The ecommerce landscape has transformed the way entrepreneurs and creators connect with customers. But navigating this space can be challenging, especially when you’re just starting out. Should you set up shop on Etsy, or should you go all-in with Shopify? What if you didn’t have to choose?
In this blog post, we’ll explore how you can use Etsy and Shopify together to build and grow your online business, boost your sales, and reach more customers. We’ll dive into the key differences between these two platforms, how to sell on both simultaneously, and provide real-world examples of business owners who found success using this multichannel approach.
Why Use Etsy and Shopify Together?
As a new ecommerce seller, your priority is reaching customers and making sales. This is where Etsy shines. Known for its focus on handmade, vintage, and unique products, Etsy offers access to an established marketplace filled with customers looking for artisanal and one-of-a-kind items.
However, as your business grows, you may want more control over your customer experience, branding, and how you manage your business. That’s where Shopify comes in. By building your own online store with Shopify, you unlock a range of features that allow you to create a fully customized shopping experience and scale your business.
So, why use both platforms?
By selling on both Etsy and Shopify, you don’t need to shut down your Etsy store to create your Shopify website. Keeping both running gives you access to Etsy’s marketplace traffic while allowing you to build your own brand through Shopify.
Here’s why combining Etsy and Shopify works:
- Maximize exposure: Etsy gives you immediate access to millions of potential buyers, while Shopify lets you build a long-term brand.
- Diversify revenue streams: By selling on multiple platforms, you’re not reliant on one single source of income.
- Flexible business management: Shopify’s tools allow you to integrate Etsy sales, manage orders, and track inventory from a single dashboard.
Key Differences Between Etsy and Shopify
Though Etsy and Shopify are both ecommerce platforms, they cater to different business needs. Let’s look at the key differences that make each platform unique:
Customization
Etsy:
Etsy provides a simple, user-friendly setup. Sellers can quickly list products without needing any technical skills. However, the design options are limited, and every shop looks more or less the same. You won’t have much room to create a distinct brand identity or control how your products are presented.
Shopify:
In contrast, Shopify gives you full control over your website’s design. With drag-and-drop templates and customizable themes, you can create a unique storefront that matches your brand’s vision. This is essential for sellers who want to stand out from the competition and build a memorable customer experience.
Transaction Fees
Etsy:
One of Etsy’s biggest downsides is its transaction fees. Etsy charges a 6.5% transaction fee on every sale, plus additional fees for shipping, processing, and listing products. These fees can eat into your profits, especially if you’re selling lower-priced items or operate with slim margins.
Shopify:
Shopify has lower transaction fees, especially if you choose a plan with Shopify Payments. While there is a monthly subscription fee, the overall cost per sale tends to be lower compared to Etsy. This means more of your revenue stays with you, which can make a significant difference as your business scales.
Customer Ownership
Etsy:
When you sell on Etsy, you’re essentially borrowing Etsy’s audience. While this makes it easier to find customers at the start, the loyalty often lies with Etsy, not your brand. You don’t own your customer data, so your ability to market to them outside Etsy is limited.
Shopify:
On the other hand, with Shopify, you fully own your customer relationships. You can collect email addresses, segment your audience, and build marketing campaigns to drive repeat business. This customer ownership is key to creating long-term brand loyalty, something that’s harder to achieve on Etsy.
How To Sell on Both Platforms
Running an Etsy store and a Shopify store simultaneously might sound like a logistical headache, but it’s actually easier than you think. Shopify’s powerful integration tools make it possible to manage your sales across both platforms from a single dashboard.
Here’s how you can sell on both Etsy and Shopify:
1. Integrate Your Etsy Shop With Shopify
To manage orders, inventory, and sales from both platforms, you can use the Marketplace Connect app available on Shopify. This app allows you to sync your product listings between Shopify and Etsy, meaning you won’t have to update each store separately. Plus, you can connect your Shopify store to other marketplaces like Amazon and eBay.
Learn how to integrate your stores with Shopify’s Marketplace Connect app.
2. Manage Orders in One Place
Once your Etsy shop is synced with Shopify, all your orders will be accessible through Shopify’s centralized dashboard. You can easily track inventory across both platforms, ensuring that you don’t oversell a product on one channel while it’s out of stock on the other. This integration streamlines your business operations and saves you time.
3. Promote Across Multiple Channels
Shopify also comes with a suite of marketing tools that allow you to promote your products across multiple sales channels. Whether it’s Google Shopping, Instagram, or even TikTok, you can run all your campaigns from Shopify, keeping everything organized in one place. These tools give you the flexibility to expand your reach beyond Etsy’s built-in audience and drive more traffic to your Shopify store.
Real Success Stories of Sellers Using Both Etsy and Shopify
Let’s take a look at how real business owners have successfully combined Etsy and Shopify to grow their businesses:
Floral Neverland: From Side Hustle to Full-Time Brand
Olivia Wang started Floral Neverland on Etsy while she was still in school, viewing it as a side hustle. Thanks to Etsy’s built-in audience, she quickly made sales by uploading a few product photos and writing a short story about her shop.
However, as her business grew, Olivia realized she needed more than Etsy’s limited branding options. She wanted to create a full-fledged brand that stood out in a crowded marketplace. Olivia launched a Shopify store where she could create a custom design that reflected her brand’s philosophy and aesthetic.
Within a year, Floral Neverland built a loyal Instagram following and developed a unique brand identity. Now, Olivia dedicates more time to her Shopify store, while maintaining an Etsy shop to capture new customers.
Key takeaway: Etsy is perfect for testing the market, but Shopify gives you the control to build a lasting brand.
HaldeCraft: Organizing a Growing Business
Lorena Haldeman launched HaldeCraft on Etsy in 2010, focusing on handmade ceramics, hand-dyed yarn, and soaps. While Etsy provided an easy start, as her product lines expanded, she found Etsy’s limited category options made it harder for customers to find what they wanted.
Lorena opened a Shopify store in 2012, where she could create detailed product categories and subcategories to better organize her growing inventory. While she still sells on Etsy, especially during the holiday season, her Shopify store is now the primary hub for her business.
Key takeaway: Use Shopify for better product organization and to expand your offerings without limitations.
Conquest Maps: Testing the Market and Scaling
Ross Worden started Conquest Maps on Etsy as a side project to create a travel map for his wife. The maps sold quickly on Etsy, but Ross soon realized that to scale, he needed more control over his business. He opened a Shopify store to build direct relationships with his customers.
Today, Conquest Maps still sells on Etsy, but Shopify is the primary channel where Ross drives traffic. The Shopify store gives him the ability to create custom sections, upsell customers after purchases, and build stronger relationships through personalized marketing.
Key takeaway: Start on Etsy to validate your products, then expand to Shopify to build deeper customer relationships.
The Benefits of a Multichannel Approach
Using both Etsy and Shopify together creates a powerful multichannel strategy that can propel your business to new heights. Here are some of the key benefits of this approach:
Maximize Exposure
Etsy provides you with immediate access to an audience of millions. When you launch on Etsy, you’re leveraging the platform’s built-in traffic. This allows you to test your products and make sales right away.
Meanwhile, Shopify gives you the freedom to drive your own traffic and build a loyal customer base. You can create a more personalized experience that customers will remember and come back to, giving you long-term growth potential.
Diversify Revenue Streams
By selling on multiple platforms, you reduce the risk of relying on just one sales channel. If Etsy’s marketplace traffic slows down or algorithms change, you still have Shopify driving sales. Multichannel selling ensures you’re protected from fluctuations in one platform’s performance.
Brand Control and Ownership
Shopify gives you full control over your brand. You can customize your store, create a cohesive brand message, and collect customer data for future marketing. By creating a strong brand on Shopify, you’re building a business that can thrive even beyond Etsy.
For more on building a strong brand, check out this Shopify guide to ecommerce branding.
Conclusion
If you’re serious about growing your ecommerce business, combining Etsy and Shopify is one of the smartest moves you can make. By leveraging Etsy’s marketplace traffic and Shopify’s customizable tools, you can create a business that’s both nimble and scalable.
Etsy offers a low-barrier entry point to test your products and reach customers immediately, while Shopify gives you the long-term tools to build a sustainable brand. Together, they form a powerful combination that can fuel your business growth for years to come.
Ready to take your business to the next level? Start by integrating your Etsy shop with Shopify and explore the potential of a multichannel ecommerce strategy.
