In the Basket - 10th April 2025

Hot Topic - 📦 Tariffs & Etsy Sellers: What You Need to Know 

You might’ve seen the headlines, new tariffs on imported goods (especially from China) are making life trickier for small business owners, and yes, that includes many Etsy sellers. So what’s actually changing, and how can you stay ahead?

🔍 The Situation

Tariffs are basically extra taxes on goods coming into the country. If you source anything from abroad, product parts, packaging, tools, or materials, you could see a spike in costs. These hikes apply even to small-value items, and some sellers are already dealing with higher supplier invoices, shipping delays, and stricter customs checks.

Per Etsy’s own customs guide: items sent internationally may be held at customs, and buyers might face additional import fees. That means more wait time, more paperwork, and potentially more customer service messages in your inbox. 🙃

🛠 What You Can Do About It

Here are some smart ways to reduce the stress:

🔄 Review Your Supply Chain
Check where your products or supplies are coming from. Can you pivot to a local or lower-tariff supplier? Even small shifts can save money (and time).

💰 Tweak Your Pricing
If your costs rise, don’t be afraid to raise prices. You can explain the change in your listings or shop announcement, buyers usually appreciate transparency over surprise.

📦 Prep for Delays
Tariffs often come with more customs inspections, which slow everything down. Etsy reminds sellers: delays are common, and customs processes vary by country. Build in buffer time and clearly communicate shipping windows in your listings.

🧾 Understand Import Fees
If you’re shipping internationally, know that your buyers might be charged import duties, VAT, or handling fees. Etsy doesn’t calculate these charges at checkout, so it’s worth noting in your policies or FAQs to avoid confusion.

🛒 Try a Product Pivot
If sourcing one product becomes a pain, could you sell a variation made from locally-sourced materials? Or launch a new item that’s easier (and cheaper) to manage?

📣 Stay Informed
Tariff laws change fast, keep tabs on Etsy updates, trade news, seller forums and of course In the Basket, so you're not caught off guard.

💬 Bottom Line

Tariffs aren’t fun, but they don’t have to tank your shop. A few smart shifts, like pricing tweaks, better shipping communication, and supplier changes, can keep your business moving forward, even in choppy waters ☺️

❓ Ask Me Anything:

“How do I choose the right tags for my listings?”

Ah, the eternal Etsy mystery 🔍 Tags can feel like a guessing game, but there is a strategy behind the magic.

Here’s what works:

• Think like a shopper. Use terms you’d search yourself, “boho wall art” or “silver hoop earrings” vs. generic words like “gift.”

• Mix short and long-tail tags. Long-tail keywords (like “rustic wedding favor bag”) may have less search volume, but they convert better.

• Don’t repeat words. Etsy’s algorithm already combines tags and titles, no need to double up. Use all 13 tags to cover different angles!

• Use Etsy Search Bar for inspo. Start typing your product and let Etsy’s autocomplete suggest what real shoppers are searching.

Tag tip: Keep testing your tags. Revisit them every few weeks and swap out low-performers based on your stats 📊

Have a question? 🤔 Hit reply and ask, we might feature your question here in next week’s issue.