Is It Normal to Not Have Sales on Etsy? (A Timeline of Pain and Hope)

You opened an Etsy shop, uploaded some products, and now you're waiting for that sweet money sound.

But... nothing. Just silence.

Even the spam bots are ignoring you.

Is this normal? Oh, 100%.

If you got a sale in your first week, you are actually special. If so, please share your secrets.

Let's talk about how long it really takes to make sales on Etsy.

And what you should expect at each stage of this wild ride.

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WEEK 1
The Hopeful Delusion

The exciting first week!

You’ve spent hours making your shop look nice, writing fun descriptions, and telling all your friends about it (who will say "cool!" but never actually buy anything).

You check your Etsy stats every 15 minutes. One view! Was it your mom? Probably. Your cart is empty, but your confidence is sky-high. Any minute now, right?

Reality Check: Unless you already have fans or are some kind of SEO genius, no one even knows your shop exists. Etsy is a huge marketplace, and you’re just a tiny speck.

What can you do? Start sharing your shop everywhere. Post on social media, join Etsy groups and cross your fingers that the algorithm notices you.

ONE MONTH
The "Why Does Etsy Hate Me?" Phase

By now, you're wondering if something is broken. Surely Etsy is just hiding your shop.

You double-check your titles, tags, and descriptions for the tenth time.

Someone favorited your shop!

Finally, progress! …Wait, never mind. It’s just another Etsy seller trying to sell you a course on “How to Get More Sales.”

Great.

Reality Check: Getting sales takes time. It’s not just about having cool products; it’s about getting people to actually see them. If your shop still feels like an abandoned theme park, take a step back and figure out what’s working (or not).

Are your photos clear? Are your prices fair? Are people even searching for what you sell?

If you're still waiting on your first sale, don't stress. Etsy’s system takes time to figure out where to rank you.

Keep going!

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THREE MONTHS
The "Existential Crisis" Phase

By now, you’ve either made a couple of sales, or you’re questioning every life choice that got you here.

You start side-eyeing other shops that somehow sell painted rocks for $20 while you struggle to get a single view.

At some point, you dramatically sigh and mumble, "Maybe I’m just not meant for this."

Reality Check: This is when things start shifting. If you’ve been active and making updates, and improving your SEO, then Etsy starts ranking your shop higher. The trick is to keep going. A lot of sellers quit at this stage, which means less competition for you if you stick it out.

Try new product photos, adjust your pricing, and add more listings.

Success is about figuring out what works (and maybe a tiny bit of luck).

SIX MONTHS
The "Wait… People Are Buying?" Phase

If you've made it this far, congratulations!

You stuck with it longer than most people, and that’s a big deal. Maybe you’ve made a few sales, or maybe one random listing took off for no reason. Either way, you’re starting to see what actually works instead of just guessing.

By now, you’ve figured out that Etsy is a slow game, not a quick win. Some days will be awesome, and some will make you want to chuck your laptop across the room.

Reality Check: Six months is when things often pick up. Shops that keep adding new products, improving their listings, and spreading the word usually start seeing real results.

If you’re still struggling, don’t give up!

Instead, take another look at your shop. Maybe your prices need adjusting, or your pictures need an upgrade. If you’ve had some sales, great! Now it’s time to get even more.

ETSY JOURNEY
So, Is It Normal to Have No Sales on Etsy?

Yes. Totally normal. Etsy takes time, and success doesn’t happen overnight.

The key is to keep learning, keep improving, and most importantly… don’t quit after a month just because "it’s not working."

The successful sellers started just like you, wondering if their products were too expensive or if Etsy was secretly hiding their shop.

Stick with it, keep making your shop better, and one day, that money will pop up on your phone.

And when it does, oh, what a glorious moment that will be.

Until then, just keep checking your stats. It’s basically a tradition at this point.

Have a wonderful day,

Miroslav from The Design Nexus

TOOLS YOU SHOULD TRY

Even if you sell products other than mugs or t-shirts, it doesn't mean it will cost you more.

There are tools that can help you with the tasks, and most of them have free versions.

• Research: Alura

• Graphic Designs: Creative Fabrica

• Design Editing: Canva, Kittl

• Vectorizing: Vectorizer AI

• POD Fulfillment: Printful, Printify

Disclaimer: Within the article, you will find affiliate links. If you decide to purchase through these links, I want to sincerely assure you that I will receive a commission at no extra cost to you.