Chairish Vs Etsy: Best Place For Selling Unique Goods

Do you have a passion for vintage furniture, home decor, and similar items that are one-of-a-kind? If so, you might be wondering where to sell them online and make a profit.

The answer is Chairish and Etsy. Even one of these platforms can be perfect for your niche. They can connect you with buyers who appreciate the fair market value of your goods.

In this article, we’ll break down all the differences between both of them. 

By the end, you’ll have a clear idea of which platform suits your needs best so you can start making money.

Chairish – At A Glance

Chairish is a small but prestigious platform for design enthusiasts, offering a curated collection of pre-owned furniture, art, and accessories. 

Known for its selections of timeless items with exceptional craftsmanship, Chairish is the perfect place for anyone seeking refined aesthetics and quality pieces to enhance their living spaces.

What Are The Upsides And Drawbacks Of Selling On Chairish?

Here’s what you’re getting with this platform.

Upsides Of Selling On Chairish:

• Targeted audience of design enthusiasts for relevant product exposure.
• Curation process adds prestige and trust to your products.
• Potential for higher price points with a focus on higher-end items.
• White-glove service for streamlined logistics and shipping.
• Opportunity to engage with a design-focused community for valuable connections.

Drawbacks Of Selling On Chairish:

• Limited product range with a primary focus on furniture and decor.
• Stringent approval process for products meeting the platform’s criteria.
• Restricted access currently available only to sellers in the United States.

Etsy – At A Glance

Everyone already knows Etsy – few other platforms are as unique as it is, but we’ll add in a brief overview of what it’s best at just in case. 

Etsy is a dynamic online marketplace that caters to independent artisans and small businesses. It serves as a platform for showcasing and selling unique, handmade products and vintage treasures. 

With a strong sense of community, this eCommerce platform celebrates individual creativity while providing a global audience for artisans worldwide.

What Are The Upsides And Drawbacks Of Selling On Etsy?

Now, let’s talk about Etsy, shall we?

Upsides Of Selling On Etsy:

• Wide global reach and exposure for your products.
• Has many categories and more product variety.
• Thriving community of global and local artists that offers collaboration opportunities.
• Easy setup process for individuals and small businesses.
• Customization options to showcase your brand and products.
• Access to tools, resources, and support for managing and growing your business.

Drawbacks Of Selling On Etsy:

• High competition among sellers.
• Listing and transaction fees impacting profit margins.
• Platform policies go through changes fairly often.

Chairish and Etsy: Quick Look At the Differences 

Here’s a table comparing the main aspects of both.

Chairish Vs Etsy 

Now, here are some more comprehensive details breaking everything down.

Types Of Products Sold

Winner: Etsy

Chairish primarily focuses on high-end vintage decor and furniture. The website aims to connect buyers with unique, one-of-a-kind pieces that add character to their homes. 

On the other hand, Etsy caters to a wider range of products, which is a significant edge. 

As an Etsy Seller, you can showcase a wide variety of items, appealing to a diverse customer base. 

Not only can you sell handmade items and furniture, you can even sell electronics.

Userbase

Winner: Tie. Up to preference.

Chairish has a strong user base of design lovers and individuals seeking unique vintage pieces. However, the number of users is very low compared to Etsy, and the user base is restricted specifically to the US. 

Still, it consists of a highly engaged audience with a specific interest in vintage decor and furniture.

Etsy, on the other hand, boasts a massive user base with millions of buyers actively searching for various products. It’s a diverse user base, ranging from home decor enthusiasts to art collectors, fashion lovers, and more.

This larger audience provides more exposure to your listings and potentially increases your sales opportunities. 

Even if all you have is products that fit Chairish more, you might still have better luck with Etsy. 

You might have to put up with a lot of other sellers. However, you can take advantage of their ad services to drive traffic to your online store – they even work off site to help market your stuff.

Both options are decent, though, for most sellers. The pick is based on your specific circumstances.

Special Features

Winner: Etsy

Both platforms offer some extra features to boost your sales potential or to make the selling process easier. 

What Chairish offers:

• “In-Home Delivery” for selling large items, providing a White Glove experience. 
• “Chairish Trade” connects sellers with interior designers and trade buyers.
• Augmented reality feature on the mobile app for visualizing items in homes.

What Etsy offers:

• Powerful seller tools for establishing and enhancing online stores.
• Customizable shop appearance.
• Multiple photo listings to showcase products effectively.
• SEO optimization for improved visibility and increased traffic.

So, which one takes the win in this regard? It’s a close call. Chairish has unique and convenient features. 

However, Etsy Features are more directly sales oriented, so they’re likely to make you more money. 

Chairish might make you less in some cases, indirectly. 

Your customers might have to pay a significant amount to ship out-of-state, which might make them unhappy about your services.

Seller Support

Winner: Etsy

Etsy is known for its strong seller community and supportive atmosphere. The platform provides support through various channels, including email and live chat. It’s very welcoming to new sellers.

Additionally, Etsy offers tools to help sellers manage their inventory, track orders, and handle customer inquiries efficiently.

The same can be said for Chairish, though there’s an extra hurdle when it comes to actually selling online. 

Chairish is a curated marketplace. If you want to work with them, you have to deal with being screened and getting quality assessments. 

Fees

Winner: Chairish

Commission fees on Chairish vary based on the seller plan. 

Here’s the breakdown: 

• Consignor plan: 40% commission on all products.
• Professional, Plus and Elite Plans: Tiered rates, starting at 20% for vintage/used products and newly made and made-to-order pillows.

Buyers are responsible for paying their own shipping fees.

Meanwhile, Etsy has a different pricing structure, broken down into multiple parts. They are:

• A listing fee of $0.20 per item, plus a renewal fee of $0.20 per sale.
• A transaction fee of 6.5% of the total order amount, including shipping and gift wrapping fees.
• A payment processing fee of 3% + $0.25 (for US) when using Etsy Payments.
• An advertising fee of 12% or 15% depending on annual revenue when using Etsy Ads or Offsite Ads.

In terms of selling the actual item, Etsy costs less. However, its smaller costs can add up gradually. 

So, with the commission fees going up all the way to 40%, you might be wondering “Is Chairish overpriced?” – it isn’t. That’s only for certain items and the rate goes down for higher priced products. 

It still beats Etsy in terms of cost. Processing payments are even free on Chairish – the listing fees don’t need to be paid either.

So Is Chairish Worth It?

Not by itself, it isn’t. 

If you rely solely on Chairish, expect a slower selling process due to a smaller buyer pool. It’s not the best option if you need to sell your items quickly.

To increase your chances, you can combine it with Etsy. You can redirect customers between the two platforms based on pricing.

Chairish’s premium delivery services may be more cost-effective in certain cases. You can also have an easier time selling expensive items on it, as it has low commission rates for these.

Take Curiique from Jersey City and MadModWorldVintage, for instance. They have shops on both platforms, and the latter demonstrates this tip in her brief Chairish overview.

Is Selling On Etsy Worth It?

This one doesn’t need us to dig into much detail, considering how well known it is. 

Selling on Etsy with or without Chairish is a great idea either way. The platform is popular and has tools to help with selling your items.

The costs can add up sometimes, but the long term benefits outweigh the smaller profit margin. You’ll get compensated by having your shop reliably turn into a primary source of income with the right effort.

Even better, you can sell all kinds of goods there, not just decor and furniture. 

If you’re still interested in just the latter, Etsy might end up being just as good with that this year. According to its Early 2023 Trends insights, some of the best products to sell in Etsy during 2023 will be retro decor and furniture.

FAQ

Can I Sell Second Hand Products On Etsy and Chairish? 

For Etsy, yes, but you need to categorize whatever products you’re selling correctly. Whether you’re selling clothing or furniture, you can’t put them in the Handmades section. 

You’ll need to put them in the Vintage category instead, and even then, they need to be over 20 years old.

You can also sell them on Chairish as long as you fit the product requirements – the platform is mostly saturated with furniture, which many people like to purchase second hand.

Is it profitable to sell on Etsy?

Yes, many sellers have found success and profitability on Etsy.

Q: How much does it cost to list on Chairish?

It’s free to list on Chairish.

Can you be a millionaire selling with Etsy?

It’s possible, but not easy, as it has a lot of competition and manual work involved. 

How long does it take to sell on Chairish?

The time to sell on Chairish can vary depending on factors like item uniqueness and buyer demand.

What percentage does Chairish charge at minimum?

Chairish generally charges a minimum 20% commission on sales. However,  you can get as low as a 3% commission rate for products costing more than $25,000.

Is selling vintage on Etsy worth it?

Yes, selling vintage on Etsy can be worth it as the platform has a large audience specifically interested in handmade or vintage items.

Final Thoughts

In the end, Etsy still shines with its bustling community and serves as a great place for selling all kinds of rare items. 

However, Chairish can still add a touch of elegance to your items with its curated charm and luxurious site design, attracting high paying buyers.

So, both platforms can offer immense potential to reach your target audience and make your store thrive. 

You could always combine them – that’s what most other successful vintage shops or furniture ones do. 

The only option you have to pay for when getting started is Etsy, and it’s already reliable. You can use Chairish on top of that, since it’s free. You won’t be paying for both.