Due to Etsy’s vast marketplace, many e-commerce sellers plan to start a dropshipping business on the platform. However, does Etsy allow dropshipping? The answer is no. You’ll find out the reason in this article.
What is dropshipping
Dropshipping means that the seller directly purchases finished products from a third-party supplier and sells them to the customer without any modifications. The seller is only responsible for sales, while the third-party supplier handles production and transportation.
Etsy does not allow dropshipping, but crafts and party supplies are exceptions because these two types of products are creative and have personal characteristics.
The rules of dropshipping on Etsy
Etsy doesn’t explicitly state on its policy page that dropshipping is not allowed, but there are some rules to keep in mind before launching your own Etsy dropshipping business.
1. Items sold on Etsy must fall into the handmade, craft, or vintage categories.
2. All products must be designed or produced by the seller, and the store cannot be solely for resale. The following products are excluded:
- Antiques that are more than 20 years old
- Crafts and party supplies
- Gift baskets for celebrations
3. Sellers are required to transparently share production partner information in relevant listings.
If you use a third-party manufacturer or a print-on-demand (POD) service like JetPrint to fulfill your items, be sure to include this information in your Etsy listing description.
4. Etsy merchants are not allowed to use AliExpress or Amazon for dropshipping. This means syncing products from AliExpress and Amazon to Etsy is not permitted.
5. Etsy allows the use of production partners (including print-on-demand services) to fulfill and ship orders, as long as the items sold are the seller’s original design or customized by the buyer.
The types of dropshipping on Etsy
Dropshipping from AliExpress to Etsy
Etsy prohibits direct shipping from AliExpress and running your store. This violates the rule that all items must be handmade, individually designed, or vintage. AliExpress items are primarily mass-produced, often from factories or manufacturers, conflicting with Etsy’s emphasis on unique, handmade items.
Dropshipping from Amazon to Etsy
Similar to AliExpress, Etsy prohibits direct shipping from Amazon and running your Etsy store. Amazon’s products also breach Etsy’s rules concerning handcrafting, unique design, and vintage items, as most of Amazon’s products come from factories.
Using the services of a print-on-demand company
You can use print-on-demand products and sell them on Etsy because these products are uniquely designed by you, and you won’t find the same product on the market. This complies with Etsy’s product regulations.
It is worth mentioning that you need to indicate in the product details that this product is produced and delivered by a print-on-demand company. Doing so will prevent your store from receiving warnings.
How to dropship print-on-demand products on Etsy
1. Register for a JetPrint account
Registration is typically straightforward. Visit JetPrint’s registration page to create your account. You only need to enter basic information to set up your account, and this process usually takes just a few seconds.
2. Connect your Etsy store to JetPrint
After logging into your JetPrint account, navigate to the integration page, select the Etsy option, and click “Connect.” During this process, you’ll need to authorize certain permissions in your store for JetPrint.
Once authorization is complete, your store will be successfully connected to JetPrint, and you’ll find your newly connected Etsy store in the integration page. After connecting, be sure to add JetPrint as your production partner in your Etsy admin.
Tutorial: How to Sell on Etsy
3. Select products
JetPrint offers a wide range of high-quality products. You can explore the products that interest you in our product catalog, which includes shoes, watches, clothing, cups, and more.
You can easily view the cost, printing process, packaging method, and other details for each product.
4. Upload your designs
You can upload your original design to our mockup generator and refine it with our live preview feature.
If you download our design template (PSD) and create your design in Photoshop, you can upload it directly to our mockup generator to minimize errors.
You can also create personalized options for your customers by checking “Personalization” before publishing.
5. Publish to your listing
Once your design is complete, choose the images you want to sync to your Etsy store and select which one will be your main picture.
Editing the title and description will help your listing rank higher and be discovered by more potential customers.
Adding tags is also essential; the keywords in your tags should differ from those in the title.
After filling in all the information, don’t forget to set the price for the product, and finally, click “Publish” to add the product to your store.
Related article: The Beginner’s Guide to Etsy SEO
FAQ
Does Etsy allow the use of print-on-demand services?
Is dropshipping on Etsy worth it?
Yes, it can be worth it. Etsy boasts significant traffic, reducing the need for hefty advertising fees to generate clicks and orders.
What dropshipping products are best for selling on Etsy?
The most successful dropshipping products on Etsy are undoubtedly those that are personalized and original. Etsy, with its core focus on handcrafting and uniqueness, thrives on offerings that stand out. Consider products that can be customized, allowing buyers to add a personal touch, as this aligns well with Etsy’s marketplace ethos.
Does Etsy allow multiple production partners?
Etsy does not specify the number of production partners, meaning there is no limit to the number of production partners you can add.
0 Comments