Etsy has emerged as a top destination for crafters, artists and makers to turn their unique creations into thriving online businesses. In 2021 alone, Etsy facilitated $13.3 billion in merchandise sales for over 5 million active sellers – and order volumes continue rising rapidly.
With this explosion of independent ecommerce, mastering shipping and fulfillment is now mission critical. Luckily, Etsy provides integrated tools that make the process smooth, reliable and cost-effective.
In this comprehensive guide for Etsy sellers, we‘ll walk through five key strategies to setup, customize and automate your shipping labels. Follow these best practices, and you‘ll be managing orders like the pros while delighting customers with fast, trackable deliveries.
Overview: Key Benefits of Etsy Shipping Labels
Before diving into the tactical how-to, let’s overview the core benefits:
Cost Savings
Etsy negotiates discounted USPS commercial rates up to 30% lower than standard pricing. This means major savings that can significantly improve your profit margins.
Efficiency
With labels directly tied to each order in your Shop Manager, fulfilling shipments becomes streamlined and accurate. Cut label printing time in half while lowering errors.
Customer Experience
Providing prompt, trackable shipping with Etsy labels earns you rave reviews and repeat purchases. 9 out of 10 buyers say shipping cost and speed impact their satisfaction and likelihood to return.
Now let’s get hands-on! Follow these steps to setup, customize and troubleshoot your shipping labels like a pro.
Step 1: Compare Rates Across Carriers
The first step is understanding your shipping rates across major carriers: USPS, FedEx, UPS and DHL.
While Etsy provides discounted USPS rates, you can also utilize shipping apps connected to your store that consolidate rates across multiple carriers.
Here is a comparison of average rates across carriers:
| Carrier | 1lb Package | 3lb Package | 5lb Package |
|---|---|---|---|
| USPS | $4.39 | $5.99 | $9.89 |
| UPS | $9.12 | $11.37 | $13.85 |
| FedEx | $6.56 | $8.44 | $12.32 |
| DHL | $9.95 | $15.63 | $19.55 |
*Rates above reflect the average cost to ship across US zones based on 2021 analysis from Saleprice
As you can see, USPS provides the most affordable shipping for lighter packages under 5lbs. This makes them ideal for many Etsy crafters and artists shipping smaller items like jewelry, apparel, paper goods etc.
Step 2: Purchase Labels Through Etsy or Alternative Apps
Now that you know the most economical carrier for your products, it‘s time to actually purchase labels.
If you only need USPS, then Etsy labels integrate directly with Shop Manager for convenience. Simply purchase right within existing orders.
However, Etsy does not facilitate labels from FedEx, UPS etc.
So if you want multi-carrier support in one dashboard, utilize a shipping management app like ShipStation. This connects with your Etsy orders and centralizes label purchasing across all major carriers.
Image via ShipStation
Between Etsy native labels or external shipping apps, make sure to choose the approach that fits your unique order volume, product mix and workflow.
Step 3: Schedule USPS Pickups for Added Convenience
Now that your labels are printing smoothly, it‘s time to get packages to the post office.
Rather than making time-consuming daily drop-offs, all USPS packages can qualify for free carrier pickup from your address.
Simply visit USPS Pickup to schedule a pickup time frame. Then leave your labeled packages outdoors on the requested day.
Depending on your location, you may be able to schedule same-day pickups as well.
By leveraging pickup, you streamline the shipping process even further and avoid unnecessary drives to the post office.
Step 4: Add Visual Customization for Branded Packaging
Beyond basic address and payment info, Etsy labels empower you to add visual elements that elevate packaging:
- Add Logos: Include your logo or brand image to reinforce your brand package after package
- Custom Text: A short slogan or stamp can delight customers when unpacking orders
- Special Occasions: Think holidays, sales campaigns, or loyalty programs worth celebrating
Image via Etsy Seller Handbook
As your brand grows, customers will instantly recognize your custom shipping materials.
Step 5: Automate Order Management with Inventory & Shipping Apps
While mastering the label basics, additional apps can take your shipping and fulfillment to the next level. Top recommendations include:
Inventory and warehouse apps like Cin7 for inventory and order tracking across stock locations
Multi-channel syncing platforms like Sellbrite that connect inventory data across your own site, Etsy, Amazon and eBay centralizing fulfillment.
Automated messaging apps like Privy that provide shipping confirmations and delivery notifications to customers as soon as label status updates register.
Building this tech stack over time will let your small shop scale without logistics becoming a burden.
With the five strategies above – comparing rates, purchasing/printing labels, scheduling pickups, adding customizations and integrating automation tools – Etsy shipping will now drive efficiency rather than drain your margins and resources.
Accurate, aesthetically pleasing packaging influences up to 91% of brand affinity and repeat purchases. So invest time mastering this.
Hopefully this deep dive equips you to setup and streamline shipping operations. Now focus your energy on the craft that built your passionate customer base – while technology handles the logistics lift!
What shipping bottlenecks still slow your Etsy workflow? Share your biggest pains in the comments and we‘ll provide custom tips!
