If you’re an artist thinking of starting an online store, Esty should be your first choice. Founded in 2005, the eCommerce platform focuses primarily on the artistic community. When people want unique artwork and clothing that will not cost them a fortune, they often turn to this helpful website.
If you’re an artist, you may find frustrations in trying to sell your products online. The materials you buy to make your artwork are expensive, and a piece can take hours to create. You want to be paid fairly for your artwork and so do many artists worldwide. The trick to getting people to buy your artwork and offer one or two items that are inexpensive enough that people will take a chance on them.
Your handmade products must be created and stored somewhere. When someone orders one of your creations, you will have to ship it out to them, making it more expensive and time-consuming. Fortunately, when you use Etsy with print-on-demand dropshipping, you can give people a taste of your artistic style and abilities without worrying about paying for materials or storage.
How On-Demand Printing Works
When you create a design, simply upload it to the website of an on-demand printer. Then select an item on which you want it to appear. The very best on-demand printers will have huge warehouses filled with many products. They will also have high-tech embroidery machines. This will allow you to offer your artwork in either high-tech print or embroidery form.
You should be able to have your artwork appear on items such as:
- Mugs and glasses
- Shirts
- Socks
- Jackets
- Hoodies
- Keychains
- Hats
- Posters
As a fashion designer, you can start by offering an image or two on a jacket or t-shirt. You don’t want to overwhelm people with too many options. If you’re a painter, you should make a poster or two.
Once you select what you want your artwork to appear on, the company will print it and send it to you. You should always see your product in person before you sell it to others.
When you have an acceptable product, it’s time to set up your Esty store. You can do this in just a few easy steps.
The first thing you should do is create an account. Esty is easy to sign up for. You will enter your name and business name. You will set up your preferences, such as language, currency, and country. You will also create a name for your shop.
Take Pictures
The on-demand printer you use should provide a mock-up of your design. This does not mean that you cannot take pictures of your own. If you’re selling clothing or accessories, you should hire someone to model them. If you’re also selling handmade items, you should take the most professional-looking picture or hire a professional.
You will then create your listings. You will want to start with two or three of your favorite pieces. You will list the price and when you made it, along with any materials that you used.
The sizes and colors of any products should be listed next. You should not offer your product in an enormous array of colors. People will spend too much time browsing. The more colors you have, the more likely someone in a warehouse will make a mistake.
Shipping Options
To sell handmade products from home, you must list a person’s shipping options.
If you sell through an on-demand printer, you will want to include a payment button that links to their website. The on-demand site that you choose may have several shipping options or just one.
When a person wants to order one of your shirts, they will pay with a credit card or payment platform such as PayPal. The on-demand printer will take out their share of the money, print the product, and send it to the customer. It’s that easy.
Advertising
Because Esty focuses on artists, some people will go to the platform simply to shop for art for their homes or business. This is a major advantage over other platforms. You can also post your pieces on social media.
If your artwork catches on, you will get the attention of gallery curators. If they like your work, you may get calls from art galleries asking if you would like to participate in a show. If your Etsy store is a hit, you may be the next big designer or artist.
