How to Sell Shirts on Etsy: Step-by-Step Guide to Success

Selling your original t-shirt designs on Etsy can transform your artistic passion into a thriving business. As the internet’s beloved marketplace for handmade and vintage goods since 2005, Etsy provides the perfect foundation. Over 5 million creative entrepreneurs currently leverage Etsy to reach nearly 90 million eager buyers seeking unique finds across every interest and style.

If you feel ready to dip your toes into apparel sales but don’t know where to begin, take a deep breath – we’ll walk you through everything step-by-step. Whether you prefer dreaming up designs, producing physical products or just want to focus on marketing, we’ve got you covered. Lean on Etsy’s built-in audience and helpful print-on-demand partners to get your shop going.

In this guide, we’ll share insider tips to craft eye-catching t-shirt designs tailored to popular Etsy niches. We’ll explore physical production through print-on-demand along with managing online inventory and order fulfillment. You’ll learn marketing tactics to surface your tees on Etsy search and showcase your brand story. Follow our roadmap to transform your creative ideas into a thriving t-shirt shop on one of the world’s top online marketplaces.

Step 1: Determine Your T-shirt Audience on Etsy

Before launching your t-shirt shop on Etsy, it’s crucial to identify exactly who you want buying your shirts. Pinpointing your target audience allows you to strategically focus your marketing and craft designs that will appeal to potential customers.

An audience has many defining qualities – gender, age, location, income, family status, beliefs, politics, and more. Each group has unique traits setting them apart.

I recommend targeting a specific niche that has money to spend without insane competition. Use Google Trends to enter relevant search terms like “funny t-shirts” or “gamer tees” and attached keywords about your product angle. Study the resulting location info, demographics, and related searches to understand your shoppers.

Additionally, explore Etsy searches for terms like “quirky graphic tees” or “retro band t-shirts” – whatever fits your brand. Thoroughly researching your audience this way allows you to create designs and listings that will catch their eye and wallet.

The more you understand exactly who you are selling to, the better you can market directly to their interests and make sales. It’s worth taking the time upfront to define your niche!

Use google trend to analyze the shopping needs of the market

Step 2:  Create an Etsy Account

To set up a seller account, you’ll first need a consumer Etsy account. Follow these steps to create your account:

• Go to Etsy.com and click on “Sign In" in the top right corner
• If you don’t have an account, click on “Register" and provide the necessary details
• After registering, check your email for a confirmation message from Etsy
• Sign in to your new account at www.etsy.com by selecting “Sign In"
• Once logged in, add a profile picture and fill out your bio on your Public Profile page
• To open a shop, click on the gray circle with a silhouette in the top right corner, and select “Sell on Etsy" from the drop-down menu
• Navigate to the “Sell on Etsy" page and click the black “Open Your Etsy Shop" button below the banner

Note:

• If you don’t see the email, check your spam or junk mail folder
• If you’re using Gmail, check your Social and Promotions tabs
• Add [email protected] to your email contacts and try resending the confirmation email if necessary

Step 3: Set up your shop

After creating your account and deciding to open a shop, follow these steps to set up your Etsy shop:

• Click on the “Sell on Etsy" button and follow the prompts

Source: forbes.com

• Choose a name for your shop (e.g., “MerchizeTshirtShop") – remember that you can change this later
• Upload a profile picture and banner for your shop

• Fill out your shop policies and information
• Click “Get started" and then “Let’s do this" on the next screen
• Answer the following questions or skip them, and click “Start your shop"
• Select the choices you want and then click “Save and continue" on the “Shop Preferences" box.

Now you’re ready for the exciting part – stocking your shop! This is where you’ll create and add your first t-shirt design to your Merchize shop.

Step 4: Create your shirt designs

Creating top-selling t-shirt designs that resonate with your brand and Etsy customers is crucial. Merchize is the perfect platform to help you select the best t-shirts and apply your designs with download the free Mockup Generator.

Here are some guidelines for creating great shirt designs:

• Ensure your designs align with your brand and niche, and always strive for originality.
• Prioritize simplicity in your designs, unless your target audience has different preferences.
• Avoid using more than two fonts per design, and make sure they are legible, visually appealing, and on-trend.
• Limit the number of colors per design and product to simplify buyer choices and prevent decision paralysis.
• Use design tools that suit your needs and budget. There are various options beyond Adobe Photoshop, including free and affordable alternatives such as Canva, PlaceIt, or InkScape. 
• Submit high-quality files and proof-check before sending out for production to avoid any blurriness and ensure that your shirts look polished. 
• Test your designs for copyright infringement by using a copyright infringement checker or by hiring a copyright attorney.
• If you need professional assistance, consider hiring designers through the Merchize Experts program to help you create high-quality designs.

With these tips, you’ll be able to create eye-catching and successful t-shirt designs for your Etsy shop.

You can also refer to our guide on our T-shirt design best practices to a successful T-shirt venture. 

Step 5:  Fill Out the Storefront

As an Etsy seller, you might wonder where to source your shirts and how to fill your store. While there are various methods like wholesaling and manufacturing, using Print on Demand (POD) with Merchize is far more convenient and manageable.

With POD, a t-shirt is printed only after it’s ordered. The Print Providers will prepare the product and ship it directly to the customer, while Merchize ensures quality and fulfillment.

Here’s how to do it:

• Prepare Products: Visit Merchize Product Catalog to find the best customizable t-shirts for printing. Browse through the Women’s, Men’s, and Kids’ t-shirt categories. Once you choose the t-shirt, apply your designs using the Mockup Generator, adjust them, save, edit product descriptions, and publish them on Etsy.
• Optimize Your Listings: After publishing the listings on Etsy, you’ll need to fine-tune the product descriptions and pictures, product categories, tags, shipping settings, and Print Provider. Pay special attention to this step, as it will determine your t-shirt’s searchability. Use relevant keywords associated with your product and brand identity whenever possible, but avoid overstuffing.

By following these steps, you can efficiently fill your storefront with attractive t-shirt listings that appeal to your target audience on Etsy.

Step 6: Price Your Products

Pricing your products effectively is crucial for your Etsy store’s success. Start by conducting market research, taking into account your competitors’ prices, production costs, and Etsy fees. Aim to cover all expenses and maintain a profit margin of 30-40%. Consider these two main pricing strategies:

• Lower Profit Margin: Keep a smaller profit margin to gain a competitive edge. This approach works well with target audiences like students and young people who prioritize lower prices.
• Higher Perceived Value: Slightly raise product prices and generate more profit by increasing the perceived value. This strategy is suitable for audiences composed of professionals and people with families who prioritize quality over price.

Remember to adjust your pricing based on changes in your audience and market, and take advantage of sales and holidays.

When using Print-on-Demand, calculate the cost of your t-shirt materials and printing, and figure out a margin you want to make. Add that margin to the cost. For example, if your printed t-shirts cost $9.30 + $4.00 shipping, ensure you make enough margin to cover the $9.30 + Etsy seller fees (You can charge shipping at $4.00 to cancel out the shipping fees).

Suppose your average cost is as described above, and you charge around $22.00 per shirt in your Etsy store (for small through x-large – more for larger sizes). After Etsy fees, you could expect around $10.16 in profit on one t-shirt.

Continually monitor your pricing strategy and make adjustments as needed to maximize your store’s profitability while catering to your target audience’s preferences.

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Step 7: Choosing Print-on-Demand Fulfillment Services

Opting for a Print-on-Demand (POD) service can significantly simplify the process of selling t-shirts on Etsy. A POD service like Merchize takes care of printing, packaging, and shipping, which allows you to focus on creating eye-catching designs and effective marketing strategies.

Merchize is one of the best Fulfillment Services for Print On Demand

When your Etsy customer places an order, it appears in your POD account. After verifying and submitting the order, Merchize handles the shipping, with your shop name displayed in the “return" address on the package. Although print-on-demand might be slightly more expensive, it saves you from dealing with inventory management and shipping logistics.

Here’s a quick overview of how Merchize’s Print-on-Demand fulfillment services operate:

• Create a Merchize account: Begin by setting up a Merchize fulfillment store and connecting it to your integrated selling store.
• Design & Sell Products: Select products from Merchize’s extensive catalog, create your unique designs, and add them to your store. Now, all you need to do is wait for the orders to roll in.
• Fulfilled by Merchize: Merchize manages the entire fulfillment process, from producing your products to shipping them directly to your customers.

By choosing a reliable print-on-demand service like Merchize, you streamline your business operations and free up valuable time to focus on expanding your Etsy store and boosting your profits