Selling Candles on Etsy With Print on Demand: A Quick Guide for 2024
If you want to start a small business with enormous potential, selling candles on Etsy is an excellent opportunity. With the worldwide candle market estimated to reach $14 billion by 2030, they remain a favorite choice for gifts or home decor.
Print on Demand makes running an online store easy. The candles are only produced once an order is placed, eliminating the need to hold inventory.
In this article, you’ll learn how to start selling candles on Etsy – one of the largest eCommerce marketplaces. We’ll go over the basics of building and marketing your brand, how to source candles and create designs, and other valuable tips for success.
Table of Contents
- Why Sell Candles on Etsy?
- How to Start Selling Candles on Etsy
- Step 1: Set Up an Etsy Store
- Step 2: Sign Up for a Printify Account and Connect Your Etsy Shop
- Step 3: Select Candles for Your Shop
- Step 4: Create Designs for Your Candles
- Step 5: Perfect Your Listings
- Step 6: Build a Brand Identity to Gain Trust
- Step 7: Develop a Marketing Strategy for Your Store
- Step 8: Manage Your Store and Analyze Data
- The Eco-Friendly Revolution
- 5 Tips For Selling Candles on Etsy
- FAQ
- Conclusion
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission if you make a purchase through those links. This comes at no additional cost to you.
Why Sell Candles on Etsy?
Etsy is one of the world’s most popular eCommerce marketplaces. While primarily known for handmade products, craft, and vintage items, it’s a great place to sell original print-on-demand products like candles.
Millions of Shoppers
- Sell where the shoppers are. Around 96.5 million people already trust Etsy and shop on the platform.
- Beginner-friendly. You don’t need any special skills to make an Etsy shop, and it’s quicker than setting up your own website. Find a how-to guide on their Help Center.
- Sell Worldwide. Shoppers around the world use Etsy, expanding your market even further.
Make It Happen Today!
How to Start Selling Candles on Etsy
Anyone can create a successful candle business on Etsy by following this step-by-step guide.
Step 1: Set Up an Etsy Store
First, you need to create an Etsy account. Sign in and click on the silhouette within a circle in the right corner. Then, select Sell on Etsy. Once the page opens, click Get started.
Next, complete the following:
- Shop preferences. Tell Etsy about your business. Set shop preferences like language, country, and currency.
- Name your shop. Set yourself apart by creating an original name that reflects your brand.
- Stock your shop. To activate your shop, you need to add a listing. It can be a draft you delete or edit later.
- Payment preferences. Fill out the required banking information.
- Billing info. Enter your card details.
- Shop security. Enable two-factor authentication to add an extra layer of security to your account.
Step 2: Sign Up for a Printify Account and Connect Your Etsy Shop
Sign up for a Printify account to access our collection of customizable candles and free design tools.
Next, follow these steps to connect your Printify and Etsy accounts:
- After signing in to Printify, click My new store.
- Click Add a new store.
- Click Connect to Etsy.
Quick Tip
Check out our step-by-step guide on how to connect an Etsy store with Printify.
Step 3: Select Candles for Your Shop
Owning a candle shop doesn’t mean you’ll spend your days making candles at home. In the Printify Catalog, we have many ready-made candles with customizable labels.
Browse available scents, like Clean Cotton, Vanilla Bean, and Apple Harvest. Design as many candles as you like and add them to your online store.
Here are a few of our candles that come in several scents:
Step 4: Create Designs for Your Candles
You don’t have to be a graphic designer to create art for your candle labels. With our easy-to-use Product Creator, you can easily upload a design or make an entirely new one.
Product Creator features:
- AI Image Generator for making extraordinary images.
- Text Editor with many fonts and emojis to choose from.
- 100% Free Graphics to make your candles pop.
- Pattern Tool for making all-over-print designs.
Other options include graphic design tools like Canva, Pixlr, Adobe Photoshop, Photopea and others. You can also save time by getting ready-made designs from a website like Creative Fabrica or Printify Experts Program. Just make sure you get the proper licensing permissions.
Step 5: Perfect Your Listings
A great listing includes detailed info about the product so customers can easily find your candles and make informed purchases.
- Title. To increase visibility on search engines, use short titles and include the most relevant keywords at the beginning.
- Product description. Write informative product descriptions incorporating the most relevant keywords in the first few sentences.
- Categories. Add categories to increase the listing’s visibility and help shoppers narrow their search.
- Attributes. Add attributes like color and material so it’s easier to find your candles.
- Tags. Add tags with keywords (use long-tail keywords, too) that describe the main characteristics of your product.
- Pricing. Check your competition’s pricing and set yours accordingly, but ensure it aligns with buyers’ expectations. Learn how to price a product from our quick guide on pricing strategies.
Try tools like Semrush Keyword Overview or Ahrefs Keyword Explorer for keyword research.
Step 6: Build a Brand Identity to Gain Trust
A strong brand identity will help your Etsy shop stand out from the competition. People are more likely to buy from you if they recognize your brand.
Consider the four Vs of branding:
- Vision. Where do you see your candle business in the future? Share your goals to inspire others to support your shop.
- Values. What are your values? Does your brand stand for eco-friendly practices or display designs with specific messages?
- Voice. Use a tone of voice that resonates with your audience.
- Visuals. Create a visual identity that aligns with your brand and enhances the overall aesthetic of your shop.
Personalize your storefront by adding a shop icon, banner image, general information, and policies that align with your brand.
Read our article on how to build a brand identity to discover ways to make your shop stand out.
Step 7: Develop a Marketing Strategy for Your Store
A thorough marketing strategy makes it easier for small businesses to attract new customers and increase sales.
Consider the following when creating a strategy:
- Identify your goals. What do you want to achieve? Do you want to reach specific milestones or sales targets?
- Understand your customer base. Which group of consumers are you targeting? What kind of products do they like most?
- Tailor your message. Find a communication style that appeals to your audience. Explain what benefits they receive when purchasing from you.
- Set a budget. How much can you spend on advertising?
- Select a marketing channel. Find out which platforms your target audience uses the most and build a strong presence there.
Here are two popular marketing channels:
- Social media. Establish a presence on various social platforms to drive traffic to your store. Post photos and videos, host giveaways, and engage with your audience to increase their interest.
- Email marketing. Communicate efficiently with existing and potential customers. Use tools such as Mailerlite or Mailchimp to automate the process.
For more Etsy marketing advice, visit our blog’s Marketing Hints and Tricks section to learn how to optimize your marketing efforts.
Step 8: Manage Your Store and Analyze Data
Etsy’s user-friendly interface and valuable Search Analytics help sellers navigate and organize their stores.
With Search Analytics, you can check various statistics to determine which searches lead to your shop, how many sales they generate, how many people have seen your listings, and other valuable insights.
Etsy keyword tools like EtsyHunt, Alura, and eRank let you analyze your shop, making it easier to optimize it for greater success.
Make It Happen Today!
The Eco-Friendly Revolution
As sustainability becomes more prominent in people’s minds, they’re becoming more conscious of the products they choose. Consumers are willing to pay 12% more for sustainable products, and that includes candles.
With Printify, you can design and provide affordable, eco-friendly options. Printify offers many customizable candles with soy wax and high-quality fragrance oils.
Browse a few of our eco-friendly candles in various sizes and scents.
5 Tips for Selling Candles on Etsy
While Etsy offers access to a large customer base, they’re often selective of the products they buy. Stay ahead of the competition and attract customers by following these tips.
Keep Track of Fees
Etsy has several low fees, but they do add up.
- Listing fees. Etsy charges $0.20 per listing, automatically renewed upon sale or after four months.
- Transaction fees. Etsy takes a 6.5% transaction fee from each sale.
- Payment processing fees. The amount depends on your bank’s location. Check the payment processing fees for different countries.
There are also region-specific and optional fees. Avoid any confusion by researching all Etsy fees that may apply to you.
Select a Profitable Niche
A niche is a specialized market segment that appeals to a specific group. It could be fans of a particular band or TV show, pet owners, or people with the same profession. By selecting a niche, you’ll stand out and gain attention much quicker.
Each niche will require a different design and marketing approach, so invest time in research. Use tools like Google Trends or Semrush to analyze data, discover trends, and find a profitable niche.
Quick Tip
Read our article to learn more about finding a niche, and check out the top 15 print-on-demand niches of 2024.
Analyze the Competition
Analyzing other Etsy sellers is a great way to understand how others are selling candles successfully or what they could be missing.
- Study the competition. Look at their storefronts, the cost of their candles, and how they market their shop.
- Check buyer reviews. See what customers are saying to identify their likes and dislikes.
- Evaluate shops consistently. Continuously reassess competition and market conditions to refine strategies.
Based on your findings, adjust your approach for better results. However, don’t copy others — identify their weaknesses and build a better shop.
Use Paid Advertising
Advertising is essential for growing a small eCommerce business. While social media and content marketing raise brand awareness, you should still invest in paid ads.
- Etsy Ads campaigns. Choose a listing for Etsy to display in search results, categories, and market pages.
- Meta ads. Try Facebook or Instagram ads to reach a broad audience.
- Search engine ads. Use Google Ads or Microsoft Advertising to increase your business’s visibility in search results.
Use High-Quality Photos and Videos
An Etsy listing can have ten photos and one video. Set the best image as the first one since it’s the one buyers are most likely to see. Always use pictures that show the product clearly.
While you can learn how to take great product photos for Etsy yourself, our Product Creator simplifies the process. We generate high-quality mockups of your designs to use in your product listings.
Adding a video to your listing increases trust in your product and highlights its best qualities.
Here are some tips for Etsy listing videos:
- Follow the guidelines. Keep the length at 5-15 seconds, and aim for a 1080px resolution. The maximum size is 100 MB.
- Framing is everything. Each detail in the frame has to have a purpose. Arrange the candle and background carefully.
- Stability of the camera. Use a tripod or a stabilizer to get
Learn how to add a listing video from Etsy.
FAQ
Do candles sell well on Etsy?
Yes, Etsy’s customer base enjoys original products, and candles are no exception. Take a look at the best candle shops on Etsy to see what’s possible if you apply the right tactics.
What is the best platform for selling candles?
Etsy is the go-to marketplace for buying unique products, making it an excellent platform for your candle business.
However, we recommend exploring all your options and choosing the platform that’ll help you reach your business goals.
Is selling candles still profitable?
Yes, a candle business can be profitable if you carefully select your products and market well to your target audience.
Conclusion
As we conclude our guide to selling candles on Etsy, we hope this information and advice will help you get started.
Here’s a quick recap of the steps you should take:
- Create an Etsy store
- Sign up for Printify and connect your Etsy shop
- Select candles from our Catalog
- Make designs with our Product Creator
- Perfect your listings
- Build a brand
- Start marketing
- Manage your store and analyze performance
Starting a candle business requires dedication, but the rewards are worth the effort. With POD, anyone can launch their own candle business without high startup costs or inventory.
Start a Candle Business Today!
Written by
Leon Walker
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