Last Updated on: 25th June 2023, 09:48 pm
Sourcing products to sell on Etsy is one of the most important skills you can learn as a handmade seller.
A good product source should be inexpensive, easy to find, and accessible. The best sources are those that have relatively fixed prices and give you an idea of what your final price will be.
One of the best things about these nine product sources is their cheap ways to get started with a business idea.
Sourcing Products To Sell On Etsy
Sourcing products to sell on Etsy is one of the most important skills you can learn as a handmade seller.
Being able to find suppliers for your products is essential in ensuring that you can be successful, and it’s also a great way to make sure that your customers are getting quality merchandise at reasonable prices.
A Good Product Source
A good product source should be inexpensive, easy to find, and accessible. It’s also beneficial to work with suppliers who are local. That way you can see the product in person before buying it.
If you’re looking for a specific item or type of merchandise, try going online or calling around local thrift stores or estate sales (you’ll probably find the same things at these events).
You can also check out websites like Etsy where there are many suppliers offering handmade items at reasonable prices—and often free shipping!
The Best Sources For Etsy
The best sources are those that have relatively fixed prices and give you an idea of what your final price will be.
This is important because it allows you to make an informed decision about whether or not to work with them.
Fixed prices are also easier to calculate than asking prices, which can change every time a seller asks for more money.
If a seller gives you a price upfront and then asks for more money later on in the process, there’s no way for you to know if this increase is justified or not—and if the increase isn’t worth it then why should you continue working with them?
Fixed prices allow buyers and sellers alike peace of mind by giving everyone specific expectations about what costs go into making each item or service available from start to finish (eBay sellers call these “fixed costs”).
Fixed cost items include materials, labor hours spent on production runs, etc., all things considered when calculating profit margins after shipping fees have been subtracted out over a time period between purchase order placement through sale completion date at current exchange rate settings per market conditions at the time delivered goods arrive into warehouse locations where customers choose pickup option offered by vendors who sell products via online marketplace platforms like Etsy Marketplace platform which allows users sell handmade wares made using sewing machines needles threads patterned fabric ribbon, etc…
Best Things About These 9 Product Sources
One of the best things about these nine product sources is their cheap ways to get started with a business idea. They’re easy to find, accessible, and relatively fixed prices.
They also give you an idea of what your final price will be, making it easier than ever before to gauge whether or not your products are worth selling online.
1. Buy low-cost crafts at craft fairs and yard sales
- Buy low-cost crafts at craft fairs and yard sales
If you’re looking for items that don’t sell well in retail stores, craft fairs are a great place to find them.
You can often find new items or small runs of something that’s been on the market for a while but hasn’t been selling well because it’s too costly or not current enough (like a popular color).
If you’re able to buy these things in bulk, they’ll be even more affordable than if they were purchased online.
- Shop secondhand stores where people have thrown out their old stuff (and even sometimes donated them)
If there’s no room left in your home for all the new things that come into your life, then consider going outside and finding some treasures at thrift stores instead!
Not only will this save money by skipping shipping costs involved with buying new things online; but also keep in mind how much money we spend each year just keeping up with our houses’ needs—so go ahead and get rid of some clutter too!
2. Work Up From A Piece Of Thrift Store Merchandise
- Work up from a piece of thrift store merchandise
If you’re starting from scratch, it can be tempting to try and find something that’s perfect for your shop. But I’ve found that this isn’t always the best way to go about sourcing products!
Instead, start with what you already have in your closet or house—this is especially true if you’re just starting out and don’t have much money to spend on new clothes or accessories.
Think about what kinds of pieces would work well together and which ones might not fit into the style or theme that makes up your brand.
Then search through your closet until you find something similar (or even better!) than what would work for one of these ideas below:
- A dress shirt/jacket combo with contrasting buttons/buttons
- A pair of jeans (I recommend going for distressed denim)
3. Shop Wholesale
If you want to start your own business, but don’t want to invest in inventory or set up a storefront, wholesale may be the way to go.
Wholesale suppliers can provide products at a lower cost than if they were available in retail stores. They also have access to new and unique items that might not be available at an average store or warehouse.
Here are some things that make wholesale sourcing more affordable:
4. Use Big Box Stores
You can find a lot of things at big-box stores, but it’s important to be careful when shopping there. Some items are overpriced and some have hidden fees and shipping costs that aren’t included in the price you see on their website.
This is especially true for clothing items and accessories—you may end up paying more than you thought by purchasing from a big box retailer.
Big box stores also offer many options for buying wholesale quantities so that you don’t have to worry about taking orders from individual sellers or getting stuck with lots of inventory that aren’t selling well (the latter being common with Etsy).
If this sounds like something you’d enjoy doing, then we recommend looking into these options:
5. Shop Sollar Stores For Deals
Dollar stores are a great place to find cheap craft supplies, especially if you’re on a budget. You can find nearly everything from scrapbooking supplies and ribbons to paint colors for your next project.
If you have an eye for spotting bargains at the dollar store, then this is the place for you!
6. Visit Vintage Stores, Flea Markets, And Antique Shows For Inspiration And Supplies
Once you’ve got a few items you want to sell, it’s time to start looking for suppliers. The best place to start is by visiting vintage stores, flea markets, and antique shows for inspiration and supplies.
If your favorite store doesn’t have what you’re looking for but they do have some great pieces that might work with your product line (like a beautiful old chest), then by all means take photos of these finds!
You can then use them when making your own handmade products later on down the road—and if they don’t work out as an actual source of supply (because there isn’t enough demand), then maybe next time around you’ll find something else that does!
It should go without saying at this point: no matter where your inspiration comes from—whether it’s through finding items at thrift stores or browsing through catalogs full of vintage wares—don’t forget about Etsy itself!
This platform was built specifically around selling handmade goods; therefore any ideas here will automatically translate into sales because people love buying handmade things online too much not too–and now they know how easy it is going forward instead which makes things easier overall 😉
7. Dumpster Dive Behind Big Box Stores For Damaged Items You Can Repair Or Repurpose.
You can also find items from dumpsters behind big box stores. If you’re looking for something that’s in good condition and will sell well, this is the place to look.
It’s important to assess the value of these items before diving into the dumpster, though! Dumpsters are often full of damaged goods that have been thrown away by other companies or individuals (or even by themselves).
If you don’t know what you’re doing and end up damaging something valuable while trying to salvage it yourself, then no matter how much money it may have been worth originally—you’ve lost out on an opportunity that could have paid off nicely over time.
There are several things worth considering before diving into one:
- Is this place safe? Are there any hazards lurking around? Are people walking around who could get hurt if they step in something dangerous like broken glass or nails sticking out from underneath piles of trash bags?
- What does this location look like when empty? Are dumpsters usually locked down tight with padlocks so no one can get into them without permission from whoever owns them first (usually some sort or company name)? If not, do I risk getting caught trespassing if someone finds me climbing over fences onto their property?
8. Visit the Library For Books
If you’re not a bookworm and prefer to watch movies or listen to music instead, there are several options for finding books that can be sold on Etsy.
- Visit your local library and take out as many books (or other media), CDs, DVDs, and magazines that interest you. You can also check with friends who may have some of this stuff lying around their homes.
- Do some research online about what kinds of things people are selling on eBay or Etsy in your area at this time (if any). You might find something interesting!
9. Buy in Bulk From eBay Sellers
eBay is a great place to find wholesale products.
If you want to find products that are in high demand, but don’t have the time or resources to source them yourself, then this is your chance! It’s also an excellent way of getting discounted prices on the things you need for your business.
For example: if you’re selling handmade clothing or accessories online and sell a lot of them at craft fairs, then it’s likely that people will come back and buy from you again next year because they love what you do so much!
That being said though – these may not be items that would otherwise be purchased through traditional retail channels like Amazon or eBay; therefore there could still be some margin left over after paying for shipping costs which could go towards paying taxes etcetera…
