Small food makers are finding success sellingkimchi, desserts, reimagined Chex mixes, and other products on Etsy, reports Thrillist.
Adrian Martinez and Ashley Garza of Texas Chile Dulceria began selling Mexican candy on Esty in November 2020. Though they sold their candy creations locally, bringing the product online, especially during the pandemic, allowed them to reach more customers.
“Etsy is a good platform to start on because it already has warm wires. People already go to Etsy to shop because they want to buy something,” Garza explained. “Sure, everybodies’ shops look the same, but it’s also on you with how you photograph your products, the logo you put, and the banner.”
There has been a 134 percent increase in Etsy searches within the food and drink category between July and December 2020, according to Dayna Issom Johnson, a trend expert at Etsy.
“During the pandemic, shoppers took on new hobbies as a way to pass time and keep busy—many turning to baking and cooking—which drove a rise in food-related items and at-home kits,” said Johnson. That includes a 973 percent increase in searches for boba tea kits and a 113 percent increase in breadmaking items.
What drew Melissa Lamerson, founder of Holomua Kitchen of Hawaii, to Etsy was the community aspect of the platform, which she said was like an “online craft fair.” In addition, Etsy allows small businesses a more flexible timeline when creating their products, said Lamerson, according to the report.
“Etsy will allow for made-to-order. You can actually get more business and it will give you a lead time to make more products,” she said. “As a small business owner, if you don’t have a huge manufacturing company, that makes it doable. You can actually make a living and survive still.” Full Story
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