20 Profitable Etsy Business Ideas for UK Sellers in 2024

Last updated: 01/03/2024 Written by: Ruby Layram

Etsy, the online marketplace for handmade and unique goods, offers a thriving platform for sellers to turn their passions into profitable businesses. This article will explore 20 profitable Etsy business ideas specifically tailored for UK sellers in 2024.

Starting an Etsy business is a great side hustle idea in 2024 for a number of reasons. Most importantly, Etsy is one of the best side hustles for beginners because it is easy to start, offers sellers the flexibility to choose what they sell and provides new sellers with an existing audience.

We have spent time researching successful Etsy sellers to discover the 20 best Etsy business ideas to consider in 2024. Our team looked for businesses that have low startup costs, high demand, and products that are easy to market on Pinterest. Here is what we came up with.

A List of 20 Profitable Etsy Business Ideas

Handmade jewelry: The easiest Etsy business idea to start in 2024. Make bracelets, necklaces, earrings and other jewelry from the comfort of your own home.
Custom Pet Accessories: Create adorable customized collars food bowls, coats and beds for pets. These sell particularly well at Christmas.
Candle Making: Use beeswax to create unique, aesthetic candles that smell great.
Custom Engraved Items: This Etsy business idea does especially well around Christmas, Father’s Day, and Mother’s Day. Sell engraved keyrings, coasters, glasses and more.
Bathbombs: Bathbombs are cheap to make and make very popular Mother’s Day, Valentines and Birthday gifts.
Handmade Soap: A unique Etsy business idea that is fairly easy to start. Create soap with unique scents and colours to stand out from what you can already buy on the shelves.
Knit or Crochet Products: Turn a relaxing hobby into a legit business idea by selling knitted hats, scarves, tops and bags on Etsy.
Handmade Clothing: Well-paid side hustle idea. Design and make your own clothes and eventually start your own brand.
Printable Art: Simple side hustle idea that can be started for free using Canva or Photoshop.
Vintage Clothing: Popular Etsy business idea with huge potential. Vintage clothing is always trending and there is a good demand for new sellers in the UK.
Print on-demand tote bags: Best passive Etsy business idea that is easy to start in the UK.
Natural Beauty Products: Use natural ingredients to create your own beauty or skincare line.
Home Decor: Sell hand-crafted lamps, rugs, cushions, wall art and more on Etsy.
Embroidery and Cross-Stitch: Put cute designs onto hoodies, bags or even socks and make a good side income on Etsy.
Wedding Accessories: Start a luxury Etsy business by selling delicate wedding accessories to brides. You could sell invitations, bridesmaid boxes, custom champagne glasses, table decor and more.
Print-on-demand T-shirts: A very profitable Etsy business idea that could turn into passive income.
Digital planners: Free-to-start Etsy business for UK sellers. Create planners on Canva and sell them as a PDF on Etsy.
Custom Art Portraits: Charge customers for custom portraits. Use either traditional methods of painting or create unique digital portraits.
Photo editing presets: Presets and quick and easy to create. Sell bundles of presets and filters to social media users on Etsy.
Custom water bottles: Print customer’s names onto water bottles using fun fonts. An easy and low-cost Etsy business idea.

Deep Dive into The Best Etsy Business Ideas for UK Sellers in 2024

In the next section of our article, we will take a closer look at the 20 best Etsy business ideas for UK sellers in 2024. We will discuss what each business idea involves, why it is a good idea to consider, and the next steps you could take to get started.

1. Handmade Jewelry

Handmade jewelry sellers use at-home jewelry-making kits to make beautiful, trendy or novel bracelets, necklaces, earrings, and more. Selling handmade jewelry is a great Etsy business idea because it is an easy skill to learn, even if you have no experience.

Before setting up your Etsy jewelry store, think about the style and type of jewelry that you would like to create. The most successful sellers have a specific aesthetic that they cater to. For example, you could create novel Y2K-style pieces or stick to traditional, elegant designs.

Also read: Best side hustles for teens

2. Custom Pet Accessories

Custom pet accessories are incredibly popular amongst pet owners who want to treat their furry friends to something special. You could sell engraved food bowls, custom collars and leads or even personalized pet pajamas.

There are several routes that you could take to set up this type of Etsy business. The first is to bulk-order a range of products, store them in your home, personalize them yourself, and ship them each time you make a sale.

The second route is to use a print-on-demand service. With this option, products are created on a per-order basis which means that you do not have to buy stock before making any sales. Sellers work with print-on-demand suppliers. Every time that you make a sale, the supplier is notified. The supplier then creates the product and handles shipping on your behalf.

The main advantage of print-on-demand is that you do not have to spend lots of money on stock. However, sellers have less control over fulfillment and product quality. By purchasing stock and customizing pet accessories yourself, you have a lot more control over the final product. A good way to customize your own pet accessories is to use transfer paper.

3. Candle Making

With winter just around the corner, Candles are a great industry to get into. Luckily, they are also very simple and cheap to make from home. All you need is wax, molds, and perfumes to create a best-selling scent. What’s more, Candles come in all sorts of shapes, sizes, and smells which leaves a lot of room for creativity.

Although Candles aren’t the most saturated niche on Etsy, there are definitely some good sellers already on the platform. We recommending conducting some competitor research before buying your resources and listing products.

4. Custom Engraved Items

Custom-engraved items are one of the most popular categories on Etsy. These items are usually bought as thoughtful gifts for a range of occasions including anniversaries, birthdays, and graduations.

You could easily start your own engraved item Etsy business by either personalizing items yourself or by starting a print-on-demand (engrave on demand) business. The first option is probably the most straightforward but requires a bigger startup cost. Take time researching the different options before deciding which path to take.

5. Bath bombs

Bath bombs are another gift idea that are very easy to make yourself. Again, this product is very popular around the festive season as people swap clubs for bubble baths on a Friday night.

There are quite a few bath bomb sellers on Etsy already, which means that you will need to create unique, high-quality products to do well. One good way to stand out is by using unique scents that aren’t offered by other sellers. You could also go down the novel route and create funny, quirky bath bombs that make the perfect gifts.

Also read: 12 Christmas Side Hustle Ideas

6. Handmade Soap

Handmade soap is another beauty product that makes a great Etsy business idea. In fact, you could expand your Etsy shop by creating a range of different toiletry items (soap, bath bombs, candles etc.) and sell gift boxes. Not only will this make your store stand out but, it is a great way to increase the value of your products. You could charge a lot more for a gift set than you could for a single bar of soap.

7. Knit or Crochet Products

Knitting and crocheting are two fairly relaxing hobbies that could be turned into a profitable Etsy store. As we approach the festive season, now if the perfect time to whip out your needles and sell festive, cozy sweaters on Etsy. If you don’t feel like going down the jumper route, you could use your skills to craft bags, socks, hats, scarves, blankets, and much more.

A good idea is to invest in a book of products that can be knitted or crotched. This could be a good source of inspiration and provide you with a number of ideas for your Etsy business that will make you stand out from existing sellers.

8. Handmade Clothing

If you’re a skilled seamstress or designer, you could make good money by selling your handmade clothing on Etsy. There is currently a high demand for slow fashion and unique pieces that can’t be found on the likes of Boohoo or PLT. Why not take advantage of this trend and make (good) money whilst creating your own brand.

Handmade clothing products can be sold for a high price on Etsy - as long as they are good quality and look great. Therefore, this is a good Etsy business idea for people who want to turn Etsy into their fulltime job.

Also read: 15 craft ideas to sell on Etsy

9. Printable Art

For people who want to decorate their homes but can’t afford Monet or Banksy, printable art is a good alternative to consider. Printable Art is sold on Etsy as a PDF and can then be downloaded and printed off by customers when they please.

This is a great business idea for artists or graphic designers who want to make money from their talents. You could easily promote your side hustle through Pinterest by styling your artwork in your own home and taking eye-catching photos.

10. Vintage Clothing

Our next Etsy business idea is a product that you do not have to make yourself. Vintage clothing can be purchased from charity shops or wholesalers and sold on Etsy for a profit in the UK. We particularly like this Etsy shop idea because re-selling clothing is easy for literally anyone to do.

Start by sourcing some items from charity shops, car boot sales or vintage wholesalers. Look for items that are branded as these sell the best. Then, style each piece and take eye-catching photos for your product listing. Price each item slightly above what you originally paid and use Pinterest to drive traffic to your store. This is the perfect Etsy business for people who love to shop.

11. Print on Demand Tote Bags

Tote bags are one of the best print on demand products for beginners who want to start making passive income on Etsy. Tote bags are very cheap to buy but can be sold for a good price depending on the design. This means that tote bags have a high-profit margin when sold through print-on-demand.

To start this Etsy business, create a handful or aesthetic, funny or novel designs and use a free graphic design tool to see how they might look on a tote bag. Once you have selected a few great designs, use a print-on-demand service to create mock-ups of your products and list these on your Etsy store.

Each time that you make a sale, the print-on-demand supplier will take care of printing and shipping. Your profit will be the difference between the price that it costs to make the bag and the sale price.

12. Natural Beauty Products

The demand for organic skincare and cosmetics is on the rise in the UK. Therefore, natural beauty products have huge potential as an Etsy business.

If you follow the right process, this business idea can be very profitable and even lead to you having your own skincare brand. However, creating skincare involves a lot of ethical and health considerations as well as a large startup budget.

13. Home Decor

Home decor is a great Etsy business idea for several reasons. Firstly, there is a wide variety of products that you could sell which means that it would be easy to grow your business. Secondly, home decor is very easy to market in Pinterest, which is one of the best ways to promote a new online business.

You could either make your own products or order trending products from wholesalers and sell them for more than the purchase price.

14. Embroidery and Cross-Stitch

Embroidery is a hugely popular hobby and can also be used to create beautiful products. There are two types of embroidery businesses that you could start on Etsy: the first idea is to sell downloadable embroidery patterns; the second idea is to sell hand-embroidered products that you have made yourself.

15. Wedding Accessories

When researching Etsy small business ideas, wedding accessories were one of our personal favourites. If you’re looking to start a luxury business, this could be a great idea for you. Wedding accessories are delicate, high-end and high-ticket. Make money on Etsy by selling hand-written invitations, pretty table decor or even bridal accessories.

Brides-to-be are often willing to pay good money for the perfect accessories, which makes this a profitable business venture. Again, this Etsy business is easy to promote on Pinterest, Instagram or even TikTok.

16. Print-on-Demand T-shirts

Ever dreamt of starting your own clothing brand? Selling print-on-demand T-shirts on Etsy could be a great first step. Graphic tees are a hugely trendy item that never go out of fashion. Use print-on demand suppliers to create trendy designs and sell these to customers on Etsy.

When researching existing Etsy graphic t-shirt sellers, we found that less is more. Basic designs, often inspired by pop culture, appeal to a large audience and sell very well on the platform.

17. Digital Planners

Planners are one of the best digital products to sell on Etsy in 2024 because they are simple to create an used by millions of people around the world. Busy professionals, students and parents are always on the lookout for the latest planner that could solve all of their organizational needs. Use software such as Canva to create the products for free and benefit for zero shipping costs.

18. Custom Art Portraits

If you’re a talented artist, you could charge to create customized portraits. These make great gifts for anniversaries, birthdays, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. If you are able to create stunning portraits, this could be a very well-paid Etsy business idea.

Create listings by uploading images of your previous work and communicate clearly with customers so that you know exactly what they’re looking for.

19. Photo Presets

Photography enthusiasts in the UK are always on the lookout for ways to enhance their photos. You could monetize this by creating your own custom presets and filters to sell on Etsy.

You can create your own presets using lightroom. This is a low-cost business idea that could easily turn passive.

20. Custom Water Bottles

Creating and selling custom water bottles is one of the simplest Etsy businesses to start in the UK. You can easily design your own bottles using transfers, stickers, rhinestones and craft glue. Make sure that the materials you use are waterproof so that the bottles can be washed.

How To Set Up an Etsy Shop in the UK - Step-by-Step

Starting your Etsy journey in the UK is straightforward. If you’re looking for a more detailed guide, take a look at our post on how to set up an Etsy shop. Otherwise, here the basic steps to get started.

Create an Etsy Account: Sign up and provide essential information.
Choose a Shop Name: Select a unique and memorable shop name.
Stock Your Shop: Add product listings with compelling descriptions and high-quality photos.
Set Up Payment and Shipping: Configure your payment options and shipping preferences.
Brand Your Shop: Create a captivating shop banner and profile that reflects your brand.
Promote Your Shop: Utilize social media and marketing to attract customers.
Register your business: As of 2024, all UK business must be registered for VAT. The easiest way to do this is to use a company formation service.

Also read: 10 Etsy SEO tips for success

How To Know What Sells Well on Etsy?

The key to being successful on Etsy is to know what products sell well. Sometimes, this is difficult to predict and demand fluctuates daily. However, there are a few ways that sellers can filter out profitable products from the not-so-profitable ones.

Social Media Trends

Stay tuned to social media platforms to spot emerging trends and understand what's currently in demand. Social media is a great tool for marketing your small business and selling products that are trending is a great way to take advantage of social media search volume.

Market Research

Analyze market trends, not just on Etsy but across e-commerce platforms, to identify products with sustained popularity. You could also conduct customer research by asking your friends, social media following or peer group what type of products they would most likely buy from an Etsy shop.

Competitor Research

Study successful Etsy shops and analyze their product offerings, pricing, and customer engagement strategies to gain insights. This is a good way to find out what works. However, it is important to start your business with a unique angle, don’t just copy and paste another Etsy shop!

Conclusion

2024 presents an excellent opportunity for UK sellers to thrive on Etsy. By tapping into the trends and ideas mentioned above, you can turn your creative passion into a profitable business venture. Whether you're a jewelry maker, candle enthusiast, or digital artist, Etsy offers a platform to reach a global audience and showcase your unique products.

In this article, we have discussed 20 different Etsy business ideas to provide you with inspiration for your own shop in 2024. For more side hustle ideas, check out our other posts on.

FAQs

On Etsy, products that sell well often encompass handmade and personalized items such as jewelry, custom pet accessories, scented candles, and unique art prints. Additionally, vintage clothing and home decor have a consistent following. Digital products like printable art and planners are gaining popularity, catering to the digital age. By staying attuned to market trends and offering quality, distinctive products, Etsy sellers can tap into a diverse customer base seeking one-of-a-kind, artisanal, and creatively inspired items.
Etsy can be a very profitable side hustle to start in the UK. To be successful you must choose a product that has a high demand and low competition. It is also important to invest in marketing, optimize your product listings.