How to Sell Vintage on Etsy
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Selling Vintage on Etsy
Contents at a Glance
Key to Selling on Etsy in 3 Simple Steps
Many vintage things are sold on Etsy. The key to selling are:
1. Proper Use of Tags (Etsy gives you 14 of them)
2. Great Photographs (#1 way to sell your product)
3. Promoting and Marketing your Items outside of Etsy (to drive exposure to your shop)
Keep reading, we'll go into these more, and also a very special tip:
TIP: Join a Team to Network with Other People and Gain Knowledge!
Retro Chalet glove mold. Handmade Turquoise Lariat Necklace by
Treasure Trunk Designs
Etsy Basics, Open Up Shop
Opening your Etsy shop is as simple as choosing a user name and providing limited personal information (plus a credit card on file) to pay your monthly bills. You may wish to choose a name that you can also intermingle with your social networking down the road. For instance, my shop has a matching Facebook, Twitter, Blog and Website. It was hard finding a name that wasn't already taken.There is no charge for having a storefront! Etsy charges only twenty cents per item listed, and this includes five free photos, 14 tags and lengthy description of your item. Your listing will stay on Etsy for four months for this price. What a bargain!
When your item sells, they charge only 3.5% of the sales price. You can choose what payment options you wish to use. If you use PayPal, you will also incur PayPal fees for payments being accepted. Overall the storefront is very easy to manage and you should start here, with the Do's and Don'ts of Selling on Etsy.
You can set up your state tax information in accordance to the laws of your state. Etsy even gives you a "profile" page so you can tell the world a little more about yourself.
Worried about a banner? Start with a freebie from Ira Mency Designs until you make some money to afford a paid one..
Etsy Essential #1 : Use of Tags
What's in a tag? Etsy tags are the way your item will be found. It's hard getting used to this at first, but the key here is to think like a buyer. For instance, take a look at this photo! This is a globe by AlpenglowVintage. What kind of tags would be used, or, how would you search when looking for it? Would you search for the type of globe? Would you call it an Earth? What about Science? Astronomy? Planet? Sphere? Round? Topography? Map? Cartography? Sea? Atlantic Ocean? Continents? You really have to think like a buyer when listing and tagging your items. There are great articles to be had on the web for help with this. This was the hardest thing to master. What we may think of as "shabby" or "cute" others would never search with those terms. So before calling this a cute old globe, think again. Etsy Essential #2 : Use of Good Photographs
You don't need an expensive camera, but you do need how to read up on how to use your Macro function. They key to selling is taking good, clear photographs. Crappy or grainy photos won't sell your items or products. There is a plethora of free information and how-to make your own photography set up here on Handmadeology.. I love this site and check it often. As you can see by this cool vintage camera, by The Fancy Lamb , good photos matter! Etsy Essential #3 : Promoting and Marketing Your Items
Etsy is an inexpensive storefront. However, promotions are up to YOU. With so many vintage items on Etsy, it's hard to get lost in the sauce so to speak. So , how does one promote their items?Open a Facebook (fan) page, or use Twitter like I do. Use twitter re-tweet free services like #etsybot to retweet your tweets. Blogs are a great way to promote your item, they are free to use and you can highlight your Etsy items. Get followers to help share your items on the world wide web! Some blogs like the one I started called Vintage Chalet promotes Etsy vintage items just to have blog content. Fellow bloggers may blog about your shop and you about theirs and so on and so forth. Websites, Squidoo, and Article Writing services can also drive traffic to your shop.
Although it may seem like a pain to do all that social networking, it is almost essential in any business today. Instead of paying for advertising, make your own for free ! There are also services like Tweet Deck, and Networked Blogs that can help you automate the process. Tweet Deck can make tweeting easy. You can network your blogs into your facebook and twitter to post. Once you master it all, social networking should take you anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour a day. A small price to pay for all those new customer's you'll be reaching.
Phone I bought from Aunt Lettuce.
The One Book All Etsy Sellers Need
How to Make Money Using Etsy: A Guide to the Online Marketplace for Crafts and Handmade Products
Amazon Price: $11.23 (as of 05/31/2012)
I bought this book after having been on Etsy several years. On pages 12-13 I learned new things. This book explains in screen shots and words how to make the most of your Etsy shop, and how to market yourself. See my review on Amazon!
More Great Etsy Must Haves!
Networking 101: Blogs like VintageChalet will Blog Your Vintage Items for Free
Join an Etsy Team .. What's a Team?
Etsy Teams are available to join once you become a full fledged Etsian. There are teams for many different things from religion to politics! Some teams are based on location, for instance, you can join a team in your local area for networking. Other teams are based on all crocheters, or all jewelry sellers, but other teams are all vintage.My suggestion is to get in with a good Etsy Vintage team to help showcase and promote your Etsy items. Teams help promote one another's items, network together, make treasuries (a way to showcase and promote items), blog, twitter, and Facebook each other's wares. You will find members who have been around a long time and have learned tips and tricks and they are willing to share and mentor you.
Vintage Football Game by ModObjects
What Should You Sell on Etsy....and Where to Find It
Sellers sell all kinds of vintage items on Etsy. Below you will find examples of the types of objects that are sold on Etsy. From vintage sewing notions to linens, to primitive antiques, almost anything goes (check the Do's and Don'ts of Selling on Etsy for items you can't sell. Items that contain pornography or are hurtful or hateful aren't allowed among several other things.)Items can be found at estate sales, thrift stores, flea markets, garage sales, auctions, consignment shops, and curbside trash piles.
Stop Sign by Solstice Home
SoulRust sells Vintage Clothing on Etsy!
RetroBabs sells Kitchenwares and Housewares on Etsy!
VintageHillbilly sells Supplies on Etsy!
RetroChalet sells Vintage Glove Molds on Etsy!
Oritdotan sells Vintage Buttons on Etsy!
Paper Picker sells Vintage Ephemera on Etsy!
Niftic sells lovely Vintage Decor on Etsy!
RollingHillsVintage is one place to find Vintage Toys on Etsy
Etsy
In my Etsy RetroChalet shop there's a good mix of housewares, supplies, industrial decor, and even some of my handmade jewelry and artwork. Etsy gives you 10 sections per shop. If you specialize in one thing, and have found your niche' like clothing for example--your shop may use all 10 tags for clothing related items. If you then want to sell vintage supply items, you may wish to open two stores. I used to have two shops, but it became too much to handle. I now have a shop that incorporates everything from vintage kitchen to supplies to industrial goods. I find that mixing it up a bit keeps it fresh, but I have noticed some items sell better than others in my shop.
Etsy Shop Critique LEVEL TWO mini Marketing Pack ZEN pdf report make sales learn | Price: $30
Etsy Shop Sales Help and bonus Marketing Pack, I've been on Etsy since 2007, and started selling in 2008, surely long enough to know the ins and o... (full description)
Printers Block Vintage Wood G for Greta Greg Gina or Ginger | Price: $15
Three inch tall vintage wood print block nice size ! Has a nice patina Initial G
imperfect as shown cracked line in the G itself
makes for way cool... (full description)
Jumbo Print Blocks Numbers typeface Metal 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 | Price: $0
Very rare and old original vintage print blocks in a strange fat style, average size of them measure 1" x 1" x 3/4" but some are fatte... (full description)
HOLD NICHOLAS - 21 Football Gumball Helmets Old Charms - Make Your Own - Use in Mixed Media Art for Him or Dad | Price: $0
I bought these from an estate sale only for the plastic gumball shells that came with them (which are not included). I was told they were from 1990 e... (full description)
HOLD 4 SOS - special listing made with these Letterpress Signature Blocks Print Blocks instant collection | Price: $0
**Special listing for 17 total print blocks all sizes
Old signature letterpress, you get two old printers blocks. Some are zinc, brass, or other me... (full description)
Porcelain Glove Mold - Jumbo big pappy size 10 | Price: $45
Giant size 10 Porcelain glove mold. Looks like this is a hand off the stay puff marshmallow guy in ghostbusters. Huge, would hold just about anything... (full description)
Vintage Porcelain Glove Mold - New Jersey Medium December 29, 1966 | Price: $0
This rare and unusual size "M" aka "8" vintage glove mold is a rarity. It's made by General Porcelain of NJ but is dated Decem... (full description)
hold 4 jason special order | Price: $0
hold 4 jason special order
can opener return ship to his new place (full description)
Etsy Related Blogs and Sites
Helpful Links!
- Handmadeology
- This site features lots of how-to's and networking for the Etsy seller! Although the focus is handmade, vintage sellers can learn a ton here.
- Everything Etsy!
- Kim's site is Everything Etsy related! Gotta love it!
- Retro Chalet's Melmac Central
- Vintage plastic finds coming from Etsy sellers, if you like vintage kitchen follow this blog!
- Vintage Chalet
- Anything Vintage on Etsy : Submit your wares for free under the "submit tab"
- Vintage Etsy Society Team Blog
- Vesties Team blog!
- Retro Babs's Blog
- Retro Babs is a new blogger and discusses Etsy related things!
- Ira Mency
- Visit my personal blog to see what I'm up to or connect with me.
Vintage Chalet Blog: Features Etsy Vintage Sellers FREE!
Submit Your Shop for Free Feature - Is it On Here Yet?
Etsy Poll
Featured Lenses
Cool Vintage Books
Must Have Book for Etsians!
How to Make Money Using Etsy: A Guide to the Online Marketplace for Crafts and Handmade Products
Amazon Price: $11.23 (as of 05/31/2012)
I own this book, and have learned much about social networking outside of Etsy. It's a must have book for all Etsy sellers. It was written by Timothy Adams, of Handmadeology, and also interviews some of Etsy's top sellers!
Please leave a comment and List Your Vintage Etsy Shop!
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Planet Alissa
Apr 23, 2012 @ 9:14 pm | delete
- I love selling vintage items on Etsy. It's a great way to make some extra money, and I love going on my own treasure hunts for vintage stuff.
http://etsyvintagetips.com
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joan
Mar 5, 2012 @ 6:04 pm | delete
- very helpful i am thinking about opening up shop!
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23squidoo
Mar 4, 2012 @ 4:37 pm | delete
- I'd never thought about selling vintage on Etsy. Great information! Angel Blessed!
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ckolander
Mar 1, 2012 @ 4:27 pm | delete
- I had no idea you could sell vintage items on etsy! Great lens!
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Joan Stroman
Sep 13, 2011 @ 3:08 pm | delete
- Love it.
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joy
Aug 19, 2011 @ 7:10 am | delete
- Great information!
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BlueStarling
Aug 8, 2011 @ 7:47 am | delete
- Interesting and informative lens -- I'll be coming back to check out the various links. I don't yet have an Etsy shop, but am looking into opening one for supplies and vintage.
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SeanVernall
Jul 9, 2011 @ 1:36 pm | delete
- My sister is just going back into the vintage clothing business so I'm going to email her about this lens. great info.
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UKGhostwriter
Mar 26, 2011 @ 9:15 am | delete
- brilliant lens
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Barb
Mar 26, 2011 @ 12:22 am | delete
- Great article- Knowing what to sell was key. When I first started I went crazy and bought a bunch of stuff that I now think is ridiculous. You have to find a niche. My shop has developed into a Mid-Century Modern Type. I try to focus on the 1950's and 60's. I think narrowing my field has helped my sales.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/RetroBabs
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IraMency
May 30, 2011 @ 10:12 pm | delete
- Thank you for sharing your shop Barb!
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Sally York
Mar 25, 2011 @ 11:36 pm | delete
- Thanks for referencing my shop, Cindy.
http://auntlettuce.etsy.com
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sue@solsticehome
Mar 25, 2011 @ 11:11 pm | delete
- One of the best parts of etsy, is the community of sellers who help one another. Great tips for new sellers and some of us who have been a seller for awhile. Thanks Cindy for being a big part of that community.
Find an eclectic vintage mix at
www.solsticehome.etsy.com
www.solsticehome.blogspot.com
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martha smith
Mar 25, 2011 @ 10:56 pm | delete
- Well... this blog is amazing! thank you for the hats off to the vesties team!
http://www.Opendoorstudio.etsy.com reporting in here!
has anyone told you you are the best...lately!?
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Soulrust
Mar 25, 2011 @ 10:43 pm | delete
- Fantastic! Great info!
http://www.etsy.com/shop/soulrust
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by IraMency
I'm an Artist, and Graphic Designer, Published Book Author and Vintage Junkie. I sell Vintage on Etsy, Talk about Vintage Plastic and Melmac, Write About... more »
- 17 featured lenses
- Winner of 14 trophies!
- Top lens » Collecting Vintage Melmac & Melamine Dinnerware
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Featured Lenses
Great Selling on Etsy Book
How to Make Money Using Etsy: A Guide to the Online Marketplace for Crafts and Handmade Products
Amazon Price: $11.23 (as of 05/31/2012)
I own it. Tim is very smart and knowledgeable, and reading this will save you a lot of time and money. From the basics to the advanced, everything you need to know as an Etsy seller from an Etsy seller!
