Sell Custom T-Shirts on Etsy: A 5-Step Guide

Etsy stands out as a top eCommerce platform, attracting over 90 million active buyers in 2024. With such a vast audience, it’s an excellent choice for launching your custom t-shirt business—one of the most sought-after apparel items.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the essentials of selling high-quality custom t-shirts on Etsy, from sourcing products to designing eye-catching shirts that resonate with your audience.

Additionally, we’ll explore how you can sell t-shirts on Etsy without holding inventory by leveraging Print on Demand (POD) services like Tapstitch.

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Key Takeaways

• Identify Your Niche: Choose a unique angle for your Etsy t-shirts to stand out. Utilize market research tools to understand your target audience’s preferences.
• Prioritize Quality and Branding: Select premium products and create your own designs. Establish a cohesive brand identity that appeals visually and remains consistent across all touchpoints.
• Optimize Your Storefront: Create compelling product listings with high-quality images, detailed descriptions, and strategic keywords to enhance visibility in Etsy’s search results.
• Boost Visibility and Sales: Leverage Etsy SEO techniques, engage on social media, connect with your audience, and utilize Etsy Ads to drive more traffic and increase sales.
• Simplify with Print on Demand: Partner with Tapstitch to sell t-shirts on Etsy without upfront costs or inventory hassles. Gain access to tools for sourcing, designing, and listing bestselling shirts effortlessly.

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How to sell custom t-shirts on Etsy in 5 steps with Print on Demand

Starting a custom t-shirt business on Etsy requires dedication and effort, but it can be an incredibly rewarding and profitable venture. Follow these five steps to bring your t-shirt brand to life.

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1.Define your target audience

Before designing your shirts, identify the audience you want to sell to. Knowing your target market helps you create designs that appeal directly to customers most likely to buy.

Consider factors such as age, location, occupation, income, education, and gender when defining your audience.

Focus on a niche you’re passionate about and that has low competition. Use these tips to find your niche:

1.Research with tools like Google Trends. Enter terms such as “t-shirts” or “tees” paired with niche-related keywords like “dog lover t-shirts” or “travel enthusiast tees.”

2.Explore Etsy Search Bar Suggestions.Use Etsy’s search bar to discover trending keywords and phrases. Enter terms like “trendy t-shirts” or “popular t-shirts,” along with niche-specific words, to see what shoppers are searching for.

3.Leverage Third-Party Tools for Keyword Research.Utilize tools like eRank to find keywords that are popular in your niche.

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Expert tip

"Etsy sellers can overcome the challenge of balancing trends and market saturation by emphasizing product uniqueness.

Focus on creating innovative designs, providing customization options, and ensuring exceptional quality to make your products stand out.

A carefully curated selection of high-quality, distinct items enables more targeted and effective marketing. Staying updated on market trends allows you to adapt your offerings and maintain relevance in a competitive space.

This strategy not only attracts loyal customers but also helps build a strong and enduring brand identity that goes beyond fleeting trends."

– Simon Bacher, CEO and Co-Founder of Ling-App

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2.Choose t-shirts and design them

There are several ways to source your products, but Print on Demand (POD) with Tapstitch offers a seamless and cost-effective solution.

Tapstitch provides a wide variety of customizable t-shirts and free design tools, enabling you to create best-selling shirts tailored to your Etsy customers.

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Select a custom t-shirt

Browse Tapstitch's catalog of women's, men's, and children's t-shirts and choose the styles that best match your target audience’s preferences.

When selecting your t-shirts, consider factors such as fabric material, available print options, fulfillment partners, as well as production and shipping costs.

Check out Tapstitch's top-selling t-shirts to add to your Etsy store and start designing!

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Apply designs

Create designs that resonate with your brand identity and appeal to your target audience’s tastes.

Tapstitch’s intuitive Mockup Generator makes it easy to add designs and text, adjust sizing and placement, create patterns. If you already have a design ready, simply upload it and tweak the size and placement to fit your t-shirt.

Use whatever design tools and software that suit your workflow. After all, designing shirts for Etsy should be a fun and creative process!

Design Guidelines to Keep in Mind:

• Simplicity is Key: Unless your niche thrives on bold, maximalist designs, keep it simple and clean.
• Show Off Your Brand: Create a distinctive aesthetic that represents your brand’s identity. Stick to readable fonts and avoid cluttering your designs with too many different font styles.
• Coordinate Colors: Limit the number of colors in each design and product variant. This not only simplifies the decision-making process for buyers but also makes your designs more visually appealing.

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3.Set up your Etsy storefront

To get started selling t-shirts on Etsy, you'll need to create an Etsy seller account. If you’re unsure about the process, we’ve created a detailed tutorial to help guide you through setting up your Etsy store.

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Publish Listings

‍Once you've selected a t-shirt and applied your design using Tapstitch’s Product Creator, it's time to add a description and save your listing.

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Integrate Your Etsy Account with Tapstitch

• In the stores section of your Tapstitch account.
• Select Etsy, enter the necessary account details, and confirm the integration.Once connected, you can easily publish all your t-shirt listings to Etsy with just a few clicks.

You can adjust your product descriptions, images, and pricing directly in your Tapstitch account. For more advanced edits, like tags, you can make these adjustments in your Etsy account.

Be sure to include the relevant keywords you researched for your target audience. This will help your t-shirts rank higher in Etsy's search results. Add as much detail as possible about your shirts to give customers all the information they need before purchasing.

For tips on making money on Etsy, check out our blog post.

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Price Your Products

‍Before setting prices, do some market research. Look at what other Etsy sellers are charging for similar t-shirts and calculate your production costs, plus Etsy fees.

Ensure that your retail price covers all business expenses and leaves you with a profit margin of at least 40-50%.

Here are two common pricing strategies:

• Smaller Profit Margin: Set a lower price to remain competitive and attract more buyers.
• Higher Price for Higher Perceived Value: Increase the price slightly to boost your profit margin, especially if your target audience values quality over price.

Adapt your pricing strategy to your audience and market trends, and take advantage of holidays and special events to offer deals or discounts.

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Build Your Store Page

‍Log in to your Etsy account and complete all the necessary fields. Choose a unique shop name, write a compelling storefront description (including relevant keywords), and fill in your business details.

Add custom banners, high-quality images for branding, and a strong "About" section to make your store appealing to your target audience. The more information you include, the more credibility your store will gain, helping boost your t-shirts' visibility in Etsy search results.

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4.Market your Etsy store

A well-thought-out marketing strategy is key to attracting customers and boosting sales, helping you stand out from the competition. Here are some effective and popular marketing methods you can use to promote your Etsy shop.

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Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

‍SEO is essential for increasing your store’s visibility and building brand recognition.

Implement Etsy-specific SEO by including relevant keywords, tags, and categories in your listings. This helps buyers find the information they need and improves your store’s position in Etsy search results. By optimizing your listings, you can drive more traffic and increase sales.

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Content Marketing

‍Leverage your blog or website to create content around custom t-shirts, personalized products, shopping trends, and other related topics.

Share customer reviews, spotlight new designs, and offer insights into your creative process. This not only builds awareness but also establishes your authority in the space, helping you connect with customers and strengthen brand loyalty.

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Social Media Marketing

‍Social media is a powerful way to engage with your customers and build your brand identity.

Engage regularly on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. Share behind-the-scenes content, customer stories, or fun images and videos of your t-shirts in action. Use hashtags and product tags to increase visibility. Promoted posts or ads on these platforms can help direct traffic to your Etsy shop and expand your reach.

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Email Marketing

‍Email marketing remains one of the most effective ways to stay connected with your customers.

Send newsletters to your email list, showcasing new designs, special offers, and exclusive discounts. Use email to keep customers updated on your latest t-shirt collections and encourage repeat purchases. Make your emails personal and engaging to build long-lasting relationships with your customers.

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Etsy Ads

‍Etsy Ads, also known as promoted listings, are paid ads within the Etsy marketplace. They can boost your store’s visibility by getting your products to appear on the front page of Etsy search results.

Once your shop has been active for a month or so, consider running Etsy Ads campaigns. This allows you to track the performance of your products and target top sellers for promotion. You can manage your ads directly in the Shop Manager under the Marketing tab.

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Search Engine Marketing

‍Etsy’s offsite ads are promoted listings that appear on Google, Bing, and social media platforms, helping to increase your reach beyond Etsy itself.

Shops that make less than $10,000 in sales are charged a 15% fee for sales generated through offsite ads. If your shop surpasses $10,000 in sales, the fee drops to 12%. If you're in the first category, you can opt out of the offsite ads program.

Offsite ads can help drive traffic to your store, but be mindful of the fees. If you're eligible, you can opt out via Shop Manager under Settings > Offsite Ads.

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5.Analyze and adjust your store accordingly

After your Etsy store has been running for a month or more, it’s crucial to review your performance and identify what’s working and what isn’t. Use Etsy Analytics and connect your store to Google Analytics for accurate, real-time data.

Regularly monitor your t-shirt shop’s performance, paying attention to factors like traffic, conversion rates, and which products are selling best. Based on these insights, you can make informed decisions on how to optimize your store.

Quick Tip:Want to increase your profitability? Expand your brand by adding more products to your Etsy shop. For more ideas on how to diversify, check out our blog on how to sell printables on Etsy!

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4 Tips to successfully sell shirts on Etsy

Setting up your Etsy store is just the beginning. Growing a successful t-shirt business on Etsy requires dedication, patience, and ongoing effort. To help you on your journey, here are four key tips that can make a big difference in building a profitable store.

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1.Use Print on Demand for fulfillment

With Tapstitch’s Print on Demand (POD) service, you can focus on creating and marketing your designs while we handle printing, storage, and shipping. Simply upload your designs to our Product Creator, and we’ll take care of the rest, allowing you to run your Etsy shop without any inventory or upfront costs.

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2.Release more designs

Keep your Etsy shop fresh and visible by regularly adding new designs. Etsy rewards shops with new listings, so expanding your collection with unique styles and targeted designs will increase your chances of being discovered.

Tapstitch’s Product Creator makes it easy to upload designs and apply them to multiple shirt styles, so you can add variety quickly and efficiently.

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3.Use different types of shirts

Offer a variety of shirt styles to cater to diverse customer preferences. Tapstitch provides an extensive range of t-shirt options, from classic jersey tees to long-sleeves, cropped tees, and tank tops. Customize for every body type, size, and gender, and choose between different cuts like crew neck, V-neck, and more to suit various tastes.

Our shirts are sourced from top industry brands, ensuring high quality and competitive prices. Whether your customers prefer soft organic fabrics or trendy synthetic options, you'll be able to provide something for everyone. Plus, we offer eco-friendly t-shirt options for those who value sustainability.

With Tapstitch, your Etsy store can become the go-to destination for diverse, high-quality t-shirt selections.

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4.Try selling offline

Expand your Etsy business by selling in person at events, fairs, or even a physical store. Tapstitch allows Etsy shop owners in Australia, Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom to link their store and inventory to a Square account, making in-person transactions easy.

With Square, your inventory automatically updates in your Etsy shop, and payment processing is streamlined, so you can focus on growing your business both online and offline. Simply connect your Etsy shop to Square through the Shop Manager and start selling at local events or in a brick-and-mortar setting.

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Frequently asked questions

1.What are the costs associated with selling on Etsy?

Selling on Etsy involves several fees. Firstly, there’s a listing fee of $0.20 for each item you sell. Then, Etsy takes a transaction fee of 6.5% of the total sale price, which includes shipping cost. Additionally, there’s a payment processing fee of 3% plus $0.25 per transaction for US sellers. If you further choose to promote your products with Etsy Ads, those would incur additional costs. Don’t forget to consider production costs if you’re not using Print on Demand services.

2.What should I consider when designing t-shirts?

When designing t-shirts, think about your target audience and what styles appeal to them. Keep designs simple and ensure they're readable. It’s also helpful to limit the number of colors in each design, as this can help customers make choices more easily. Additionally, consider what design themes or trends are popular in your niche and try to create a unique style that reflects your brand.

3.Do I need to manage inventory when selling on Etsy?

No, if you use Print on Demand services like Tapstitch, you won't need to manage any physical inventory. When you sell a shirt, the Print on Demand provider handles everything from production to shipping. This allows you to focus solely on designing your shirts and marketing your Etsy shop, making it a hassle-free way to run a t-shirt business!

4.What is the best way to price my t-shirts on Etsy?

When deciding on pricing for your t-shirts, consider the costs involved, including production and Etsy fees. You'll want to include a profit margin of at least 40-50%. You can set competitive prices by researching what similar items are selling for on Etsy. Sometimes, offering a lower price can attract more customers, while a slightly higher price can communicate a higher quality if your shirts are premium.

Start making money on etsy today!

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Get ready to sell

Now that you know how to make and sell shirts on Etsy—whether it's through sourcing products with Print on Demand or setting up your own t-shirt shop—it's time to get started!

Take your time crafting unique and popular t-shirt designs that resonate with your target audience. Keep an eye on your shop's performance and adapt to market changes to stay ahead of the competition.

With Tapstitch as your Print on Demand partner, you can launch your Etsy shop with minimal upfront investment and no inventory management. Start creating, promoting, and selling today to build a successful t-shirt business!