Starting a small business can be a daunting task, but with the right tools and resources, it can be a great way to turn your passion into a career. One platform that can help small businesses get off the ground is Etsy. Etsy is an online marketplace that allows creative entrepreneurs to set up their own online shops and sell handmade or vintage items, as well as unique factory-manufactured items. In this blog post, we'll explore why small businesses should use Etsy as a platform to kickstart their own business.
Low Cost of Entry: Setting up an Etsy shop is relatively inexpensive, with a small listing fee of $0.20 per item and a transaction fee of only 5% on the sale price, including shipping. This makes it a great option for small businesses that are just starting out and don't have a lot of capital to invest in building their own website or paying for online advertising.
Large Audience: Etsy has a large and active user base, with over 60 million active buyers. This means that small businesses have access to a large potential customer base from the moment they open their shop. With such a large audience, small businesses have a greater chance of reaching their target market and making sales.
Built-in E-commerce Functionality: Etsy provides small businesses with all the tools they need to sell their products online, including the ability to process payments, track inventory, and fulfill orders. This eliminates the need for small businesses to invest in expensive e-commerce software or hire developers to build their own online stores.
Strong Community: Etsy has a strong community of sellers who support and help each other. This can be invaluable for small businesses, who can learn from more experienced sellers and get advice on how to grow their business. Additionally, Etsy offers a variety of support options, such as tutorials and forums, to help small businesses navigate the platform.
Global Reach: Etsy is a global marketplace, which means that small businesses can reach customers all over the world. This can help small businesses expand their customer base and increase their sales. With the potential to reach a global audience, small businesses can tap into new markets and grow their customer base.
Marketing and Promotion: Etsy has several built-in marketing and promotion tools that can help small businesses increase visibility and drive sales. This includes options to advertise on the platform, appear in search results, and generate discounts and coupons. Additionally, Etsy offers a variety of analytics tools that allow small businesses to track their sales and understand their customer base.
Etsy is an excellent platform for small businesses to kickstart their own business. It offers a low cost of entry, a large and active user base, built-in e-commerce functionality, a strong community, global reach, and marketing and promotion tools to help grow the business. Additionally, it's a great platform for small businesses who want to sell handmade, vintage, and unique items, which is a niche that has growing demand and is less saturated than others. With the right approach, small businesses can use Etsy to build a successful and sustainable businesses.
We wrote about the Etsy basics you should know before setting up your shop. Read it here.
