Any Advice for Setting Up an Etsy Store?

Scooby Doo · ‎03-14-2010

I'm in the process of setting up an Etsy store account and I'm new at this venture. Anyone have any tips and advice that you'd like to share? Do you have a separate bank account for your sales? What about shipping? Do you insure or just get a tracking #.

I'm sure I'll learn as I go along, but any help would be appreciated.

dooBdoo · ‎06-27-2010

@Scooby Doo, I've never established an Etsy store but I wanted to post a notification for @Irshgrl31201in case she drops by. I'm pretty sure her daughter is very experienced in this, so she might have some tips for you. Best wishes in this new adventure!

Few things reveal your intellect and your generosity of spirit—the parallel powers of your heart and mind—better than how you give feedback.~Maria Popova

jubilant · ‎06-10-2010

I love Etsy! Have you tried entering....opening a store on Etsy....or something to that effect.... on you tube? I think you may find how to do it step by step there. Good luck!

jackthebear · ‎03-11-2010

@Scooby Doo wrote:
I'm in the process of setting up an Etsy store account and I'm new at this venture. Anyone have any tips and advice that you'd like to share? Do you have a separate bank account for your sales? What about shipping? Do you insure or just get a tracking #.
I'm sure I'll learn as I go along, but any help would be appreciated.

first thing I would get on the google and ask this same question.

and get a separate checking account for the store, you will need a Paypal account, fee's there,

figure out much it's going to cost for you to buy shipping envelopes or boxes depending on what you are making.

then look and see what similar are selling for .

also will need a good camera to post pictures on the site.

Poodlepet2 · ‎03-09-2010

Scooby, I guess we can't discuss what it is you are selling, but I can tell you there are probably people on Ravelry who sell on Etsy....

I think it's funny that here you on on the BB of one of the most successful shopping ventures in the world: QVC. It's funny in a good way- it all starts with a dream and hope.

I love Etsy because the vendors take such pride in their work and they are doing what they love.

I truly wish you success....just one thing I would like to add...I ordered things from all over the world on Etsy, but a visit to your post office and office supply might be in order. I don't know if that's something Etsy can give you direction on. What I'm getting at here is shipping boxes, materials-postage meters....

This is not a stab in the dark at all, but a long time ago, I received some sage advice from my local SBA: they brought up topics I had not even thought of-and some tax advantages offered at that time for home businesses.

The best of luck to you on your venture!

Poodlepet2

Poodlepet2 · ‎03-09-2010

Scooby, one last thought: the people who run Etsy are there for you: they can't help you with the brass tacks of raw materials, pricing etc, but I am sure they have information on shipping and standards they expect their vendors to uphold.

Do you have any friends who are accountants or in book keeping? Record keeping is probably one of the most important things to start off with.

Once again, the SBA is your friend.

Poodlepet2

jackthebear · ‎03-11-2010

I would bet there's a group on ravelry for that, we know there's a group for everthing there,

wildlifewitch · ‎02-08-2016

@Scooby Doo wrote:
I'm in the process of setting up an Etsy store account and I'm new at this venture. Anyone have any tips and advice that you'd like to share? Do you have a separate bank account for your sales? What about shipping? Do you insure or just get a tracking #.
I'm sure I'll learn as I go along, but any help would be appreciated.

Are you planning on selling more than 5-600$? If so you need to be a registered business, LLC, S Corp... and pay taxes. If so then it is best to have a separate bank account for those sales in case you grow and hire people. Etsy can help you with their site, but you might want to consult with your accountant and business attorney. Much prosperity to you this year.

Scooby Doo · ‎03-14-2010

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. It's so mind boggling that I'm having reservations. But I'll give it a go.

luv-the-Q · ‎05-04-2015

@Scooby Doo I have an Etsy shop and have been there since 2012. I love it. You can find out everything you need to know right there on the Etsy website. At the bottom of the home page you'll find the Etsy Seller Handbook. They make it very simple. The forums are also very helpful. I sell vintage refurbished items. I don't make a living, but it's fun and I can recoup some of the money I spend on upcycling retro mid century decor. Go for it!