Are you thinking about selling vintage on Etsy?
Selling vintage on Etsy app differs from a business model of selling digital downloads on Etsy.
You have inventory to keep and maintain in its best condition.
You need time to source vintage items from different places, which you certainly aren’t going to achieve with just a walk around the neighborhood!
I know it seems daunting to start a business from scratch, especially selling physical products.
I was the same when I first heard about Etsy. There was a ton of info on how much people were making with their art but not enough about how & where to start. As I was planning to help my sister with her Etsy account, I decided to learn more about it and share with you too! By the way, here are some pics of her Etsy store!!
I recently launched a gratitude journal as my first ever physical product and I’ve learned so much from the process!
Let me just say I have a newfound respect for businesses that sell physical products!
But if you persist and continue working hard at your craft and business, you can make a profitable side hustle from selling vintage only.
I have curated a beginner’s guide that details the steps to selling vintage on Etsy and provides some business tips along the way!
Affiliate Link Disclosure
Some of the links included below are affiliate links where we may earn a commission if you click on them but at NO EXTRA cost to you. I hope you find the information below helpful!
Note: If you are super busy and you want to start making money selling on Etsy fast, you can check out this and this Etsy course. It will help step up your Etsy game and start earning within 3 months!
Alternatively, you can also check out this free Etsy Ebook that will share a list of best-selling products by month and teach you how to capitalize on seasonal trends to make sales.
How To Get Started With Selling Vintage On Etsy [2024 Guide]
1. Choose Your Niche
Now that we’ve gone through the pros and cons of selling vintage items on Etsy, let’s talk about how to start selling vintage on Etsy.
First, pick your niche! Many successful vintage sellers on Etsy stick to selling similar items in their shops.
Narrowing down to specializing in one niche helps them focus on the type of items they wish to sell in their shop.
You learn in detail how to care for and repair the items of the niche. You will also have a better idea of what the usual prices of these vintage items are.
Here is a list of niche examples:
1. Vintage toys
2. Vintage books
3. Vintage clothes
4. Vintage jewelry
5. Vintage lamps
6. Vintage candlesticks
7. Vintage posters
8. Vintage bags
9. Vintage home decor
10. Vintage greeting cards
It’s also best to pick a niche that you are passionate about and has a decent level of demand.
By choosing to do something you love, you’ll be happy to devote your time and effort to sourcing and selling these vintage items.
But passion alone does not keep the money rolling. Do some research to decide if there is enough demand for your niche and what specific items these buyers are looking for.
2. Plan As Much As You Can
So, how to make money selling vintage items?
The key to building a successful vintage business on Etsy is to plan ahead.
Before you purchase your items, think about where you will store the items. How should you store the items to maintain their condition?
Perhaps you have a spare room to turn into a storage space for your sourced items?
If you’re selling vintage clothing, is it better to fold or hang them on the rack? Would the hangers cause the vintage clothing to go out of shape?
Once you’ve figured out your storage place, it’s time to have an inventory system in place.
It’s a good idea to label your items so it’s easy to find what you’re looking for. This is where spreadsheets are your best friend!
I suggest having your inventory system in place from day one. It can help you save a lot of time, especially when you have many listings.
Etsy recommends that if you often ship orders to buyers in the United States and wish to offer automatic free shipping, you can include shipping in the price of the items.
If you prefer to have control over the shipping prices, you can consider setting up shipping profiles.
If you live in the United States, Etsy has a tool called Price Your Postage that will help you figure out the shipping rates based on different sizes and weights.
Price Your Postage tool will come in handy when you are adding shipping calculations to your listings.
If you are looking for ideas on wrapping vintage items before shipping them to your customers, Etsy has an excellent article for you!
3. Set Some Time For Shopping
It’s time to shop until you drop!
Okay, maybe don’t drop. You still have to take photos and set up your Etsy shop after shopping.
Sourcing the right vintage items for your shop takes time. When you have more experience under your belt, it becomes easier to recognize high-quality items.
Some vintage sellers like to have at least 100 listings on Etsy. You can work your way up to 100 when you’re comfortable and certain the items you have are in demand.
But remember: quality over quantity! You don’t want to end up being unable to sell most of your items.
After all, listings are renewed every 4 months at USD 0.20 each. The listing fees do add up O_O
Nevertheless, it’s good to set some time aside to source vintage items that fit your niche and are worth the profit.
There are a few areas where you can source for vintage items:
- Auctions (but you may need to pay more for what you’ve sourced)
- Estate and yard sales
- Vintage stores (brick and mortar)
- Vintage wholesalers
4. Photography Is Key!
Now that you’ve acquired your items, it’s time to take photos to upload on Etsy later!
You don’t need a fancy camera, but if you do, go for it! Your phone can do the job just as well.
Imagine going through all the effort of setting up the scene to take photos of your vintage items, but it’s all ruined by your dirty camera lens!
Get a clean cloth and wipe your lens before you begin taking photos!
Always say yes to natural lighting when it comes to taking product photos!
You don’t have to go under the sun for natural lighting. Find a large window with plenty of light coming through and set up everything.
- Take Product Photos In Bulk
If you acquired your vintage items together, it’s great to take photos of all products in one go, since you’ve already set up a great space.
Take note of the flaws of each product, because you will want to take photos of those flaws and upload them to Etsy.
After all, you need to be honest with your customers about the actual conditions and flaws of the vintage items you’re selling!
Take multiple photos of the items from different angles. You never know! A different angle could look much better than the original shot you were going for.
5. Set Up Your Shop
Now that you’ve acquired some great vintage items and taken photos of them, it’s time for you to set up your Etsy shop!
Before you can set up your Etsy shop (which you can only do so on a desktop), you need to log in to your Etsy account as a customer.
But once you’ve set up your Etsy shop on the desktop, you can manage your shop via the Etsy app.
Once you’ve keyed in the required information to set up your Etsy shop, you can fill in your shop name. Your shop name should reflect your niche.
A little hint here! If you’re looking to market on social media (which we’ll talk more later on), try using a shop name that is available on other social media platforms, which is more brand cohesive.
As a new Etsy seller, you need to increase the confidence of potential buyers in your shop. Therefore, you should set up a complete Etsy shop from the start.
As your Etsy shop forms the first impression, a visually pleasing and complete Etsy shop will look more professional compared to the other new vintage Etsy sellers.
Share about how you started your brand. What inspired you to start this business? The story will help connect your customers with your business.
Don’t forget to have a detailed shipping and returns policy. It will make you seem more professional!
6. Publish Listings
Yes! You’ve set up your shop, and it’s ready for you to publish your listings.
Etsy charges USD 0.20 per listing. Your listings will be renewed every 4 months. Aside from a listing fee, there is a transaction fee of 6.5% per sale too.
It does feel very subjective on how to price your vintage items. You don’t want to charge too high, nor do you want to miss out on potential profits.
One thing you shouldn’t do is to undercut other sellers! It might seem like undercutting will help you increase your sales.
But all it takes is someone else to do the same to you, which doesn’t sound very nice, right?
Even if you did make the sale, you probably won’t profit much.
Imagine earning very little after all the time and effort you went through to acquire the vintage items O_O
Here is a list of things to consider before pricing your vintage items:
- The time and effort you spent to acquire, clean, and fix the items
- The quality and condition of your items
- Prices of similar items on Etsy and their conditions and flaws
- The listing and transaction fees on Etsy
- The uniqueness of the items
- The level of demand for the items
- You can run an occasional sale and not make a loss
Remember! Your time is valuable, so always account for your time when pricing your vintage items. Let the quality, uniqueness, and condition speak for themselves.
Etsy allows you to post up to 1 video and 10 photos per listing.
As your customers can’t hold and inspect your products before buying, your listings’ video and images will be crucial to help capture the interest of potential customers.
Your video and photos should be high quality – clear and in good lighting. Include a few close-ups for your customers to see the condition of the vintage items.
If there are any flaws in your products, you should include close-up shots of these flaws in your listings.
Be transparent about the condition and flaws of your products. It will help build trust in potential customers, especially if you’re a new Etsy seller.
- Listing Titles And Descriptions
If you’ve never heard of SEO, today is the day!
SEO helps improve the ranking of your listings on Etsy when you use the right keywords. It could even help you increase the visibility of your shop on Google.
There are lots of tools that will help you find the right keywords for your vintage products. Some of my favorite paid tools for keyword research are Keysearch and Sale Samurai!
Incorporate your long-tail keywords in a natural way throughout your listing title and description. These keywords can help boost your rankings on Etsy.
Your listing description should be simple to understand. Feel free to use lists instead of paragraphs so it’s easier to read.
Remember, honesty is the best policy! Be upfront about the condition of your vintage items. It builds trust with potential buyers, and they might come back to your shop in the future.
Here is a list of details (but not limited to!) you can include in your listing description for your vintage items:
1. The age of your vintage items (how did you determine it?)
2. A thorough description of the condition of your vintage items
3. The size and measurements of the vintage items (especially clothing!)
4. The brand or manufacturer of the vintage items (if any)
5. Instructions on caring for the vintage items
6. The colors, shapes, and fabric of the vintage items
7. Flaws (major and minor) on the vintage items
8. How you can use the vintage items in everyday life
Once you’ve uploaded your listings, don’t forget to link your bank account to Etsy so you can see money rolling in 😉
Photo: Unsplash
7. Market Your Shop
You’ve done most of the hard work!
You’ve sourced your items, snapped photos of your items, opened your Etsy shop, and uploaded your listings.
You’ve done so much. I want you to pat yourself on the back and say good job!
But to take your vintage business to the next level, there’s more to do!
Marketing your Etsy shop on social media is one of the secrets to selling on Etsy!
Social media can help you reach new customers, thus bringing you more opportunities for sales.
You don’t have to be on all social media platforms. Select one or two you are most familiar with and start there.
I have curated some examples of how you can market your Etsy shop on various social media platforms:
Create a blog related to the niche of your vintage products on Etsy. Write content including tips and tricks on caring for vintage products, how to repair vintage products, and more.
Don’t forget to include links to your Etsy shop to generate more traffic, which means more opportunities for sales!
Set up a Pinterest business account to promote posts from your blog. Canva is an excellent tool to help you create templates for Pinterest posts.
Pinterest will help direct traffic to your blog, which you’ve already included links to your Etsy shop! You see where I’m going with this, right? 😉
Business or Creators type of Instagram account will provide insights on your best-performing posts, your followers’ most active times, and more.
As Instagram is all about photos and videos, this is the perfect platform to share your vintage items!
Share all your tips related to your products, behind-the-scenes content, and any close-ups of your products. It will keep your followers interested and be on the lookout for your content.
Although Instagram is about visuals, you can still link your other sites. Utilize one of those link-in-bio tools to link your Etsy shop and blog for more traffic!
Share about your vintage products through TikTok videos! Let people know about your Etsy shop and the type of vintage items you sell.
Show your followers the behind-the-scenes content, how to care for vintage products, and customer reviews to gain their trust.
Marketing on social media sounds overwhelming to begin with. But once you’ve gotten the hang of it, you’ll see the level of traffic and sales for your Etsy shop increase steadily!
8. Never Stop Learning
To build a consistent side hustle selling vintage items on Etsy, you need to commit to upskilling yourself.
Whether it’s learning how to repair vintage items, discerning items of good and bad quality, or running your Etsy business, there are many online resources available.
YouTube videos, blogs, podcasts, and courses are going to be your best friend! These resources will give you plenty of tips to grow your vintage Etsy business.
Free resources are perfect for anyone just starting their vintage Etsy business!
Only take the plunge into paid Etsy courses when you’re ready. Never let anyone shame you into thinking that paid courses are the only way to learn.
Here are some helpful articles for a new Etsy seller:
What Is Considered Vintage?
Etsy considers items of at least 20 years old to be vintage. Etsy may even request additional information about the vintage items listed in your shop, such as:
- How did you obtain these vintage items?
- What methods did you use to determine the age of the item?
- Who is the designer of the item? Which collection did the item belong to? When did the collection debut?
Etsy may request the following information for vintage clothing:
- Fabric of the clothing
- The brand label and care instructions
- The material of the zipper and buttons
- Photos that indicate the item is vintage
The following items do not count as vintage:
- Hand-me-downs from your deceased relatives
- Items purchased from an estate or yard sale
- Someone else is selling a similar item in their Etsy shop
Pros And Cons Of Selling Vintage On Etsy
Pros Of Selling Vintage On Etsy
- You get to give vintage items a new home, where they’ll be appreciated
- These vintage items get to be used again instead of going to landfills (great for the environment!)
- You can work from home
- Etsy is a well-established platform with over 90 million buyers in 2024
- Many types of niches are available for you to dip your toes in
- Easy to navigate and set up a shop on Etsy
Cons Of Selling Vintage On Etsy
- Storing and shipping vintage items safely while maintaining their condition
- Repairing vintage items
- Sourcing “new” vintage items
- Proving the authenticity of the vintage items in your shop
FAQs On Selling Vintage On Etsy
Is Etsy The Best Place To Sell Vintage?
The million-dollar question! Is Etsy the best place to sell vintage?
Etsy is an awesome platform for you to sell vintage items!
Lots of people hop over to Etsy in search of unique handmade or vintage pieces that can’t be found everywhere.
Therefore, there is an audience on Etsy who is ready to buy!
Why Sell Vintage On Etsy?
Why should you sell vintage on Etsy?
Etsy is a well-established platform for more than 90 million active buyers in 2023, providing lots of traffic for Etsy sellers.
After all, there is bound to be someone looking for the vintage item you’re selling.
Instead, you can focus on improving your listing titles and descriptions, photography skills, and sourcing more vintage items for your Etsy shop.
Can You Make Money Selling Antiques On Etsy?
So, can you make money selling antiques on Etsy?
Yes, you can!
Starting an Etsy shop for antique and vintage items can be challenging. But it is very rewarding to see your business take off.
Aside from learning how to run and market your shop on Etsy, don’t forget to set some time aside to find vintage items through garage sales or thrift shops.
Learn how to take care of antique and vintage items too! You want to preserve their current condition as much as you can and charge a reasonable price for its condition.
What Vintage Items Can You Sell On Etsy?
So, what popular vintage items to sell on Etsy?
1. Vintage books
2. Vintage clothes
3. Vintage jewelry
4. Vintage candlesticks
5. Vintage vinyl
6. Vintage lamps
7. Vintage posters
8. Vintage toys
9. Vintage cards
10. Vintage tea sets
How To Price Vintage Items On Etsy?
Are you wondering how to price vintage items on Etsy?
It is a challenge to figure out the best price for your vintage items. While you want to sell your items quickly, you don’t want to undersell your time and effort too.
Your time is valuable! Hence, account for your valuable time when you price your vintage items.
Here is a list of things to consider before pricing your vintage items:
- The time and effort you spent to acquire, clean, and fix the items
- The quality and condition of your items
- Prices of similar items on Etsy and their conditions and flaws
- The listing and transaction fees on Etsy
- The uniqueness of the items
- The level of demand for the items
- You can run an occasional sale and not make a loss
Remember to never compete by price! The quality, uniqueness, and condition should speak volumes for your items.
If you keep undercutting others, you’ll definitely make less profit, which only diminishes the time and effort you went through to acquire your vintage items.
Related posts
Is Selling Vintage On Etsy Worth It?
So, is selling vintage on Etsy worth it?
It will take some work, but yes, it can be worth it!
As the business model differs from selling digital downloads, you will have to spend more time sourcing vintage items from various places such as garage sales and thrift stores.
You will also need to spend time taking excellent photos of your listings, as this could influence a buyer’s decision to purchase from you.
A good tip is to select a niche of vintage items you are interested in selling on Etsy. You will be more passionate to run your side hustle and bring it to the next level!
Do Vintage Clothes Sell Well On Etsy?
Well, do vintage clothes sell well on Etsy?
Yes, vintage clothes do sell well on Etsy! You can even price your vintage clothes at higher prices, compared to handmade ones, due to their history and uniqueness.
However, you need a good storage system to maintain the condition and quality of vintage clothes.
Aside from selling vintage clothes, you can also consider selling vintage jewelry on Etsy!
You can show how to pair vintage jewelry with modern-day style or any available vintage clothes in your Etsy shop.
Can I Sell Vintage Books On Etsy?
Are you wondering how you can sell vintage books on Etsy? Here’s how you can make money selling vintage books on Etsy.
1. Research what type of vintage books are popular on Etsy
2. Focus on one niche of vintage books (narrow your focus)
3. Research on the best ways to store your vintage books (maintain its current condition)
4. Have an inventory system from day one (makes it easy for you to record everything)
5. Shop and price your vintage books (always account for your time!)
6. Take high-quality photos (a picture speaks a thousand words to your buyers)
7. Set up your Etsy shop (complete your shop with banners, announcements, etc.)
8. Upload your listings (your listing titles and descriptions should include keywords)
9. Market your Etsy shop on other social media platforms (let more people know about your shop!)
10. Never stop learning how to grow your business! (stay consistent with your effort)
Can I Sell Vintage Toys On Etsy?
Are you wondering how you can sell vintage toys on Etsy? Here’s how you can make money selling vintage toys on Etsy.
1. Research what type of vintage toys are popular on Etsy
2. Focus on one niche of vintage toys (narrow your focus)
3. Research on the best ways to store your vintage toys (maintain its current condition)
4. Have an inventory system from day one (makes it easy for you to record everything)
5. Shop and price your vintage toys (always account for your time!)
6. Take high-quality photos (a picture speaks a thousand words to your buyers)
7. Set up your Etsy shop (complete your shop with banners, announcements, etc.)
8. Upload your listings (your listing titles and descriptions should include keywords)
9. Market your Etsy shop on other social media platforms (let more people know about your shop!)
10. Never stop learning how to grow your business! (stay consistent with your effort)
Now you’ve come to the end of the article on selling vintage on Etsy.
It may seem overwhelming to dive into the vintage business on Etsy. I totally get it!
But I hope you found the steps outlined in my article useful and will launch your vintage Etsy shop in no time!
If you’re wondering about what it’s like selling vintage on eBay, I have written an article on the difference between selling vintage on Etsy vs eBay.
I wish you all the best with selling vintage on Etsy!
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