Life-sized demon hand? A 2023 calendar of dogs pooping in beautiful places? Uno-inspired earrings? No matter what niche you are into crafting, you are bound to find an audience for your product on Etsy.
Etsy is an e-commerce company designed for handmade or vintage items and other craft supplies. There are a whole range of different categories these items fall under, from jewellery, clothing, and bags to toys, art and many more. It can be used as a secondary online store or your primary channel of trade.
It may seem difficult to open an Etsy shop if you haven’t had any experience using the platform before. But don’t worry, it’s really quite simple.
This article will show you how to open an Etsy shop in New Zealand in just 6 simple steps. Before you know it, your creation will be being bought from your Etsy store and sent across the world to the homes of customers that adore your creation.
1. Register an Etsy Account
Click on the “Sell On Etsy” link to create an account. Next, enter your email address, name, and password, and then click “Continue”.
You can also create an Etsy account using your existing Google, Facebook, or Apple account.
If you have an Etsy account already, you can log in with your credentials, then click “Open Your Etsy Store” to create your store.
2. Your shop preferences
Next, you will be taken to the “shop preferences screen” where you can set the basic settings of your store.
You’ll first set the default language that you will use to describe your items. After you open your Etsy shop you can choose whether you want to translate your page into another language for a wider audience reach. Next, choose your country of origin and the currency you would like to list your products.
The final question will ask you whether you are a full-time, part-time, or “other” seller. This question is only for Etsy’s purposes and doesn’t impact your ability to open an Etsy shop.
3. Choose your Etsy shop name
This is where you can get creative with your Etsy shop name. Try and create a shop that is memorable and reflects your products and values.
You can name your store anything you want, provided it conforms to Etsy’s guidelines.
- You can choose from four to twenty characters.
- There are no spaces or special characters.
- You can’t use a name that is already being used by an Etsy seller.
- There can’t be any trademark infringements or use of profanity.
4. Add items to your Etsy shop
Next, you will list your items in order to open an Etsy shop. Etsy recommends that you include between 5-10 photos per item, so customers can view your product from different angles. Images should be at least 1,000 pixels in size.
You can also include photos of variations of your product, such as a t-shirt in multiple colours, so customers can see all the options.
Adjust your thumbnail
Your thumbnail is the first image that customers see of your item in your shop via search or elsewhere on Etsy. Think of it as your product’s headshot. Try and take a high-quality photo for best results.
Complete your listing details
While your title, which has a 140-character limit, is vital to get right, your description will likely be what pushes a potential customer into a sale.
include a detailed description, a bulleted overview and additional details such as the product’s type and category. You can also preview your listing in the description section for a Google search result. This will help you optimise for SEO.
You may also make use of the 13 “tags” that are available for each item. These tags or keywords can help shoppers find your item. Think back and consider what customers might type into search to find your item.
5. Sort out your payment details
The next step is to sort out your payment and shipping details. Keep in mind that Etsy has specific requirements for New Zealand businesses so ensure you factor that into your payment details.
From listing and transaction fees to the regulations around offsite ads, be sure to check out the full terms and conditions before your first sale.
You may also need to include information about shipping details, such as the shipping service you used, cost, shipping time, item weight, and size.
Etsy can calculate shipping costs for you, which they recommend. You will then likely need to enter the item’s weight and dimensions (when packed). Then, you can preview the shipping cost that the buyer will see based on this information.
6. Sort out your small business insurance
While it may not be a requirement when operating an Etsy store in New Zealand, there are many reasons you may want to consider getting small business insurance for your online store.
Just like operating a physical store, running an Etsy business comes with risk. If someone suffers damage to their property or injures themselves due to your business activities, you could be held liable.
Public Liability insurance protects your business by providing compensation for property damage and personal injury or death in circumstances not covered by the Accident Compensation Commission (ACC).
The ACC looks after most of the exposure in NZ for accidental personal injury, however it doesn’t provide protection for businesses that export their products.
Small business insurance products like Public Liability are designed to help you in these situations to help deal with the massive costs involved in handling a claim.
Visit BizCover, an online comparison platform, to compare quotes instantly from leading New Zealand insurers and get covered in minutes.
Get ready to sell
It’s easy to open an Etsy shop thanks to its user-friendly interface. The real work starts after you open an Etsy store.
You shouldn’t be discouraged even if you initially have little or no traffic to your store. It can take time for Etsy shops to gain a following, just like brick-and-mortar shops.
Once you have made your first sale, keep in touch with your customers. You should check your messages regularly and respond promptly to any questions.
After following these steps in this article, you are ready to open your Etsy store in New Zealand and have your amazing idea sent out to the world.
This information is general only and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. It should not be relied upon as advice. As with any insurance, cover will be subject to the terms, conditions and exclusions contained in the policy wording. © 2022 BizCover Pty Limited, BizCover Limited is owned by BizCover Pty Ltd (ABN 68 127 707 975)
