is all I will say. Other than that Richard is basically correct.

[ArtOnAJourney]

Inga, I think Richard couldn't have said it any better. I have had my shop for 4 years and I feel far from being a success, but I am accustomed to having my own business as I was freelance for most of my professional life prior taking this latest plunge. I am fortunate that I don't have to make a living with my art. If I quit my part time job, it would give me the time to devote my whole self to my shop and creating, but now is not that time.

One suggestion would be to add more product. I noticed a major bump in traffic and sales when I did this. Best of luck!

[StuckOnSilver]

Love your work, Inga! Definitely add more listings!

[hooknsaw]

From Richard: Before you leap, ask yourself if being self employed is what you really want. Yes, there is the freedom of being at the helm, but that means you're responsible for EVERYTHING. Sleepless nights, long days, frustration, making ends meet and an unbelievable amount of hard work.

THIS! I have been self employed for over 3 decades and the above paragraph describes it best!

[Plektra]

When I had a shop here, it took me almost 9 months to get my first sale. Actually my first sale was a month after I opened, but it had to be cancelled. But I knew I had a lot to learn and kept working on my shop instead of worrying. After that first sale, others started coming in slowly, some times it was very quiet and then busy. It took me a long time to have sales every month and regularly. When I opened my shop in 2011, I met a lady who said she makes a living here. Other sellers were posting the same. Now, in 2017, it seems impossible. Etsy has changed a lot, their direction, their decisions and plans, everything.

But I will repeat for emphasis: you need to add a lot more products!! It will be difficult for customers to find you with just a few products.

[RomaMiaTradingCo]

Your outfits are so cute, I love them!

I really don't think you can make your living just off of Etsy. Your items are cute enough to sell at fairs or take to local shops and see about selling there.

There is so much competition on Etsy, it really is hard to make your living just off of here. You really need a couple of outlets to do it.

[ChasteStore]

Thanks everyone for the advice. I see this same thing being repeated, make more products. We will work on making a whole collection. Hopefully we can make a winter collection.

[fishcouple]

Hi Inga! Your shop is cute! As Richard and others said previously, you need to add more items!

I had my first sale in almost 4 months and it was different items. I started seriously about 9 months after I opened my shop and I decided to shift gear to my hobby -- paper crafts. I was able to learn and transform gradually in the past 3 years. Although my shop is doing fine but I think it is still far from making a living. Fortunately, my family doesn't reply on my income.

Keep up with the good work and wish you all the luck!

[ChasteStore]

Thank you. Since than I have added 1 more listing to our shop. Aiming to Sew a new item or two every week for the shop.

[HartfordAvenueQuilts]

Selling online and marketing yourself is hard work. I make and sell quilts, thus not something everyone wants. Or if they do they don't want to pay much! I've been doing art shows in the warmer months for about 6 years now and I make much more doing that. However that's an investment too and sales fluctuate. And it's physically demanding. But I've met other great artists who have been very helpful in sharing their knowledge and experience. Your items are beautiful and I can't imagine there's not a market for them.

[Thaqafah]

I absolutely agree with what Richard said regarding calculating costs off living verses your expenses for your products, production etc. You do have some success stories on etsy but it is slow in reality to try and live off completely.

I am currently trying to build my audience after two almost three years on etsy. I made sales here and there, I mean weeks and months apart when I first started in 2015 because I had very little items posted, but just this May I started to see a steady increase once I added more shoe colors and designs for in my shop and taking custom orders.


If you aren’t doing custom orders then maybe you should consider it, as well as making sure your listings have the right keywords and listing titles.


Wish you the best, and you should try selling on Amazon in the handmade section that they have also, and see how that works for you. Multiple avenues of selling I believe is key.

[SageNThymeDesigns]

This is my full time employment and it's been a journey over 7 years to get there (took ~4 years to become 40+ hours a week consistently). I've been learning all the time. I think the most overlooked concept is that to be successful you need to sell things that people want to purchase. None of the items I opened my shop selling are items I make or sell any more. It's an evolution and learning what your customers want to buy is the key to that evolution.

I learned a ton by looking at the profile and favorite lists for anyone who favorited my shop or items. Etsy makes that market research piece really easy and you can see what other items and price ranges people are checking out. It helps you learn who's your target audience and you competitors are on Etsy, as well ideas for tags and options (color, length, details, sizing, etc.) for your products.

If you don't have a ton of different items already made you could list the same items with different titles and tag, using a different photo for the main listing photo. I do this a lot for items that have options (color or shirt + pants or shorts). That may help fill your shop out a little more while you build a product line, and you can show up more in search while reaching a larger or more diverse audience with the same products.

[ChasteStore]

Thanks for all the input. Keep them coming.