Each month we will be publishing on the Koalanda blog a brief report on the Etsy sales of the preceding month. Here is the report for May 2023.
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Sales on Etsy in comparison with previous months
In May, we noticed a decline in sales on Etsy, similar to what we observed in our report in April. The average daily sales on the platform in May were slightly less than 3% lower compared to April. It’s worth noting that this is the second consecutive month of declining sales after the increase we saw in March. However, there’s no need to be overly concerned about it as the decline is not significant and is typically expected during these months. Summer months are generally not the strongest for Etsy as a whole, so it’s not surprising to see the average daily sales in May being the lowest since the beginning of the year.
Interestingly, May 27th marked the day with the lowest sales on Etsy for the first five months of 2023. Once again, this weaker day fell on a weekend, just like the weakest day in April. This is not a typical pattern for Etsy sales. It’s worth noting that May 27th also coincided with the third and final day of Shavuot, a Jewish observance. However, it’s uncertain whether we can attribute the decline in sales on that day to the holiday itself.
Sales on Etsy by category in May
The sales data for different categories on Etsy in May shows no significant variations. In general, the first half of the month performed better than the second half across all categories. Most categories experienced lower sales in May compared to April.
The largest declines were observed in Pet Supplies (9%) and Bath & Beauty (8%) categories. There was also a notable decrease of 7% in categories like Books, Movies & Music, Craft Supplies & Tools, Electronics & Accessories, and Toys & Games. However, the Bags & Purses category showed a slight upward trend with a 2% growth in comparison to April sales. Surprisingly, even the Weddings category, which had been consistently growing each month since the beginning of the year, saw a minor decline of around 3% in May.
It is very useful to compare your results to your competitor shops. With Koalanda’s competitor research tool you can monitor the sales of each individual shop daily! You can see the sales for the last 30 days or 12 months. Analyzing the reasons for their success is a critical step toward improving the quality of your shop. Register for free at https://koalanda.pro/signup to explore Koalanda’s competitor research tools.
Sales on Etsy by country in May
The sales decrease during May is also noticeable across most individual countries. Stores from 9 out of the top 10 countries with the highest Etsy sales experienced a decline compared to April. The only exception is France, where French stores saw a nearly 5% increase in average daily sales. The largest drop was observed in Chinese stores, with a decrease even greater than the previous month, surpassing 8%. Ukrainian stores have faced a decline in sales for the third consecutive month.
| Country | March | April | May |
| United States | 0.43% | -1.87% | -3.09% |
| United Kingdom | 4.43% | -9.37% | -2.73% |
| Canada | 0.23% | -3.75% | -4.48% |
| Germany | 9.49% | -10.10% | -0.35% |
| Australia | 9.11% | -2.47% | -2.05% |
| China | 5.25% | -7.70% | -8.38% |
| France | -0.45% | -2.68% | 4.78% |
| Ukraine | -1.26% | -6.85% | -2.97% |
| Turkey | 3.09% | -2.37% | -5.00% |
| India | 2.28% | -2.05% | -4.40% |
On the other hand, sales from stores in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, and France showed significant growth in the final days of the month, indicating a potentially better June for sellers.
German stores maintained relatively stable sales in May, with daily sales averaging almost the same as in April. Following the substantial 9.5% growth in March and a significant decline of over 10% in April, sales for German stores remained steady throughout May.
Newly opened shops on Etsy in May
A total of 243,510 new stores were registered on Etsy in May. This number is almost the same as the registrations in April.
Top 10 most successful Etsy sellers in May
The 10 shops with the highest number of sales in May were:
| Rank | Etsy Shop | Monthly Sales | Country | Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CaitlynMinimalist | 48,166 | United States | Jewelry |
| 2 | BaileyDesignedCo | 28,400 | United States | Art & Collectibles |
| 3 | SeedGeeks | 24,883 | United States | Home & Living |
| 4 | SilverRainSilver | 23,861 | United Kingdom | Jewelry |
| 5 | ModParty | 20,705 | United States | Weddings |
| 6 | TaraSparkes | 19,625 | Australia | Paper & Party Supplies |
| 7 | TheGreenEscape | 19,528 | United States | Home & Living |
| 8 | HeatherRobertsArt | 19,323 | United States | Craft Supplies & Tools |
| 9 | PersonalizedShed | 18,524 | United States | Home & Living |
| 10 | WarungBeads | 18,402 | United States | Craft Supplies & Tools |
Explore the top-selling and trending Etsy shops for free and without registration with Koalanda. In Koalanda you can browse the most complete catalog of Etsy shops on the internet, updated daily.
Holidays
You still have time to get ready for July 4th. The majority of Etsy buyers are from the USA, and they might be actively searching for something special on Etsy to celebrate the holiday. Take a moment to consider if you have suitable products that cater to their needs, and don’t forget to optimize your titles and tags to increase visibility.
As for August, there are no major holidays that typically result in a significant boost in Etsy sales. It’s a month when many people prioritize family vacations, which can make it the slowest month of the year for several stores. Instead of feeling discouraged, use this time to rest and recharge. Take advantage of your free time to rejuvenate and prepare yourself, because the upcoming months are bound to be busier and more demanding.
