Published: November 5, 2024
Estimated Reading Time: 4 minutes
As the holiday season approaches, Etsy sellers know that preparation is key to making the most of this busy time. From stocking up on materials to crafting the perfect holiday listing, there’s a lot that goes into standing out and thriving during this season. To help you prepare, we’ve gathered tips and insights from successful Etsy sellers in the eRank Community who have mastered the art of navigating the holiday rush. Whether you’re a seasoned seller or just starting out, these expert strategies can help you navigate the season with confidence.
Alongside these seller insights, learn about some useful resources from eRank that cover everything from optimizing listings for holiday shoppers to managing inventory and shipping deadlines effectively. Here are some expert tips to help ensure your holiday season runs smoothly.
Summary (TLDR)
- Preparation is key to success during the holiday season on Etsy.
- Tips from top sellers include building inventory early, crafting optimized holiday listings, and managing shipping deadlines.
- Utilize eRank’s resources for keyword optimization, inventory management, and shipping tips.
- These expert strategies can help Etsy sellers stand out and thrive during the holiday rush
Build Up Inventory and Prepare Ahead
Although the official start of the holiday season is Black Friday, don’t wait until then to get your shop and workspace ready! Long-time Etsy Seller Michele L. shares, “After 12 years on Etsy, I’ve learned to start holiday stock as early as February. My ornaments sell year-round, so it’s essential to prepare ahead to meet holiday demand.” If you have items that are popular year-round or have long lead times, take steps early in the year to ensure that you can meet demand.
In addition to preparing your shop, Seller Tracy S. recommends getting ahead of traditional holidays activities. “Complete holiday baking early, have best-sellers pre-packaged, and communicate with family about your busy season while still setting aside time to enjoy it” are all great pieces of advice to reduce stress during the holidays. Another seller, Anne W., suggests to “over-order packaging supplies [and] prepare and freeze dinners ahead of time.” Taking some small steps to prepare ahead of the rush can save you from potentially stressful situations during the holiday season.
Extend Shipping and/or Processing Times
Etsy Seller Nathalie from Natdebesny, France recommends that sellers “extend delivery times a bit to allow for better organization. Make sure you have plenty of packaging supplies well in advance, especially if you live far from stores.” Other sellers are “testing out extended shipping times and have already set [their] last order date” and warn to not “fully rely on your post office’s shipping date deadlines.”
For more shipping tips as well as popular mail carrier deadlines, read eRank’s blog post Prepare for Shipping This Holiday Season.
Effectively Communicate Cut-Off Dates
Debbie F, a member of the eRank team, recommends, “Decorate your shop for Thanksgiving and Christmas early, post your holiday shipping cut-off dates, and let customers know if their orders might not arrive on time.” Etsy Seller Mary S. reiterates the importance of “includ[ing] gift-wrapping details and last order dates in your listings to help customers.” Keeping an open line of communication with your buyers is important, especially when processing or shipping delays occur. In fact, during eRank’s 2023 Buyer Survey, over 80% of buyers felt communication was key when there were delays with their orders.
For more buyer insights, read eRank’s 2023 Etsy Buying Habits report.
Take a Break!
While the holidays are in full swing, it can be difficult to set aside some time each day to take care of yourself. Debbie F. reminds sellers to “prioritize family time in the evenings and make sure you get enough sleep and self-care daily. Be realistic about working hours and turn off your phone in the evenings” to give yourself some breathing room to avoid burn-out.
Put Your Shop on Vacation Mode
Once your holiday deadlines pass and all your orders are shipped, many sellers recommend spending time with family and friends. Nathalie says, “I close my shop once holiday deliveries are no longer possible and enjoy a stress-free Christmas with my family.” Use the Vacation Mode option for your Etsy shop to pause orders and take some time to enjoy the holidays without worrying about new orders coming in. eRank Team Member Sophie R suggests, “Plan for a break after Christmas! Managing a business, preparing for the holidays, and hosting family is exhausting. Give yourself time to recover after the holiday rush.”
To read up on the Vacation Mode feature, check out Etsy’s How to Turn On Vacation Mode article as well as eRank’s Should You Put Your Etsy Shop on Vacation? blog post.
Find Additional Holiday Selling Success Tips
eRank has valuable resources to help you refine your Etsy shop for the holiday season:
- Tips for Holiday Success on Etsy: Learn to leverage eRank’s Keyword Tool and Monthly Trends Report to identify popular keywords and boost your visibility during the holiday rush
- Fourth Quarter Holiday Guide for Handmade Sellers: This guide includes crafting ideas and marketing tips for popular seasonal events, from Thanksgiving to Kwanzaa.
- 5 Tips for Holiday Prep: Covers essentials like optimizing listings, tracking trends, and setting up sales promotions to get ahead of the holiday season.
- Holiday Selling on Etsy: 5 Things to Do Now!: Includes advice on using listing videos, proofreading, and managing inventory effectively to avoid last-minute issues.
Whether you’re preparing your shop for a holiday spike or ensuring your product listings stand out, these resources offer actionable insights that can help make this your best holiday season yet on Etsy.
To find more great tips and get in on the conversation, join the eRank Facebook Group today!
Thank you to these wonderful eRank Facebook Community members for offering their insights and tips: Anne W., Mary S., Debbie F., Pamela D., Sophie R., Dana L., Nathalie, Michele L., and Tracy S.
