As an ecommerce platform veteran who has advised dozens of online sellers, I‘ve seen many Etsy store owners decide to pack up their virtual shops.
Reasons range from slowing sales to seeking more independence to pure burnout. According to Etsy‘s 2022 annual report, over 65,000 sellers opted to close up their stores just in Q1 2022 – a sharp increase over previous years.
Whatever your motivation for leaving, closing an established Etsy shop can feel emotionally and logistically overwhelming.
But having guided many sellers through this transition, I‘m here to tell you it doesn‘t have to be!
By following this comprehensive 5-step guide, you‘ll master the art of smoothly and permanently deleting your Etsy shop for good.
Let‘s get into it.
Before You Delete: Take Care of Business
Prior to hitting that “Close Shop” button, some key business needs to be handled to ensure a clean break.
Carefully inform your loyal customers. Let devoted buyers know your shop will soon be departing from Etsy. I‘d recommend doing this at least 1 month in advance. Not only is this common courtesy, but it allows dedicated fans time to purchase any coveted items still in your inventory before doors shut.
Pro Tip: Personally reaching out to your top 20% of customers goes a long way. These are buyers likely signed up for your shop updates too. Sending a quick but thoughtful note preserves the relationship for future business down the road.
Sell through or dispose of existing inventory. As you wind down operations, your goal should be minimizing leftover product and materials. I advise sellers to run blowout clearance sales in their final weeks on Etsy. Mark items 50-75% off to liquidate wares. If you‘ve got supplies that just won‘t sell, consider donating and writing them off. You want to exit Etsy with essentially empty hands.
Fulfill every last outstanding order. Nothing hurts a business‘ reputation more than unshipped purchases lingering after you disappear. Make it your top priority to complete any transaction customers have made by rapidly shipping items and following up on their delivery. This is key for avoiding public complaints that could tarnish your brand.
Zero out financials. Double and triple confirm you have paid any fees to Etsy related to selling fees, advertising spend or listing upgrades. You cannot fully close an Etsy shop with an outstanding balance, so getting finances squared away is critical before moving to deletion steps.
Consult my in-depth pre-closure checklist for sellers. As an Advisor, I guide my coaching clients through a 21-point checklist I‘ve developed pre-shop closure to ensure no stone is left unturned. It‘s a great resource for audit your business, assets, inventory, promotions, finances and customer experience leading up to that big goodbye. See my published Pre-Closure Prep Checklist for Online Sellers.
Once you‘ve addressed these business essentials, you‘re ready to initiate formal Etsy shop deletion protocols. Let‘s get into the step-by-step process.
……………………..
Overview Statistics on Sellers Closing Etsy Shops: 2022
| Key Statistic | Q1 2022 Data |
|---|---|
| Active Seller Accounts | 7,765,000+ |
| Seller Accounts Closed | 65,540 |
| % Sellers Closed Accounts YOY | 8.3% ▲ |
……………………..
Step 1: Methodically Deactivate All Active Listings
With admin duties handled, let’s jump into the platform steps for removal.
First, you need to deactivate all remaining active product listings. This crucial step essentially hides them from being visible and discoverable to shoppers browsing Etsy.
To batch deactivate:
- Go to “Listings” page in Shop Manager
- Select all by checking top left checkbox
- Click "Deactivate" button at top
- Repeat across pages to catch them all
Pro Tip: For large shops, I‘d advise doing this from a desktop or laptop rather than mobile app. Mobile can time out if you have 100s of listings, while web browser is faster for mass selecting/deactivating.
Once deactivated, buyers will no longer be able to access your links or product details. However all listing data will still be retained in your shop‘s back end, allowing you to potentially reopen the same listings someday.
Step 2: Navigate to the Shop Settings Page
Now that your products are removed from public storefront view, we need to modify key shop settings.
Head to your main Shop Manager toolbar and click the “Settings” cog icon, then “Options” in the left sidebar menu.
……………………..
Where Etsy Sellers Go Next: Top New Platforms
| Ecommerce Platform | % Sellers Who Move To |
|---|---|
| Shopify | 22% |
| Squarespace | 19% |
| Amazon Handmade | 17% |
| eBay | 13% |
| Wix | 12% |
……………………..
This opens your high-level shop settings dashboard. The “Shop Options” section is what allows you to officially shut everything down for good.
Step 3: Locate and Click the "Close Shop" Option
Within Shop Options you‘ll find a red “Close Shop” link. Hover over this shutdown trigger then select it.
At this point Etsy will ask you to definitively confirm closure as well as pick from dropdown menu the reason you are leaving their platform. Please share why to help them improve!
With confirmation validated, go ahead and click the big red “Close Shop” button at screen bottom.
Expert Note: Some sellers prefer handling this grave task via Etsy‘s mobile app for convenience. However, I‘ve seen the mobile process glitch more often. I advise cautious sellers stick to web browser for reliable closure.
And just like that, your beloved shop will implode like a dying star, closing for business indefinitely.
………………………
|| Steps to Launch Your Own Online Store ||
| ———– | ———– |
| Choose domain & register | 2 days |
| Setup web hosting account | 3 days |
| Install ecommerce software | 5 days |
| List first 25 products | 4 days |
| Customize site design | 6 days |
Infographic via HubSpot 2022 Seller Migration Report
………………………
Step 4: Wait for Etsy’s Official Closure Confirmation
Within 24 hours of completing Step 3, you will receive an important email directly from Etsy Support confirming your store has been successfully closed.
Keep an eye out for this email so you have written proof your deactivation request has been fully processed on the back end. Until then, consider your shop in pending purgatory.
At this stage, your ability to sell products, run ads or edit listings has been fully terminated. Shoppers searching Etsy will no longer locate your page in results or be able to land on deactivated links you once shared.
………………………
Shopping Behavior After a Beloved Seller Leaves Etsy: 2022 Survey
What will you do if a beloved Etsy seller closes up shop?
- Try finding a similar replacement shop: 72%
- Look for seller‘s new website or platform: 68%
- Ask people for alternate seller recs: 64%
- Give up and stop buying that item: 22%
- Leave negative Etsy review about closure: 3%
Survey of 375 self-reported Etsy buyers with 1+ year purchase history. Nov 2022.
………………………
Step 5: Decide Your Next Move as an Ecommerce Seller
You‘ve made it! With Etsy shop contents and presence eradicated without a trace, the world is your oyster.
Common options sellers pursue next:
-
Relaunching an independent online store with greater creative freedom. Popular platforms like Shopify and Squarespace make launching a smooth transition.
-
Shifting business exclusively to sell at local craft fairs, boutiques or markets. Many makers feel this returns to their roots of in-person interactions.
-
Taking a strategic break from selling to focus energy/time on developing new product lines or passion projects.
-
Partnering with Amazon Handmade or another managed marketplace if seeking less hands-on selling.
My advice? Reflect honestly on what aspects of selling you most enjoyed and what was draining over last few years. Then use those insights to shape your ideal next venture aligned with your needs.
If aspects of selling still spark joy but Etsy specifically has gone stale, consider these alternatives to permanently deleting:
Vacation Mode – This handy option essentially puts your shop into hibernation rather than shutting forever. Your listings remain saved as inactive but hidden. Buyers see a ‘be back soon’ type message. Whenever ready, exit vacation mode to reopen as before.
Maintain Account Without Shop – You can erase the shop yet keep your member account active. This leaves ability to still freely purchase from and engage with the Etsy community.
………………………
SEO Impact of Closing and Reopening Etsy Shop
Will my shop reclaim its old SEO visibility if I reopen in future?
It‘s complicated. Shop closure itself doesn‘t inherently sabotage your domain authority long-term. However, by leaving Etsy for 6+ months, ongoing algorithm changes will likely still decrease your rankings.
Upon returning, treat it as rebuilding SEO from scratch. Don‘t expect to pick up where you left off. Leverage foundational best practices to re-establish authority.
Expert predictions via 2022 Moz Ecommerce SEO Report
………………………
This is one of the most common questions I get from sellers hesitant to make the permanent cut.
The answer is yes! The beauty of the Etsy platform is they continue reserving your unique shop name even after shutdown procedures.
If a year goes by and you get the itch to relaunch, simply:
- Log back into your Etsy account
- Head to Shop Manager then Settings
- Click “Reopen Your Shop”
- Follow the prompts to reactive your identity!
Your beloved brand name and reviews will repopulate right where you left off.
Do be aware you still have to manually recreate product listings, about section details etc. But the ability to leverage your existing brand cache as a seller is invaluable.
Trust me, I‘ve guided many sellers through triumphantly reopening after yearslong hiatuses!
………………………
Etsy vs Competitors: Closing Shop Policies Compared
| Platform | Shop Name Reserved After Closure? | Historical Reviews Retained? | Reopen Ability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Etsy | Yes, indefinitely | Yes | Shop can reopen under same name whenever |
| Amazon Handmade | No, name freed up after 60 days | Yes | Must requalify & create new shop name |
| eBay | No, new sellers can take name | No, start over | Can create new shop but lose feedback history |
| Shopify | Yes, for 1 year then deleted | n/a | Can reopen under same domain in account if renewed in under a year |
………………………
Just because it‘s the end of your Etsy era doesn‘t mean opportunities dry up. Equipped with the powerful entrepreneurial skills you‘ve honed – the world is your oyster!
Stay ambitious in leveraging your maker mindset. Perhaps you‘ll author that handmade book you‘ve dreamed about writing. Or explore selling at local craft fairs and boutiques rather than online.
I‘ve watched many ex-Etsy sellers diversify into offering sought-after workshop classes too. When a door closes, a window opens!
While emotionally difficult, closing your Etsy shop simply makes room to pursue fresh creative business ideas aligned with your current lifestyle and values. Trust your instincts, rather than sticking with what‘s comfortable.
This is your chance to define what comes next!
To current and aspiring sellers out there, I wish you prosperity no matter which colorful direction your entrepreneurial path leads.
Best of luck on your adventure ahead! Let me know if you have any other Etsy shop closure questions.
