Online selling platforms have become quite popular in Ukraine. Etsy is an online platform where you can sell and buy handicrafts, vintage goods and materials for needlework, and much more.
In this article, we will consider the main tips about selling on Etsy for businessmen and masters of handmade, and also answer the questions about how to register on the platform, how to fill in the product card correctly, and how to sell on Etsy from Ukraine abroad.
For those who first encountered the Etsy sales platform, let's take a closer look at it.
Etsy is a peer-to-peer platform for selling items that are handmade or vintage in nature. It has an international audience and allows businesses to sell their goods all over the world. There are 84 countries around the world that use this particular platform.
Visitors to the site are most often Americans, with 61% of users from the United States. Also, a large percentage of people are from England, Canada, France, Australia, and other countries. On Etsy, you can find products in different categories: clothing, jewelry, ceramics, furniture, stationery, wedding products, toys, etc.
Etsy's goal is to help people create, sell and buy unique products. Etsy also aims to create a community of people who value originality, individuality and uniqueness in the products they can find on the platform.
Sales on Etsy for vintage goods are subject to requirements. The merchandise must be at least 20 years old. And there is also a $0.20 per lot commission for displaying an item in a personal "shop" on the site. This applies to all merchandise, not just vintage. The commission is paid every 4 months.
Etsy was founded in 2005 in the U.S. and is now one of the largest marketplaces for handmade goods. According to statistics from previous years, 54 million users have registered on the site.
Unfortunately, since 2021 it has become problematic to set up a store for sales on Etsy in Ukraine. It is all the fault of the internal payment system, which does not work in our country.
Until 2021 you could use PayPal, now this function has been removed, and registration from the countries, where there is no internal payment system Etsy Payment, has been limited. But we found ways and will share with you how to sell on Etsy.
It is impossible to register directly from Ukraine, so let's consider how to bypass this and start your first Etsy sales.
Ask a friend or relative to create an Etsy account. You will be able to supervise the profile from Ukraine and deal with all the working moments. Only, you need to consider a couple of things - taxes and financial turnover.
The person whose name the account is registered must pay taxes to the country in which he lives. Payments will also come into that person's account. You will have to cover the payment of taxes and take into account that a bank commission will be charged when transferring finances to Ukraine.
The bottom line is what we have:
Everyone will decide for themselves whether selling on Etsy is profitable or not.
This is how to sell on Etsy if you don't have connections abroad. There are people (brokers) and companies who will help you create an account. But with this method, you will definitely have to pay for their services.
The procedure is the same as in the first method, the only difference is that strangers will help you and not for nothing.
You can negotiate with an existing store. You provide them with a product, a photo, a description, and the owner takes care of all the issues, while getting a percentage of sales on Etsy.
A significant disadvantage of this method is the lack of control. You will not be able to communicate with clients, keep track of statistics, or influence the development of the store.
Until April 2021 stores in Ukraine will still be able to pay via PayPal. This means that buying or renting a store is a good option.
Often there are empty stores that have not started for certain reasons. You can buy/rent them and have full control of all working moments, with Etsy sales.
While you're thinking about how to sell on Etsy, someone is already running their own business and may be looking for a partner.
Working as an affiliate, you'll have access to customer communication, financial turnover, and statistics. As well as create and edit your own product card.
As with every method, there are disadvantages:
If you have created an account at some point you may have forgotten all about it, go to your email account. Maybe you'll be lucky enough to get your profile back and start selling on Etsy.
Also, ask friends and acquaintances if they created an account at one time and don't use it.
You've already chosen the right registration method for you, so it's time to learn how to fill out a product card to make Etsy sales successful.
The product card should be informative and attractive to buyers. Here are a few tips:
The first thing a buyer will see is the title of your product. The title should be informative and accurately reflect what you are selling. Also, the headline should have the keyword that most accurately describes your product.
It is important to take quality photos that show the product well. Photos should be clear, and bright, with all kinds of angles, so the buyer can see the product from all angles.
Use a suitable background, and set up the light. If necessary, process the photo in a photo editor. But do not forget that the photo of the product should not differ from the real one, otherwise you risk getting a bad reputation.
If you're unsure how to best photograph the item, check out the examples of best sellers on Etsy and take advantage of their experience.
The product description is one of the most important aspects of a product card. It needs to give as much information about the product as possible and specify its features, materials, sizes, and anything else that might interest the buyer.
The description should be clear, understandable, and concise. Use keywords to make your product easier to find in searches.
The price of your product must be adequate and competitive. Research the prices of similar products on a given sales platform and set a price that is appropriate for the quality of your product and the competitive environment.
Don't forget to maintain communication with your buyers. Answer questions, provide information, and help buyers make decisions. Good communication can go a long way toward building trust and increasing sales.
Choose the right category for your product and add appropriate tags. Tags will help shoppers find your product when searching.
Specify what delivery terms you provide, including delivery time and cost. This will help buyers understand when they can expect to receive the item and how much they will have to pay for shipping.
Filling out an item card on Etsy may take some time, but it's a very important step in selling. If you fill out the product card correctly, it will help you attract more buyers and increase your sales on Etsy.
When you already have a store and a catalog of products on Etsy and you don't yet know how to sell products correctly to make a profit. Follow these tips:
1. Take away the language barrier. Make sure you communicate with customers in their native language. If you don't speak the buyer's language, you can use online translators or a translator to help you communicate with customers.
2. To understand how to sell abroad from Ukraine, make sure you have the ability to ship goods to other countries. Consider all shipping options, choose the most appropriate one, and set the appropriate shipping cost.
3. Check the customs regulations in the country where you will be sending the goods, and find out what taxes or duties may be levied at the border.
4. Promote your store using social media, blogs, forums and other online resources. This will help attract more customers and increase sales on Etsy.
If you realize that selling on Etsy isn't the right option for you, don't feel bad. Let's take a look at alternative sales platforms.
This is the world's largest online shopping platform that was created in 1994 in the United States. You can buy and sell almost any item on Amazon, from electronics and books to food and home goods.
As for selling on Amazon from Ukraine, yes, it is possible. Amazon supports sales from most countries, including Ukraine. But you will need to have a bank account in the U.S. or another country that supports the payment system.
When selling on Amazon, there are certain rules and requirements, including the quality of goods, delivery time and customer service. There are also certain fees and commissions that are charged on all sales on the platform.
Similar to Amazon, the conditions of sales in Ukraine are the same. There is also a commission from the sales and for placing ads on the site. This is no less popular all over the world platform for sales.
Creating your own online store has many advantages. First, it gives you full control over your business, including managing your product catalog, prices, promotions, and discounts. Second, you can easily set up shipping and payment processes, including international options, which allows you to attract customers from all over the world.
SoloMono online stores support the connection of international delivery and payment. Having your own e-shop can improve your visibility in search engines and increase your brand awareness in the eyes of potential customers. You will get a quality and convenient online store, which just need to be filled with products, and you can start selling worldwide.
Of course, creating your own online store requires some investment, but it can be a great way to increase sales and grow your business. And also the payback of your own store is better than the triple commission of sales on Etsy.
Etsy is a popular international platform for selling handmade goods. To sell on Etsy from Ukraine, it is necessary to take into account that registration of new accounts is currently impossible and choose one of the suggested ways to solve this problem.
Also, when selling abroad, you need to take into account customs regulations, choose the appropriate delivery and payment system, communicate with buyers in your native language, and promote your store on the Etsy platform.
It's also important to pay attention to the quality of product photos and descriptions in order to attract more customers. By following these tips, you'll be able to successfully sell your products on Etsy and generate income from your business.
And don't forget that there are other options how to sell abroad from Ukraine, besides Etsy. Perhaps for your business, they will be more suitable and you will increase your profits.