Podcast Summary: Crickets to Cha-Chings

Episode 203: 5 Etsy Trends to Jump On in 2025: Unlocking Hidden Gems with Profit Tree

Host: Julie Berninger (Gold City Ventures)
Guest: Hannah Gardner (Profit Tree)
Date: August 15, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, host Julie Berninger welcomes back Hannah Gardner from Profit Tree to discuss five emerging trends on Etsy that promise strong potential for entrepreneurs in 2025. Hannah shares data-driven insights uncovered using Profit Tree's new trend-spotting tools, highlighting both digital and handmade product opportunities. The conversation provides practical tips for both new and seasoned sellers looking to pivot or expand on Etsy.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introduction to Profit Tree’s New Features (00:13–01:30)

• Hannah recaps the evolution of Profit Tree as an all-in-one tool for Etsy sellers, now featuring trends detection, competitor shop analytics, keyword research, and more.
• Focus is on actionable insights: "[Our tool] shows you really high-level insights ... showing what's happening right now, which is really, really cool." (Hannah, 03:06)

2. Trend 1: Personalized Baby Books (01:43–06:40)

• Opportunity: Print-on-demand custom baby books, especially “Goodnight” stories where buyers can personalize the child’s name.
• Example: Books selling at $19.99–$40, averaging $8K/month in revenue; evergreen demand with year-round buyers.
• Production: Use Gelato for print-on-demand integration with Etsy; handmade illustrations or AI-generated art can be used.
• Process: Personalization operates like custom T-shirts—swap out names in a template.
• Notable quote:
  "Baby books are not talked about anywhere ... if you snooze, you lose! I’m so glad you're mentioning it." — Julie (03:01)
• Tips:
  • No coding required; Canva can work if you want DIY design.
  • Consider outsourcing art via Fiverr or using AI, though quality may vary.
• Automation Discussion: Potential for further automation through custom integration tools, albeit with some technical caveats.

3. Trend 2: Embroidered Blankets and Personalizable Embroidered Products (06:42–09:55)

• Opportunity: Embroidered blankets as highly-personalized, tangible gifts.
  • Technique: Buy blanks in bulk; use or partner for embroidery.
• Supply Chain: Minimum order quantities (MOQs) are lower; local partners or overseas suppliers (not just China—Vietnam, Bali, etc.) are options.
• Expansion: Embroidered accessories like pencil cases, backpack, tote bags are also trending.
• Notable quote:
  "Even if you don’t know how to do embroidery, I promise you in your local area, there is somebody ... willing to partner with you." — Hannah (07:43)
• Compliance Tip:
  Always check Etsy’s creativity standards to ensure you’re adding value and not simply reselling.

4. Trend 3: Funny Cruise Shirts (09:55–11:17)

• Opportunity: Group-themed print-on-demand cruise shirts with witty sayings and customizable options for family/friend vacation groups.
• Marketing Angle: Increase in bulk orders signals Etsy to boost listings in search—group orders help SEO.
• Listing Setup: Use bulk listing tools (like Simply Listed), offer multiple product types (tank, tee, etc.), and a menu of sayings.
• Notable quote:
  "If you're making listings that incentivize a group sale, Etsy is going to see that ... and push your listing more." — Hannah (11:17)
• Host reaction:
  “I love seeing a good bulk order. ... Let’s get everybody a shirt, that’s good.” — Julie (11:10)

5. Trend 4: Personalized Dog Shirts – 90s Grunge Style (11:17–12:48)

• Opportunity: Custom shirts featuring buyer’s dog photos/designs, creatively styled in 90s grunge or all-over-print fashion.
• Popularity: These are consistent bestsellers, with room for creative differentiation.
• Expansion: Ideas include unique spins on popular trends and branching out into other pet products.
• Notable quote:
  "If you're already in the dog space, you might as well pick this one up as well." — Hannah (12:26)
• Host description:
  "I would describe that shirt as a 90s grunge with a picture of the person's dog all over it type of look ... people love dogs, they're never going to stop." — Julie (12:26)

6. Trend 5: Digital Patterns (12:48–15:34)

• Opportunity: Sell digital download patterns for crochet, knitting, and other crafts.
• Production: Patterns can be self-made, AI-generated, or created with help from craft partners.
• Market Data: Crochet and craft blogs drive huge traffic and can push sales via Etsy shop links.
• Types: Crochet patterns, knitting, even swimsuit patterns—all are in demand.
• Notable quote:
  "It's an evergreen product. It's a digital product. So you're not actually making anything, you're just selling the information of how to make it. ... Just adding as many listings as possible ... increases the amount of searchability that your store has." — Hannah (14:36)
• Host insights:
  “It is out of control how many visits those [crochet] blogs get ... Blog to Etsy shop and Etsy back to blog—there’s just so much you can do.” — Julie (15:20)
  • Notes ongoing popularity: "Now it’s young people, they want crochet bikinis, the crochet hats, like, it’s very trend." — Hannah (15:34)

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• Julie, on missed opportunities:
  "If you snooze, you lose! It took me three years to bring this to light, but maybe someone else will have the bandwidth to take this idea." (03:01)
• Hannah, on creative partnerships:
  "I promise you, in your local area, there is somebody that ... would probably be willing to partner with you." (07:43)
• Julie, on evolving trends:
  "It’s so crazy how the trends come back around ... now it’s young people [crocheting]—it’s very trend." (15:20, 15:34)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:13–01:30 – Profit Tree’s new features & trend-finding capabilities
• 01:43–06:40 – Trend 1: Personalized baby books (print on demand)
• 06:42–09:55 – Trend 2: Embroidered blankets & personalized embroidered products
• 09:55–11:17 – Trend 3: Funny cruise shirts for group sales
• 11:17–12:48 – Trend 4: Personalized dog shirts, 90s grunge style
• 12:48–15:34 – Trend 5: Digital crafting patterns & Etsy/blog synergy

Conclusion & Resources

Julie wraps up by encouraging listeners to explore these trends using Profit Tree’s latest features and to follow Hannah on YouTube (search: Ecom Hannah). The episode is packed with actionable tips and real talk for Etsy sellers ready to diversify, pivot, or scale in the evolving handmade and digital goods market.