Is free shipping or a percent-off discount better for Etsy sales during the slow season?

Hi! In most Etsy shops, a percent-off sale tends to win during a slow season when you need clicks now, because Etsy makes discounts very obvious (sale badge/strikethrough pricing and often a countdown), so more shoppers actually notice the offer while scrolling. Free shipping can still convert really well (less “sticker shock” at checkout), but it’s often less attention-grabbing than a visible % off—so it can help conversion after the click more than it helps you earn the click in the first place.

That said, the “best” promo usually depends on your price point and your shipping cost:

• If your items are under ~$35 or your shipping varies a lot: a percent-off discount is usually the safer test first. You control your margin more predictably, and the promo is clearer in Etsy search and listing cards.
• If your items are ~$35+ (or you can bundle to get orders there) and shipping is a common objection: free shipping (or free shipping over a threshold) can be a strong converter, and Etsy has historically given extra visibility/priority to listings/shops offering free shipping to US buyers in certain setups.

A really practical “best of both” approach (without feeling spammy):

1. Make shipping competitive first (either bake some shipping cost into your pricing, or keep your shipping price low/clean so it doesn’t look like a penalty).
2. Then run a modest percent-off sale (like 10–20%) for a short window so you get the clear Etsy sale visuals and you don’t lose buyers at checkout to shipping.

A couple quick tips to keep it from backfiring:

• If you “bake in” shipping for free shipping, make sure your new item price still looks competitive next to similar items—otherwise the free shipping benefit can get canceled out by a higher-looking price in search.
• Don’t guess—test one promotion for 7–14 days, then switch and compare in Shop Stats (visits → conversion rate → revenue per visit). Different categories behave wildly differently, and Etsy will show your listings to slightly different shoppers over time.

If you tell me your average item price, average shipping charge, and whether most buyers purchase 1 item or multiples, I can suggest which option is more likely to move the needle for your exact shop (and what kind of threshold/discount tends to fit that pattern).