Is free shipping or a percent-off sale better for Etsy during a slow season?

Hi! In a slow season, a percent-off sale is usually the faster “attention grabber” on Etsy, while free shipping tends to work best when shipping cost is a major hesitation (or when your items are already price-competitive)—so the better choice depends on how big your shipping fee feels compared to your item price and what your average order looks like.

Here’s a simple way to choose without guessing:

Pick percent-off when…

• Your items are more “giftable/impulse” and shoppers compare lots of similar listings (discount badges help you stand out).
• Shipping is already relatively low or fairly standard for your niche.
• You want a clean, obvious hook on mobile (“20% off” is immediately understood).
• You can set the discount so you’re still profitable even after Etsy fees and your costs.

Pick free shipping when…

• Shipping is a meaningful chunk of the total (common with heavier/bulkier items), and buyers often abandon once they see shipping at checkout.
• Your competitors commonly offer free shipping (so paid shipping makes you look expensive even if your item price is lower).
• You’re trying to increase conversion on higher-priced items where “free shipping” feels like a bigger win.

If you want the most practical approach for a seasonal slowdown, do this quick check:

1. Look at your top 5–10 bestsellers and compute: shipping price ÷ item price.
   • If it’s high (roughly 15–20%+), free shipping usually removes more friction.
   • If it’s lower, a percent-off sale often performs better because it’s more visible and feels like a “deal.”
2. Check your average order: if customers often buy 2+ items, consider a promotion that rewards a bigger cart (it can outperform both options).

Two safe promo setups that usually work well on Etsy without wrecking margins:

• Small-to-moderate percent-off (clear badge, short timeframe like 3–7 days) for your bestsellers.
• Free shipping with a minimum order (if your margins allow it), so you’re not paying shipping on tiny orders.

One more tip: if you feel free shipping isn’t being highlighted as clearly, you’re not imagining it—discount messaging tends to be more “in-your-face” for shoppers. So if your goal is visibility and clicks right now, I’d lean percent-off first, then test free shipping (or a minimum-order free shipping offer) next.

If you tell me your typical item price range and average shipping cost (just ballpark numbers), I can help you pick a promo that’s most likely to lift orders and stay profitable.