Looking at how to open an Etsy shop in 2024? Have no fear, I’ll be sharing all of the supplies you need to run a successful Etsy store! Of course, I don’t recommend anything I don’t personally use, so all of these products are a must for my own shop*.
*Disclaimer: Some links are Amazon affiliate links and allow me to keep recommending great products and successfully run my business. Thank you for your support!
My Mindset When I Opened My Etsy Shop
I remember when I first opened my Etsy shop in 2020. Not only did I have no clue what I was doing, but I also didn’t know where to start. Starting your own shop or even your business can be one of the most nerve-wracking and anxiety-inducing things you’ll ever do in your life!
Clicking “publish” on my first Etsy listing made me feel all of the emotions you could ever feel—excitement, nervousness, confidence, imposter syndrome, and so much more. But when opening your shop, there are a few things to keep in mind:
- You won’t get a sale right away. Running a successful Etsy shop doesn’t mean you will get a sale right away. It can take weeks if not months to even get your first sale. Stay patient and resilient during this transition, it’s not a reflection of your skills or your art!
- There’s no such thing as overnight success. Sure, you can have a social media post go viral and gain followers overnight. But, what you decide to do with that engagement determines your shop’s success. Adopting sustainable practices to make sure you are in this for the long haul is what determines success.
- Don’t be afraid to invest in yourself and your business. Believe me, I know what it’s like to cut corners in order to save money. However, if you really want to run a successful Etsy shop, you must learn where to automize and invest in good quality manufacturers and supplies in order to do your job well!
Supplies I Used to Open My Etsy Shop
Without further ado, here are supply recommendations that I think are worth every penny and needed to run your own successful Etsy store:
Shipping Boxes of All Sizes
Obviously, if you’re running an online store, you need a vessel to ship your art to your customers! That’s why it is important to get shipping materials of all sizes, whether that’s envelopes, mailers, or boxes. I personally like to use the brands below because they are great quality for an affordable price.
- Merbudy 9x6x4 Congregated Boxes: $23.70 for 25 boxes (basically less than $1 per box!)
- Merbudy 9x6x2 Inches Shipping Boxes: $28.99 for 50 boxes (these are the perfect size for tote bags and large stationery orders.)
- AZAZA A7 Brown Kraft Paper Invitation 5 x 7 Envelopes: $14.99 for 100 (I use these for sticker-only orders and love how they come with quick self-seals!)
- Aviditi 6 x 8″ Stayflats Brand Rigid Flat Mailers: $38.53 for 100 (I use these for pin and stationery orders. Listen, I’m an avid self-seal gal and these are perfect for that too.)
Sticker & Small Products Organizer
I absolutely love using these drawer organizers to store my stickers and other products. They’re a great way to keep all of your product separate and easy to reach when it’s time to pack orders.
I personally use them for my stickers, but you can also use them to sort your making supplies such as jewelry pieces and various office supplies. My ultimate goal is to have a wall of these sticker organizers as I’ve seen people on social media with large sticker collections make it look beautifully organized.
These cost $30.99 for one 9-drawer organizer and come in various colors such as white, blue, purple, black, and pink.
Rollo Label Printer
This specific label printer is a godsend when it comes to running a successful business. When I first started, I used to manually cut my shipping labels using label paper I bought from Walmart.
This saves so much time and is worth every penny!!! (extra exclamation points because I cannot stress this enough!!!) I personally bought the wired version, but I would recommend buying the wireless version off the bat because you can hook it up to your home Wi-Fi. It is a hefty investment, but this allows you to print from any computer wirelessly. If you buy the wired version (like me), you can only print from the computer your label printer is connected to.
If you’re ballin’ on a budget, check out this shipping label printer recommendation for a fraction of the cost. I personally haven’t used this one, but there are great reviews and it’s wireless via Bluetooth.
Also, make sure to get shipping labels when you purchase this!
Cricut Explore Air 3
At a hefty price of $277.00, the Cricut Explore Air 3 is definitely a privilege to have. HOWEVER, coming from someone who used to make my own stickers, it is worth every penny. It saves you so much time and money instead of a. manually cutting everything yourself and b. outsourcing small details like sticker labels.
I’ve saved hundreds of dollars printing my own packaging stickers (like my infamous “snail mail” sticker I use to seal products) and logo sticker labels (I stick those underneath my crochet planters or on the back of my stationery items).
The Cricut is a beginner-friendly option on the market, and I find their software very easy to learn. However, if you’re feeling more adventurous, I’ve also heard even greater things about the Silhouette Cameo 4. I personally haven’t used it, but it is equally well-loved in the small business community.
If you buy the Cricut, make sure to get these LightGrip Cutting Mats as well!
Canon IP8720 Wireless Printer
Owning a heavy-duty printer is one of the most important things in having a business, next to the importance of shipping boxes! You need a printer to print out business documents and order receipts.
I personally have the Canon IP8720 (ink printer), and I believe it works great! I have no complaints whatsoever about it. If you want to go the eco-friendly route, you can also invest in a laser printer as well. Although it is more expensive upfront, you save a ton of money on ink.
For those who want to buy the Canon IP8720, ink can be quite expensive if you make your own stickers. Because of that, this E-Z ink dupe works just as great as Canon Ink for a fraction of the cost.
Unique Packing Materials
The beauty of having your own Etsy store is you can brand it however you want! That means packing your orders however you want as well. Be sure to make your packaging unique and on-brand!
Because eco-friendly sustainability is one of my business values, I make sure all of my packaging materials are plastic-free and recyclable (except sticker labels).
If you want to follow suit, here are my favorite recommendations:
- Glassine Bags 5×7 inches: $8.59 for 100 (great for sticker sheets and stationery)
- Glassine Bags 3×5 inches: $5.98 for 100 (great for pins and sticker orders)
- Natural Twine: $5.99 for 100 ft (cute, eco-friendly way to wrap present; your customers can even reuse it for something else!)
- White Tissue Paper 15×20 inches: $32.99 for 960 pieces (great for small envelope sticker-only orders!)
- Paper Cutter: $16.99 (great to cut sticker backings and other signage)
- Amazon Basics Paper Trimmer: $34.39 (great for bulk cutting paper orders, sticker backings)
Business & Thank You Cards
Custom business cards and thank you cards are the easiest way to connect with your Etsy customers and direct them to external outlets such as your social media accounts! I love printing all of my materials through Vistaprint because they are great quality for an affordable price.
Here are some things to include on your business and thank you cards:
- Social media usernames (Instagram, Facebook, TikTok) and a call to action to share for a chance to get featured. Make it easy to access using a QR code.
- General thank you message paragraph. For bonus points, a space to handwrite customer’s names.
- Motivational quote. I like to put a motivational quote on the front of my thank you cards, so people are more inclined to keep it and hang it up somewhere!
- Important links such as email address, website, and Etsy store.
- Optional: A discount code for their next order.
Looking to get custom promotional materials made? Reach out for a custom quote on business stationery!
Custom Stamps
This is optional, but I created custom stamps through NoIssue for an eco-friendly way to decorate my shipping boxes. They are great quality stamps made with soy ink. Although they’re on the pricier side, these stamps have lasted me years! The stamps also come with their own ink pad as well.
They also have other great options for custom packaging such as custom tissue paper, bags, takeout cups, boxes, labels, and more for low minimum order quantities!
If you’re looking to get custom packaging made, I’m ya girl and you should reach out for a custom quote.
Final Thoughts
Annnd that’s all she wrote, folks! Here’s (mostly) everything you need to open your own Etsy shop. Of course, the supplies you would need vary by industry, so some of the things you may need are probably not listed here.
However, I hope this gives you a general idea of what you need to run a successful Etsy store. If you’d like to stay connected, you can follow my crochet adventures on Plant Babies Crochet and give my Instagram, Femme Flora Design, some love! There, you can see me use these supplies in action and also learn more business tips and tricks.
Looking for custom brand strategy and identity services? Look at our portfolio and get in touch today for a custom quote!
*Disclaimer: Some links are Amazon affiliate links and allow me to keep recommending great products and successfully run my business. Thank you for your support!
