More than ever, people are shopping with their hearts—supporting independent entrepreneurs, Black-owned businesses, and their local economies. While this year has been extremely challenging, it’s also created new opportunities for small business owners like you. The proof: There were more sales on Etsy from April through June than any other quarter in our history. Etsy and Reverb sellers made $2.7 billion in sales during that time. That’s a 146% increase compared to the same time last year. It’s clear Etsy sellers rose to the occasion to create and sell the items shoppers need during this difficult time.

More shoppers have discovered Etsy recently too, thanks in part to our television advertising and increased online shopping while people stay at home. In the second quarter, active buyers on Etsy increased 39% to 60 million worldwide.

To help you make the most of this huge opportunity we'll be sharing tips and advice all holiday season you can use to stay on top of the rush and delight your customers with the little things that matter most. In our marketing, we’ll also be highlighting the ways Etsy sellers make the holidays extra bright. After all, amazing products sold by individual makers and curators is what Etsy is all about. Read on for more tips and a sneak peek at how we plan to support you.

Prep for the holidays now

It may feel like there’s plenty of time till the holiday rush, but this year we expect the holiday shopping season on Etsy to start earlier than ever. Here’s what you can do today to get holiday-ready.

Start thinking about your inventory

This year, trends are changing faster than ever. Check out our 2020 holiday trend report to discover best-selling items, top searches, and emerging trends to inspire your holiday offerings. See what shoppers are searching for this season.

Include all the need-to-know details in your listings

Set aside some time to give your listings a quick refresh. Look at your listings through the eyes of shoppers and make sure you’re answering these important questions:

• What’s for sale? What does it look like and why is it special? Our new listing video option lets you really show off what makes your products special. In addition to a video, be sure to add 10 photos to each of your listings to answer any questions shoppers might have about the size, color, or materials used.
• When will this item arrive? Make sure you keep your processing times up to date (especially before your shop gets busy) and add shipping carrier info to your shipping profiles. We’ll use this info to show shoppers an estimated delivery date. Another way to keep customers feeling confident: Ship via Etsy Shipping Labels and include tracking. Update your shipping profiles.
• What if they don’t love it? Clear shop policies and a return policy give shoppers a little extra confidence before they make their purchase. Give your shop policies an update (and be sure to add them if you haven’t yet!). Pro tip: Purchase shipping insurance for your packages so you can offer shoppers a refund if their order arrives damaged or is lost in the mail.

Make the most of Etsy’s increased traffic

Increased traffic to Etsy means more potential sales for you. Make the most of this moment by increasing your marketing efforts and participating in Etsy’s sales events.

• Share your latest listings using Etsy’s social media tool. Don’t forget to tag @Etsy so buyers checking out our feed can discover your posts too.
• Join our Labor Day sales event to start reaching holiday shoppers now. Just schedule your sale for September 4-7 and offer a 20% off discount on your entire shop. Participating in Etsy’s Labor Day sales event could lead to more sales throughout the holiday season. Create your sale now.
• Start an Etsy Ads campaign or increase your budget to reach more of the new shoppers searching online for Etsy products right now. Start your campaign.

Delight your customers

This holiday season, the little things will matter more than they usually do. But, staying on top of your customer service can get tricky when your shop is busy–and based on our recent influx in sales, we expect this will be Etsy’s busiest holiday season yet. Try these tips to delight shoppers and keep them coming back:

• Our data shows that sellers who typically respond to messages within 24 hours are more likely to receive a 5-star review.* Set up saved replies for the questions you frequently get from customers so you can respond in a snap. Set up saved replies.
• Connecting with a creator or curator makes shopping on Etsy extra special. Include a handwritten note in your orders to say thanks to your customers.
• Finding a great gift on Etsy feels awesome. But it’s even better when it ships for free. Encourage shoppers to add more to their cart by offering free shipping on orders of $35 or more. Set a free shipping guarantee.

We’re here to help you shine

We’ll continue to share tips and advice you can put into action in your shop to make this your best holiday season yet! Plus, we’ll be introducing a few new tools to make managing your shop even easier. Keep an eye on your email inbox and be sure to check your Shop Manager dashboard for the latest info.

Return to the Ultimate Guide to Holiday

*Based on an analysis of purchasers between June through August 2020 which shows that sellers who respond to a buyer message within 24 hours at least 80% of the time are more likely to get a 5-star review.