Etsy: Made in Canada PLATINUM Sponsor Switftpost.ca

We're very excited to announce and welcome our new Platinum Sponsor for Etsy: Made in Canada Toronto this year: Swiftpost.



The one thing which all our vendors and the team members of the Toronto Etsy Street Team and 416Hustler have in come is that we are all online sellers on Etsy. So, we are all interested in shipping solution. Swiftpost is bringing their all in one shipping solutions to small businesses! Let them introduce themselves:

Is the cost of shipping holding you back or hurting your bottom line?

Swiftpost is an amazing shipping company that can save you money! We currently ship for large companies such as Lush Cosmetics. We are gearing to open up our low cost, free tracking shipping options to small businesses just like you! There is no contract to sign and we offer the same rates to small businesses as we do our larger companies with no shipping minimums.

SWIFTPOST ETSY: MADE IN CANADA WORKSHOP

By becoming a Platinum Sponsor for Etsy: Made in Canada Toronto, Switfpost is sponsoring a free workshop for attendees! Workshop Leader and DIY expert Victoria Stacey will be hosting the Swiftpost Modern Macramé Plant Hanger Workshop from 11:00 to 12:00 on Saturday, September 28, in the MaRS Collaboration Centre! Stay tuned to this space for your chance to sign up for your FREE ticket to this workshop!

 Learn the basics of macramé knots to create your own modern macramé plant hanger. This class will be led by Victoria of Handmade Jungle & a DIY Expert at Diply. It is for beginners to macramé or those who have some experience in knotting crafts such as weaving or bracelet making. You will be taken back to the days of friendship bracelets as we navigate together the process of basic macramé. These knots can be used in other types of macramé crafts such as wall hangings, or more intricate plant hangers.

SWIFTPOST ETSY: MADE IN CANADA NEWBIE SELLER BURSARY

We're also very proud to announce that one of our newbie sellers will be receiving a bursary to participate in Etsy: Made in Canada Toronto free of charge. We're so happy to be able to help our fellow Toronto handmade and vintage online small businesses grow. We'll be sharing shops which are new to selling at our show and the lucky bursary winner in the next few weeks in the lead up to our show!

TEST Etsy Newbie Bootcamp: Class 24 Calculated Shipping from Canada Post

Welcome back to our followers!		If you're new here, welcome to our Etsy Newbie Bootcamp! If you want to take part in Bootcamp just click on the TEST ♥ Newbies tab and follow along with classes at your own speed! If you are seeking some one-on-one mentoring, or answers to any of your questions, please drop us a line at TorontoEtsyST@gmail.com.  If you want to open an Etsy shop, just follow this link!
We have new sellers joining our Bootcamp all the time, so even though this is Class 24, you can join now or anytime! This class in particular has some new information for Newbies and experienced sellers alike.

Canadian Flag Enamel Pin from carolyndraws

Are you tired of trying to choose a fair shipping rate for Canada when there are huge differences in costs depending on postal code? Do you hate having to adjust shipping rates for Canada, the US and worldwide, every time Canada Post changes their rates? Do you sometimes get the rate wrong? Are you spending time refunding shoppers because you overestimated shipping (in an effort to never be out of pocket)? Shipping is not always straightforward.... but there's some good news! Etsy has finally introduced calculated shipping for any seller using Canada Post! You can buy and print your own labels (at Etsy's discounted rate), stick it on your package and drop it in the mail.

Calculated Shipping: nuts and bolts

 

1. Visit Shop Manager > Listings > Add a listing. Or, you can edit an existing Listing!
2. Scroll down to the Shipping section and make sure your shipping costs are set to Calculate them for me (Recommended).
3. Enter the postal code from which you will ship your package. Shipping rates will be calculated based on your location.
4. Confirm where you’d like to ship. 
   • Note:  Canada is a required shipping destination, but you can add or remove other countries whenever you like. To ship only to your shop country, remove the checkmark from All countries.
5. Confirm which shipping services you’d like to offer.
6. Set an optional handling fee. Handling fees are included in the total shipping cost and are applied to each item in an order.
7. Save the information as a shipping profile by selecting Save as a shipping profile or clicking the Publish button.

 Canadian sellers will be able to enable or disable upgrades via the Upgrades tab.

Calculated Shipping: Shipping Profiles

If you have a lot of listings, and especially if you have a lot of listing of things which are similar or you want to treat the same way, you'll want to set up Shipping Profiles for multiple listings. You can also follow these steps from the Shipping Settings page and clicking Add a shipping profile. This allows you to edit large numbers of listings at once. For instance, if you decide to ever change the optional handling fee, hold a domestic or international free shipping event for a category or if you want to take an entire category of items and remove them from your shop (temporarily or permanently), this is the way to do this efficiently.

I sell prints so I usually have multiples, but some listings are unique. I use Shipping Profile to remove all the unique items from my shop if I plan to take them to an in-person sale. I can then remove any no longer available unique items at my leisure or relist unsold unique items with a single click.

Using Shipping Profiles also means that the first several steps are automatic and you don't have retype your postal code again and again! You will always be prompted to enter the weight and dimensions though, even if you use Shipping Profiles. But, you will only have to ever do this once, rather than every time you sell a listing.

 

How to apply calculated shipping to multiple listings

1. To add a calculated shipping profile to multiple listings, visit Shop Manager > Listings.
2. Check listings that need calculated shipping profiles.
3. Click More Actions > Shipping Profiles from the dropdown, or Editing Options > Change Shipping Profiles (if you have previously set up Shipping Profiles)
   
4. Select the (new) calculated profile that you’d like to apply to your listings. You’ll see a short preview of the profile’s settings including processing time, shipping destinations, handling fee, and mail classes. NOTE: If you want to update listings with existing profiles, you will first have to manually add the weight and dimensions of their shipping packages. So, you will have one place for the dimensions of the product and one place for the dimensions of the package.

Discounted Shipping For Multiple Items

Combined shipping costs give buyers a shipping discount for ordering multiple items from your shop.
Note: It isn't possible to set discounted rates for listings with calculated shipping.

If an order has listings with a mixture of calculated and manually-set costs, Etsy first calculate costs for the listings using calculated shipping. Then they add the "each additional item" cost to the remaining listings to determine the order's shipping total.

For now, you can only offer coupons for sellers who buy multiple items, or revise shipping costs after a sale of multiple items, if you wish to offer combined shipping pricing and calculated shipping. 

This May Etsy is Hosting Canada's First Free Shipping Event!

Boost your visibility with a free shipping sale

Paper flowers by Etsy seller Golden Age Botanicals

This May 1 to 14 you can take part in Canada’s first ever free shipping sales event and boost your visibility! During the event, Etsy will highlight a selection of products that ship for free to Canadian buyers on the Etsy.com homepage, in curated Editor’s Picks pages, and emails to shoppers. Bonus: Listings with free domestic shipping will also receive a boost in Etsy search, making it even easier for shoppers in Canada to find your items during the event. Head here to learn more about the sale, how to be a part of it, and ask questions to our a panel of seller experts! This is a unique opportunity to help shoppers in Canada discover your items. Create your sale by April 20 and your shop may also be featured on Editor’s Picks pages and in Etsy marketing emails sent to shoppers in Canada.

Schedule your sale

In an August 2017 survey, more than half of Etsy shoppers told us free shipping is a top factor in their decision to make a purchase. Now’s the time to try a free shipping sale to see how it works for you. This promotion is designed to be flexible to suit a wide variety of sellers from all over Canada. Customize your sale with Etsy’s tools: Offer free domestic shipping to build your local fan base—during the sales event we’ll be highlighting items that ship for free to Canadian shoppers. Set an order minimum to encourage shoppers to spend more—for example, free shipping when you buy more than two items. Limit your free shipping sale to specific listings. Try a promotion on lightweight items or a certain product category to bring buyers into your shop.

Learn more on the Canadian Free Shipping Event landing page here, and be sure to join the Free Shipping conversation in English and French on Facebook!

Top 10 Packaging Tips of 2016 - From Chit Chats Express

We're less than a week from our third Etsy: Made in Canada show! We'd like to introduce you to one of our wonderful repeat sponsors, shipper Chit Chats Express. Chit Chats Express customers enjoy exclusive postage discounts on USPS Postage, as well as flat rate shipping options for domestic and international packages. Chit Chats Express and USPS deliver 6 days a week, including Saturday.
You can visit one of their conveniently located offices in Pickering, Markham, Mississauga or Toronto to use their shipping systems and print your USPS postage, so you can ship and save right away. Today, their sharing their top shipping tips!
 

Top 10 Packaging Tips of 2016

1) Use a new box. While reusing is an important way for all of us to be helpful to our environment, it may not be the best choice for your package. An old box may be weakened and could break more easily in transit. If you do reuse a box, ensure that all previous labeling/postage has been removed to ensure no confusion with the your carrier.

2) Use packing tape to seal your packages. Masking tape and/or transparent adhesive tape (like Scotch tape) is typically not strong enough to withstand the shipping process. It is also a good idea to reinforce all the seams of your package for extra durability. On a side note: When taping your packaging ensure that barcodes are not taped over as the tape can affect the scanning process.

3) Don’t get lost. Try to refrain from wrapping your parcels with paper. While, craft paper has a crisp clean look, it can also easy tear which could result in your labelling and/or postage coming off your package and getting lost. An alternative solution may be to order boxes or craft bubble mailers from your local shipping supply company to achieve a professional look.

4) Protect your delicates. Your parcels trip to its final destination may involve a bumpy ride (or two!) so be sure it is well protected. Wrapping your item(s) in bubble wrap, prior to putting in the box is an excellent solution to protect delicate items. A good tip is to give your package a little shake before sealing it to make sure that everything is nice and secure.

5) Properly label your packages. Did you know that there is a international standard mail format? The format is one that most of us are familiar with, return address in the top lefthand corner and recipient's address in the middle of the package or envelope. Another important part of this format is that the return address (top left) should also be noticeably smaller than the recipient's address. This is especially important for international shipments when there could be a language barrier and the only guide they will have is international standard format.

6) Invest in a thermal label maker. It may seem more economical to print out your labels and then tape them to your parcel but you may be surprised to find that isn’t the case. Thermal label makers do not require ink and are self sticking so you actually end up saving more money on printer ink and tape! The labels also make your packaging look more professional. If you do print out your own labels, make sure to cover the labels fully with packing tape, otherwise loose edges can get stuck in the sorting machines and rip off.

7) Size matters! Try to find a box or envelope that fits your items with little room spare. Typically you will be charged based on the dimensions of your package and you don’t want to pay for shipping air! Using bubble mailer envelopes instead of boxes can also be good cost saving choices (if your products can be safely shipped this way). You can also ask your carrier if they have flat rate boxes which could also reduce your shipping costs.

8) Make it easy. If you have a return policy, include return labels with your shipment. This shows your customers that you are taking their time into consideration and making an added effort to make their experience a good one!

9) Add a little something extra. Including a simple note thanking your customers for their business is a simple, yet effective way to add a special touch to their shopping experience. You can also take that idea one step further and add a special offer or coupon. This is also a great way to encourage repeat business. People love to save money and tend to spend more if they are getting a good deal.

10) Presentation is key. Your goal is to enhance your customer's overall experience with your product and develop your brand. Keep your packaging consistent and try to come up with something that sets you apart. This could be using coloured tissue and ribbon to neatly wrap your product, so customers feel as though they are unwrapping a gift. Shopping has now evolved into customers interacting with products. If you make their experience a memorable one and they will keep coming back!

Happy Shipping!

Latest Update on Shipping with Canada Post via Etsy

Happy Mail Enamel pin by Queenie's Cards

We know our Toronto Etsy Street Team members are watching the news from Canada Post. This is the latest message from Etsy, for those of you using Canada Post, especially if you print your postage directly from your shop:

"We are reaching out to inform you that Canada Post has withdrawn its lockout notice that was scheduled to take effect today, Monday, July 11. As a result, Canada Post services will not be interrupted while negotiations continue.

If you’ve taken actions within your shop to account for a service disruption, like change your Shop Policies or place your shop on Vacation Mode, you should now feel confident to continue shipping with Canada Post and may update your shop information to reflect that.

Should there be any notice or update from Canada Post with any changes, we will notify you as soon as possible. For more information, see our post in Forums here.

Best,

Etsy Shipping Team"

Canadian Etsy Sellers, Shipping and the Canada Post Labour Dispute

Notice from Etsy to Canadian sellers

As you are no doubt aware, Canada Post has issued a lock out notice to the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW), and may lock out workers as early as tomorrow, Friday, July 8. Etsy is aware that this issue may affect sellers in Canada (and abroad who have Canadian buyers). You can find their discussion here. If there is a lock out, it will no longer be possible to purchase Canada Post shipping through Etsy or use them to ship your packages. Canada Post states, "In the event of a full labour disruption, Canada Post will not operate. Mail and parcels will not be delivered, and no new items will be accepted. Any mail and parcels within the postal system during a work disruption will be secured and delivered as quickly as possible once operations resume."

You can sign up for real-time updates and read the latest news here. Etsy advises a notice to customers on your policy page, and, "If you currently have an order processing and aren’t sure what to do, you may contact Etsy Support for help at www.etsy.com/help/contact. In all cases, we suggest that you reach out to your buyer and work on a solution together. If you otherwise follow Etsy’s shipping policies, Etsy will not hold you responsible for delayed shipments as they relate to Canada Post during this time."

CBC News interviewed TEST Captain and Leader Ele Willoughby and Candice Ware, Tuesday, about the impact of the labour dispute on online sellers like us. You can catch the interviews at the 30 minute mark.

If you are seeking advice from fellow sellers about alternate shipping plans or policies, visit us in the forums or on our private FB group.

TEST Etsy Newbie Bootcamp: Class 22 Starting Fresh with the New Year

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New Year is a great time to jump back into Bootcamp! Welcome back to our followers!		If you're new here, welcome to our Etsy Newbie Bootcamp! If you want to take part in Bootcamp and get one-on-one mentoring, or answers to any of your questions, please drop us a line at TorontoEtsyST@gmail.com.  If you want to open an Etsy shop, just follow this link!
We have new sellers joining our Bootcamp all the time, so even though this is Class 22, you can join now or anytime! You can complete the classes at your own pace. The first 8 classes will take you through opening your shop to shipping your sold items:
1. How to Open an Etsy Shop	5. About Pages
2. Branding & Shop Banners	6. Shop Policies
3. Shop Profiles Bios and Photos	7. Communication
4. Make Listings Tempting	8. Shipping & Packaging
Check out the subsequent classes at your own pace to upgrade your shop when you find the time: 9. Social Media, 10. The Dark Art of Pricing, 11. Shop Stats, 12. Holiday Prep in Bite-Sized Pieces, 13. Getting Press, 14. Sales and Coupon Codes,  15. Etsy Local and Selling Off-line, 16. Planning and Goals for the Year, 17. Keeping up with Etsy, 18. Custom Orders, 19. Shipping Snippets, 20. Holiday Shop Refresh  and 21. Setting Shipping Rates.   The trick is to continually improve and you'll find your business can grow, become more efficient and professional as it evolves.  Selling Online is Cyclical Soft Velveteen Thow Pillow-Nature in Spring by JillClarkDesigns Once you've been selling for a little while, you'll notice that things come in cycles and generally, sales can be linked to the seasons. Your experience is personal, and not all shops are the same, but most shops see a big bump in sales related to Christmas. Things typically pick up in September and grow through to the end of December. This also means, that typically, sales are a bit slower in January. So, never fear; if that's what you're seeing, it's quite normal and you're not alone. Also, this means that now is a great time to get on the right foot for launching a successful new year of selling.  Some businesses are particularly seasonal, including, but not limited to: clothing sellers who explicitly make clothing for certain seasons, stationary designers who make cards for various holidays and shops making items for weddings and brides (whose big season may be in the summer, rather than at Christmas).  Regardless: remember that ups and downs are a normal part of business.    Taking Advantage of Lulls Plan Ahead Heart Ornament from NellyWithWings What do you do when things get quiet?  January is a great time to review Class 16. Planning and Goals for the Year! Since sales are cyclical, get a head-start on all those predictable things you will want to tackle. Do you make seasonal items or think that a given holiday may inspire a product? Working a quarter of a year in advance of an event can make your life easier. Consider: Forecast Your Business Growth in 8 Steps How to Reach Your Goals in 2016  3 Ways to Invest in Yourself this Year Bookkeeping abstract III art print by DOTHandmade Know what else is coming up before you know it? Tax time, I'm sorry to say. If January is a quiet time, you should use it to make sure your books for 2015 are in order. Also, take this time to make you you have a good handle on your inventory and bookkeeping in general. Here are some tips:  Tips for Tracking Your Business Expenses 5 Simple Ways to Ace Bookkeeping Shipping mini woven wall hanging tapestry from MaisJewelry Every year like clockwork, the post office seems to increase their rates. Make sure your shipping profiles are up-to-date. Streamline your shipping workflow. Here's some information on the new rates in Canada and the US. The good news is that if you use Etsy Shipping Labels, the new rates have already taken effect automatically, and you can use the tool to check if your shipping profiles need an update. Just enter your typical package info (weight, size) for any new or previous label and check out the rates available for your various markets (domestic, US, international) 2016 Shipping Rate Updates for the United States and Canada Shop Makeover Time  beaded peacock feather brooch from MilenasBoutique A more creative and entertaining task you might want to tackle right now is giving your shop a makeover! Are all your photos and descriptions at their best? How are your tags working? Time to try something new? Check ou 4. Make Listings Tempting and some of these great tutorials and tips. Here are some other recent tutorials to help get your shop ship shape! Is your shop optimized for mobile? Top 5 ways to attract Etsy's growing mobile buyers Refresh your shop in 3 steps How to style photos that work all year-round Bring the Buyer to You Amigurumi Fuzzy Sheep by PurpleLilacAmigurumi Now is also a great time to polish up your social media game. You can have a look at our tips in 9. Social Media. Are you using Etsy's new Updates feature? This is a great new tool which allows you to use their mobile app to post captioned photos, linked to listings, which all your followers can see. Check out these articles to get you started. As of today, you can also share video right on Etsy from your About Page! 5 Tips for Sharing Your Story with Shop Updates Bringing Video to About Pages How to Make a Shop Video With Your Smart Phone Expanding Your Business If you think you might be ready to expand by selling wholesale, be sure to sign up for Etsy's Wholesale Email Course and check out Growth Strategies in the Seller Handbook!

Partnering with Chit Chats Express

We're so pleased to introduce you to another of our partners  - Chit Chats Express, who are all about helping you ship, save and increase your online sales!

As sellers we're always looking for alternative shipping methods for our international customers that are stress free and easy on our wallets. Some of our fellow Etsy team members are already using Chit Chats Express and have nothing but amazing things to say about them. For those of you who haven't heard of them here is what you should know:

At Chit Chats Express, it is our mission to reduce your US and International shipping costs, increase the speed of delivery to your customers, offer a one stop shop for reduced cost shipping supplies, provide fulfillment and bulk shipping options, and provide you with the necessary tools and support  to dramatically increase your online sales.

Some key points:

1. They have bonded and insured vehicles that deliver parcels and letter mail directly to the United States Postal Service and United States UPS and FedEx daily. 
2. When you ship within Canada and internationally with Chit Chats Express, you can expect to save up to 70% on postage. Music to our ears!
3. They deliver direct to USPS, US UPS and US FedEx, carry USPS Priority Boxes and Envelopes on site at discounted rates, have 3 convenient locations in Pickering, Markham, Mississauga as well as Halifax, and also offer computers equipped with USPS postage printing software so you can do everything on site. 

Essentially, if you don't mind taking your shipments to 1 of their 3 Canadian locations, you can save on your shipping overhead and offer significantly faster delivery times to your customers and retailers. Like what you're hearing? Check them out here: http://chitchatsexpress.com/shipping-options-canada-to-us-international/

TEST Etsy Newbie Bootcamp: Class 21 Setting Shipping Rates

Welcome to our Etsy Newbie Bootcamp! If you want to take part in Bootcamp and get one-on-one mentoring, or answers to any of your questions, please drop us a line at TorontoEtsyST@gmail.com.  

If you want to open an Etsy shop, just follow this link!

We have new sellers joining our Bootcamp all the time, so even though this is Class 21, you can join now or anytime! You can complete the classes at your own pace. The first 8 classes will take you through opening your shop to shipping your sold items:
Class 1, Class 2, Class 3, Class 4, Class 5, Class 6, Class 7, Class 8.  

Check out the subsequent classes at your own pace to upgrade your shop when you find the time: Class 9, Class 10, Class 11, Class 12, Class 13, Class 14,  Class 15, Class 16, Class 17, Class 18, Class 19, and Class 20.   The trick is to continually improve and you'll find your business can grow, become more efficient and professional as it evolves.  

No time like the present to make a New Year's Resolution to make your Etsy shop as awesome as it can be, and to work through Bootcamp at a steady pace which works for you!

Send someone a graphic hand-cut representation of your
hometown like this framed 11x17" framed map of Toronto by CUTdesignsrt

New Year is not only a time for resolutions, it's (sadly) the time of year when postal rates change. Check out this handy article from Etsy about changes to Canada Post and USPS rates. Postal rates increase yearly, and that means you'll have to increase your rates accordingly, or it could cut into your bottom line. But, it's not all bad news! For instance, for all our Canadian Newbies: Canada Post "Light Packet" Parcels weighing 0.25 – 0.3 kg, for example, will have prices lowered by 34%! Light packet service will also be broken into three weight categories. Other services, and liability coverage will increase. There was a 3% Automation Discount, which will be removed for Xpresspost USA, Expedited Parcel USA and Xpresspost International - which makes yet another increase.  Also, the formula for calculating a parcel’s volumetric weight has changed for all air shipping services. How can you keep track of all these changes and adapt your pricing and shipping strategies? Etsy has broken it down into some handy charts, which we will go through below. (American sellers can find charts of USPS rate changes here).

some lovely, small, unique, custom items like this
Fine Silver Double Fingerprint pendant from DesignByBullsEye

Strategy for updating your shipping rates

• We recommend signing up to print your own Canada Post shipping labels with Etsy! This allows you to do your shipping, inventory and communications with customers in one step - and offers discounts on most rates. Etsy will automatically mark all of your orders as shipped and send shipping notifications to buyers once you print your labels. Etsy shipping labels are available to Canadian and US sellers. Sign up and and learn more here and read our Shipping Snippets tutorial here. When you print out your own labels, you can use the built-in interactive tool to compare and contrast all your shipping rate options.
•  If you're already using Shipping Profiles, updating your rates should be reasonably painless! If your wares come in standard sizes, or even a fairly controlled range of sizes, a good way to make it easier to create new listings is to set up some Shipping Profiles. Once you've made and packaged one fairly standard sized item (say, one dress, one Giclée print of a certain size, one necklace, or what have you) you can measure its dimensions and weight. Then, use the Canada Post online tool or the Etsy Shipping Label tool to figure out the shipping prices to likely destinations. Read more in our shipping and packaging tutorial. While the addition of new weight categories may mean it's worth your while to update your profiles, generally, you can simply edit each profile to reflect the new prices and then edit all linked listings at once automatically! If you aren't using Shipping Profiles set them up TODAY and you'll be able to seamlessly update rates in the future.

  

  Vintage Lace/Tulle A-line from Takemevintage
  could be yours (and cleverly packaged in a minimum of space)

• Check out the charts below to see if the new weight categories can benefit your shop! Are your items now in a new Light Packet category? Are they quite close? Do a little experimenting with your scale, ruler and packaging and see if you can tweak your packaging to keep your items in a lower weight category. A very large number of Etsy sellers make small items like jewellery, stationary and more which can be sent Light Packet and may find their shipping costs actually decrease if they package their items and select their service carefully! Though, on average of course, rates are all going up (for instance, Light Packet USA rates will increase by 17.4% and Light Packet international rates will increase by 11.7%). Note that for the heaviest of the Light Packet categories, Small Packet may be more affordable. Decreases in examples rates for Light Packet are highlighted in blue in the charts below.

The Canada Post Specifics

Light Packet now has three weight categories:



If your items are only slightly heavier than 200 g or 300 g, it is worth investigating whether your packaging can be decreased.

Volumetric weight is the factor Canada Post uses to categorize the parcel rate. So, when determining how much to charge you, Canada Post uses the actual mass in kilograms, and a scaled volume (length x width x height divided by a number).

The change to the formula is as follows:

• 2014: Length (cm) x Width (cm) x Height (cm) / 6000 = Volumetric Weight
• 2015: Length (cm) x Width (cm) x Height (cm) / 5000 = Volumetric Weight

All air shipping rates are changing accordingly. What does this mean for you? That decrease in the scaling factor means that there is a greater penalty for large packages and in 2015, and even more than in 2014, it pays to try and pack items compactly.  Read more about Volumetric Weight here. The Rated Weight is price is calculated using the greater of the volumetric weight or the actual weight. The actual weight cannot exceed 30 kg.




Examples of base shipping prices (without taxes, surcharges or extra fees) based on services available today in $CAD, reprinted from the Etsy Seller Handbook article on the new 2015 Canada Post rates:


* Base Rate for Etsy’s Canada Post Shipping Labels includes a 3% automation discount where applicable; does not include fuel surcharges, fees for Optional Services, or additional fees and taxes.
** Average rate change across all services’ zones and weights.
*** Options are not available for all services.
^ Light Packet USA and Light Packet International weight ranges are shown for example purposes, only.

Tip: For those who sell flat items (photographers, fine artists and printmakers like me), there is no longer a fee for using cylindrical mailing tubes, or better yet, there is no longer an "Oversized Fee"! Options for selling poster sized/shaped items just got better.

Got any questions, suggestions or advice? How is shipping going for you? Let us know your feedback by commenting below or dropping us a line at TorontoEtsyST@gmail.com.

TEST Etsy Newbie Bootcamp: Class 19 Shipping Snippets

Well, it's back to school time yet again! Time for some more Bootcamp classes! Welcome to our Etsy Newbie Bootcamp! If you want to take part in Bootcamp and get one-on-one mentoring, or answers to any of your questions, please drop us a line at TorontoEtsyST@gmail.com. 

We have new sellers joining our Bootcamp all the time, so never fear if you're just starting. You can complete the classes at your own pace.


If you've been toying with the idea of opening an Etsy shop, this is the moment. In fact, if you sign up now, you can have 20 free listings. Just follow our link and enter the code: TorontoStreetTeam.


The entire series so far: Class 1, Class 2, Class 3, Class 4, Class 5, Class 6, Class 7, Class 8, Class 9, Class 10, Class 11, Class 12, Class 13, Class 14,  Class 15,  Class 16, and Class 17. 

If you are just starting out, be sure you've checked out our first module of 6 classes, which cover how to open an Etsy Shop, making your shop look its best including: {Branding & Shop Banners, Shop Profiles Bios and Photos, Make Listings Tempting} and providing the information to your customers about who you are and how you run your business: About Pages, and Shop Policies. These introductory classes should get your shop up and running!

Today we're going to cover recent upgrades to shipping with Etsy!

Speaking of notifications, check out the oh, happy day,
wedding congratulations card by lovelylittlepaperco

Shipping Snippets: Automatic Shipping Notices

With streamlining your workflow and boosting productivity in mind, this July, Etsy introduced some changes to shipping. Now when you mark your item as "shipped" Etsy sends an automatically generated email directly to the buyer to let them know, through a tool called "Shipping Snippets"! No more multiple steps (ship, marking the item as shipped, notifying the customer). Now it's one step. You will be given the opportunity to:

• identify your shipper, and 
• include a tracking number (if you have one) 
• include a message to the buyer
• set the actual shipping date up to two days in the future (ou set a ship date in the future, your buyer’s receipt will show the order as “Shipping Soon” until the notification is sent. The email will be sent between 9 AM and 5 PM ET on the ship date you’ve chosen. Otherwise, the system defaults to the current day)
• preview the email which will be sent
• receive a copy of the message for your own records

Keep your records in style with decorative binder clips from KeepMeClips

If you've already developed the good habit of marking your items as shipped, you'll find that now you can do that and communicate with the buyer more efficiently.

Tip: Do note that this is automatic. If you do have a message for the buyer, or a tracking number to provide, be sure you have that info handy so you need not send multiple messages. Some people, including buyers, hate to see their inboxes overflowing needlessly.

Using Shipping Snippets: Nuts and Bolts

You sell something and want to mark it as shipped. Simply go to Your Shop > Sold Orders and check the Open tab. Sellers in countries with shipping labels, like Canada and the US will see two blue buttons on the open order: "Print Shipping Label" and "Mark as Shipped".

Click "Mark as Shipped" and a window will open which will prompt you to

•  choose your shipping date (up to 2 days in the future) 
• add a note to buyer
• add a tracking number if appropriate
• confirm your shipper (it defaults to Canada Post for Canadian sellers, and the USPS for American sellers)
• tick a box if you want a copy of the notification 

Feel serene, knowing your customer knows the package is on its way,
and contemplate seascape Ocean11*14 by Nadia Gurkova

Even more streamlining is availble.  You may also save up to 10 versions of your Note to Buyer. To do so, click the blue message bubble in the bottom right hand corner of the Note to Buyer field.

To preview the email click "Preview" and to submit it click "Submit".

Does this mean your workflow changes? It does for me. If have questions for Etsy you can check out their announcement thread, FAQ and post questions here.

If you are a Canadian or US seller who uses Shipping Labels to print your own postage things are even more streamlined! As soon as you opt to print a shipping label, you get a tool which prints out your postage label with built in Customs forms (if needed), marks your item as shipped and notifies the customer - all in one step. You'll get an additional window to edit a Note to Buyer on the label purchase page.

Orders then move to the Completed Orders tab.

Now you can relax and buy yourself a treat like a lovely,
handmade, tie-dye 100% silk scarf from OrderEthans

The Toronto Etsy Street Team loves Newbie shops! You can find some of our favorite listings from talented Newbie sellers, including those featured in this class in our new TEST ♥ Newbies section. Be sure to stop by often to see what's new in this evolving, curated treasury of amazing Newbie finds!