How To Set Up An Etsy shop In The UK

December 9, 2022 John

Etsy is a unique eCommerce store, where sellers can sell their handcrafted items to customers, offering a personal B2C experience.

Have you ever had a passion or hobby that involves creating something? No matter what the creative avenue is, it could be something people would pay money for. Personalised products can be a big draw for people, especially when it is handcrafted.

Setting up your own Etsy shop can open up a little side income for you, as well as giving the opportunity to make money off doing something that you enjoy. Given time, it could even become your sole income.

This article will give you a step-by-step guide on how to set up your own UK-based Etsy store.

What To Sell On Etsy?

There are three main items that are typically sold on Etsy:

Handcrafted
Vintage
Craft supplies

Handcrafted items are products that have been handmade by you. They can not be handmade by someone else and then resold. Vintage items can range from clothing to electronics, but it must be more than 20 years old. Craft supplies are tools, ingredients, or materials for use in creating something else. These should also be created by you.

Have a Plan Before Starting

Make sure that you know what you will be selling and to what kind of customers. There are plenty of niches on Etsy, so it won’t be typically hard to find an audience, but it should still be kept in mind. Keep in mind that personalised products can be very popular, so offering the option for personalised touches can go a long way.

Getting Started

The first step is to set up an account. Registration is completely free and is needed to create your store. All you need is an email, your first name, and a password. Add in profile details and a profile picture to give your profile an identity once you have created a profile.

Once your profile is created, and you have a shop idea in mind, it’s time to begin the creation of your store. Clicking on the ‘Shop Manager’ on the top toolbar, next to your profile image, will lead you to a new page where you will be asked a couple of questions before continuing.

You can skip the questions if you don’t have an answer just yet. You will then be led to a screen where you can create your own shop.

Before creating your store, you will have to fill in 6 different tabs:

Shop preferences
Name your shop
How you’ll get paid
Set up billing
Your shop security
Stock your shop

For shop preferences, make sure all the details are UK-specific. This will show customers where you are based, and what currency your store takes, which will show the prices of your products. Create a name that fits the theme of your store

Payments

You need to decide on the best payment method for you and your store. There are 3 primary ways for you to accept payment methods:

Etsy payments: After setting up a shop, you can be enrolled in Etsy payments. Your customers can pay via credit/debit card. Payments can also be made through gift cards, PayPal, Apple Pay, and Android Pay.
PayPal: Some countries aren’t part of the Etsy payment scheme. Your Etsy store can connect directly to your PayPal account, allowing for quick and easy payments
Cheque or money order: Although it’s uncommon, some shops offer the option to pay via cheque, although this method would be much slower than a direct payment.

PayPal is a common method for shops on Etsy, as you don’t need to enroll in the Etsy payment scheme.

While you are selecting your payment method, it’s a good idea to also consider the pricing for your items. Consider the cost of materials, labour, and shipping to help determine a fair price.

You should also consider Etsy seller fees. As Etsy is a hosting site, there are fees for listings and sales, as well as other aspects of the transactions. Make sure you are aware of all these fees before creating your store.

The next step is to fill in the accurate billing information. You’ll need your billing address and the correct card you’ll want the payments to go to.

Security

Making sure your account is secure is a top priority to protect your shop and personal details. Make sure to use a complex password.

Two-factor authentication should also be used. 2FA requires a verification code to be sent to your email or SMS. This can be set so it only happens when signing in from an unrecognised device or from whenever you login.

This extra layer of security is vital to protect your business against data breaches and unauthorized logins.

Stock Your Shop

Once you have filled in all your payment details and security, it’s time to start stocking the shop with items. When adding items, there are a few things to keep in mind:

Always use high-quality photos
Use accurate titles and tags
Attributes can be added to help customers find your listings
Include detailed item descriptions
Make sure processing times are accurate

Each item should be displayed clearly and described as best you can so that customers know what they are getting.

Branding And Design

You should also include store policies, especially regarding returns. If you create personalised items, then returns might not seem like a good idea.

After creating a suitable list of items, you should also focus on other store details. In the ‘About section, you can talk about your store and its inspiration, this can add interest to your store, as it adds a personal touch.

Adding a brand and shop logo can add some flair to your store as well, drawing in more customers. This can be done through the ‘Shop Manager’ menu. Click on the ‘pencil’ icon underneath sales channels, and then click the second ‘pencil’ icon on the bottom right of the banner. This should let you change the layout and add in the kind of banner that best represents your store.

There are plenty of resources on the Etsy website that can go in-depth on any of these details. This article should provide you with enough knowledge to get started on your very own UK-based Etsy store.