I tend to think of my self as the creative type when it comes to ideas, but when it comes to creating a product, I’m amateur at best. We all know that finding a niche product is an easy way to make money on ebay, but where do you find niche products. I can name different niche communities all day long, but until I find a product to sell to them, it’s pointless. Since I’m not good a creating a new product, I decided that I would let someone else do the creative work and I could resell it for more money. That’s where Etsy comes in.
If you’ve never heard of Etsy.com before, it’s a marketplace filled with genius products that are (mostly) handmade. They really do have something for every niche and finding products to resell on ebay is easy. Lets take a look at some of my favorites:
Back to the Future - You can get everything from original retro posters, handmade dolls, iphone cases, and much more. Most of these have never even seen an ebay page before, which is good, because there would be no competition for you. The product on the left is a listing on Etsy for three movie posters that are unique and are not on ebay. These are printed out on a professional printer, so the quality will be good. They could easily be flipped for a profit!
Star Wars – Obviously this niche has a large following, so it’s easier to sell a unique item. The problem with a large niche is finding the unique item. Even on Etsy, there are a lot of repeat listings. I have found one (picure on left) of a Star Wars themed crayon holder that a child can strap around them as they are coloring a picture. There are many different versions of these types of holders that could be resold. They also make holders for toy cars, legos, and much more! Some times I wonder who thinks of these things!
Steampunk – If you’ve never heard of Steampunk before, well you’re not alone. It’s defined as, “A subgenre of science fiction and fantasy that includes social or technological aspects of the 19th century (the steam) usually with some deconstruction of, reimagining of, or rebellion against parts of it (the punk).” This is a huge niche right now, and with a little research, you will start uncovering how much money is really laying around when it comes to steampuck. To the left is a hand painted steampunk box that is unique and could be resold on ebay.
One thing to consider here is this – Since Etsy is mostly handmade items, it may take a little longer to get your item. They have to sew, print, paint, and/or assemble your product. With that said, don’t list your item as soon as you buy it. Wait until you actually get the product, then you can list it. The last thing you’d want it to have an angry customer waiting for their product. Lastly, most Etsy sellers are willing to work with you. If you need something custom, or want a large order, then you can communicate to get your product just right!
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
I totally agree with this. All though I agree in inching it down, don’t go too small. I had Entourage movie posters created to look like the ones used on the show and never sold one. But when did my research on google it looked like a lot of people were really wanting them. Next time I will gravitate toward comics, cartoons or something with a history and rabid buying audience.
I had never thought of flipping items purchased on Etsy before, interesting idea! You should cross reference with eBay first, however, because many Etsy sellers are also selling their identical items on eBay at the same time. Etsy is a good marketplace if you sell handmade (by you) items, anything that could be considered a craft supply, or anything vintage (including clothing). Their fee structure is more generous to the seller than eBay’s, and it is very easy to get started. It’s not auction style, everything sells for a fixed price. If you are comfortable with the format and the restrictions on the types of items you can sell, you might try it as another selling avenue.
Hmm, interesting idea using etsy. Is there any restrictions on shipping? As in, if you ordered something from an etsy seller, could you have them ship to another address? This would save in having to buy, wait for the item, sell, and then ship out again. This could be applied to other sites as well like zazzle, or shapeways. Not sure what people here think about being a middleman, but it’s an idea that could work well if done properly.