Etsy Australia: How To Sell On Etsy In Australia ( Guide +FAQs)

Do you want to list and sell vintage items or handmade crafts on Etsy? Do you want to switch from one ecommerce marketplace to Etsy? Whatever reason you are searching for Etsy Australia, I got you covered in this post. I have bought and sold items on Etsy and I am here to show how you can do that too. Towards the end, I will answer questions you ask that relate to selling on Etsy in Australia.

Does that sound interesting? If yes, continue to read.

What is Etsy Australia?

It is a version of Etsy, the American multinational ecommerce company that operates like a marketplace where users mainly from Australia buy and sell vintage items, handmade crafts, and digital products. 

How does Etsy Australia work?

This is how Etsy works in Australia: Sellers of products like vintage items, handmade crafts, and digital products list their items with descriptions, price tags, and shipping information. Buyers who are mainly Australian residents go to Etsy.com/au/ to search for items they want to buy, place orders, make payments,s and have them delivered to their address in Australia.

Many sellers list their items in United States dollars but you can choose to list your item in the Australian currency- dollars. 

How to sell on Etsy Australia 

Now you understand the term Etsy Australia and how it works, let’s dive into how you can sell items. 

Selling on Etsy as an Australian resident is easy. You don’t need to have a background in ecommerce or hire an Etsy expert to assist. You can do it yourself if you follow the steps in this guide. 

Step 1:  Create your store 

Going to Esty.com/au/ is the first step to becoming a seller. On the homepage, click on Sell On Etsy which you can see at the bottom of the homepage. You will be directed to a new page where you will see Get Started. Click on it and you will see Register. Click on Register to create an account as a seller.

Enter your active email address, first name, and password. Answer the question that appears on the next page. Etsy asks those questions to assess your level of experience in selling on Etsy and for them to assist you in succeeding as a seller on their platform. Skip the questions if you don’t find them useful. 

Set your store  preferences

This is simply how you want your store to be. Fill in the following:

Language – English since it is a commonly spoken language in Australia 

Shop Country: Australia 

Shop Currency: You can decide to choose the United States dollar or the Australian dollar 

Give your shop a name 

Pay attention to this section to avoid filling in a name that sounds awkward. Remember you have only 4-20 characters to do this. While choosing a name for your store can be hard, you can make it easy by considering the item category you want to focus on. Or combining it with your name. 

For instance: If my name is Tessy and I want to sell handmade greeting cards, the name of my shop can be ” Cards From Tessy”. 

When you look at the name, It relates to items I want to sell. Also, it is under 20 characters. 

Enter it in the shop name field and see if it is available or taken. If it is taken,  continue to make some tweaks until you get a name that is available. Etsy also has shop naming tips. You can draw inspiration from there.

Step 2: Create your listings 

The next step is to create your listings. Begin by uploading many photos of the item you want to list. Take and upload photos of the front, back, side, and rear views.

 You can upload a video of 5 – 15 seconds to boost conversion.

 Keep in mind that this video won’t feature a sound, so ensure that the visuals are enough to convey the message.

Add a title for the item you want to list. The title should contain focus and related keywords prospective buyers may use to search for it on Etsy Australia.

Answer the following questions by picking a suitable answer from the drop-down menu

Who made the item? (You, a member of your team, or a partner)

What is it? (Finished product or a supply tool one can use to make things)

When was the item made? (Recently, vintage or before 1700)

Choose a category for your listing

There is a space for you to search and add a category that is suitable for the item. Use your judgment to add your item to the appropriate category. If not,  it may be difficult to show on search results when prospective buyers browse in a category it is expected to be.

For instance, if I want to list “Wall Paintings” the most appropriate category should be Home & Living Room. Adding it to the Fashion & Beauty category is like putting a square beg in a round hole. 

Renewal option

Items you list on Etsy Australia are renewed. You have the option to renew it yourself manually or Etsy will automatically renew it at $0.20 each time.

 Type of item

You have to state the type of item you want to list. Is it physical or digital? Tick the appropriate box. Note that some buyers filter searches to see only physical or digital products.

Description 

The Etsy algorithm needs to understand your item before it can suggest it in search results. Prospective buyers also need to be convinced that your item can provide value before they can buy. That’s why you need to describe your item properly. What value does this item provide? What are the features? How is it better than its rivals? These are questions you should answer while writing your description with related keywords.

Inventory & Pricing

Set a price tag for your item. Setting it in USD or AUD is okay. Set the quantity that is left. It sometimes prompts prospective buyers to make a purchase immediately for the fear of missing out. 

Variations

Set variations to allow people to make choices. For instance, you can state different sizes and colors the item you are listing has.

Step 3: Shipping/Delivery 

This concerns you if you are listing a physical product. Digital products are not shipped.

Set your postage prices. Etsy can help you calculate depending on the location of the buyer,  dimension, and weight of the product. 

List locations you can ship to and the estimated time for the item to arrive at the location of the owner. If you want to use courier services, state it in the Delivery Service section. You can offer free delivery to your customers both locally and internationally. Since you are listing on Etsy Australia, I presume you are targeting  Australian buyers. 

Review your listing, cross-check all the information you have provided and make changes where necessary. This is to avoid mistakes that can cost you sales. If everything looks okay, you can save it as a draft or publish it immediately. 

Step 4: Set  payment method

At this stage, you are required to set how you want prospective buyers to pay for your item and how you will receive your money each time you make a sale.

Etsy payment is the most popular payment method available to sellers on Etsy. It enables you to receive payment from different methods which include: credit cards, debit cards, Etsy gift cards, Etsy credit, Google Pay, Apple Pay, Etsy coupon, and PayPal where available. 

Thankfully, Etsy payment is available in Australia and I suggest you opt for it. 

For every sale you make on Etsy, a fee is deducted while the remaining is credited to your Etsy payment account. You pay this fee for using their marketplace.

Go to your Etsy account, navigate to Shop Manager, and select Finance. Choose a Payment account and follow the guidelines to set up your payment method on Etsy.

Seller’s fee on Etsy Australia  

Etsy Australia doesn’t charge you before you can open a store with them. It is unlike other ecommerce platforms like Shopify and Bigcommerce where you subscribe to their paid plans to start selling. Also, Etsy isn’t the only marketplace that charges a seller’s fee. eBay, another American multinational ecommerce company, does that. These fees are for the services you enjoy on Etsy.

Let’s look at them below:

Listing fee – USD$0.20: You pay this fee to list an item on Etsy Australia. It lasts for 4 months or until you sell the item. You can renew it manually or Etsy does that automatically. It depends on the option you selected when listing the item.

Transaction fee – 6.5%:  Etsy takes 6.5% of any sale you make on their platform. Let’s assume you have made 2500 sales on an item with a $50 price tag. Etsy takes 6.5% of each of the 2500 sales. That means that Etsy takes $3.25 from a sale of $50. $46.75 is credited to your account. 

Payment processing fee( AU $0.25): Etsy charges this fee for processing payment when you make a sale. Bear in mind that third-party payment gateways that partner with Etsy to ensure you receive payment using their services charge fees.

Advertising fee( 15%): If you look at some results when you search for items on Etsy, you will notice that they have the tag “Ad by Etsy seller”. Esty takes 15% each time a sale is made from these items. It’s optional, so you can decide not to go for it. However, new sellers who want to make sales quickly and test the acceptability of their items often subscribe to it. 

Physical items vs Digital items: Which is better to sell on Etsy?

Prospective sellers on Etsy often ask this question. Both have pros and cons. Selling digital products is more lucrative and requires less effort. But your creative ability must be at its best. You must be willing to identify the problem of your target audience and proffer solutions to it.

With a digital product, you don’t need to bother about shipping because the buyer downloads the product or subscribes to it as the case may be. The downside is that you must be able to convince your target buyers that it has the value they crave.

Also, you must be updated with the latest information and strategies to remain relevant in your industry. Physical products are easy to sell because people can feel them. You don’t need to break a sweat trying to convince your buyers. However, you must be ready for the headaches that come with shipping, return of an item, and refunding. 

In all, choosing whether to sell a digital or physical product depends on you. Both types of products are in high demand on Etsy. It’s up to you to figure out which of them works for you. 

FAQs on how to sell on Etsy Australia 

Before I call it a wrap, let me answer some key questions you ask that relate to selling on Etsy Australia.

Is there an Australian version of Etsy?

Yes, Etsy Australia is the Australian version of Etsy. It is dominated by sellers mainly from Australia. Also, most of the buyers are from Australia. 

Do Australians shop on Etsy?

Yes, Australians shop on Etsy. They can either shop on Etsy.com or Etsy.com/au/. If you want to order mainly from Australian sellers who can ship to your address in Australia, go to Etsy Australia. But if you want to order from international sellers who can ship to different locations around the world, order on Etsy.com.

Can you get scammed on Etsy Australia?

It is rare to get scammed on Etsy Australia. Every seller has an account with Etsy. There are different payment methods that are safe and secure. Also, you can report a seller who gave false information in their listings just to make sales.

Final thought on selling on Etsy in Australia

Whether you have handmade crafts, vintage items, or digital products, bring them on Etsy Australia and sell them to make money as an Australian resident. I have shown you the steps to follow starting from creating a seller account to setting up a payment method. You don’t need to pay for owning a store, rather Etsy charges a fee to list an item and also when you make a sale.

Happy selling on Etsy Australia!