Best Black Friday deals for Etsy sellers: maximise your sales

Black Friday is no longer reserved for big‑box retailers. Etsy shoppers are eager to find unique, handmade and personalised gifts, and they appreciate sellers who join in the holiday fun. With a thoughtful approach to promotions, you can attract new customers, boost repeat business and finish the year strong. This guide shares deal ideas tailored to Etsy sellers and explains how print‑on‑demand services like Gelato can expand your product line without taking on inventory risk.

• Plan early and stand out. Update your listings, keywords and shop banners ahead of time. Offer deals that align with your brand and target audience.

• Create compelling discounts. Limited‑time percentage cuts, tiered savings or buy‑one‑get‑one offers encourage larger orders.

• Bundle and personalise. Curated sets and customisable items increase perceived value and make gifts easy.

• Leverage print‑on‑demand. Expand your catalog with custom apparel, home goods and accessories without holding stock.

• Promote across channels. Use Etsy’s sale tools, social media, email and influencer partnerships to get the word out.

Etsy customers seek items that feel personal and thoughtful. During Black Friday they’re looking for deals but also something distinctive that can’t be found at a mall. By joining the event you can capture holiday traffic, introduce your brand to first‑time buyers and entice past customers to return.

Etsy makes it easy to schedule sales and highlight discounts. You can set up shop‑wide promotions, coupon codes for specific products or limited‑time offers that display prominently in your listings. Taking part shows potential buyers that you’re active and ready to fulfil holiday orders.

Tiered discounts

Encourage bigger carts by rewarding higher spend. For example, offer 10 % off purchases over €30, 20 % off over €60 and 30 % off over €100. Display the thresholds clearly in your product descriptions and shop banner.

Buy‑one‑get‑one and freebies

BOGO deals work well for items customers often purchase in multiples, like candle sets or greeting cards. You can also include a small free gift, such as a sticker or mini print, with orders over a certain amount.

Bundled gift sets

Curate complementary items into ready‑to‑ship sets. A jewellery seller might pair earrings with a matching bracelet; a home décor shop could bundle prints with a frame. Bundles make gifting simple and raise average order value.

Personalised products

Customisation is at the heart of Etsy. Offer monogrammed accessories, prints featuring customers’ names or dates, or made‑to‑order ornaments. Shoppers are willing to pay a premium for one‑of‑a‑kind gifts.

Limited‑edition and seasonal designs

Releasing a small batch of holiday‑themed products creates urgency. Consider a series of Christmas‑market inspired illustrations or winter colourways of your best‑selling items. Once they’re gone, they’re gone.

If you want to test new product categories without purchasing inventory upfront, print‑on‑demand is a smart solution. With Gelato, you can turn your artwork into high‑quality T‑shirts, mugs, posters, phone cases and more. Because items are produced after a customer places an order, you don’t risk leftover stock.

Gelato prints locally in more than 30 countries, so your buyers receive their orders quickly and with a lower carbon footprint. You can also customise packaging with your branding, include thank‑you notes or offer eco‑friendly materials. For Etsy sellers who already create digital artwork or illustrations, POD unlocks new streams of income with minimal effort.

Market your Black Friday deals

• Optimise your Etsy listings: Refresh titles, tags and descriptions with holiday keywords. Update your shop banner and featured listings to showcase deals.

• Schedule Etsy sales events: Use Etsy’s built‑in tools to set start and end dates, and let shoppers know when your discounts will go live.

• Promote on social media: Share sneak peeks, behind‑the‑scenes content and countdowns on Instagram, Facebook or TikTok. Use Stories and Reels to engage followers.

• Collaborate with influencers: Partner with bloggers or micro‑influencers in your niche. Send them samples to review or host a giveaway together.

• Email your subscribers: If you have a mailing list, announce your Black Friday sale and highlight best‑selling items. Include exclusive discount codes for loyal customers.

Prepare your shop

• Check processing times: Update production and shipping timelines so customers know when to expect their orders. Build in a buffer for holiday delays.

• Stock up on supplies: For handmade items, ensure you have enough materials. For POD items, make sure your designs are finalised and mockups are ready.

• Polish customer service: Draft templates for common questions, set up auto‑responses and keep your messaging polite and clear.

• Review policies: Make sure your returns, exchanges and custom order policies are easy to understand and visible.

When should I set up my Black Friday sale on Etsy? Aim to finalise your promotions by early November and list your sale dates in advance. This gives your shop time to appear in search results and allows buyers to plan their purchases.

How do I decide which type of discount to offer? Consider your product costs and customer behaviour. Tiered discounts encourage larger carts, while BOGO deals work well for low‑cost items. Bundles and freebies increase perceived value and can introduce customers to new products.

Are bundles really effective for Etsy sellers? Yes. Bundles simplify gift shopping and boost average order value. They also allow you to pair slow‑moving items with best‑sellers to increase overall sales.

What’s the best way to handle custom orders during high volume? Set clear order deadlines, communicate turnaround times up front and use templates for common messages. If demand exceeds capacity, temporarily pause custom options or limit them to certain products.

How can print‑on‑demand help Etsy sellers during Black Friday? POD lets you expand your product line without carrying inventory. You can offer apparel, home goods and accessories using your artwork, and Gelato will print and ship orders locally, reducing lead times and operational stress.