Episode 181 | Selling Fake Flowers on Etsy Made Me a Millionaire

What if I told you that selling on Etsy can require no creativity on your end? The truth is that I have made over a million dollars in profit selling fake flowers on Etsy – without having to hand-make anything. Today I am sharing 10 reasons why faux florals are great to sell on Etsy, because not only do they photograph well but they are easily customizable too. If you are looking to make 8k to 10k profit per month selling silk flowers, tune into this episode! 

In this week’s episode we discuss:

[00:49] Tip 1: Fake flowers can be sold as a supply category item on Etsy

[02:25] Tip 2: Silk flowers have a very high margin

[03:22] Tip 3: Silk flowers will scale your order count very quickly

[04:17] Tip 4: You can work with different suppliers to create a “special makeup” of flowers

[05:08] Tip 5: Silk flowers ship safely and cheaply 

[05:35] Tip 6: Fake flowers photograph very well

[06:01] Tip 7: Silk flowers are a less expensive alternative to a necessary purchase

[06:17] Tip 8: People buy silk flowers further in advance

[06:27] Tip 9: Faux florals are often repeat purchase items 

[07:06] Tip 10: Fake flowers are great for serving international customers 

Tip 1: Fake flowers can be sold as a supply category item on Etsy

When finished flowers are made for an event or occasion they fall into the supply category. This means that no extra work is required on your end. You do not have to alter or handmake anything. This makes selling silk flowers scalable because you can outsource it. When I started, I was selling my floral items in the handmade category. It was not until I sold over a million dollars worth that I started to list them as supply category items. We now do over 60,000 dollars a year – just on Etsy.

For example: we had a 4,000 dollar order for only supplies. This means that all we had to do was just package it and ship it or you can have your manufacturer ship it for you. It really is so easy to sell finished floral items for weddings, events, and occasions!

Tip 2: Silk flowers have a very high margin

Another great reason to sell silk flowers is because they have a very high margin. You can sell them alone for a high margin or as a finished item for an even higher margin. My margin on my finished floral handmade or altered items is typically around 70% and my margin on my straight supplies, where I am just packaging and reselling is around 50% to 60%. 

I started by just selling one floral item that I used in my wedding and this margin was around 70% – because it was customizable and made to order. You will have a much higher margin if you allow for customization. 

Tip 3: Silk flowers will scale your order count very quickly

Silk flowers will also scale your order count (the number under your shop name) very quickly. One person’s order transaction will drive up my order count by 20%-20%. This will help the overall perception of your shop. 

Tip 4: You can work with different suppliers to create a “special makeup” of flowers

The SMU game is strong with florals, especially in Taiwan. If you are not familiar with SMUs, they are special makeups and this means that a manufacturer makes something exclusively for you. We had a manufacturer make a specific flower for us and we got the price down 12 percent, just by removing the stem. We bought 4,000 of that style and it has done well. If you need help developing supplier relationships, we can teach you how to do this!

Tip 5: Silk flowers ship safely and cheaply 

The great thing about silk flowers is that they are very flexible, which means that they ship very safely and cheaply. I always look for cheap and nonbreakable items. This allows you to scale because you are not dealing with waste and it gives you more predictability with the customer experience. Another perk is that since they are so lightweight, they usually fall under 16 ounces (as there are 20 flowers or less in a box) which means cheaper international shipping as well.

Tip 6: Fake flowers photograph very well

Fake flowers also photograph very well and in the supply category, it is always important to find a product that photographs well. Many people do not put a lot of thought into their floral photos yet they still look nice. 

Tip 7: Silk flowers are a less expensive alternative to a necessary purchase

Silk flowers are also a less expensive alternative to a necessary purchase. People spend thousands of dollars on flowers for weddings, funerals, birthdays, and showers. Silk flowers can often be a less expensive version of the real option!

Tip 8: People buy silk flowers further in advance

Another great thing about silk flowers is that people buy them further in advance. This means that your sales are going to be more consistent because even if wedding season is far away, people are not going to wait until that week or month to buy. 

Tip 9: Faux florals are often repeat purchase items 

Faux florals are great repeat purchase item because people rarely use the same flowers for every single occasion. They will not be using the flowers from grandma’s funeral for their one-year-olds birthday party – they are typically going to buy new flowers. People are usually looking for a different color scheme or style and this means as long as you have high-quality flowers and a great experience, they will keep coming back. You can serve the same customers easily for four to seven years in this category. 

Tip 10: Fake flowers are great for serving international customers 

Faux florals are also great for serving international customers. Many people do not have access to the same wholesale opportunities that you might have. They might not have connections or know how to build those connections. 

Silk flowers are just one category that can make millions on Etsy. If you are looking to make 8k-10k a month selling faux florals, make sure to join our Ultimate Etsy Course or book a free call on the sales page to see if we can help!