• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

DIY Craft Photography

  • Home
  • Take Better Photos
    • Lighting
    • Photo Styling
    • Photoshop Tutorials
  • Upgrade your Gear
    • DSLR Cameras
    • Point and Shoot Cameras
    • Photo Studio Kits
  • Business & Marketing
    • Etsy
You are here: Home / Business & Marketing / Etsy / 10 Top Selling Etsy Shops in the “Handmade” Category (and what you can learn from them!)

10 Top Selling Etsy Shops in the “Handmade” Category (and what you can learn from them!)

February 17, 2014 by M. Johnson

10 Top Selling Etsy Shops - and what you can learn from them!

In need of a little inspiration? Take a peek at the top selling Etsy in the “Handmade” category (this excludes vintage and supplies) – these shops are all doing something right.

Last time when we looked at best-selling Etsy shops we looked at the best sellers overall and found mostly shops selling supplies. This time, we’re looking at shops that sell handmade things.

NameSales
Beanforest89,525
Three Bird Nest75,320
ZenThreads66,472
Grace and Lace Co65,962
Think Pink Bows63,526
Zoey's Attic61,116
Collage-O-Rama60,205
SignatureTshirts60,044
norajane59,927
RivermillEmbroidery57,701

 

What You Can Learn from Etsy’s Best-Selling Shops

  1. Use clear, daylit photographs. Thanks to white backgrounds and bright lighting, items for sale in the top 10 shops look great. (Also: 13 Tips for Better Etsy Shop Photos, and Best Cameras for Every Budget 2014)
  2. List a TON of products. All of these shops have 200+ items in stock, some have nearly 1,000 items! Not that quantity trumps quality, of course. Think of it this way: if you have just one item in your shop, you’re less likely to be found than someone with 50 items showing up in search. Fuller shops also look more enticing. Barren shelves tend to spook customers. Aim for at least 20 products to start – 20 listings is enough to fill your shop page nicely.
  3. Have a Facebook presence. Creating a Facebook page for your craft business increases your exposure and gives you another avenue to reach your fans.
  4. Develop a shop “personality”. Every single shop in the top 10 has a “character” to it – you can almost guess what kind of personality the shop owner might have. Personality is what makes handmade so awesome, so don’t be afraid to “brand” your shop with a bit of “you”.
  5. Sell individuality. All of the top 10 shops are selling “individuality” – shirts printed with clever sayings, buttons with a sense of humor, decorative stamps, pretty headbands for babies and adults, decorated t-shirts. In fact, all of the top 10 shops are selling things to wear or decorate with. Think of these shops as selling a bit of individuality that can’t be bought in a mass-market store.
  6. Use a consistent “look and feel”. The products are presented similarly – same zoom level, consistent lighting. The overall effect is harmonious and coherent, making it easier to focus on the products themselves.
  7. Under $30. With a few exceptions in just a couple of these top selling Etsy shops, nearly all of these top-selling handmade shops offer their wares at prices somewhere between $3 and $25. Don’t fret if your products cost more, but if all your products are $100 you might want to add a few smaller items to your shop.
  8. Take it all with a grain of salt. After all, Three Bird Nest is now accused of importing and reselling its wares.

Top-selling Etsy shops data from craftcount.com – check ’em out, Craft Count is a great way to discover fantastic Etsy shops!

More Etsy tips:

  • 5 Things Best-Selling Etsy Shops Have in Common
  • 13 Product Photography Lessons from my Fake Etsy Photoshoot
  • Writing Search-Friendly Etsy Listing Titles

Filed Under: Etsy Tagged With: craft business, etsy, tips

Previous Post: « Photoshop CS6 Settings Tips
Next Post: DSLR Advantages over Point and Shoot Cameras for Crafters »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jane Berry

    November 17, 2014 at 12:52 pm

    So true!

    The UK newspaper (The Guardian), also highlights some top tips and how to get the most out of selling online: : http://theguardiansite.co.uk/online-retail-profiting-small-business-owners

  2. craig weiss

    March 31, 2016 at 11:25 pm

    I am an owner of a relatively new website called Artyah.com. We cater to Artists that want to sell their handmade goods and Antique sellers. We offer sellers unlimited free listings and a unique, classy gallery design. Easy to use format, auction or fixed store pricing. I am writing to ask if you can include us in your next feature or story about ebay alternatives. Thank you – Craig Weiss Artyah.com

Trackbacks

  1. 5 *More* Lessons from the Top 5 Etsy Shops - DIY Craft Photography says:
    December 8, 2014 at 7:09 pm

    […]  10 Top Selling Handmade Etsy Shops (and what you can learn from them […]

  2. The adventure beginns | yarn & nature design says:
    March 21, 2016 at 11:59 am

    […] I got the following condensed list from DIYCraftphotography: […]

  3. To a new beginning | woodburycrochet says:
    March 22, 2016 at 3:20 pm

    […] I got the following condensed list from DIYCraftphotography: […]

  4. Show Info. – 1/25/17 « Good Day Sacramento says:
    January 25, 2017 at 12:01 am

    […] Daily List: 3 Top-Selling Craft Shops on Etsy – and Why The top-sellers on Etsy, in the handmade category, are all very different – but they have a couple of things in common! On the Daily List this morning, if you’re thinking about selling your handmade crafts online, here are three tips to be as successful as they are. Learn more […]

  5. #Catering #Shopping #Wine #Kindness #Health #Military and More Today in the News | Norcalnews says:
    January 25, 2017 at 10:42 am

    […] as successful as they are. List a ton of products. Sell individuality. Develop a shop personality. /top-selling-etsy-shops-handmade-2014/ […]

Primary Sidebar

Latest from DIYCraftPhotography

  • 10 Easy Ideas to Dress Up your Food Photography
  • 5 of the Best Selling Wood Crafts on Etsy (Plus a Tour of Successful Woodworking Shops!)
  • 5 *More* Lessons from the Top 5 Etsy Shops
  • Samsung NX300 Camera Review and Sample Photos with Kit Lens
  • Holiday 2014 Camera & Equipment Buyer’s Guide for Craft Photographers, eBay Sellers, and Bloggers
  • 13 Product Photography Lessons from My Fake Etsy Photo Shoot
  • Ultimate Craft Business Tips and Resource List
  • Etsy Listings: The Magic Number for More Traffic – Etsy Case Study: Part 4
  • How to Use Etsy Tags: 13 chances to woo a buyer – Etsy Case Study: Part 3
  • Get Discovered with Search Friendly Etsy Listing Titles – Etsy Case Study: Part 2
  • Naming and Opening Your Etsy Shop – Etsy Case Study: Part 1
  • Simple White Background Product Photography Setup
  • Best Indoor Lighting Equipment for Craft Photographers
  • How to Get Great Photos with your Point and Shoot Camera
  • Best Cameras for Craft and Food Photography (and every budget!)

{Categories}

  • Business & Marketing (11)
    • Etsy (10)
  • Cameras & Equipment (15)
    • DIY Setups (1)
    • DSLR Cameras (3)
    • Lighting Equipment (1)
    • Mirrorless Cameras (1)
    • Photo Studio Kits (2)
    • Point and Shoot Cameras (2)
  • Checklists (1)
  • Composition & Techniques (9)
    • Lighting (3)
  • My Equipment (1)
  • Odds and Ends (1)
  • Photo Inspiration (2)
  • Photo Styling (4)
  • Post Processing (5)
    • Photoshop Alternatives (1)
    • Photoshop Tutorials (4)
  • Reviews (1)

Welcome!

Stand out in the growing online market for handmade goodies with better photographs! DIYCraftPhotography skips the jargon and complicated equipment and offers simple, effective techniques for lighting, composition, and post processing. Make your handmade crafts shine online! -Mandi Read more about me...

Footer

DIYCraftPhotography is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. We always encourage you to shop around for the best deal. You can read our full disclosure here.

About
Privacy

© DIYCraftPhotography 2014-2024 | All Rights Reserved | All content is the legal property of M. Johnson unless otherwise credited. Thank you for visiting! ♥

 

Copyright © 2024 DIY Craft Photography on the Foodie Pro Theme

Notifications