So, you must be an Etsy seller thinking about selling vintage items! Or maybe, you had never thought of that idea but this is just the inspiration you needed to find your new niche. Either way, get ready to learn so much about growing your personal business! I am super excited to share with you ten tips for selling vintage items on Etsy. Your Etsy shop is your very own art gallery on display, so I would like you to start by getting that metaphor in your mind. You are now an artist.
Art is never finished, only abandoned. – Leonardo da Vinci
I think that quote is really relevant to the idea of selling vintage items on Etsy, because you (as a seller) have seen beauty in something older (a vintage piece) that is not done yet (for sell). Someone before has come along and abandoned some great item, but you are the artist to bring life back to it and to someone new (your potential buyer).
Let’s get started talking about how exactly you can do that most effectively and with style.
How to sell vintage items on Etsy
1. Decide what vintage items you plan to sell.
First and foremost, to sell vintage items you must possess vintage items. What do you have that others would want? If you are familiar with the Etsy webpage, you will notice that “Vintage” is a category of its own. This is a really big domain with so many options.
Subcategories may include accessories, bags, clothing, arts, collectibles, crafts and tools, home decor, jewelry, toys and games, and more. Do you own anything that would fall into any of these categories? Narrow down what you plan to sell. This should be the very first step in your business.
2. Create a clever shop name.
Next once you have established the products that you plan to sell and acquired them, you will want to create your shop on Etsy. You will need to come up with a captivating name for your shop. Some of my favorite vintage selling shop names include “Modern Antiquary”, “Love From The Back Room”, and “Grannys Box”.
You can see how these names allude to the older nature of the products, but sort of lure you into wanting to explore further. Don’t be basic with your name. Be unique and true to yourself and your personality.
Hint: Make your shop name easy to search and remember.
3. Figure out your shop style.
You really do not want to be all over the place like a hot mess.
You have your products and your name. Now, what kind of style do you intend to portray? The best shops are the ones that have a similar theme. You really do not want to be all over the place like a hot mess. Maybe a color scheme or a certain type of patterns and prints. Whatever it is, stick to a similar “look” and go with it. You want to be able to identify your shop and your products from the rest.
4. Advertise well.
Notice what I said… advertise WELL. You cannot just advertise. You must do it the right way. Set a captivating profile image for your shop. Use the best photos for your products. You want to do your best work at advertising these products. High quality photos reflect high quality products.
5. Set competitive prices.
The best way that I can suggest to set prices is to search around first. You will want to look at competitors. How much do they charge? Perhaps look outside of Etsy. How much is it here and there? You most likely do not want to be the cheapest location to get these products (because people might feel like your products are poor quality), but you want to be a location with better deals than going to the next shop. Consider ways of doing this. You’re creative. You’ll figure this out.
6. Be personable.
One of the best tips that I have for any Etsy seller is to just be personable. Reach out to buyers. Send personal “thank you notes”. Give the buyer the feel of shopping from the wonderfully creative person that you are- not another robot behind a webpage with no personality.
That same personality and style that you want displayed when people view your shop page is the exemplified through the personal connections you can make with customers.
Vintage just means “pre-loved”. – Unknown
7. Do right by the customers.
When selling vintage items, a lot of factors come into play such as the quality of the item, the condition, the age, the history, etc. You want to be up front and honest. Do not deceive customers to make the item seem more appealing. Be realistic and honest. Honest is always the best policy, right?
8. Respond to reviews.
Based on your performance of the previous tips, your customers will likely leave impacting reviews on your site which will make or break your business. If someone responds positively, reach out with a personal statement of gratitude. If someone has a complain, attend to his/her needs efficiently. These ratings are your way to the top.
9. Stay active on your shop.
Continue to provide great photos and great quality items for sell.
Keep up you work. Continue to provide great photos and great quality items for sell. If you slow down, your business will likely slow down too. You want to stay engaged and active on your shop. Even if you just spend one hour per day devoted to your shop, spend it.
10. Enjoy the stories.
Selling vintage items on Etsy is going to be a neat experience for you and the new owner. Vintage items have stories that brand new items simply lack. This historical significant is an awesome advantage that you will have to pull on the heart strings of your customers and heighten interest.
Use the stories, tell the history, enjoy the richness of the vintage trend and all that encompasses.
I am confident that if you follow these ten tips, you will be a top vintage seller on Etsy. Now, what are you waiting for?
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