Creator Hustle, Limited Sales
350 posts across 35 communities in the last 30 days; 33% from r/EtsySellers.
“Hello all I have a question about creating unique products. I have a small boutique webshop. part of my products are unique, but they are the same product but in different grades of wear. They may have scratches, so instead of just using grade a, grade b.. etc, I want to have…”
“Hi All, My best friend and i set up an etsy shop months ago now, and have beem working on optimising the listings, running ads etc for a few months but still have not had more than our own 2 sales (to check quality!). I am hoping by sharing this link and request that someone can…”
“Before opening another account, I'd post a month of art on your current IG and see whether those posts actually bring buyers. [re: How do I maximize social media for multiple businesses/projects]”
These creators are struggling to translate online audience size and engagement into consistent sales on platforms like Etsy and Teepublic. They're experimenting with different product types and designs, seeking feedback and grappling with unpredictable sales patterns, and feeling frustrated by the difficulty of replicating success.
SOURCES (60)
“Print-on-demand t-shirt store, about four months old. Five orders. All five came from friends or family. Not one stranger has bought anything yet. Keep that in mind for the rest of this. Four weeks ago I did a proper SEO pass: alt text on every…”
“Are there any jewellery business owners here? Our sales have suddenly dropped quite dramatically recently, and I’m wondering if anyone else in the jewellery industry is experiencing the same thing. I’d really love to hear how other jewellery businesses are doing lately. Is it just us, or are others seeing a significant slowdown too? My weekly revenue dropped from $22000 to $11000.. Half.. submitted by /u/Wooden-Advantage-431 [link] [comments]”
“Super! 👌 [re: I started my own footwear brand in India, but I'm struggling to get orders. What am I doing wrong?]”
“I was trying to find creators who would actually promote a dog product, so I went through accounts from dog hashtags one by one. Out of 326: 130 were under 1000 followers and 35 were too big (50k+). The big ones usually have rate cards and managers. 48 of them hadn't posted in two weeks. Way more "active-looking" accounts than I thought were completely dead. Out of 113 left, around half weren't individual owners at all: groomers, trainers, kennels, rescues, and shops all use th”
Hello! Im not much of a writer but I have two add to cart products coming out on my website soon. These are the only products that are add to cart at…
“Hi all. I started an Etsy shop about 5 weeks ago selling handmade vegan leather accessories, mostly earrings. My shop is science-themed and primarily for women. So far, I have had one sale within a few days of opening and nothing since then, and I'm feeling kind of down about it. (I have a few other sales, but those are from family members, so I'm not counting them.) My prices are a little on the higher end (~$30 for a pair of earrings), but that's because it takes me a while to make”
“Hi everyone! I run a small Etsy shop in Austria and would appreciate specific feedback on my shop as a whole. I’m getting orders, but there are quiet periods in between. My goal is to get one or two orders a week consistently. At this point, I’m not sure whether the fluctuations mainly come from changes in visitor numbers or from how many visitors actually buy. I’ve already worked on my product photos, descriptions and pricing, and I’ve also tried Pinterest ads. My shop: https://holzstudiof.etsy”
“On Etsy, the listing title and tags will do more for you than ads at this stage. People don't search "brush and comb set", they search things like "personalized baby keepsake", "baby shower gift" or "new mom gift", so build the title and all 13 tags around those gift phrases. Offering the baby's name or birth date painted on would help a lot too, since personalized items sell much better as gifts. And ask the mums you sent samples to for an honest”
“Got this on my dashboard about two months ago, it's decent but nothing groundbreaking. You'll see a feed of brands actively looking for creators to send products to, mostly smaller shops trying to build up their social proof. The filtering is okay, you can narrow by niche and commission rate but don't expect anything crazy specific Still worth waiting for if you want to save time on cold outreach but I'd start building your portfolio and reaching out manually in the meantime, hav”
“This is a feature I've wanted to add for a while, not just that moment of the super rare drop, but also something persistent to show it off. I put it in a few weeks ago and I still get a thrill if it shows up while I'm testing something. Let me know what you think! You can play the Uncosy demo on steam now if you like the look of it: https://store.steampowered.com/app/5078760/Uncosy/ AI Disclaimer I used AI for coding help. Everything else is human made, most of it by me even! subm”
“Finally got my 1st sale of Links Manager, What do I spend the $5 on lol submitted by /u/Manager-Games145 [link] [comments]”
“The Etsy ads are kind of expensive. Has anyone had luck with them? Are they worth paying for? submitted by /u/Lonely-Exercise-7222 [link] [comments]”
“I’m based in Portugal and run an established educational website. We’re about to start selling downloadable PDF teaching resources directly to consumers. Our audience is mainly: UK US Australia Canada smaller numbers across the EU and other countries Products will be relatively low value: around £2.99 for individual resources and £13.99 for bundles. I’m trying to decide between: selling directly using Stripe and monitoring VAT/GST/sales-tax registration thresholds myself; or using a Merchant of”
“As you can see in the picture I’ve posted on Reddit two main times (twice each) and got around 150k views and 300 WL between the four posts. I don’t post on Reddit often because I am always afraid I’ll get banned or something for self promoting too much. All other marketing efforts are from posting shorts on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. My videos do basically nothing on Instagram and Youtube Shorts. Between those my most watched videos have around 1,000 views, and have a total of 22 followers”
“Do you feel most people see it as a 'cute little hobby' if you don't have your own website etc (sometimes regardless of how well it might be going)? What are your experiences from people in your life? Interested in your answers! submitted by /u/stranger2you60 [link] [comments]”
“Hello all I have a question about creating unique products. I have a small boutique webshop. part of my products are unique, but they are the same product but in different grades of wear. They may have scratches, so instead of just using grade a, grade b.. etc, I want to have like option one, option two and then show the picture on the variation so the customers knows what he/ she is getting. This would be some extra hours a week but not that much. The only problem is dealing with deleting the v”
“I get what you're saying. I've got quite a few ideas for different products and collections, so I think narrowing things down and figuring out who I'm actually targeting is something I need to work on. [re: Be honest, is starting an Etsy shop in 2026 a terrible idea or am I overthinking it?]”
“Yeah, I think I just need to give it a go and see what happens. I've decided against Etsy now though. I'm still considering Shopify but I've also been looking into TikTok Shop. I know getting customers will be the hardest part, especially starting from scratch. [re: Be honest, is starting an Etsy shop in 2026 a terrible idea or am I overthinking it?]”
“Hey everyone! I'm looking for some honest, constructive feedback on my Etsy shop because I'm genuinely struggling to understand why I'm getting so little visibility. My shop: https://sandsgarden.etsy.com I started Sands Garden, a print-on-demand apparel shop featuring designs inspired by gardening, nature, camping, cozy living, seasonal themes, and faith. I've put a significant amount of time into building the shop, creating designs, and trying to get everything set up correctly.”
“Hey everyone! I'm looking for some honest, constructive feedback on my Etsy shop because I'm genuinely struggling to understand why I'm getting so little visibility. My shop: https://sandsgarden.etsy.com I started Sands Garden, a print-on-demand apparel shop featuring designs inspired by gardening, nature, camping, cozy living, seasonal themes, and faith. I've put a significant amount of time into building the shop, creating designs, and trying to get everything set up c”
“Hi All, My best friend and i set up an etsy shop months ago now, and have beem working on optimising the listings, running ads etc for a few months but still have not had more than our own 2 sales (to check quality!). I am hoping by sharing this link and request that someone can help us understand what we might be doing wrong.... My 2 specific questions would be; Why are we not converting sales, there are lots of other products available in this genre and i have ads set live but still not gettin”
“It is honestly all my plushies together as a big family and slideshows of the products so it's not one in particular. [re: I am getting traffic to my site but no sales despite follows, likes, and marketing. Advice?]”
“Thank you for the advice. I added my logo to the website. I appreciate your question. It is a great question. Although there are a lot of other retailers of these products, I am offering competitive pricing and new designs that are not found on Amazon etc. [re: I am getting traffic to my site but no sales despite follows, likes, and marketing. Advice?]”
“Before opening another account, I'd post a month of art on your current IG and see whether those posts actually bring buyers. [re: How do I maximize social media for multiple businesses/projects]”
“Idea: Wholesale custom Indian-made dresses and home goods to small US boutiques, with no storefront of my own. My cousin runs a clothing shop in India with in-house tailors and good connections with print factories, so products can be fully customized (dresses, tablecloths, napkins, etc.). I don’t want to run a storefront or website or deal with individual customers, just supply boutiques directly. I haven’t ordered anything yet and I’m early in figuring this out. What I’m looking for: honest fe”
“Hello! I am looking to sell my K-pop niche print-on-demand store , which I have successfully run for over a year using Printify . The sale includes the fully set-up custom website and all existing product designs. I’ve made consistent, decent sales, but I am forced to hand it off because my schedule is getting too busy, and I face local trade license restrictions in my country. Key Details: DM for details and pricing! submitted by /u/Life-Bid7305 [link] [comments]”
“The piece that is not on your list is the one that outlives the stack. A 150k TikTok following is rented, and Etsy holds the relationship with every decal buyer, so those customers do not come with you if you move. Getting the audience into an owned list while the interest is warm, and putting the decals behind that capture, is the part that carries over between whatever tools you land on. The rest is a tool choice. [re: I am helping a nail artist with a large social media following (~150k on TT”
“I'd keep the coaching stuff on its own accounts and fold the art and handmade products into your personal page, since that's where people already follow you for you. Mixing coaching with random product posts on one IG tends to confuse the algorithm and the people who came for coaching. For YouTube one channel is fine if you use playlists to split coaching, art and homestead content, and you can always spin off later once one topic clearly pulls its own audience. Honestly the bigger win i”
“Hi everyone, I opened my Etsy shop, HappyFileHouse, about two weeks ago. It sells digital downloads (printables and games). My first listing is a Halloween escape room. I’m planning to add more products, including crochet patterns, and I want to fix any big mistakes now, before I add more listings. Shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/HappyFileHouse What I’ve done so far: wrote titles and tags with keyword research, designed the listing images in Canva, set up my About section and policies. What I’d”
“Hey all. I have a relatively small Etsy shop that sells digital download wall art. I understand that this is a saturated area. My current niche is feminine pastel decor. I have tried my best to optimize my SEO and titles. Is there obvious I am doing very wrong? Just a side note, my best seller is my New Chapter greeting card. I decided not to remove it although it doesn't have a place in the niche I am pursuing. https://www.etsy.com/shop/EverWildBloom?ref=dashboard-header submitted by”
“The pub one is such a classic lol. And the sketch in a cafe thing is great, way more memorable than a business card [re: What actually brought in your first 5 customers?]”
“About a month ago I asked for feedback on our shop ( https://seranarose.etsy.com ) and got told to fix my lighting. Bought a lightbox, overhauled the product shots. Quick status check: Print-on-demand fell off a cliff. Sold a few the first week, then crickets. Moving away from it i think? Sideshow art & vintage are carrying the shop. The Avon stuff is New Old Stock inherited from an Avon-lady grandma. Running a 25% off black friday/cyber monday sale to purge it, and whatever doesn't sell”
“Hello everyone! I am trying to launch my small brand related to Motorsport racing apparel for women, particularly F1. I would sincerely appreciate any feedback on my page and if my products are attractive, if not, why not. Thank you https://www.etsy.com/shop/SundayMaisonStudio?ref=dashboard-header submitted by /u/ac0413 [link] [comments]”
“Keep one main account per platform for the coaching business and let the handmade stuff and art show up there as part of you, since they already fit together. I'd only start a separate art profile once art gets its own steady posting and audience, and then on one platform, probably IG, not all three. One YouTube channel for everything is fine if you use playlists. TikTok is the one that mixes badly, because it shows each video to people who liked your last one, so a gardening clip next to a”
“Try promotional products [re: Experienced e-commerce seller considering a second niche business — what product categories would you explore?]”
“I get that you're whole schtick is 4 shirts with a story but...nobody's telling that story here. It just reads like a store with 4 designs and nothing else. Nothing's keeping me on the page, the brand isn't engaging me. If you're trying to tell a story, you're going to need a far better design for the entire page, and some kind of way for you to sell the buyer on that story. [re: new store, 95% bounce rate on mostly mobile instagram ad traffic. what would you check first?”
“I have been selling Etsy for 2 years now and have 14 sales. I don’t put a ton of time into it and its mainly a hobby but id like to invest more time. I sell 3D printed items that i design but i try not to just put out the same thingiverse junk “articulated dragons” since that market is vastly over saturated. Please give me and feedback on what i could improve upon. https://superepicprints.etsy.com submitted by /u/InternSubstantial401 [link] [comments]”
“I didn't even realize. Earned $37 and they are keeping $31 in fees. :( Should I make my designs private? submitted by /u/keepmeplayin [link] [comments]”
“I started at the end of January selling the art I make at my local pottery studio. It's been going relatively well but I want to work on jumping to the next level, both in my products and how my shop is run. My biggest question would be in regards to photography: Are my photos feeling high quality enough? Currently I just use my phone camera the sun as it hits my apartment in the late day. I don't have the budget or space right now for a full lighting set up but I know my wall hangs woul”
“Hi fellow sellers, I would love to get some feedback on my Etsy shop! Please read this first: Shop age: Even though Etsy shows my shop is 2 years old, it has only been actively running for about half a year because I took a long break. Recent projects: I’ve worked on some really cool custom projects over the last few weeks! For example, I turned a baby's feet into a 3D object and replicated someone's favorite shoes into a miniature version. Best sellers: My "photo to STL" and &”
“How do you get your first customers and increase sales on Etsy without paid ads? Hi everyone! I'm running an Etsy shop selling digital products, and I'm trying to figure out the best ways to attract customers and increase sales without spending money on advertising. I'd love to hear from people who have experience selling on Etsy: What has worked best for you to bring traffic to your shop? Do you focus more on Etsy SEO, Pinterest, social media, or something else? How long did it take”
“If anyone could support my page. I’m trying to start a micro bakery to help contribute to my household. I’m a garden mom who bakes way too often. Follow along to see my journey 🫶 submitted by /u/mommyissues02 [link] [comments]”
“I'd hold off on the contest and help one of those four creators make a sale first. More artwork fills the homepage; it doesn't yet tell you why a buyer would choose this marketplace. [re: I spent 2 years trying to build one home for everything a creator makes]”
“Hey everyone! I’m a jewelry seller on Etsy, and I’ve been struggling to get sales lately. The market feels really slow, and I haven’t received even a single order in days. I’m wondering if it’s just a slow period or if others are experiencing the same thing. I’m also thinking about trying eBay as another platform. For those selling jewelry, do you think eBay is worth trying? How has your experience been compared to Etsy? I’d love to hear your honest opinions and suggestions. Thanks! submit”
“All templates I've sold have come from the Notion Marketplace. No ads. No marketing. They are just there, waiting for the next buyer...and once in a while a new buyer finds them 🙂 No big hustle but quite fun to see the results months after they got published. [re: Has someone Experience selling Notion Templates ?]”
“Been reading about different websites that do this. Could be another route I can take to finding creators. The more i research the more I can see people scamming me for a free piece. A risk id take but researching each creator and seeing if they are credible seems harder than I thought. [re: Ways you have promoted online business]”
“Just got a 2 star review for a popular waterproof frog car window decal that I sell for 2.99 to 4.99. The buyer chooses the size and color. All he said in the review was “Overpriced”. I think a lot of customers are expressing their frustrations over higher prices virtually everywhere out wherever they can: Etsy reviews for one. submitted by /u/Witness_Miserable [link] [comments]”
“I decided to turn my long time hobby into a shop on Etsy... I have 600+ views, 20+ visits, but no sales. I know the main factor here is probably the prices, as the price ranges are for "premium" gift product... What should I do? Wait, create more products, create cheaper products, reduce prices, etc? My concern with reducing prices is I can't do steep sales, and I won't get the hourly rate for my work that I'm aiming for. I'd also like feedback on the listings and the p”
“Same story as many others. Been doing crochet for a long time, used to make sales but now dried up since Covid. I also draw, do photography, I studied these formally in school and worked as a graphic and web designer for big companies. I also did wedding photography and sold landscapes for a time. Used to make jewelry, very hard arena there so got out of it. No longer willing to go back to web and graphic work - AI is fast removing jobs in this arena. Photography, eh, same thing sort of. I figur”
“After building this small project 2 months ago and giving up on it, I finally made my first sale 2 days ago, I know 5$ is nothing for most of you here but it was enough to motivate me ! submitted by /u/Oldtabe5420 [link] [comments]”
“I just started my etsy account need thorough feedback on images and description... Also what concerns buyers the most when making purchase This is link to the shop i have https://aursona.etsy.com submitted by /u/no_use_of_account [link] [comments]”
“Hey everyone! I’m looking at starting my own baby comforter and plush toy brand called Cubbo, but I’m honestly a little lost on where to start! I have a vision for the brand and some ideas for the designs, but I’m struggling with figuring out how to actually bring everything to life. I’m based in Australia and would love some advice from anyone who’s started their own baby product, plush toy or children’s brand. I’m mainly wondering: Where do you find reliable manufacturers who can create custom”
“When listing clothing on Etsy, do you choose the most specific category available for each product, or is a broader category enough? For example, would you list linen dresses under a specific dress subcategory, linen tops under tops, and linen trousers under pants? Does choosing a more specific category make a noticeable difference in Etsy search visibility, or do titles, tags, and attributes matter more? Would love to hear what’s worked for other sellers. submitted by /u/Humble-Refe”
“I make clipart that I sell in my store, all drawn digitally, but drawn by hand on Procreate and I don’t use AI. Crisp bold outlines, solid colours, very neat, cute cartoon art. I’m finding now that I’m so worried about my stuff LOOKING AI, that it’s bothering me. I’m considering sharing process videos, but I’m not even sure where to get started making an Instagram page for my store. How do you share your process? I guess I’m looking for advice on how you run your socials too, I know I need to st”