The $5 shortcut to smarter selling on Etsy


Your Etsy Edge

This email contains referral links. See my disclosures.

I don’t know if it’s old age 😉, but lately, I’ve been on a mission to simplify, declutter, and reduce unnecessary friction in my life. Instead of scouring endless news sites for the latest headlines, I now subscribe to just one concise newsletter (The Pour Over) to stay informed without the overwhelm.

If you're an Etsy seller, that’s exactly what I want to do for you. I personally subscribe to multiple Etsy-related publications—both from Etsy itself and third parties—and I also keep up with Etsy Forum discussions. Needless to say, my inbox is overflowing. Is yours the same?

That’s why I’m launching Your Etsy Edge—a bi-weekly newsletter designed to give you the most relevant Etsy updates, changes, and key forum discussions, all in a quick and easy to read format. I’ll break down important information, highlight key takeaways, and provide links for further exploration when needed. The goal? Timely, relevant insights delivered in a streamlined format, complete with source material—all in one place.

Your Etsy Edge is a paid newsletter, but at just $5 a month, it’s a no-brainer. This small investment will save you time, keep you informed, and help you stay ahead in your Etsy business. Check out a sample issue below to get a taste of what to expect. Enjoy!


Hello Etsy Sellers!

Welcome to Your Etsy Edge, your go-to source for the latest updates, community news, and trending discussions from the Etsy ecosystem. Here's what's been happening over the past month:

Platform Updates

Switzerland VAT Collection: Effective January 1, 2025, Etsy is required to collect an 8.1% Value Added Tax (VAT) on all goods sold to buyers with Swiss shipping addresses, regardless of the seller's location. Ensure you include Etsy's Swiss VAT number on packages shipped to Switzerland to comply with these regulations. ​More Information.

Handling and Package Fees: Starting March 3, 2025, Etsy is removing the option to charge handling and package fees for calculated shipping. Consider adjusting your listing prices to account for these costs. More information.

Global Tariff Updates: Effective Date: March 4, 2025
The U.S. has introduced a 25% tariff on most goods imported from Canada. Sellers shipping between these countries should factor this into their pricing strategies. More Information.

Trending Discussion

Sales Trends: Sellers have reported varying sales performances in February 2025. While some experienced a downturn, others noted improvements. Engaging in community discussions can provide insights and strategies to navigate these fluctuations.

Unusual Traffic Patterns: Some sellers have observed unusually high direct traffic, potentially from bots. If you're experiencing similar issues, consider reporting them to Etsy support for investigation.

Spring and Mother's Day Sales Events

Etsy typically runs the following promotions each year, so be ready with your items to include in the 2025 sales events:

Spring Refresh: Focus on Home Improvement, Outdoor & Garden, and Seasonal Home Furnishings

Mother's Day: Highlight Home & Garden Decor, Jewelry, Clothing, Cards, Wrapping, and Floral items

Your Formula for Etsy Success

Keeping up with Etsy’s changes can feel like a full-time job—so I hope this helped you cut through the noise. If there’s an update or topic you’d love me to cover next time, just reply and let me know.


Small Business Updates and Tools

eCommerce Laws and Regulations

To set your business up for success, it's important to stay on top of eCommerce laws and regulations. Check out this overview to help you stay compliant!

International Trade, Tariffs, and Shipping

With the ever-evolving landscape of international trade, tariffs, and shipping, this article provides valuable insights on how to navigate these changes effectively on Shopify, using Shopify's Managed Markets feature.

From a bookkeeping perspective, we've found that using A2X is an invaluable tool for streamlining the bookkeeping process and making Managed Markets more manageable.


Recommended Resource: Your Etsy Edge

Your Etsy Edge newsletter is the must-read newsletter for serious sellers. The bi-weekly newsletter will focus on curating timely and relevant information for Etsy shop owners, keeping you informed, and saving you time.


On a Personal Note

For my fellow book lovers... did you know you can support local bookstores while shopping online?

Bookshop.org is a public benefit corporation designed to help independent bookstores compete with major retailers.

When you buy your favorite books—digital or print—through their platform, a portion of the profits goes directly to a local bookstore of your choice or into a fund that supports indie bookstores around the US. It’s a fantastic way to help them thrive! Here are some of my favorite books to get you started.

Sarah

P.S. My goal with Your Etsy Edge is simple: to keep you informed, save you time, and help your business thrive. Subscribe for just $5/month.

4607 Library Road Suite 220 #584, Bethel Park, PA 15102
Unsubscribe · Preferences

Small Business Sarah

I'm here to help micro e-commerce sellers and other online business owners get a handle on their bookkeeping and taxes. If you are a new seller on Etsy, Amazon, Shopify, eBay, creator, self-published author and more, I'm here to help you navigate the boring but necessary accounting aspects of small business ownership in an easy to understand way.

Read more from Small Business Sarah

A Quick Bookkeeping Check-In This email contains referral links. See my disclosures. Hi Reader, It’s a well-established fact that I’m a bit of a nerd. 🤓 I mean, for heaven’s sake, last night I had a dream that an evil entity was pressuring me to record accounting numbers incorrectly, and it turned into a life-or-death situation involving deadly biting squirrels. I'm not even joking. My nerdy self knows the importance of good numbers. Many of you in my audience are far more drawn to creativity...

Not all business checking accounts are created equal... This email contains referral links. See my disclosures. Hi Reader, If you’ve been on my list for any length of time, you’ve probably heard me harp on having a separate business checking account. And yes, I’m going to remind you why that matters in a minute. But first, let me say something that doesn’t get talked about enough: Not all business checking accounts are created equal. Many small business owners are still using a checking...

What Qualifies as a Legitimate Tax Deduction? This email contains referral links. See my disclosures. Hi Reader, Although I’m not a tax preparer or tax attorney, I am quite familiar with the IRS tax rules for small business owners, thanks to years of running a bookkeeping business and filing my own small business taxes. Everywhere I look, I see internet “tax hacks” dishing out bad advice—advice they often want you to pay for! Do you think these hack-gurus will reimburse you for penalties and...