Side Hustle: Clever Etsy Shop Ideas To Open

Being a working mom can feel like spinning plates. We’ve got our careers, kids, social life, and finances, and by the time we want to add the “hobbies” plate, we’re pretty much done.

But Etsy offers us a unique opportunity to use our hobbies to boost our finances (multiple streams, anyone?) and maybe even make social connections and have fun with the kids. Here are a few ideas from our virtual mom group.

Essential Oils

Essential oils are one of those modern holistic miracles that people swear by, and for good reason. They offer a far healthier and eco-friendlier alternative than Febreze and provide relief for everything from nausea to anxiety. Plus, depending on the type of oil you’re interested in, they can be easy to make. All you need is access to your flowers of choice, some home ethanol extraction equipment, and some small jars, and you’re in business.

Candles

If you’ve already got access to essential oils, you might as well put them to use. And with a double boiler, some wax, wicks, and food coloring, you can create some colorful, fragrant homemade candles.

There are countless candle shops on the worldwide web, so it isn’t exactly a clever Etsy shop idea on its own. But that’s where you find ways to differentiate your candles from others. Get creative with your candle shapes by using molds or releasing a themed candle collection.

Fan Merchandise

For people who are fans of books, movies, and TV series, expressing their love for their fandom is high on the priority list. And although larger series usually offer licensed merchandise, they’re often limited, and smaller series often don’t have merch at all. This creates a need that you can fill. If you’re a fan of something, try making your own merch, such as:

• Posters

• Jewelry

• T-shirts

• Stickers

• Cosplay pieces

• Plushies

• Mugs

• Masks

Use your knowledge of the series to create content fans wouldn’t find anywhere else, such as fan art.

Homemade Pet Treats

Even people who don’t splurge on themselves might be inclined to splurge on their pets. Etsy is home to a thriving community of canine culinary creators, and you can join them by making your own treats. Just be cautious about choosing quality ingredients and listing them on your packaging. Also, test them with some of the animals in your life and film them doing it to post on your shop’s site.