Etsy and I have always had a love-hate relationship. Since 2016, I’ve been navigating its ups and downs, and I’ll be honest—it wasn’t easy, especially when it came to SEO. I poured so much time into each shop, trying to figure out why Etsy wouldn’t work for me, even as I watched new sellers join platforms like Printify and start making “buko bucks” within weeks.
Over the years, I’ve gone back and forth exploring different shop ideas.
I started with Purelifephotoss, selling art prints and photography. I remember staying up late editing photos, carefully writing descriptions, and feeling crushed when a listing barely got any views. Then I moved to Abbys Pet Boutique, selling pet merch.
I still remember the joy when my first bandana sold—it was a small moment, but it made me feel like I was on the right track.
Twice, I pivoted—back and forth—experimenting with what I loved and what Etsy would respond to. I launched Abbys Anxiety Bracelets, selling handmade bracelets designed to help people cope with stress and anxiety.
I still chuckle thinking about my very first bracelet sale—I had wrapped it so carefully, thinking I was sending a tiny piece of comfort to someone who needed it. Eventually, I returned to selling mental health-inspired merch, like motivational hoodies and self-care items, because that’s where my heart truly was.
Each pivot taught me something new about my audience, my products, and myself. Eventually, I realized something important: I had to focus on what worked best for me and my own shop, rather than trying to mimic others.
Fast forward to 2026, and I’m incredibly grateful for tools like ChatGPT that have helped me critique and improve my shop. Over the years, I joined countless Etsy groups on social media, looking for that “secret success method.” The truth? There wasn’t a single trick. Success came from a combination of things, patience, and persistence—gradually shaping my shop into what it is today.
Etsy itself is evolving, too. It’s opening up to AI, print-on-demand, and beyond the traditional handmade space. I’ve talked about this in an earlier post (I’ll tag it), but if a shop owner can sell… well… bunny poop, then I can absolutely sell my creations too.
This journey hasn’t been about overnight success—it’s been about learning, adapting, and trusting my own path. If you want my advice: find your passion and just start. You can learn, grow, and evolve from there. And now, after years of trial, error, and persistence, I feel like I finally have my footing.
Check out this blog post: How you can set up your OWN Print one Deamnd shop with Etsy…..
Here is my own Etsy: https://abbyscreativeescape.etsy.com