Selling Resin Products: Complete Business Guide

Where to Sell Resin Products

Multiple platforms work for selling resin. Each has different audiences, fees, and advantages. Choose based on your target market and comfort level.

🛍️

Etsy

Largest marketplace for handmade goods. Massive audience. Perfect for beginners. 5% transaction fee + $0.20 listing.

✓ Huge audience (180M+ monthly visitors). ✓ Built-in search. ✓ Easy setup. ✓ Best for handmade.

✗ 5% fee + listing fees. ✗ High competition. ✗ Algorithm changes.

📱

Instagram Shop

Social commerce. Direct audience. Build followers. Link to Etsy or own site. No upfront fees.

✓ No platform fees. ✓ Direct customer connection. ✓ Visual platform (perfect for resin). ✓ Viral potential.

✗ Requires content creation. ✗ Algorithm-dependent. ✗ Takes time to grow.

▶️

TikTok Shop

Emerging platform. Viral videos sell products. Younger audience. Direct sales integration.

✓ Massive potential reach. ✓ Video content performs. ✓ Direct sales feature. ✓ Algorithm favors creators.

✗ Newer platform (less stable). ✗ Requires video skills. ✗ Younger demographic.

🏪

Your Own Website

Shopify, WordPress, or custom. Full control. Build brand. Higher profit margins. Higher work required.

✓ No marketplace fees. ✓ Full control. ✓ Brand building. ✓ Higher margins.

✗ Technical setup required. ✗ No built-in traffic. ✗ Marketing burden. ✗ Hosting costs.

📦

Amazon Handmade

Amazon's handmade category. Massive audience. Slightly lower craftiness vibe than Etsy. 15% referral fee.

✓ Amazon's reach. ✓ Customer trust. ✓ Prime shipping option. ✓ Professional appearance.

✗ 15% fee (highest). ✗ Stricter requirements. ✗ Less artisan-focused.

🤝

Local Markets & Craft Fairs

In-person selling. Booth fees $25-$200. Direct customers. Build relationships. Seasonal opportunity.

✓ No ongoing fees. ✓ Direct customer interaction. ✓ Premium pricing. ✓ Real-time feedback.

✗ Booth fees. ✗ Travel required. ✗ Time commitment. ✗ Seasonal.

Best Strategy: Omnichannel Approach

Don't limit yourself to one platform. Use multiple channels:

→ Etsy as primary. Main storefront with large audience and discovery traffic.
→ Instagram for content & community. Build audience, create viral content, drive traffic to Etsy.
→ Local markets for premium pricing. Sell in-person occasionally for 30-50% higher margins.
→ Email list for direct sales. Collect customer emails, email about new products (highest margins).

Pricing Your Resin Products

Pricing is everything. Too low = work for nothing. Too high = no sales. Here's the science.

The Pricing Formula

Minimum viable price = (Materials + Labor) / Profit Margin

Example: Resin Coaster

→ Materials cost: $1.50 (resin, pigment, glitter, packaging)
→ Labor: 5 minutes production + 5 minutes admin/packaging = 10 minutes = $3.33 (at $20/hour wage)
→ Total cost: $1.50 + $3.33 = $4.83
→ For 60% margin: $4.83 / 0.40 = $12 wholesale / $16-18 retail

Product Type	Material Cost	Time Required	Wholesale Price	Etsy Retail	Profit per Unit
Simple Coasters	$1-2	5-8 min	$4-6	$8-12	$6-10
Glitter Coasters	$2-3	5-10 min	$6-8	$12-16	$9-13
Simple Jewelry	$2-4	10-15 min	$8-12	$15-25	$11-21
Custom Jewelry	$3-5	20-30 min	$12-18	$25-40	$20-35
Geode Pieces	$5-10	30-45 min	$15-25	$35-60	$25-50
Resin Art/Canvas	$10-20	45-60 min	$40-70	$75-150	$55-130
Resin Tumblers	$4-6	15-20 min	$10-15	$20-35	$14-29

Pricing Psychology

→ $X.99 pricing: Psychologically $16.99 feels cheaper than $17. Use strategic .99 pricing.
→ Bundle discounts: "Buy 3 coasters, save $5" increases order value 30-50%.
→ Perceived value: Nice packaging adds $3-5 perceived value (costs $0.50).
→ Premium positioning: "Handmade" + "custom" + "artisan" justify 2-3x markup.
→ Scarcity: "Limited edition" or "Only 3 remaining" increase purchase urgency.

How Etsy Fees Affect Pricing

When pricing on Etsy, factor in all fees:

→ Transaction fee: 5% of sale price
→ Payment processing: 3% + $0.20 per transaction
→ Listing fee: $0.20 per listing (renewed every 4 months)
→ Total overhead: ~8% of sale price + $0.20

Example: $16 coaster on Etsy yields $14.78 after fees. Cost $4.83 = profit $9.95 per unit.

Marketing Your Resin Products

Content is King

The #1 way to sell resin is through videos showing the creation process. People love watching the magic happen.

▶️

Process Videos (TikTok/Instagram Reels)

Time-lapse of resin being poured, dried, finished. 15-60 second videos. Post 3-5x per week. Drive traffic to Etsy in bio.

📸

Product Photography

Professional photos showing products in use. Models wearing jewelry, drinks on coasters, art on walls. Drive 30-50% more sales.

💬

Storytelling & Behind-the-Scenes

Share your creative journey. "This geode took 3 hours and $15 worth of crystals." Human connection increases loyalty and sales.

⭐

Customer Reviews & Testimonials

Ask customers to leave reviews. Share customer photos on your page. Social proof drives sales 40-60% higher.

🎯

Hashtag Strategy (Instagram/TikTok)

Research popular hashtags (#resinjewelry #resincrafts #epoxyresin). Use 15-30 hashtags per post. Drive 25%+ traffic increase.

💌

Email List Building

Offer 10% discount for email signup. Email list = repeat customers (highest lifetime value). Send weekly product updates.

Etsy Algorithm Tips

→ Fresh listings perform best. Listings get algorithmic boost first 2 weeks. Renew listings regularly.
→ Keywords matter. Use search terms in title and tags. "Handmade Resin Coasters Set of 4" outranks "Pretty Coasters."
→ Descriptions drive sales. Write 200+ word descriptions with keywords. Teach customers, build trust, improve SEO.
→ Photos sell. First photo is everything. Professional, well-lit photos increase click-through 50%+.
→ Reviews boost rankings. More reviews = higher search placement. Ask customers to leave reviews (boost by 30-50%).

Profitability Models: How to Make Real Money

The Numbers Reality

Let's be honest about income potential. Here's what different scales look like:

Hobby Level: $100-500/month

→ 5-10 sales per week on Etsy
→ Average order $12 retail = $10 after fees
→ Cost $3 materials/labor = $7 profit per unit
→ Monthly: 30-50 sales × $7 profit = $210-350

Part-Time: $1,000-3,000/month

→ 50-100 sales per week (multiple platforms)
→ Mix of low ($8) and high ($30+) items
→ Average profit $5-8 per unit
→ Monthly: 200-300 sales × $5-8 = $1,000-2,400

Full-Time: $3,000-10,000+/month

→ 200-400 sales per week (optimized systems)
→ Scaled production, higher-ticket items, bundles
→ Average profit $8-12 per unit
→ Monthly: 800-1,200 sales × $8-12 = $6,400-14,400

Key Profitability Levers

Increase price: Same item at $20 instead of $12 = $8 more profit. Easier than selling more.
Reduce costs: Buy materials in bulk, negotiate supplier discounts. 10% cost reduction = huge profit boost.
Raise quality: Better materials + "premium" positioning = charge 50% more with same costs.
Sell bundles: 3-piece bundle at 15% discount still sells for $8-10 more total profit than single items.
Custom orders: Custom work = 30-50% premium pricing. "Custom name pendant" sells for $35 vs $15 standard.
Upsells: Include premium options. "Upgrade to gift wrapping: +$3" = huge margin feature.
Repeat customers: Email list = repeat purchases at 50%+ lower marketing cost.
Wholesale: Sell to boutiques/shops at 40-50% discount but in bulk (100+ units at once).

Scaling Production: From Hobby to Business

The Production Scaling Formula

Going from 10 sales/month to 200 requires systems, not just more hours.

Stage 1: Manual Production (1-50 sales/month)

→ Make everything from scratch per order. No inventory.
→ No efficiency = time is expensive. This is hobby level.
→ Profit: $500-2,000/month if part-time.

Stage 2: Batch Production (50-200 sales/month)

→ Pre-make popular items in batches. Reduce setup time.
→ Invest in multiple molds. Pour 10 coasters at once instead of 1.
→ 3-5x more efficient. 10 hours of work = 30-50 finished items.
→ Profit: $2,000-5,000/month feasible part-time.

Stage 3: Full-Time Production (200-500+ sales/month)

→ Dedicated workspace. Leave molds/materials set up.
→ Buy bulk materials. 20-30% cost reduction at scale.
→ Hire help for packaging/shipping. $15/hour labor frees you for production.
→ Profit: $5,000-15,000/month realistic.

Stage 4: Advanced Scaling (500+ sales/month)

→ Hire assistant crafter. Teach your process, delegate production.
→ Outsource non-core tasks. Hire for shipping, customer service, photography.
→ Focus on high-margin items only. Drop low-margin products.
→ Profit: $15,000-30,000+/month possible.

Essential Business Setup

Legal & Taxes

→ Sole proprietorship or LLC? Start sole prop, upgrade to LLC at $5,000+ monthly revenue (liability protection).
→ Business license: Required in most places ($50-200 one-time).
→ Track everything. Every receipt, every sale. Deduct materials, workspace, equipment.
→ Tax liability: Set aside 25-30% of profits for taxes (varies by location/structure).

Accounting

→ Use accounting software: Quickbooks, Wave (free), or FreshBooks. Track income/expenses automatically.
→ Monthly reconciliation: Spend 30 minutes reconciling. Know your numbers.
→ Annual CPA review: $300-500/year saves thousands in taxes through proper deductions.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much should I charge for custom orders? +

Add 30-50% premium to standard pricing for custom work. If standard coaster is $12, custom with name/colors is $16-18. Customization adds value and perceived exclusivity. Don't undercharge for custom—these are high-profit items.

Should I sell to wholesale buyers or boutiques? +

Yes, but carefully. Wholesale typically means 40-50% off your retail price. So if you retail at $20, they pay $10. Only profitable if you can produce in high volume and have low costs. Minimum order 50-100+ units usually. Great for scaling but requires capital upfront.

What's the best way to get Etsy reviews? +

Ask customers directly. Include a note in packaging: "Love your purchase? We'd appreciate a 5-star review!" You can also email customers 2 weeks after delivery asking for feedback. Aim for 20%+ review rate. More reviews = higher search ranking = 30-50% more sales.

How do I compete with huge sellers on Etsy? +

You don't compete on scale or price. You compete on uniqueness, quality, and storytelling. Your "handmade by artist" story beats "mass-produced from factory." Focus on niche products, excellent customer service, and engaging content. Find your tribe, not everyone.

Can I really make $10,000/month doing this? +

Yes, but it requires: (1) Proper pricing (not undercharging), (2) Efficient production (batch work, not custom per order), (3) Multiple revenue streams (Etsy + Instagram + local markets), (4) Marketing investment (content creation), (5) Time (many hours initially). It's doable but not quick money. Expect 6-12 months to reach serious income.

Should I focus on one product or many? +

Start with 1-2 bestsellers, add variety once you have systems. Many beginners waste time on 10 products when they should perfect 3. Master coasters, nail the Etsy listing, get reviews. Then expand. Focus beats variety at startup.

How do I handle shipping fragile resin items? +

Invest in proper packaging. Bubble wrap (3 layers), cardboard box, padding inside. Costs $2-3 per order. Offer shipping insurance option ($1-2 extra). Happy customers return; broken items damage reputation. Never cheap out on packaging—it's worth the investment.