Throughout this eight-year journey, I’ve navigated countless hurdles and challenges. Drawing from the wealth of experience and insights I’ve gained, if I were starting e-commerce from scratch today, this is exactly what I would do:

1. Marketplace First, Website Later

I would start with established marketplaces before building my own website. Instead of spending massive digital marketing budgets to drive traffic to a brand-new site from scratch, I would leverage the “mall-like” traffic and consumer trust of platforms like Amazon, Etsy, and Trendyol, which already have millions of monthly visitors. Once my brand gained recognition and my order flow stabilized, I would then launch my own independent website.

2. Focus on Branding, Not Reselling

I wouldn’t waste time trying to sell other people’s brands. In models like arbitrage or dropshipping, you constantly deal with Amazon’s trademark infringement (suspension) policies, counterfeit risks, and “Buy Box” price wars. By focusing on Private Label (my own brand), I would build a long-term, sustainable company with real equity that could be sold in the future.

3. Zero Inventory: The Print-on-Demand Model

I definitely would not buy bulk stock or make heavy upfront investments. I would focus on Print-on-Demand (POD)—customizable and design-oriented products that are only manufactured once sold. I wouldn’t risk tens of thousands of dollars and storage fees by sending unproven products to Amazon warehouses. Instead, I would list products in my store and only pay the manufacturer when an order arrives, minimizing capital risk.

4. Personalization Over Mass Production

Instead of selling generic, simple products where Chinese sellers dominate, I would focus on customizable products, a market volume that grows every year. Competing on price with Chinese manufacturers on standard goods is nearly impossible. Therefore, I’d focus on items like jewelry, t-shirts, or mugs that can be personalized with names or photos. Since these are custom-made, we can make higher profit margins. Furthermore, while shipping from China takes 15 days, using local US or European producers allows me to reach the customer in 3-4 days, creating a massive speed advantage.

5. Establishing a US Entity

Unless I lived in the UK, Germany, France, or Canada, I would start by incorporating a company in the United States. On platforms like Etsy, the algorithm favors US-based shops for the American market (which accounts for about 57% of total site traffic). Additionally, operating through a US entity reduces commission fees by 4% to 10% compared to stores opened from Turkey and increases store authority, significantly lowering the risk of suspension.

6. A Realistic One-Year Roadmap

I would treat e-commerce as a business, not a “get rich quick” scheme.

• Months 1–3: Focus on learning the platform, design, and advertising.

• Months 3–6: Prioritize gathering 5-star reviews by selling near cost and providing elite customer service.

• Month 6 onwards: Once organic rankings and social proof are established, I would normalize prices and focus on net profit.

7. Meticulous Financial Planning

I wouldn’t trade based on simple “buy vs. sell” prices. I would calculate every cent: marketplace commissions, variable fees based on location, shipping costs, and estimated ad spend (10%–15%). Knowing that many sellers lose money due to hidden fees while thinking they are profitable, I would build my entire pricing strategy around a comprehensive cost table.

8. Feeding the Algorithm

To keep the marketplace algorithms happy, I wouldn’t upload 50 products at once and wait. Instead, I would consistently list 3 to 5 new products every day to prove my store is active. Platforms quickly throttle traffic to stores that show no activity.

9. Capitalizing on Q4 and 2026 Specials

I’d be well aware that the real money is made in Q4 (October, November, December) and during events like Mother’s Day.

• Early Prep: I would upload my Christmas designs in August or September.

• 2026 Opportunities: 2026 marks the 250th Anniversary of the USA and the World Cup in North America. I would develop specific strategies months in advance for these massive events to capture enormous sales volume.

10. Balancing with “Evergreen” Products

While seasonal peaks can increase sales 5-10x, I would also invest in “Evergreen” designs (funny quotes, motivational phrases, family travel themes) that sell year-round. This ensures consistent cash flow regardless of the holiday calendar.

11. Competitive Research (Don’t Reinvent the Wheel)

Instead of guessing what might sell, I would use software like eRank or EtsyHunt to analyze stores that have grown rapidly in the past year. I would look at “Bestsellers” and “Popular Now” items, drawing inspiration from their designs and “mockups” to create my own superior versions.

12. Riding the Pop Culture Wave

I would stay glued to TikTok and Twitter (X) for real-time political developments, viral celebrity quotes, or trending memes. If a major event occurs (like a viral moment in an election campaign), I would have a design listed that same day to catch the first wave of high-margin traffic.

13. Target Bulk Orders for High Margins

I would target niches with bulk order potential: bachelorette parties, corporate events, family reunions, or church groups. Selling 20-30 items in a single transaction significantly lowers per-unit shipping costs and skyrockets profitability.

14. Leveraging AI for Visuals

To avoid the high costs of physical photography, I would use AI tools and professional digital mockups. I would digitally overlay my designs onto high-quality templates, saving thousands on photographers and sample shipping.

15. Building a Resilient Supply Chain

In e-commerce, you are only as good as your production system. Relying on a single manufacturer is a risk, especially during high-volume periods like Christmas. I would work with multiple reliable producers who offer software integration, allowing me to shift orders instantly if one faces a capacity bottleneck.

16. Tech-Driven Operations

Once volume increases, I would ditch manual methods like Excel or WhatsApp. I would use integrated software infrastructure where orders automatically flow from the store to the manufacturer to ensure no mistakes are made with names or addresses.

17. Customer Service as a Competitive Edge

I would respond to all messages within 24 hours (ideally within a few hours). I would never argue with a customer; if a problem arises, I’d be willing to take a loss and resend a product for free, viewing that 5-star review as a vital long-term investment in my store’s future.

18. Disciplined Ad Optimization

I wouldn’t constantly fiddle with ad budgets out of impatience. I would treat advertising as an investment that feeds the algorithm and boosts organic ranking. I would analyze reports at regular intervals to cut underperforming keywords and products that only generate click costs without conversions.

19. Diversification: Multiple Baskets

Once the system is proven, I wouldn’t rely on a single store. To mitigate suspension risks and multiply volume, I would open multiple stores across different categories (jewelry, apparel, gifts) and expand across Etsy, Amazon, eBay, and Shopify.

20. Professional Transition

If I had a full-time job, I wouldn’t quit immediately. I would treat e-commerce as a “side hustle” for the first 3–6 months. I would only consider leaving my primary income once the store’s net profit consistently exceeded my salary.

21. Legal Protection

I would never risk my store by infringing on copyrights or trademarks (e.g., Taylor Swift). To protect my own hard work, I would file for trademarks and copyrights through the USPTO for my best-selling original designs to prevent others from stealing my intellectual property.

You can find keywords using three primary methods:

1. Using Etsy ‘Keywords with marketplace Insights’ tool.

2. Using the Etsy search box.

3. Analyzing your competitors.

4. Using keyword research software.

1. Using Etsy ‘Keywords With Marketplace Insights’ Tool

2. Using the Etsy Search Box

When you type any word into the Etsy search box, it provides suggestions. These suggested words are mostly the terms that customers search for the most. You can use the “Keyword Explorer” extension to find many word combinations within these searches.

3. Analyzing Your Competitors

In the second method, you need to examine the titles, descriptions, and tags of competitors selling products similar to yours. You can collect the most frequently used keywords into a single document.

4. Using Keyword Research Software

Finally, you can perform analysis using software designed for Etsy product and keyword research. I previously mentioned Etsyhunt for the product research side. In this section, I will introduce you to Erank.

After registering for Erank, enter the “Keyword Tool”. By typing in words, you should try to find keywords that have the highest search volume but the lowest number of competitors.

For example, after searching for “Christmas,” if I click on the term “Christmas shirt,” I can see which related keywords exist. Here, we should strive to find keywords where competition is low but search volume is high.

SERP Analysis

When analyzing the “Christmas Shirt” keyword, clicking the “SERP Analysis” button at the top analyzes the top 100 products for that term and provides the following data:

• Average Prices: You can examine the average prices of competitors.

• Processing Times: You can see how long it takes for others to produce their items. Use these as a benchmark when determining your own prices and production times.

Top 100 Listings

You can view the best-selling products for your chosen keyword by clicking the “Top 100 Listings” button. By examining the tags of these top-selling products, you can add them to your own keyword pool.

Additionally, using the “Competitor Research” section of the Erank software, you can examine which specific listings of your top competitors are selling the most and exactly which keywords they are using.

You should analyze the top-selling competitors in your chosen categories and examine how they structure their photos and videos. For example, if you want to sell T-shirts, you must include photos of the items on models, a color chart showing the available options, and a size chart.

Below, I am sharing an example product listing for a color chart.

You can create a similar visual for your size chart.

I also strongly recommend adding a product video. Etsy shares that products with videos tend to sell more. In categories like T-shirts, you can upload a time-lapse video of the production process or, if possible, a video of the product being worn by a model.

If you are selling a customized product, explaining how the customer can personalize it through an image is very helpful. I am sharing another example below.

Using Mockups and Design Tools

For categories like T-shirts, you can create product images by purchasing designs and mockups. There are many digital sellers on platforms like Etsy and Creative Fabrica. You can buy these assets and use Canva to create your images. Canva offers many templates for colors and sizes, allowing you to build your product photos in minutes.

Etsy takes photography very seriously. Using someone else’s photos is strictly prohibited; you must create your own visuals.

The AI Revolution in Photography

In categories like jewelry, you cannot use mockups as easily as you do with T-shirts. Until 2026, we worked with professional product photographers to take photos with models for our jewelry items. However, with recent advancements in Artificial Intelligence, we can now generate highly realistic product photos. This has allowed us to reduce our costs significantly.

In jewelry, we use at least 2–3 photos on a model and 2–3 concept (lifestyle) photos. Additionally, if there is customization involved, you must demonstrate it in the photos. Details like fonts, birthstones, or birth flowers must be clearly explained visually. If a customer proceeds with the wrong option due to a lack of clarity, you might have to resend the product, which would result in a significant loss.

It is also very beneficial to show how each variation looks, as seen in the photo below. I recommend using images like this.

You can also add photos showing the different chain types and lengths.

Guiding the Process

Since we have worked with photographers for a long time, we are now able to guide them effectively. You should show your photographer examples from successful Etsy shops and ask them to replicate that style. Similarly, when using AI, I recommend using these successful examples as your reference point.

I recommend becoming an Etsy Plus member when selling on the platform. The subscription fee is $10, but it already provides you with $5 in listing credits and 15 free listing credits (valued at $3).

With Plus, you can customize your shop with more banner options and advanced category designs. While it won’t have a “miraculous” impact on sales, it allows you to stay one step ahead of shops using the standard layout. We use Etsy Plus in our own shops. You can review the visual differences between a standard and a Plus membership in the provided screenshots.

How to Set Up Shop Settings? What to Do After Opening an Account?

When you first open your shop, it will be a completely blank page. You need to organize details such as product uploads and descriptions.

The Shop Banner and Slogan

You should use a banner that provides a general overview of your shop. You can showcase a few of your best products here. Below the banner, you should provide information about your products in a short sentence (4–5 words). These are effective details for making your shop stand out. It is beneficial to use keywords here. Successful shops often create mottos or slogans using relevant keywords.

As seen in the examples:

• “Personalized Bridesmaid Hangers”

• “Dainty Personalized Jewelry Crafted with Love”

  

On the left, there is a space for your shop logo. On the right, you can fill in the seller profile. You can create these visuals using platforms like Canva or Midjourney.

Announcements and Story

Below the header, there is an “Announcement” area for updates. Further down, you will find reviews. At the very bottom, Etsy asks you to write your “About” story. You can describe your production or design process here. Adding high-quality photos or videos to this section will significantly benefit your shop’s credibility.

Etsy is a platform that offers a more intimate and warm shopping experience. Establishing a personal bond with customers builds trust, which positively impacts sales.

Social Media and Shop Members

Social media is a powerful tool for promotion. You can easily link your Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, and X (Twitter) accounts to your Etsy shop. The “Shop Members” section is very useful if you aren’t working alone. You can add friends or team members to the system, helping you share the workload.

Policies and Shipping

The “Policy” section is vital for shop operations and customer satisfaction. You must clearly state your return and cancellation policies. This professionalism increases buyer confidence.

The “Shipping” section is also inseparable from the sales process. Explaining your shipping times for different regions (e.g., USA vs. Canada) helps manage customer expectations, leading to better reviews.

Production Partners

As mentioned before, you don’t have to manufacture the products yourself. You can add a “Production Partner.” The important thing here is transparency; Etsy wants to know who you are working with if you aren’t the physical maker.

You can adjust all these settings (banners, descriptions, members) by clicking the “Edit Shop” button next to your shop name in the Shop Manager.

Understanding the Seller Dashboard (Stats, Marketing, Finance)

Once your shop is open, you will manage everything through the Seller Tools. Here is a breakdown of the tabs:

• Dashboard: An overview of your general statistics.

• Listings: The page where you create and edit product listings.

• Messages: Where you view and respond to customer inquiries.

• Orders & Shipping: Where you manage incoming orders and tracking.

• Etsy Search Visibility: Recommendations to improve your shop’s SEO.

• Stats: Detailed data on views, clicks, and sales for your products.

• Customer Service Stats: Requirements and your current status for becoming a “Star Seller.”

• Marketing: Where you create and track Etsy Ads, discounts, and sales campaigns.

• Finances: Contains all data regarding Etsy’s deductions, fees, and your payments.

• Integrations: Apps and tools you have integrated with your Etsy shop.

• Help: The support center for resolving issues.

• Settings: The hub for all your shop’s back-end configurations.

If you get excited and say, “Let’s just open the shop already!” you might make a mistake. Skipping the necessary preparations and rushing can lead to your account being closed immediately. Here is the road map you should follow step-by-step:

Preparation Phase: Collect Cookies and Be Patient

• Open a Buyer Account First: Do not try to open a seller account directly. First, create a buyer account.

• Spend Time on the Site: For a few days, browse Etsy like a normal user, examine products, and add those you like to your favorites. Your goal is to avoid robotic behavior and prove to the system that you are a real human by collecting “cookies.” Avoid trying to buy something as soon as you open the account; otherwise, your account may be found suspicious and closed.

Prepare Your Documents

• Have Necessary IDs Ready: Keep your ID (or passport) ready for a photo shoot.

• Set Up Your Credit Card: You must have a credit or debit card registered in the name of the person opening the shop, which is open for international and online shopping. Using your spouse’s or sibling’s card will result in your account not being approved. Also, try to choose private banks as state banks can sometimes experience payment issues.

• Find a Free Listing Link: Instead of registering from scratch, get a referral link from another seller or a friend. When you open an account through this link, you won’t pay the standard $0.20 listing fee per item, and you can list your first 40 products for free.

Step 1: Set Basic Shop Preferences

• Shop Language: Always choose English to appeal to a global audience.

• Shop Country: This is the most critical part because this information cannot be changed later. If you are opening from Turkey as an individual or a sole proprietorship, select “Turkey.” If you have a US company, select “United States.”

• Currency: Generally, USD is selected. However, if your bank account is in Turkish Lira and you want to avoid Etsy’s 2.5% currency conversion commission, you can set the currency to TL. If you are proceeding with a US company, definitely choose USD.

Step 2: Determine Your Shop Name

• Find a Suitable Name: Find a global name between 4 and 20 characters, with no spaces and absolutely no special characters.

• Generate Alternatives in Advance: You cannot take a name that is already being used by someone else. To avoid stress during the setup screen, check the availability of alternative shop names by searching them in Etsy’s search bar before reaching this stage.

Step 3: Enter Business Type and Bank Information

• Choose the Business Type Correctly: If you are opening an account from Turkey, it is recommended to proceed with the “Individual / Sole proprietorship” option, as Corporate/Limited company info can sometimes create errors in the system (especially in the trade registration number section). If you have a US company, you can choose LLC (Incorporated Business) according to your company type.

• Complete Bank Details: Write your US bank information in this part. We are using Mercury and Wise mostly. If you are linking a Turkish bank account, write your bank’s full name (e.g., Türkiye İş Bankası, Garanti BBVA), your IBAN without spaces, and your bank’s Swift code carefully.

• Add Your Tax Number: Even if you don’t have a company, to avoid an extra 20% VAT fee in the future, get your Individual Tax Number via the Digital Tax Office and enter it into this screen adding “TR” to the beginning.

Step 4: Complete Identity Verification (Persona)

• Prepare for the Camera: The system will verify your identity via the “Persona” app. To make the process more practical, click the “use another device” option on your computer screen.

• Verify from Your Phone: Scan the QR code or send an SMS/Email link to your phone. After clicking the link, take and upload a clear photo of your ID (or passport).

• Take a Selfie: Complete the live selfie verification by looking into the camera and turning your head right and left as guided by the system. After the process, return to your computer screen and continue the setup from the “Shop Manager” tab.

Step 5: Pay the Shop Setup Fee

Pay the one-time setup fee that Etsy charges new shops using the credit card you prepared. This fee is approximately 826 TL for Turkey (or between $15–$30). Double-check that the name on the card exactly matches the name of the shop owner. If opening with a US company, it is around $29.

Step 6: Activate Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

• Download Google Authenticator: Since international SMS delivery issues can occur, make sure to download the Google Authenticator app to your smartphone.

• Scan the QR Code: Scan the QR code provided by Etsy into the Authenticator app and enter the 6-digit password it generates into the system.

• Store Backup Codes: In case your phone is lost or broken, be sure to save the Backup Codes Etsy provides to your computer or a secure place.

When you follow these steps completely, your shop opening will be successfully finished, and you will be ready to list your first product.

I hope this guide eases your mind while opening your shop and ensures a smooth process. Happy selling!

Having been in the e-commerce landscape for a significant time, we have tested numerous categories to see what truly moves the needle. My core advice is simple: Go where the market is biggest. Focusing on high-demand categories increases your chances of success, especially when you are just starting out.

The “Big Two”: Jewelry and Apparel

On Etsy, the two absolute giants—where we also generate our highest sales volume—are:

1. Jewelry

2. T-shirts, Sweatshirts, and Hoodies

These categories are evergreen and rapidly expanding, allowing even brand-new sellers to gain traction and secure sales quickly. The data supports this growth:

• Print on Demand (Apparel): The global market was valued at $8.03 billion in 2023 and is projected to skyrocket to $67.59 billion by 2032, growing at an impressive annual rate of 26.71%.

  (Source: Precedence Research)

• Custom Jewelry: This market is expected to grow from $34.81 billion in 2023 to $56.35 billion by 2030, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.12%.

  (Source: Fortune Business Insights & SkyQuest)

High-Potential Opportunity Categories

Beyond the “Big Two,” there are several other categories where we have experienced significant success and identified untapped opportunities. If you want to diversify your shop or find a specific niche, consider these:

• Ornaments: An absolute goldmine during November and December.

• Doormats: High demand for personalized and decorative home entrances.

• Hats: A staple accessory that works well with embroidery or custom designs.

• Wedding: A high-ticket category for personalized gifts and decor.

• Rugs and Carpets: Large-scale home decor with high perceived value.

• Wooden Products: Handcrafted appeal that fits Etsy’s “handmade” ethos perfectly.

• Metal Wall Art: Sleek, modern home decor that is easy to ship if designed correctly.

• Digital Products: 100% profit margins with no shipping or inventory costs.

• Bags and Totes: Practical, everyday items that are perfect for customization.

• Pet Supplies: A massive and passionate market for personalized collars, beds, and bowls.

• Acrylic Products: Versatile and modern, used for everything from signs to night lights.

By choosing one of these established or high-growth categories, you aren’t just selling a product; you are entering a market with proven demand.

If you prefer to find your own manufacturers, I recommend paying close attention to the following criteria:

• Product Quality: Ensure the products are of high quality. Negative reviews will cause your sales to plummet and, in extreme cases, can even lead to your shop being shut down.

• Daily Production and Shipping Capacity: Customers expect fast delivery. If you keep them waiting too long, negative feedback will start rolling in. Ideally, products should ship the very next day after an order is placed, and they must be manufactured within 3 days at the latest. Faster shipping translates to higher customer satisfaction and more sales.

• Scalability for Peak Periods: Your manufacturer must not have capacity issues when orders spike. For personalized products, demand can increase 10 to 20 times during special occasions. Specifically, in November and December (the Christmas season), you might see 10 times more sales than in a normal month. Many shops struggle to fulfill orders during this time, which can lead to permanent closure.

• Capacity for Innovation: To significantly increase your sales, you need to follow trends on Amazon and Etsy closely and have your manufacturer produce successful new models. If your manufacturer is closed to innovation, you will miss out on major opportunities.

• Honesty and Integrity: Honesty is the most critical factor in business. Never work with a manufacturer that tries to mislead you or your customers. They might cut corners on materials to lower costs, resulting in unhappy customers. As I mentioned in my story in the first section, we suffered significant losses because our first manufacturer sent products that were different from what was shown in the photos.

• Robust Production and Order Management Systems: As orders increase, manual management becomes impossible. If you are sending orders via WhatsApp, things will eventually get messy. It is highly beneficial to use integrations like the Rexven order panel. Having orders flow automatically from Amazon and Etsy into the manufacturer’s panel for tracking is essential. We developed this software within Rexven specifically to optimize this process; otherwise, manufacturers start mixing up orders, and customers receive the wrong items.

• Competitive Pricing: Many manufacturers only think about their own profit. However, the key is that the final seller must be able to make money. If the seller can not turn a profit, the business is not sustainable. We expect manufacturers to provide prices that allow us to compete effectively against rivals on Etsy and Amazon.

I believe that ornament products have significant potential. Their sales increase 30 to 40 times especially during the Christmas season, though they maintain a certain level of sales throughout the year.

The shop I shared in the screenshot has reached 457,643 sales on Etsy by selling ornament products.

Let’s calculate the profitability based on their best-selling product. This item was purchased by 44 people in the last 24 hours.

• Selling Price: $12.99 + $4.99 = $17.98

• Production Price: $4.95

• Shipping Price: $4.80

• Etsy Commission: $2.15 (US) / $3.59 (TR)

• Advertising Cost: $1.70

• Net Profit: $4.38 (US) / $2.94 (TR)

• Profit Margin: 24.36% (US) / 16.35% (TR)

Best-selling materials for ornaments include:

• Ceramic

• Acrylic

• Glass

• Wood

Now, let’s look at an example for an acrylic ornament. The shop shown below has reached 113,114 sales, mostly by selling acrylic ornaments.

• Product Selling Price: $13.80 + $5.99 = $19.79

• Production Price: $4.95

• Shipping Price: $4.80

• Etsy Commission: $2.37 (US) / $3.95 (TR)

• Advertising Cost: $1.90

• Net Profit: $5.77 (US) / $4.19 (TR)

• Profit Margin: 29.1% (US) / 21.1% (TR)

Hats

Customizable hats are also high-potential products. The product in the screenshot below was purchased by 25 people in the last 24 hours.

This hat is sold on Etsy for $20.45, with an additional $5.95 charged for shipping. Let’s see how much profit you can make if you source and sell this product through Rexven right away:

• Selling Price: $20.45 + $5.95 = $26.40

• Production Price: $7.70

• Shipping Price: $5.15

• Etsy Commission: $3.10 (US) / $5.28 (TR)

• Advertising Cost: $2.60

• Net Profit: $7.85 (US) / $5.67 (TR)

• Profit Margin: 29.7% (US) / 21.4% (TR)

Glass Cup

Let me show you another product. You can purchase this item from Rexven for $6.05 and ship it for $4.52. In this case, you can earn a net profit of $5.18 from every sale.

The US election might be behind us, and Donald Trump has secured his victory, but the political atmosphere in the United States remains incredibly intense. Far from cooling down, US politics is currently a whirlwind of activity, protests, and major events. While the campaign season is over, a new wave of demand has emerged: activism and social expression.

Currently, products reflecting these ongoing political debates and “anti-movements” are among the top sellers on Etsy and Amazon. While demand for standard campaign t-shirts has shifted, the product I want to highlight remains a powerhouse: The Yard Sign.

A Tool for Social Expression

Yard signs are no longer just for candidates; they are now the primary way Americans display their stances on ongoing social movements and political events right in their own gardens.

The product in the screenshot sold 137 units in the last 24 hours. I have been tracking this niche; successful shops are currently selling 500–600 units daily as people react to the post-election climate. This specific item sells for $26.59, plus $5.99 for shipping—bringing the total to $32.58. We are seeing various sizes and double-sided versions moving quickly, specifically the 24x18 inch standard.

How the Rexven Supply System Adapts

We have pivoted our catalog in the Rexven supply system to include designs that reflect this current social momentum. Because we have a domestic manufacturer in the USA, our sellers can offer lightning-fast shipping to customers who want to display their message now.

Our sellers are listing these signs and seeing rapid results. While the average price is $30–$40, some of our high-performing sellers are commanding prices between $50 and $70 by tapping into very specific, trending slogans.

The Digital Advantage: 100% Profit Margins

Interestingly, a huge segment of buyers is opting for the digital version. In times of protest or rapid political shifts, people don’t want to wait for shipping; they want to print the sign at home or at a local print shop immediately.

• Production Cost: $0

• Shipping Cost: $0

• Sale Price: $15–$25

  This leaves a massive profit margin for our sellers. We are seeing incredible numbers from those offering instant “Digital Downloads.”

Low Risk, High Reward

In my opinion, selling these customizable, design-focused products is one of the best business models for Amazon and Etsy right now—especially in a volatile political climate. Because you don’t invest in the physical product or shipping until a sale is confirmed, your startup cost remains nearly zero.

No professional photography needed: You don’t need a studio for these. Designers provide ready-to-use winning slogans and high-quality mockup images. You can create a professional-looking listing in minutes using these mockups, showing exactly how the sign will look on a lawn or at an event. We don’t waste time with photo shoots; we use mockups and stay focused on what’s trending in the news today.

I will now show you some products in the jewelry category that you can source from the Rexven supply platform and sell on Amazon and Etsy.

Personalized Necklace

The product shown in the screenshot is sold on Etsy for $57.85 + $5.99 including shipping. The Etsy shop has a total sales figure of 55,500. By calculating the ratio of product reviews to total shop reviews, we can estimate that this specific product has sold approximately 7928 units.

You can purchase this product from Rexven for $14.85 and ship it to the customer for a $6.73 shipping fee. Your total product cost is $21.78.

• US-Based Store: Fee is $7.02 | Net Profit: $29.2 (45% margin)

• Turkey-Based Store: Fee is $12.8 | Net Profit: $23.42 (36% margin)

This seller has generated $507.392 in revenue from this single product. Had they sourced it from Rexven, their total cost (including shipping) would have been $172.671 Estimating a 10% ad spend ($50.739) and a US-based fee of $60.887, we can estimate their net profit at $231.497 after all expenses.

Product Link: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1183376708

High-Volume Etsy Example

This product is sold for $44,62 including shipping. Based on the shop’s total sales of 29,898, we estimate this product has sold roughly 44.346 times, generating $1.978.718 in revenue.

You can source this from Rexven for $19,64 and ship it for $6,73.

• Net Profit: $9,25 (US)

• Estimated Total Net Profit for Seller: $410.200

Even if you don’t reach these massive volumes as a beginner, 10 sales a day would net you $2.775 per month.

Trending Necklace

This product has sold 56 units in the last 24 hours.

• Sale Price: $25.75

• Total Sourcing & Shipping: $14.31

• Net Profit: $5.85 (US)

Note: Due to the rise in silver prices globally, current prices may vary, though profitability remains stable as price increases are reflected worldwide.

Jewelry Box (Complementary Product)

Finally, here is a product related to jewelry but isn’t jewelry itself: a jewelry box. This item has sold over 1,000 units in the last 30 days, generating $22,959 in revenue.

• Sale Price: $21.95

• Amazon Commission: $3.29

• Production: $4.95

• Shipping: $5.15

• Ad Cost: $2.10

• Net Profit: $6.46 (29% margin)

You can list this in your store without any upfront investment. Only when a sale occurs do you purchase and ship it through Rexven.

Product Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09SZC4GZ1

Let’s start with T-shirts—a fantastic product line that sells consistently, especially in the US and Europe. This is a category where you can generate sales very quickly by utilizing designs based on special occasions and current trends.

One of the biggest advantages is that you don’t have to deal with custom photo shoots. If you have design skills, you can create your own; if not, you can simply purchase T-shirt designs. For product visuals, you can use ready-made “mockup” images. By using tools like Canva, you can easily merge your designs with these mockups to create professional listings.

For instance, look at this Kamala Harris T-shirt produced for the US presidential election. It has sold 76 units in the last 24 hours alone. Notably, the seller collects an additional $6.99 shipping fee for every sale.

Product Selling Price: $18.99

Shipping: $6.99

Total: $25.98

You can have this product manufactured on the Rexven supply platform for $6.60 and ship it to the customer for a $5.15 shipping fee. In this case, your total cost is $11.75.

When you sell this product for $25.98 (including shipping) and pay $11.75 to Rexven, your revenue will be $14.23. However, your net profit is obviously not $14.23. Etsy will take a cut based on your location. If you are based in the US, the fee is roughly 11-12%; if you are based in Turkey, it is 19-20%.

In this scenario, if your store is US-based, there will be a $3.11 fee, resulting in a net profit of $11.11 (42% profit margin). If your store is Turkey-based, there will be a $5.19 fee, resulting in a net profit of $9.03 (34% profit margin).

This seller has generated $1,974 in revenue and $844 in profit by selling 76 products in the last 24 hours. Of course, they are likely running ads to achieve these sales. Assuming an optimum ad-to-sales ratio of 10%, we can estimate that they spent $197 on ads in one day. In this case, their daily net profit can be calculated as $647 (21,998₺).

As a new seller, you can also sell this product at a much more competitive price. Even if you sell it for $14.99 (product price) + $4.99 (shipping price), your gross remains $19.98 - $11.75 = $8.23.

In this case, if your store is US-based, the fee will be $2.39, leaving a net profit of $5.83 (29% profit margin). If your store is Turkey-based, the fee will be $3.99, leaving a net profit of $4.23 (21% profit margin).

Here are some similar examples I found:

• https://www.etsy.com/listing/1753690640/

• https://www.etsy.com/listing/1587360093/

• https://www.etsy.com/listing/1750845636/

• https://www.etsy.com/listing/1439153738

• https://www.etsy.com/listing/1687366433

And here are some examples from Amazon:

• https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CBPYRF2Y/

• https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DCTFCTDP

The product you see in the screenshot is being sold for $20.99 + $3.99 (shipping) = $24.98. Similarly, when you purchase it from Rexven for $11.75 (including shipping), you are left with $13.23. Since Amazon commissions in this category are 15%, a deduction of $3.70 is made, resulting in a net profit of $9.48 per sale.

Of course, if we assume this seller spends an average of 10% on advertising to sell their products and subtract $2.50 for ads, your net profit becomes $6.98. Even if you make just 3 sales a day, you can earn a monthly profit of 3 * $6.98 * 30 = $628 (21,358₺).

Along with T-shirts, you can also sell sweatshirts and hoodies, often using the same or similar designs.

The sweatshirt I shared a screenshot of below has sold 13 units in the last 24 hours.

• Product Selling Price: $25

• Shipping: $5.55

• Total: $30.55

You can purchase this product from Rexven for $11 and ship it for a shipping fee of $7.33. In this case, if your Etsy store is US-based, the fee will be $3.66, leaving a net profit of $8.55 (27.9% profit margin). If your Etsy store is Turkey-based, the fee will be $6.11, leaving a net profit of $6.11 (20% profit margin).

I found a similar sweatshirt product on Amazon as well. It has generated $10,871 in sales over the last 30 days. Since Amazon’s commission in this category is 15%, we deduct $1,630 from the revenue. After calculating the product cost at $6,653, it leaves a profit of $2,588. When we also factor in the average advertising cost (10%), the net profit is approximately $1,501 (51,034₺).

Similar product links:

• https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B5VSDWL1

Personally, I started my e-commerce journey 8 years ago by purchasing products from Alibaba and selling them on Amazon under my own brand. Due to the mistakes I made with my first products, I lost all my capital ($10.000) I had saved up to that point. The products I couldn’t sell remained in Amazon warehouses. I tried to sell them by slashing prices excessively. Naturally, I ended up losing money. I even had to have some of the products I couldn’t sell destroyed because of the high storage and shipping costs.

Looking back now, I realize I took the wrong path. If you don’t have at least $20,000 - $30,000 in capital or if you are not a manufacturer, building a brand by sending products to Amazon warehouses is very, very, very difficult.

This experience pushed me to think about how I could build a brand with less cost. I fell in love with the business model we have been working on and experiencing for the last 3 years: building a brand by having products manufactured and shipped as sales come in.

If I were starting e-commerce all over again today, instead of buying bulk products that I don’t know will sell and sending them to Amazon, I would focus on products that are shipped as they are sold. Once I identified the products that were actually selling, I would then ship them to the warehouse to reduce costs and increase profitability.

Of course, shipping products one by one is more expensive than bulk shipping. Therefore, we look for products that are worth at least $20 and will yield a profit when sold with the individual shipping cost included. When I examine the product groups we can ship as they are sold, we can divide them into two categories:

1. Personalized/customizable products

2. Standard products over $20 that yield a profit when shipped individually.

Currently, we sell both personalized products and non-customized products that we ship individually.

About 5 years ago, we started selling personalized jewelry on Etsy. Having experienced selling personalized products, I see it as an opportunity business model for a new e-commerce entrepreneur.

Of course, we still have private label brands on Amazon where we send products to the warehouse. Since we have a budget to invest, we continue to do this at the highest level. In fact, we grow our brands and sell them.

Building a brand is a perfect business and the most promising business model for the future. Most people who want to do private label by sending products to Amazon warehouses with a small budget run out of breath and money along the way. If they could continue and persevere for maybe 6 months to a year, they would reach a good point, but it usually doesn’t happen.

The most important issue in building a brand is finding opportunities and places where competition is relatively lower. More important than this is making a difference. I see that competition is generally lower in personalized products, and there are areas where a difference can be made.

To compete with Chinese sellers, who dominate the global e-commerce sector, it makes a lot of sense to focus on customizable products that we can ship individually. From Turkey, we can ship products to the USA and Europe in 3-4 days. It takes 10-15 days for the same product to go from China. Since speed is very important in e-commerce, we can compete effectively.

Why do I recommend selling personalized products?

1. You don’t hold stock. You ship the products as they are sold on Amazon and Etsy. Therefore, you don’t need to invest in products at the beginning.

2. Personalized products are more profitable. While a normal leather wallet might be $10-$15, you can buy a leather wallet with your name written on it for $25-$30. People are willing to pay more for products specially made for them.

3. People buy personalized products as gifts. During holiday periods (Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day, Christmas), sales can multiply.

4. Turkey is very good at production in this regard. Categories like jewelry, leather, wood, and textiles are the most important for personalization. There are many manufacturers in Turkey who produce customizable products and can ship them as they are sold. At Rexven, we have partnered with several reliable manufacturers and solved the supply issue.

5. The personalized product market is growing. The Personalized/Customized Product Market was valued at $899.2 billion in 2023 and is expected to reach $1,350.2 billion by 2031. It is projected to grow at an annual rate of 4.6% between 2024 and 2031. The US customized product market is estimated to reach $320 billion in 2025.

The print-on-demand market was $12.96 billion in 2025 and is estimated to be $118.85 billion in 2035. It is growing by 26.71% annually.

Source: https://www.precedenceresearch.com/print-on-demand-market

The custom jewelry market size is projected to reach $56.35 billion by 2030, up from $34.81 billion in 2023, growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 7.12%.

Sources:

• https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/costume-jewelry-market-108843

• https://www.skyquestt.com/report/costume-jewelry-market

Thanks to our newly established supply system, we have reached agreements with many manufacturers producing customizable products. We have established a system where you only manage your store, Rexven manufacturers produce the products as sales come in, and the shipping company contracted by Rexven delivers the products to the customer.

You can make an appointment to get information about our face-to-face training camp and supply system. (Appointment Link)

You need to perform a profit analysis by calculating your own costs using the prices obtained from manufacturers. You should begin selling only after calculating your profit.

To calculate how much profit you will make on Etsy, you first need to know how much Etsy deducts. After discussing Etsy’s fees, we will make profit calculation through an example. Afterward, you will be able to calculate the profit yourself according to your product’s category.

Fees on Etsy vary. For instance, fees change based on your answers to headings such as “Shop Currency,” “Shop Owner Location,” “Tax ID,” “Offsite Ads,” and “Free Listing.” You need to enter your information into these fields. That is, if the shop is in your name and located in Turkey, you must select Turkey as the “Shop Owner Location.” You must select the location where your bank is situated. I have researched many software tools like Erank or Marmalead, and many of them do not include these specific details.

You can use this Google Chrome extension for profit calculation: https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/rexven/

Understanding the Fees

To speak of the fees, Etsy has a 6.5% Transaction Fee. This includes the sale price, shipping, and gift-wrapping fees. The product listing fee is $0.20 per item. Etsy deducts this fee for every sale. To avoid this fee initially, you can use a link shared by another shop; this way, Etsy gives both parties 40 free listing credits.

Another fee is the Regulatory Operating Fee. This varies according to the “seller location,” i.e., the location of the shop owner. Depending on which country the shop owner is located in (United Kingdom: 0.32%, France: 0.47%, Italy: 0.32%, Spain: 0.72%, Turkey: 2.27%), Etsy’s fees change. Etsy does not take this deduction from the USA; it only applies to specific countries.

Thirdly, there is the Payment Processing Fee. This varies based on the bank location. You need to make your calculations according to these rates. While the Payment Processing Fee in Turkey is 6.5% + 14 TRY, in the USA it is 3% + 0.25 USD.

https://help.etsy.com/hc/en-us/articles/115015628847-What-are-Payment-Processing-Fees-for-Selling-on-Etsy

Another issue is the Currency Conversion Fee. If your shop currency and your bank location currency are different, Etsy deducts 2.5%. In our case, this applies as follows: our shop currency is USD, but the bank location is Turkey (TL). Therefore, it performs these fees in TL. It is applied over the total of the discounted “Sale Price,” “Shipping Fee,” “Gift Wrapping Fee,” and “Sales Tax.”

The VAT issue can be calculated easily. If the shop owner’s location is Turkey, it is 20%; in the UK, it is 20%. In some countries like the USA, VAT is not deducted even if you do not have a tax number. This actually changes according to the shop owner’s location. It applies this to all deductions in their VAT-inclusive form. If you have a VAT number, you can easily calculate this by entering it into the Rexven panel.

Profit Calculation Example

Calculating profit can be confusing when details like production, packaging, shipping, and taxes are involved. Therefore, we developed a completely free profit calculation tool at Rexven. When you enter the necessary data, your profit is calculated with one click.

Let’s examine an example product. Suppose you sell a necklace for $100 (assuming you collect $5 in sales tax) and let’s add your hypothetical costs:

• $30 product cost

• $5 labor cost

• $2 packaging cost

• $7.5 shipping cost

• $3 advertising cost

After entering your shop currency as USD and your shop owner location as Turkey, you can click the “calculate” button to find out how much Etsy deducts from you.

If your shop currency is USD and your shop owner bank location is Turkey, Etsy makes deductions and your profit margin is 23.6%.

On the other hand, when you set your bank location to the USA, the payment processing fee becomes 3% + $0.25, and all fees are processed in dollars. Additionally, since your shop currency and your bank location’s currency are the same, it does not charge a currency conversion fee.

Consequently, your profit margin increases. Similarly, when your shop owner location is the USA instead of Turkey, the 2.27% regulatory operating fee is not deducted, and no VAT is charged in the USA. Furthermore, when you add the free listing credits, your profit margin increases significantly.

When I set your bank location to the USA, the payment processing fee is 3% + $0.25, and all fees are in dollars.

Also, since your shop currency and bank location currency are identical, it does not deduct a currency conversion fee. Your profit margin reaches 29.76%.

When your shop owner location is the USA instead of Turkey, the 2.27% regulatory operating fee is not deducted, and no VAT is charged in the USA.

If you have free listing credits, the $0.20 fee is not charged, and your profit margin reaches 33.43%.

By changing data such as the bank owner location and shop location, you can clearly calculate exactly how much your Etsy deductions vary. I see many sellers making mistakes in this regard because they start selling without calculating their profit first. As a result, they can not determine the correct price. Because they fail to set the right price, they realize after selling for a while that they aren’t actually making a profit. I know many sellers who have experienced this. Unfortunately, this is a common issue also faced by Etsy sellers. You can easily calculate whether you are making a profit or not for free on the Rexven panel and proceed accordingly.

Click and fill the application form to start selling on Etsy with the Rexven supply system: Special appointment link

For example, let’s say you decided to sell jewelry. Of course, there are dozens of types of products you can sell related to jewelry.

The three most important points when deciding on products to sell are: Sales volume, profitability, and competition status.

Product Research Methods

1. Analyzing Successful Shops and Products

When deciding which product to sell, it is very helpful to find shops you can use as a model. These shops have already reached significant sales levels, which means there are things they are doing correctly. We can decide what we can sell by examining what these shops are selling.

How do we find successful shops?

If you want to find successful shops on Etsy, you can use the Erank software.

You can filter by selecting the category you want to sell in at the top. Additionally, if you haven’t determined a category, you can set one for yourself by examining the top-selling sellers.

For example, if you want to sell in the jewelry category, you can find the most successful shops by selecting “jewelry” from the categories. It is even better if you examine successful shops established within the last year. Since they opened a new shop and became successful just like you, they will be better examples for us.

When you click on the shop name to see which products they sell, the competitor analysis tool will open. From here, you can examine the shop more closely. It will be very beneficial to open the shop’s Etsy page as well to see what they are doing.

Product Research through Keywords

Keywords hold a very important place in e-commerce. Customers mostly search for products they want to buy using specific words, and then they examine and purchase products from the results that appear.

We can also make research based on keywords when deciding which product to sell.

When you go to the Etsy.com website and type “leather” into the search box, it will provide suggestions. Since these are the most searched words, you can analyze them as a baseline.

To find more words, when you type “leather” followed by letters like a, b, or c, keywords starting with those letters will appear. You can see all the words using the “Keyword Explorer” extension developed for this purpose.

By typing to these words on Etsy one by one, you can examine in detail which products sell a lot and what different shops have done.

Analyzing the Products of Your Agreed Manufacturer

If you have partnered with a manufacturer at the start, you already have potential products in hand. You can decide which products to start selling by analyzing these items on Etsy.

You might also be a manufacturer yourself. In this case, you should perform a detailed analysis of whichever product group you have the capacity to produce.

As Rexven, we have products for which we have agreements with manufacturers. Whichever ones you decide to sell after analyzing them, we support you as much as we can.

Product Research Using Software

Since there are millions of products on Etsy, it can be difficult to decide which one to sell. Product research software imports these products into their own databases for you. You can find top-selling products by applying specific filters.

What are the product research softwares? How can we use them?

• Etsyhunt

• Erank

• Alura

• Everbee

• Roketfy

• ...

There are dozens of software tools you can use to research products on Etsy. Among these, I use Etsyhunt for product research and Erank for keyword research.

Since their general logic is the same, I will now explain Etsyhunt for product research and Erank for keyword research during product listing. You can use the others if you wish.

You can register for Etsyhunt using this link: https://ehunt.ai/en/?fpr=rexven

With the Etsyhunt software, you can conduct product and keyword research. I will explain the keyword research section in detail during the product listing stage. Let me explain here how you can conduct product research.

When you press the “Etsy Product Database” button, all products are listed from the most sold to the least sold. You can make product research by applying many filters here. For example, to find the best-selling T-shirts, I type “shirt” into the top search box, and the best-selling products with “shirt” in the title appear.

You can also search by category. Whichever category you plan to sell in, you can examine the best-selling products by selecting that category. Price and product type are also among the filters I use. Under the filters, there is a “release time” section where you can examine newly released products. For example, you can discover products published within the last 180 days that have reached significant sales levels. Products listed recently that are selling well are high-potential products for us.

When you click on products, you can access detailed data about them. The most important data for us is the sales numbers. Etsyhunt shares historical sales data for the product.

Another important piece of data is which keywords this product is indexed in and receiving sales from. This allows you to find the words used by top-selling products. We will use these keywords when creating our product listings. You can see the competition status and sales potential for a keyword.

Another section I use in Etsyhunt is the “Shop Database” section. Here, you can find the top-selling shops by applying filters. By using filters like country, category, sales, reviews, and favorites, you can examine the most successful shops in your target category. Also, the most useful filter here is “creation time”—the time the shop was established. Examining shops that were opened recently and are selling well is a great method.

I usually examine the best-selling products of successful shops after I find them. For example, if you want to set up a jewelry shop, you can search for the most successful shops by selecting the jewelry category. By saving the top-selling products of these shops to your list, you can later build your own shop around these products. You need to constantly improve your shop by following successful shops and tracking the new products they add.

Another tool I use most in Etsyhunt is the Google Chrome extension. When you add the Chrome extension, you can see how much products sell, the number of favorites, and the listing date directly on the page.

Additionally, when you go into a product, you can access more detailed statistics.

How Can We Analyze Products?

Let’s say we found the products, but how will we decide which one to sell? You can decide by looking at the following criteria:

• How much does it sell?

• How many competitors are there?

• Are there competitors with a very high number of reviews?

• Have a few sellers dominated the category?

• Are there gap areas to make a difference? (Problematic points can be identified by analyzing reviews to improve the product, or products sold together can be examined to create bundles.)

• Is the trend for the product increasing or decreasing? In which months did it increase, and in which months did it decrease?

• What is the profit margin?

1. Establishing a company in the USA

2. Establishing a company in Turkey

3. Establishing a company outside of the USA and Turkey

4. Opening a store without establishing a company or obtaining an exemption

First of all, you can open multiple stores on Etsy under one person’s name, independent of the company. However, Etsy does not want you to sell the same products in different stores belonging to the same person. You can sell different product groups in different stores opened under the same name. If you have a jewelry store, you can open a T-shirt store.

Establishing a Company in the USA

We mostly proceed by opening companies in the USA for our own accounts. Why?

• Increased Orders: The most important reason is that when we open an Etsy account with a US company, our US orders are much higher. Your sales change according to location. While US orders are very high in the account we opened with our US company, UK orders can be higher in the account opened with a UK company. Etsy’s highest traffic currently is: 56.2% USA, 7.85% UK, 4.68% Canada, 4.29% Germany, and 2.96% France.

• Lower Fees: Etsy makes 4-10% more fees on accounts opened from Turkey. When we proceed with a US company, we can earn 4-10% more profit from each sale. When you make sales of $10,000 - $12,000, you already cover the company formation cost of approximately $800.

• Sales Success: In our account opened with a US company in August, we made $60,000 in sales in December. If we had opened it from Turkey, we would have lost $4,800.

• Platform Perspective: Since Etsy is a US company, its perspective on a Turkish company is different from its perspective on a US company.

• Tax Simplicity: we declare taxes once a year in the USA. We don’t have to deal with monthly filings and incur extra costs like in Turkey.

• Future Benefits: We know that having an active company will be beneficial if there is a visa or relocation situation to the USA in the future.

Establishing a Company in Turkey

• We cannot open stores with the Limited (Ltd.) and Joint Stock (A.Ş.) companies we open in Turkey. Unfortunately, they get suspended. Etsy has issues regarding this matter.

• You can open an account by establishing a sole proprietorship. When opening an account, you proceed by selecting “individual.”

• The biggest problem when opening an account with a sole proprietorship from Turkey is that Etsy’s fees are 4-10% higher compared to the USA.

Establishing a Company Outside the USA or Turkey

• Of course, you can sell by establishing companies in other countries as well.

• You can decide by examining how much Etsy fees in the countries where you plan to establish a company.

• As mentioned, your sales can change according to location. You can decide the country where you will establish your company based on the traffic percentages (USA 56.2%, UK 7.85%, 4.68% Canada, 4.29% Germany, and 2.96% France etc.).

Selling Without Establishing a Company or Obtaining an Exemption

• Etsy does not ask how you will pay your taxes when you open your account. The issue of paying taxes is a matter between you and your State.

• When you start making sales, money will start coming into your bank account. After a while, the State may question this, and you may receive a penalty.

• Therefore, I strictly do not recommend selling without opening a company.

• When an individual account is opened without a company, Etsy applies an additional 20% VAT deduction on all fees.

• Also, when sales increase, Etsy eventually asks you to enter a tax number (this happened to one of our sellers in recent weeks).

How Should We Proceed? (General Advice)

You can decide by considering two issues:

1. Budget: If you have the budget to establish a company in the USA, this is the most logical way to proceed. However, if you don’t have an $800 budget, I recommend at least establishing a sole proprietorship.

2. Location: If you are living in these countries such as UK, Canada, Germany, France or any other European countries, it is more logical to proceed with a company in your country.

To summarize: If you make $10,000 in sales on Etsy and proceed with a Turkey location, it deducts about $2,000. If you proceed with a USA location, it deducts about $1,000 - $1,500. Therefore, as long as your sales remain below $10,000, proceeding from Turkey is logical; when they go above $10,000, proceeding from the USA becomes more logical.

Is there an accountant Rexven has an agreement with?

If you want to establish a company in the USA, we have an accountant in the USA with whom we have been working for a long time and who performs company formation safely. You can work with our accountant. (To work with our accountant, you can write to Ms. Burcu: https://rexven.com/v2/tr/iletisim)

Things to be Prepared Before Opening an Account:

• A Gmail account to be used for the Etsy account must be ready, and the Chrome profile of this Gmail account must be open.

• A buyer account will be opened, and cookies will be collected for a few days.

• The store name will be determined.

• ID or passport will be ready as identity verification will be done via phone.

• We use Mercury as a bank account for USA companies.

• Bank account information must be ready.

• The Google Authenticator application must be downloaded. There can be problems with codes sent to phone numbers, so we use Google.

• The credit card from which Etsy will receive payments must be ready. It must be in the account holder’s name and open for internet shopping and international transactions.

• If it is to be opened with a company, the formation documents must be ready. For a USA company, ‘certificate of formation’ and ‘ein’ documents must be ready.

General Answers to the Most Frequently Asked Questions:

Q: Can I open my store from Turkey first and then, when sales increase, open a USA company and convert the account? Answer: No, Etsy does not allow us to change the store country and bank account location. Therefore, you cannot make this change.

Q: I opened a store from Turkey; can I open a second store with my USA company? Answer: Yes, provided that you do not sell the products you sell in your first account, you can open a store from scratch with your USA company in another category.

Q: Can I manage these accounts belonging to the same person from a single computer? Answer: Yes, you can manage these accounts with different email addresses from the same computer.

Q: Should I use my own computer or rent a VPS (Virtual Private Server)? Answer: If an account has not been opened in someone else’s name on your computer before, or if an account was not opened in your own name and suspended, using your own computer is the most logical way. If an account was opened and suspended on your computer before, you can open your account by renting a VPS.

Q: Can I manage my account from multiple computers? Answer: We recommend managing it from a single computer. For example, let’s say you want to access the account from your office computer. Leave your main computer at home with the Etsy account open and manage it by accessing it remotely with applications like Chrome Remote Desktop, Anydesk, or Teamviewer.

Q: How should I manage the Wi-Fi? Should my computer connect to only one internet? Answer: Normally, Etsy does not say why it closes an account. Therefore, we pay attention to everything. We connect the computer where we open our Etsy account to a fixed internet. You can use Superbox internet for this. When you want to move that computer, you can use it anywhere with Superbox. We do not enter the internet in public internet usage areas. If you are not using Superbox, you can at least enter with your phone’s internet.

Q: I want to buy designs or mockups from Etsy, but my buyer account gets suspended. What should I do? Answer: When you open your Etsy buyer account, do not try to buy something immediately; browse the site for a few days. Then make the purchase. You can open a buyer account with a different email from another computer (not the one where you will open the seller account) and make the purchase. Or you can do your tasks with the buyer account from the Etsy buyer mobile application without using a computer at all. Just make sure never to use your own credit card for this.

Q: Can I use a VPN? Answer: We do not recommend using a VPN. It is perceived as a suspicious situation by Etsy.

To sell on Etsy with the Rexven supply system, click and choose a time: Special Appointment Link

Etsy’s rules are critical; failure to follow them can cause issues during account setup or result in your shop being closed before you even make a sale. Even if everything is going well, a violation can lead to suspension or penalties.

What Can You Sell on Etsy?

Etsy is a unique marketplace for:

• Handmade items (made or designed by you).

• Digital products.

• Vintage items (must be at least 20 years old).

• Craft Supplies (tools or materials used to create something new).

Etsy focuses on unique items buyers can’t find elsewhere, with a recent heavy emphasis on gifting.

Core Etsy Rules

• Dropshipping is Prohibited: You cannot list an item from a platform like AliExpress and ship it directly to the customer when a sale occurs. However, working with a production partner (where they manufacture your design and ship it) is allowed.

• No Branded Items: Selling counterfeit or unauthorized branded products (like Nike or Adidas) is strictly forbidden.

• No Reselling in Handmade: You cannot buy a finished handmade item and resell it as your own. Handmade items must be made or designed by you.

• Transparency: You must accurately identify everyone involved in making an item in your “About” section. If you use a production partner, you must disclose this in your listings.

• Vintage Criteria: Vintage items must be at least 20 years old.

• Original Content: You must use your own photos or videos. Using stock photos or images from other sellers/sites is prohibited.

• Direct Resolution: You should resolve disputes directly with the buyer. If a solution cannot be reached, Etsy may step in.

• Order Completion: If you cannot fulfill an order, you must notify the buyer and cancel the transaction.

Communication Policies (Messages)

Messages cannot be used for:

• Unsolicited advertising, promotions, or spam.

• Harassing or discriminating against another member.

• Contacting someone after they have asked you not to.

• Interfering with another member’s business.

• Avoiding Etsy’s Payment System: Sharing personal contact info (phone, email, social media) or external URLs to move a transaction off-platform is forbidden.

Prohibited Actions

• Lying to customers or providing false information (e.g., listing a silver necklace as gold).

• Buying from a competitor solely to leave a negative review.

• Click Fraud: Maliciously clicking a competitor’s ads to drain their budget.

• Price Fixing: Coordinating pricing with other sellers.

• Review Solicitation: Demanding positive reviews from customers.

Reasons for Account Suspension

• Dropshipping or copyright infringement.

• Spamming or bribing customers.

• Using someone else’s payment information.

• Mismatch between shop owner info and bank/card details.

• Using a VPN: This creates suspicious activity due to inconsistent login locations.

• Poor service (shipping delays, high error rates).

• Selling the exact same items across multiple shops.

Important FAQs

• Can I open multiple shops? Yes, but they must sell different items.

• Can my second shop be US-based? Yes, you can open a second shop using a US company.

• Whose name should be on the account? All information (bank, ID, etc.) must match the shop owner’s name.

• Can I get my money if I’m suspended? Typically, you can receive your remaining funds after 180 days.

• What if my account is closed? Do not try to open a new shop with the same photos, devices, or Wi-Fi. It is better to appeal the suspension.

Appeal Tip: If you believe the suspension was a mistake, email support@etsy.com or integrity@etsy.com with a polite message:

“I don’t understand why my account has been suspended. I think there must be a fault with the suspension. Can you activate my account again please. Thanks.”

Etsy Contact Info:

• Email: support@etsy.com / legal@etsy.com

• Phone: 1-844-659-3879

The best part about selling on Etsy is exactly this. Compared to many other platforms and business models, the startup capital is significantly lower.

Here is the breakdown:

1. Shop Opening Fee: Etsy charges a one-time fee of $15 - $30 to open a shop. You only pay this once when setting up your account.

2. Listing Fee: It costs $0.20 to list each product. However, if you use a referral link from another seller, you can get 40 free listings to start with. (Here is mine: https://etsy.me/4bYZACx)

3. Inventory Cost: Unlike the Amazon FBA model, you don’t buy products in bulk and send them to a warehouse. There is zero initial inventory cost because products are manufactured and shipped only after they are sold.

4. Samples: You will need to pay for sample products to take (or have someone take) high-quality photos.

5. Photography: If you aren’t taking the photos yourself and want professional services, it usually costs around $25 per product. However, we now use Artificial Intelligence instead of photographers. This has dropped our costs to about $1 per product.

That’s it for startup costs. Etsy deducts its fees and advertising costs directly from your sales and deposits the remaining balance into your account. You pay your manufacturer and shipping company as you make sales; if you don’t make a sale, you don’t incur those costs.

Strategy for Fast Growth

If you want your products to sell quickly, you can offer deep discounts or give away free products initially. While you might lose money on the first few orders, this is incredibly beneficial for building up your review count and increasing your shop’s visibility.

In our first year, we did about $69,000 in sales but made almost zero profit. During that time, we were focused on learning to sell and optimizing our production and shipping processes. I briefly explained the reasons for this in the previous section.

If you apply what I will explain in the upcoming posts, you will avoid the mistakes we made and can start turning a profit within a few months.

Take a look at the data for this Kamala Harris T-shirt, produced for the US presidential election. It has sold 76 units in the last 24 hours. In addition to the sale price, the seller collects a $6.99 shipping fee.

• Product Sale Price: $18.99

• Shipping Fee: $6.99

• Total: $25.98

Using the Rexven supply platform, you can have this product manufactured for $6.60 and shipped to the customer for $5.15. This brings your total fulfillment cost to $11.75.

Profit Analysis

When you sell this product for a total of $25.98 and pay $11.75 to Rexven, your gross income is $14.23. However, this is not your net profit. Etsy applies fees based on your location:

• US-Based Store: Approx. 11-12% deduction.

• Turkey-Based Store: Approx. 19-20% deduction.

Scenario 1: US-Based Store

• Etsy fees: $3.11

• Net Profit: $11.11 (42% profit margin)

Scenario 2: Turkey-Based Store

• Etsy fees: $5.19

• Net Profit: $9.03 (34% profit margin)

By selling 76 units in 24 hours, this seller generated $1,974 in revenue and $844 in initial profit. Of course, they are likely running ads to achieve these numbers. Assuming an optimum ad-to-sales ratio of 10% ($197/day), their daily net profit can be estimated at $647.

Potential for New Sellers

As a new seller, you can choose to be much more competitive with your pricing. Even if you set the price at $14.99 + $4.99 shipping ($19.98 total):

• Total Revenue: $19.98

• Costs: $11.75

• Remaining: $8.23

If your store is US-based, the fee is $2.39, leaving a net profit of $5.83 (29% profit margin). If Turkey-based, the fee is $3.99, leaving a net profit of $4.23 (21% profit margin).

Even at these highly competitive prices:

• 3 sales per day: Monthly net profit = $524. This is already more than the minimum wage in many regions.

• 10 sales per day: Monthly net profit = $1,746.

With this level of income, you would earn more than several professional public sector roles in the World.

In 2018, I started selling on Amazon US using the FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon) method, sourcing products from manufacturers on Alibaba and selling them under my own brand. I bought inventory in bulk and shipped it to Amazon’s warehouses; as sales came in, Amazon handled the delivery to the customers.

If I were starting e-commerce all over again today, instead of buying bulk inventory of products without knowing if they would sell, I would focus on personalized products and ship them as they are sold. Because I chose the wrong products at the start, much of my inventory sat stagnant in the warehouse. To avoid rising storage costs, I eventually had to liquidate them at a loss.

In 2022, we began selling personalized jewelry on Etsy. Having experienced the personalized product model for 4 years now, I see it as a massive opportunity for a new e-commerce entrepreneur.

Of course, we currently have private label brands on Amazon as well. Since we have a budget to invest, we continue to operate that business at the highest level. In fact, we grow our brands and sell them. However, if you don’t have a significant investment budget or aren’t a manufacturer yourself, doing private label via Amazon FBA is quite difficult.

Building a brand is a perfect business and the most promising long-term model, but many people with small budgets who try to do private label on Amazon run out of money midway. If they could just hold on for 6 months to a year, they might reach a great point, but they often can’t.

The most important thing in building a brand is finding places where there is opportunity and relatively less competition. Even more important than that is making a difference. I see that in personalized products, competition is generally lower, and there are areas where you can truly stand out.

The Turning Point: Challenges and Lessons

In April 2022, we partnered with a manufacturer—a small jewelry workshop in Turkey. We started uploading products to Etsy, agreeing with the manufacturer to ship products only as they were sold. We launched a campaign for a specific necklace and ring, distributing discounted products for momentum.

Sales started rolling in. Since it coincided with Mother’s Day, we reached 20 sales a day. However, as the products reached customers, 1-star negative reviews began to pour in. Because the reviews included photos, we realized the manufacturer was sending designs different from the ones we listed on Etsy.

Furthermore, once we hit 20 sales a day, the manufacturer couldn’t keep up, and shipments were delayed. Between the bad reviews and the delays, our shop’s sales plummeted almost to zero. We lost about $10,000 because of that manufacturer, and our launch budget went down the drain.

Optimizing for Profit

We searched for a new manufacturer and settled on one in Istanbul. We requested photos of every single item before it was shipped. While the quality was fine this time, we simply couldn’t turn a profit.

We were buying products for an average of $8–$8.50 and paying $15 for shipping to the US. With Etsy’s fees, we had to sell for at least $30 just to break even. Meanwhile, our competitors were selling the same items for $20–$25. Naturally, customers chose the more affordable options.

We shifted our focus entirely to reducing production and shipping costs:

• Production: We partnered with a new manufacturer and cut our costs in half. A necklace we previously bought for $8, we now started buying for $4.

• Shipping: We gradually reduced our shipping cost from $15 down to the $4–$6 range. Instead of shipping items individually every day, we waited until orders reached 50–100 units and sent them in bulk to the US.

• Logistics: Initially, we sent bulk shipments every three days; now we do it daily. The products arrive at our partner warehouse in the US, allowing for very low-cost final delivery.

With Etsy’s fees included, selling at the $20–$25 price point now yields a profit margin of 25–35%. Since we matched our competitors’ prices, our sales volume began to surge.

Scaling the Success

After the US, we established the same shipping and warehouse system in the UK and Germany. Because products are now dispatched via local courier services, sales increased significantly—customers always prefer products that arrive quickly.

Through this system, our main store reached 23,300 sales and $726,000+ in revenue in 3 years. After establishing this blueprint, we opened two more stores selling similar products:

• Store 2: Reached 3,134 sales and $74,267 revenue in 8 months.

• Store 3: Reached 1,544 sales and $35,828 revenue in 5 months.

Rob Kalin’s life was preparing to move beyond that of an ordinary furniture designer. Kalin was frustrated by the lack of a suitable place to sell his handmade furniture. The mass-produced world offered by giant e-commerce titans left no room for the unique, personal touches of hand craftsmanship he envisioned. This problem fueled the fire within him. Overnight, he decided to create a solution to fill this gap. However, this was only the start.

To turn his dream into reality, Kalin teamed up with old friends Chris Maguire and Haim Schoppik. Yet, the team felt something was missing. At that point, Jared Tarbell, a mathematics and computer genius, joined them. Gathering in the narrow streets of Brooklyn, the team merged their unique talents and visions. Their late-night meetings were filled with intense discussions and creative ideas. As artists in their own right, this team aimed to create not just a marketplace, but a community. Thus, the foundations of Etsy were laid.

The Rise of a Creative Community

Etsy’s early years were like an artist’s struggle to emerge from the shadows into the light. Initially, the platform had a simple, user-friendly interface, but it continued to grow and evolve with every passing day. Etsy’s uniqueness lay not only in the products sold but in how sellers reflected their own stories and creativity onto the platform. This transformed Etsy from an ordinary marketplace into an artist’s paradise.

In 2008, a new character joined the Etsy story: Maria Thomas. With her appointment as CEO, Thomas made strategic moves to bring Etsy out of the shadows and to a wider audience. Steps such as enhancing user experience, improving payment systems, and strengthening customer service led to rapid growth. Under her leadership, Etsy was becoming a global community. During this period, Etsy’s sales and user numbers skyrocketed, becoming a beacon of hope for small businesses and independent artisans.

In 2015, Etsy took another giant leap and went public. Trading on the NASDAQ, Etsy expanded even further globally. The IPO allowed the platform to increase its financial resources, enabling more innovation. During this time, Etsy focused on providing a better experience for both sellers and buyers by adopting principles of sustainability and ethical trade.

Today, Etsy is an indispensable platform for people seeking handmade and unique items, boasting millions of active buyers and sellers worldwide. The story of Etsy is an inspiring example of how an idea can turn into a global movement.

Etsy by the Numbers (2026 Insights)

Here are some key statistics regarding Etsy’s current standing:

1. Gross Merchandise Sales (GMS) Reached $12.72 Billion: GMS represents the total value of all items sold. In 2024, Etsy’s total GMS was approximately $12.72 billion.

2. Record Revenue of $2.85 Billion: Despite a slight softening in GMS, revenue continued to grow, marking a 1.98% increase over the previous year.

3. 454 Million Monthly Visitors: Etsy continues to be a high-traffic platform, attracting roughly 454.6 million visitors per month worldwide.

4. Six Categories Dominate 90% of GMS: These include Home & Living (approx. 34%), Jewelry & Accessories, Clothing, Craft Supplies, Paper & Party Supplies, and Toys & Games.

5. Over 100 Million Active Listings: The marketplace remains highly competitive, requiring sellers to focus heavily on SEO and product photography.

6. 8.1 Million Active Sellers: The “creative economy” continues to thrive with a resilient community of over 8 million sellers.

7. 86 Million Active Buyers: While there has been a slight year-over-year dip, the total consolidated buyer base (including Depop) remains strong at 93.1 million.

8. Repeat Buyers are Key: Approximately 36.9 million people are repeat buyers, having shopped on two or more days in the past year.

9. “Habitual” Buyers: This high-value segment—6 million people—spent $200 or more and shopped on six or more different days in the past year.

10. 86% of Sellers are Women: About 9 out of 10 Etsy sellers run their shops alone, mostly from home, highlighting the platform’s importance for independent creators.

11. Dominated by Millennials: Users aged 25–34 make up nearly 29% of the traffic, making it attractive for both Gen Z trend-seekers and Millennials with established purchasing power.

12. Customization is King: Roughly 33% of all sales involve personalized or custom-made items.

13. Mobile-First Shopping: 64% of traffic comes from mobile devices, with mobile sales accounting for 46% of total GMS.

Conclusion and Personal Experience

Founded in 2005, Etsy allows you to make money by selling handmade goods, vintage items, and digital products.

Etsy has become the number one marketplace for customizable products. Recently, they have focused heavily on “gifting.” During special occasions like Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day, or Christmas, orders can increase 10 to 20 times. Furthermore, because products are custom-made, customers are willing to pay more, resulting in more profitable sales for us.

I started my e-commerce journey in 2018 by buying products from Alibaba and selling them on Amazon. In 2021, Etsy caught my attention. We have been selling on the platform for over 4 years now. While I had a few attempts before April 2022, that was the month we officially began selling personalized jewelry.

Since opening in April 2022, our shop has reached 23,300+ orders and $726,289 in total sales.