Successfully Sell Pillow Covers on Etsy

Take one look at Etsy and you’ll discover that sewing and DIY crafts have soared into popularity over the past decade--and the trend doesn’t seem to be slowing down. While lots of people are out there selling their creations, there are still plenty of consumers that want to purchase homemade goods. This is great news for those making their own pillow covers and wanting to earn some money for the effort. Whether you’re already selling your covers or just thinking about it, you need to consider these tips to successfully sell pillow covers on Etsy.

Product:

Find your niche in the pillow cover world, whether that is a general style, certain sizes, specific colors, or unique fabrics. Within your niche, make sure to offer plenty of products for sale; most successful Etsy sellers recommend having at least 100 products for sale. Consider selling some supplemental products (like blankets, candles, or drapes) in order to draw customers in from other areas and to increase your total sales per customer. You also may want to have products across a wide price range to attract more customers.

Information:

The first piece of information that a shopper notices is your name, so make sure that you set a catchy shop name that clearly defines your product. Don’t stop there though--make sure that you have a complete shop description and about page. Customers are drawn in by learning about you and trust you more, plus they linger on your page longer (which usually translates to more sales). Apply this same personal touch when entering each product. You should fill in every blank available from the category and description to the tags and occasions. Not only will this level of detail impress shoppers, but it will also help you to show up in more searches.

Looks:

Selling a product online has lots of benefits, but there is one important detriment--the customer can’t touch your product. This is why your product photos have to shine. You have to capture the attention of a shopper with a photo that is unique or interesting. Take the time to create a great space for taking photos (with natural or diffused light) and make sure your pillow covers will pop against your backdrop. Take an up-close, high quality photo and make your work come to life on your Etsy shop.

Listing:

List your products under as many categories as possible. There’s no reason your pillow covers should be relegated to just bedding or home goods. Think outside the box to build your line. Some ideas include: a pillow case sleep mat to list in furniture, a pillowcase dress to list in clothing, a pillow cover themed around a popular show to list in books/movies/music, a pillowcase purse to list in bags/purses, a pet bed pillow cover to list in pet supplies, or a ring bearer pillow cover to list in weddings. Be creative with craft!

Open:

Keep your eyes on your competitors. Look at other shops (on Etsy and elsewhere) to stay on top of trends in styles, fabrics, and colors. See where the market is saturated and search for openings where there’s not as much competition.

Work It:

Work all the customer service angles. Service is what sets a seller apart--from how well you describe your product to how well (and quickly) you reply to questions or requests. Be up front and accurate about turnaround times and shipping charges. Another way to set yourself apart is to offer pillow inserts along with your pillow covers. You can do this by stocking and shipping inserts with the covers, or through a separate pillow insert sale. PillowCubes can help you with either of these options. We make it easy to stock your common pillow inserts, because we vacuum seal them (so they take up less space) and offer quantity discounts. Additionally, we can handle drop shipments of pillows straight to your customer (complete with your own tag, if you desire). No matter how you do it, make sure that you stand out in the area of service.

Social Media:

Don’t just rely on your Etsy shop to get your brand out there. Connect everything through various social media outlets including Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, and Instagram. You can also benefit from having a website where you blog about creating your covers. Just remember to link all these accounts and keep them up to date.