If you love all things crafting and creative, an Etsy side hustle could be the perfect money maker for you. However, in such a saturated marketplace, you need a proactive approach to choosing your products and getting them up and running. Here are some unique ideas to kickstart your Etsy journey.Â
Scour the Best Sellers
Whether or not you know what you want to sell on Etsy, it’s wise to see what the best-sellers are doing. You’ll get fresh ideas on what to offer, but you can also get a look at best-selling listings. What type of copywriting do those sellers use? What are their photos like? What do the buyers say about their products in the review? The more you can get a sense of why best-sellers are moving, the better you can structure your Etsy side hustle.
Sell Printables By Using Free Programs
Printables, or digital prints, are all the rage on Etsy with almost no overhead and can be sold over and over again. You can also use free programs to design your printables and start selling right away. Seasonal printables for holidays are one way to sell and release every year. Evergreen printables can also be sold anytime for birthdays, party invitations, thank you notes, pages for a planner, weddings, kids checklists, self-improvement rackers, and more. You can design a printable for just about any occasion or theme and stock up your store to see what sells best. Take note of what people are buying the most and how you can design and sell similar items.
Make It Easy
Creating an Etsy side hustle doesn’t need to be challenging. You can make it easy by thinking about the skills and interests you already have. Making homemade play-doh and adding lavender essential oils instantly turns it into a relaxing stress ball. Scouring vintage finds in your area goodwill shops and consignment stores also stocks up your inventory without needing to make anything by hand.
Assist an Etsy Seller
There are roughly 5 million sellers on Etsy (and counting) who experience varying degrees of success. If you want to learn from the pros, you might as well get paid while doing it by creating an Etsy side hustle that helps other sellers. Position yourself as a Virtual Assistant who works on product descriptions, inventory ordering, customer service, research, or all of the above. You can niche down and offer specific services or offer a broad range. Charge at least $25 per hour and steadily raise your prices to maximize your income potential.
Sell Craft Supplies
Etsy sellers and creatives at heart all need craft supplies. Think about what you enjoy shopping for, from glass beads to paints. Bundle your orders and consider selling wholesale to up your sales. Remember your Etsy side hustle can also include organizers to hold craft supplies, as well as crafting books and tutorials.
Make Party Games
An Etsy side hustle planning party games usually fall under printables. Design Super Bowl, wedding, baby shower, and bachelorette games. They can be printed out or sold as an editable file. Scavenger hunts are also a buyer-favorite on Etsy and can be as adventurous or silly as you want. If you’re feeling extra ambitious, you can design your game boards and pieces or customize orders for customers looking for help bringing their vision to life.Â
Create Dog Treats
Dog owners are fiercely loyal to their pups and only want the best for their best friend. If you love to bake and love animals, creating dog treats could be the perfect outlet for you. You’ll find plenty of high-end, unique, and organic dog treats to get inspired for this Etsy side hustle. Check out the Bacon Snickerdoodles, Salmon Strips, and Birthday Dog Treats Set are popular on Etsy and keep buyers coming back for more.
Design Clip Art
Clip art is a long-time best-selling item on Etsy that sells repeatedly. You’ll find clipart for children, travel, business, superhero, and more. The clip art can be used for fun or to personalize planning pages and printables for other Etsy sellers. Make sure you study up on your competition. You’ll need to provide files in PNG, PDF, EPS, and more to savvy buyers who are pros at collecting clip art and repurposing it for their own work.
Look Around Outside
If you’re short on ideas and money to invest in your Etsy side hustle, go look around outside. People sell actual tumbleweeds, pinecones, bundled birch twigs, and more. You can load up a basket of what you find and make some price comparisons on Etsy. You want your prices to be competitive but not so high that long-rated sellers are sailing to the top of the listings.Â
An Etsy side hustle can be fun to earn extra money or scale into a full-time income. Choose your favorite from the list, and make sure to test your efforts to see what’s selling best. The more adaptable you are, the easier it is to find the right products for your Etsy shop.