24 Etsy Business Success Stories [2024]
If you are an artist looking for ways to turn your skills into revenue, Etsy is your platform.
Etsy is a marketplace for artists and can bring in extra income or even replace your current job.
You can create art pieces and create a successful Etsy shop. Once your Etsy shop is online, consider joining a team to help you learn Etsy’s basics and how to market stuff on Etsy.
Here are some real life success stories of starting a etsy business:
1. Vagabond Heart ($120K/year)
Mike’s idea was a combination of his interest in vintage clothing, style, and old movies, with his love of menswear and fashion, and travel.
How much they make: $120K/year
How much did it cost to start: $2K
Current team size: 0
Serial entrepreneur grows modern vintage-inspired travel patch company to over $5,000 in monthly sales volume with a 100+% growth rate by expanding product line and utilizing online marketplaces like Etsy and Amazon.
2. With Love From T To You ($12K/year)
Theresa, the owner of the blog DIY Lifestyle, started her blog as a way to share useful information about gluten-free, vegan, and healthy recipes, crafts, and travel tips. Over time, she realized she could monetize her blog by selling handmade products through her small business called "With Love From T to You." With her blog and Etsy shop combined, Theresa now makes an average income of $700 a month.
How much they make: $12K/year
How much did it cost to start: $200
Current team size: 1
DIY Lifestyle blog owner, Theresa, turned her passion for crafting and writing into a side income source, attracting hundreds of thousands of global visitors, with her blog generating $400-$500 a month and her online Etsy store bringing in an additional $200-$300 a month, showcasing her unique, all-natural, one-of-a-kind polymer clay earrings, home decor, and huts inspired by Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, reading and home decorating.
So... can you actually make money with a etsy business?
Of course. There are millions to be made in this industry.
But how?
- Research real, profitable businesses and see exactly how much money they make.
- Study exactly what works, and what doesn’t.
- Take action, because now you have the roadmap.
Join Starter Story and build your next big thing:
3. Raghaus ($300K/year)
Markus Hartel, the founder of Raghaus Studios, came up with the idea for his business after moving to a new town and wanting to get back into the printing industry. He purchased vintage letterpress machines and started creating unique stationery products, such as custom wedding invitations and artist's books. Through word-of-mouth and organic growth, his business has steadily grown, allowing him to expand his product line and attract new customers.
How much they make: $300K/year
How much did it cost to start: $25K
Current team size: 2
A specialized letterpress printing business started by Markus Hartel, whose micro-batches have caused his monthly sales to soar above $15k, discusses his experience creating custom invites and expanding his product line.
4. Stencil Stop ($960K/year)
Colin came up with the idea for Stencil Stop after realizing there was a lack of readily available stencils, specifically Clemson University's logo, online. He set up a rough website and sold his first stencil on the very first night, providing validation for the demand for stencil solutions. Since then, Stencil Stop has grown to earn around $100K per month in revenue by expanding product lines and manufacturing capabilities.
How much they make: $960K/year
How much did it cost to start: $1K
Current team size: 9
A packaging designer started Stencil Stop in 2015, which now earns around $100K per month in revenue selling stencils, offering custom stencils as some of its best-sellers, and attracting and retaining customers through simplified products and efficient advertising techniques.
So... can you actually make money with a etsy business?
Of course. There are millions to be made in this industry.
But how?
- Research real, profitable businesses and see exactly how much money they make.
- Study exactly what works, and what doesn’t.
- Take action, because now you have the roadmap.
Join Starter Story and build your next big thing:
5. Crooked Branch Studio ($30K/year)
Paul Kaster, the founder of Crooked Branch Studio and Carbon Cravat, came up with the idea for his business in 2015 when he received a wooden bow tie as a gift. Dissatisfied with the execution, he believed he could make a better one and started experimenting with designs. After successfully selling a few wooden bow ties on Etsy, he launched a Kickstarter campaign at the age of 16 to refine his design and gain publicity. Since then, he has expanded his business and now earns a passive income of around $1000 per month with minimal upkeep.
How much they make: $30K/year
Current team size: 0
Crooked Branch Studio owner, Paul Kaster, shares how he turned a handcrafted wooden bow tie business into a self-running income stream that generates $1000/month in profit with minimal upkeep through outsourcing and diversifying revenue.
6. Timber Grove Studios ($78K/year)
Sasha Weekes, the 25-year-old owner of Timber Grove Studios, started her business by making mountain shelves to sell on Facebook and Kijiji. After realizing their popularity, she launched her business on Etsy and focused on creating a clear color chart with 20 customization options for customers. Despite initial challenges with shipping, Sasha prioritized customer service and now runs a successful business with revenue ranging from $2,000 to $10,000 per month.
How much they make: $78K/year
Current team size: 0
Sasha Weekes, owner of Timber Grove Studios, turned her fine arts and cabinetmaking education into a successful home-based woodworking business that grew from a side project to netting 20-50% profits month-to-month and up to $10,000 in sales during peak periods through Etsy, with her company's growth continuing to increase through other social media outlets.
So... can you actually make money with a etsy business?
Of course. There are millions to be made in this industry.
But how?
- Research real, profitable businesses and see exactly how much money they make.
- Study exactly what works, and what doesn’t.
- Take action, because now you have the roadmap.
Join Starter Story and build your next big thing:
7. Popov Leather ($2.4M/year)
Ryan Popoff, the founder of Popov Leather, started the business as a hobby after graduating from art school. He made a wallet that he was proud of, listed it on Etsy, and to his surprise, someone bought it. From there, sales continued to increase and after two years of working a day job, Ryan was able to quit and focus on Popov Leather full time. Now, 6 years later, the business has grown to employ 10 people full time and has generated over $850,000 in revenue in 2018.
How much they make: $2.4M/year
How much did it cost to start: $200
Current team size: 21
Popov Leather is a Canadian company that makes and sells small leather goods online, with 2018 generating over $850k in revenue and doubling in revenue year-over-year since 2013 through direct-to-consumer sales, primarily for wallets, and backed by great customer service.
8. Oh My Balm ($24K/year)
Two moms, Meredith Moseley-Bennett and Yolanda Grbic, started Oh My Balm as a side hustle in 2017. They began by creating homemade body butter and lip balm as Christmas gifts, and after receiving positive feedback, they decided to turn it into a business. Since then, their sales have more than doubled, and they attribute their success to their all-natural, chemical-free products and their commitment to giving back to non-profit organizations.
How much they make: $24K/year
How much did it cost to start: $10K
Current team size: 0
Two moms start a side hustle selling all-natural body products, doubling sales since their launch in 2017 with over 75 craft shows, promoting a non-profit source for their shea butter and self-promotion through podcasts, lining up retail interest from exposure.
9. Ann + Joy ($12K/year)
Lindsay Ann and Courtney Joy started Ann + Joy after combining their passions for art and jewelry making. Inspired by their mother's love for gardening, they began creating unique jewelry pieces using real flowers and resin. In just their first year of business, they achieved over 5,000 online sales and generated more than $65,000 in revenue.
How much they make: $12K/year
Current team size: 2
Miami-based sisters launch a handmade flower and resin jewelry business in 2017, selling over 5,000 products and earning $65,000 in revenue within one year on Etsy alone, using social media and SEO to attract and retain customers.
10. Valhalla Wood Forge ($102K/year)
James Wolfer, a police officer and Coast Guard reservist, started Valhalla Wood Forge in 2017 after making a wooden flag for his department. He saw potential and began creating custom wedding bands and rustic wood flags, gaining traction through word of mouth and organic growth on Instagram. Despite working long hours, he managed to streamline his process and hire an employee due to the increasing demand and continued growth of the business.
How much they make: $102K/year
How much did it cost to start: $400
Current team size: 3
Valhalla Wood Forge is a veteran and first responder run woodworking company that grossed $8500 in October 2019, noted for making rustic wood decor and high end men’s jewelry.
11. Stoic Muse ($120K/year)
Jeff, the founder of Stoic Muse, came up with the idea for his business while living as a digital nomad in Bali. Inspired by Stoic philosophy, particularly after listening to "The Obstacle is the Way" by Ryan Holiday, he decided to create art and merchandise based on these principles and sell them on Etsy. The ease of using Print on Demand services made it simple to design and launch products without any upfront costs for prototyping or manufacturing.
How much they make: $120K/year
How much did it cost to start: $0
Current team size: 1
Jeff started Stoic Muse, a creative side project selling 100-150 t-shirts per month ($3K revenue) on Etsy, without any upfront costs for prototyping or manufacturing, by learning graphic design and using Print on Demand to fulfill the merch.
12. Outline Planner ($36K/year)
Ralu Petrea, a UX Designer, came up with the idea for Outline Planner after realizing that she was skilled at creating effective plans for herself but struggled to teach others to do the same. She decided to create a digital planner that could be used on tablets, specifically the iPad, and spent three days researching existing digital planners before launching her own. Despite starting with no followers or business plan, she sold two copies of her first planner on the first day and went on to reach €80K+ in sales within two years.
How much they make: $36K/year
How much did it cost to start: $500
Current team size: 1
How a founder turned a €499 investment into €80K+ in sales in just two years by creating and selling all-in-one monthly, weekly, and daily digital planners for iPad through Etsy, with 15-20% of orders from returning customers and profit margins around 70%.
13. No Cold Feet LLC ($240K/year)
In college, Matt noticed a trend of grooms having their groomsmen wear brightly colored socks. He struggled to find a single store to buy the socks he needed in bulk, and they were often expensive. Inspired by this, Matt and his wife Mari launched No Cold Feet, an online gifting company that sells fun and colorful groomsmen socks with custom labels.
How much they make: $240K/year
How much did it cost to start: $16K
Current team size: 0
No Cold Feet is a gifting company founded by Mari and Matt McNamara that focuses on fun and colorful sock designs for groomsmen gifts and has cumulatively sold over 10k orders in the last three years, passing $200k in revenue last year.
14. Forgotten Mermaids ($12K/year)
Anslea, the creator of Forgotten Mermaids, came up with the idea for her business while living out of her van and working as a freelance graphic designer. Inspired by the abundance of mermaid-themed products in the touristy Florida town she was living in, she used her digital illustration skills to design mermaid temporary tattoos and launched her brand on Etsy. With steady growth and plans to transition to her own storefront, Anslea is building a business that suits her mobile lifestyle.
How much they make: $12K/year
How much did it cost to start: $100
Current team size: 0
Forgotten Mermaids creator Anslea shares how she started a passive income business while living out of a van, creating mermaid temporary tattoos and accessories, and has grown to average $1,000 per month in mostly passive income over the last six months.
15. Betsy DeVille ($1.2K/year)
Betsy, the founder of Betsy DeVille, came up with the idea for her business after attending a large atheist event and realizing that there were not many symbols or products available for atheists to express their beliefs. With a background in design and a desire to create meaningful and inspiring products, she started designing scarves and bracelets with secular, humanist, and atheist quotes. Her business has since grown, and she now sells a variety of items on platforms like Etsy and Amazon.
How much they make: $1.2K/year
Current team size: 0
Betsy DeVille is an e-commerce business that offers fashion, accessories, home decor, and gifts for a community of secular, rational, and atheist thinkers, which has doubled its income each year and had an estimated $1000 in sales last year.
16. Jungle Culture ($1.62M/year)
Jamie Skinner and his business partner, Chris, started Jungle Culture as a way to fund their traveler lifestyles and create positive change. They initially focused on selling bamboo straws and quickly became one of the world's biggest bamboo straw companies. Their success led them to switch their focus to eco-friendly products as a whole, and Jungle Culture now generates over $1 million in revenue.
How much they make: $1.62M/year
How much did it cost to start: $1.2K
Current team size: 4
Jungle Culture, an e-commerce brand that sells eco-friendly products, started with just one product and turned over just over $1,000,000 in a year by sourcing products directly from farms, small craft workshops, and ethical factories and selling them online worldwide.
17. Choast ($60K/year)
Choast was founded by Joseph and Gianfranco, who bonded over their love for smoking weed and wanted to create a brand that welcomed all stoners. After a year of subconscious preparation and the word "Choast" spreading rapidly through high schools and colleges in Ontario, they decided to start a cannabis brand. Their catchy logo, quality products, and social media marketing strategies have helped them become one of the most well-known brands in the Toronto area, making $5,000 per month.
How much they make: $60K/year
How much did it cost to start: $2K
Current team size: 5
Choast, a cannabis apparel and smoking accessories brand, has made a name for itself in Toronto and the cannabis niche, generating $5,000 per month through taking an audience of marijuana users built by creating memes and turning it into a clothing and accessories brand.
18. Funky Monkey Children ($168K/year)
How much they make: $168K/year
Current team size: 1
Etsy shop owner Lauren Keplinger re-evaluated her marketing tactics and time management, letting go of unproductive activities, leading to reduced work hours and $14,000/month sales with her shop and her new website.
19. OpossumRotStudio ($12K/year)
How much they make: $12K/year
Current team size:
A 16-year-old with no prior experience managed to generate over $1,000 a month in income from her side business on Etsy by selling Possum pins.
20. Tag Pup ($720K/year)
How much they make: $720K/year
How much did it cost to start: $500
Current team size:
Etsy shop TagPup, founded by a former graphic designer and product consultant, earns $60K in monthly revenue with a 50% profit margin, after launching with just a $500 investment.
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- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
