As a certified shopaholic, Etsy is one of my favorite online shopping platforms. It allows you to buy or sell a variety of handmade or vintage items from independent creators, local businesses, and small businesses.
Although Etsy has grown in popularity since its founding in 2005, not everyone has uncovered the secrets of this incredibly unique shopping platform. If you are one of these people, keep reading to find out all you need to know about Etsy.
What Is Etsy?
Etsy was originally founded to connect small indie artists, but it has rapidly grown into a leading online marketplace. Handmade items, collectibles, arts, jewelry, and other goods are often sold on this site. You can also find crafts, craft supplies, and holiday items on this site.
What makes Etsy different from other online marketplaces is that the independent sellers manage all business steps. These sellers produce their goods, manage their inventory, and ship out their orders. Etsy is simply a middleman that connects independent sellers to interested customers.
Shopping On Etsy
Given that Etsy is simply the middleman between the independent sellers and customers, the shopping experience is incredibly safe and organized. The website itself is separated into different categories, making it easy to find the exact items you want.
Another great feature about shopping on Etsy is that you don’t have to subscribe or create an account at any time. If you wish, you can simply check out as a guest. At the same time, you can also create an account if you would like. I personally recommend creating an account if you plan to shop frequently.
You can even shop from sellers from all around the globe, though shipping may change based on your location. You can even use a variety of payment options, including credit cards, debit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Etsy gift cards, and more.
Becoming A Seller On Etsy
If you are interested in selling your items on Etsy, the process is rather easy. There are some extra steps if you want to sell vintage pieces, but the overall process is straightforward and efficient. There will be no setup fee, but expect fees whenever you list, sell, and ship any of your products.
In order to create an Etsy seller account, you need to know your location, shop name, preferred payment, and banking information from the beginning. It is also helpful to create or select a niche to find repeat customers that are faithful to your products.