Entrepreneurs who want to use their creativity to start a business might want to join the 3.7 million “makers” or sellers who use Etsy to grow their businesses.
If you’re considering starting a new business, you should ask yourself what you love to do most. If your answer makes you creative and think of handmade goods, you might want to join the 3.7 million “makers” or sellers who use Etsy to build their businesses.
Etsy is a popular online market for handmade, vintage, and new items and supplies. In 2022, Etsy had 7.5 million active sellers, 74% more than the previous year.
Sellers pay fees for basic listing, transaction, and payment processing, but joining Etsy and opening a shop is free. Sounds good, right?
Think about these popular categories that do well on Etsy all the time.
Content Outline
Etsy Business Ideas
1. Home and Living
Statista says that 25% of Etsy sales in the first half of 2024 were in the home and living category, making it the best-selling category.
Since most homes turned into offices and classrooms almost overnight, it’s unsurprising that sales of everything from furniture to candles to puzzles and games have increased. Do you love crocheting and want to do it all the time?
Maybe you’re interested in a niche like hammocks or plant hangers. eRank says that personalized decor and gifts are also getting a lot of attention.
If you make your one-of-a-kind idea customizable, you’re already thinking like a seasoned Etsy user.
2. Art and Collectibles
By 2024, online art sales are expected to reach $9.32 billion USD.
E-commerce has made buying and selling art easier for artists and art lovers. It gives artists more exposure than they could get in a physical gallery, where you usually need to know someone to get in.
It also makes it easy for buyers to find art in all kinds of mediums that fit their tastes and budgets. Arts and collectibles make up 21% of what people sell on Etsy.
Original drawings, paintings, illustrations, digital prints, clip art, and original drawings are all very popular. Artists who bring something new, exciting, and unique to the platform can do very well.
People who make digital art that can be downloaded have the added benefit of not having to pay for shipping. This is a big draw for online shoppers today.
3. Craft and Supplies
Etsy calls the things that are used to make an item or for a special occasion “craft supplies.” During the pandemic, the popularity of do-it-yourself projects went through the roof. As a result, most craft subcategories, from tie-dye kits to embroidery kits, grew by 300% yearly.
Think about crochet patterns, knitting patterns, beads, yarns, clip art, charms, and paint. Also, stickers! The number one seller on Etsy always has stickers for personal planners that are fun and colorful.
4. Wedding
In 2024, many brides and grooms put off or scaled back their weddings, which greatly hurt the wedding business. That is expected to start going up again in 2021.
A 34% rise in searches for wedding dresses on Etsy shows that this is already happening. With this revival comes a need for new wedding clothes, decorations, favors, invitations, cake toppers, centerpieces, and gifts for the bridal party.
Brides-to-be go to Etsy to get ideas and to find unique, one-of-a-kind items that match their wedding styles.
A niche micro-category like rustic farmhouse or eco-friendly might be a good way to get the attention of this highly engaged audience.
5. Pet supplies
As of 2024, only 1% of the sellers on Etsy sold pet supplies. This could be a big opportunity since the pet boom isn’t slowing down.
More than two-thirds of U.S. homes have at least one pet, and pet owners are shopping more and more for their pets online.
The market for eco-friendly toys, clothing, beds, bowls, and accessories that are one-of-a-kind is high. Those who can reach pet owners who are ready and willing to treat their pets well will be in a good position to get a piece of a market that is expected to reach about $99 billion in sales in the U.S.
6. Jewelry
Jewelry is a big business on Etsy. Among the metals and beads available here are hammered, sculpted pieces, along with boho beads and pretty pearls. In 2022, 15% of all sellers on Etsy were in this category.
If you like making bracelets, earrings, or necklaces by hand, you can offer your own unique take on what’s popular in fashion or bring your own style and skill to the market.
CaitlynMinimalist, GLDNxLayeredAndLong, and MignonandMignon are three of the top jewelry sellers on Etsy, with minimalist designs and customized options.
7. Wall Art
Wall art is a very popular category on Etsy, with more than 7.5 million searches for it every month.
You can open an Etsy shop for wall art in one of three ways;
- Please make your own paintings and put them up for sale on Etsy (for the avid Van Goghs amongst us)
- Connect your Etsy store to a print-on-demand platform like Printful and use your wall art designs to make listings (more on print-on-demand below)
- Wall art that buyers can download and print on their own should be sold.
Print on demand (POD) is a service in which a POD company gives you blank products to add your designs. It can be a T-shirt, a hat, a mug, a pair of socks, or wall art.
A product is only made when someone buys it online. The item is then printed with your design and sent to the buyer.
It’s a great way to run a business because you don’t have to buy or hold any stock initially. Just upload your designs, and the POD company will take care of everything else.
8. Bath and Body Essentials
Self-care has become one of the most popular buzzwords, as shown by the 2,219% increase in searches on Etsy for the word “relaxation” from last year to this year.
In 2024, “face mask” was one of the most searched-for items on Etsy, with over 875,000 queries. People look to Etsy for simple and clear ways to take care of themselves.
Fans of beauty and wellness on Etsy care a lot about how clean, organic, and sustainable something is. The FDA’s guidelines and Etsy’s guidelines govern this category of products, so make sure you understand these rules before diving into the beauty pool.
9. Junk Journal Products
Junk journals are another popular craft on Etsy, and many Etsy sellers sell hand-made journals or the things you need to make them.
It’s exactly what it sounds like old papers, ribbons, fabrics, and any other old-looking materials. Again, you could start by using some public domain images we discussed earlier and offering vintage or historical printables that Etsy shoppers can download and add to their junk journals.
10. Clothing
It could be a great opportunity to demonstrate your skills and style on Etsy if you’re good at fashion design.
If you are good at graphic design, you could make custom t-shirts and other clothes that make a statement with bold and fun typography or funny sayings.
In 2024, sweats and loungewear were very popular, as was tie-dye.
People are looking for “tie-dye sweatsuits” more than 11.8 times as much as they did a year ago. In short, pay attention to what’s going on in lifestyle, fashion, and pop culture, and then design for the trends.
11. Accessories
Accessories are a big business on Etsy, and most of the sales in this category come from people who see a trend coming and make it their own. In 2023, fashion girls are expected to be attracted to headbands, organza scrunchies, and hair clips.
Undoubtedly, accessory-obsessed people will look to Etsy for more unique, handmade options than they can find in pharmacies or mall stores. It’s important to remember that in all Etsy categories, the keywords used to rank high and stand out in searches are often the key to success.
Labels Etsy Shop Ideas
In addition to the ideas for stickers, you can also use the same method to make labels for certain products or events.
Make the labels in Canva and post them as SVG or PNG files on Etsy so buyers can print them out. Or, you could make them into templates that buyers could download and change to fit their needs.
12. Vintage
Sell your vintage stuff on Etsy if you have old silk scarves, sunglasses, stationery, matchbooks, doll clothes, and more in your closets and drawers. Remember that on Etsy, items must be at least 20 years old to be considered vintage.
Choose a niche within the category, such as vintage barware or Swatch watches, to build your stock at estate sales, auctions, and yard sales.
Ensure you know how Etsy handles vintage items before you remove your legwarmers or mix tapes.
FAQs
❓What are some popular Etsy business ideas?
Popular Etsy business ideas include selling handmade jewelry, personalized gifts, home decor, vintage clothing, digital printables, and craft supplies. The possibilities are endless.
👀How can I stand out among other Etsy sellers in my niche?
To stand out, focus on creating high-quality products, use professional photography, write compelling product descriptions, offer excellent customer service, and optimize your shop's SEO. Building a unique brand identity can also help.
😶Is it necessary to have artistic skills to start an Etsy business?
While artistic skills can be an advantage, they are not always required. Some Etsy businesses focus on selling vintage items, craft supplies, or digital products, which may not necessitate artistic abilities.
🤑 Are there any fees associated with selling on Etsy?
Yes, Etsy charges fees for listing products and transaction fees when a sale is made. There may also be additional fees for optional services like Etsy Ads or Etsy Plus membership.
Quicklinks
- Tips to Boost Your Etsy Sales
- Best Digital Products To Sell On Etsy
- Best Business Ideas With Low Investment
Conclusion – Etsy Business Ideas 2024
That’s a lot of ideas to get you started, and I haven’t even scratched the surface. Etsy has more than 60 million items for sale, which shows its popularity. Your best bet is to consider what interests you and where you think you could be helpful.
Due to my interest in business and travel, I wouldn’t waste my time researching vintage items.
I would only think about selling things in the travel or business niches, which cuts down a lot on the kinds of things I could sell.
Here is how to start:
- Find your niche.
- Choose whether you want to sell physical products, print-on-demand items, or printables.
- Make a list of the best-selling products in your niche that meet the requirements of your model.
- Make your products yourself or hire someone else to do it.
- Make an Etsy store and list your items!
- See my blog post “How to Make Money on Etsy” for step-by-step instructions on how to set up your store and promote your products.
- The most important thing is to begin. Quit thinking and get to work!
Best wishes for your Etsy store!
