Podcast Summary: How to Sell Your Stuff on Etsy
Host: Lizzie Smiley
Episode: 197 | Tariffs and Trends
Date: September 4, 2025
Overview:
In this episode, Lizzie Smiley delivers an essential update for Etsy sellers, focusing on two major topics: recent changes to tariff rules impacting international trade for small businesses, and an in-depth analysis of the latest e-commerce and design trends for fall and the upcoming holiday season. The episode's goal is to help Etsy shop owners stay informed, compliant, and ahead of the curve as Q4 approaches.
Key Discussion Points
1. Announcements & Resources (00:58–07:00)
- Trendspotting Membership: Lizzie offers a paid, weekly trend report membership with trend insights, product opportunities, and SEO help. Several bonuses coming in September and October (niche bundle, double opportunity week, Christmas-specific reports, Canva templates, mindset audio)—all for $17 your first month (KEEP20 code).
- Profit Tree Tool: New Etsy product research tool for a one-time $67 fee. Provides granular data (cart count, sales, sales velocity) and profit tracking for better data-driven decisions.
- SEO Workshop: Live and recorded SEO workshop on September 25, 7pm CT, with teaching and shop audits—early bird pricing until September 9.
Quote:
"Let's get you the training you need. Let's get you the resources you need. I mean, the way I am giving you the biggest hug right now, this is going to be a massive Q4."
—Lizzie Smiley (06:22)
2. Tariffs: The New Rules & Their Impact (07:00–20:15)
What Changed?
- On August 29, 2025, the US suspended the "de minimis" (duty-free threshold) rule.
- Before: Imports to the US under $800 were tax-exempt.
- Now: All imports, regardless of value, are taxed.
- Who’s Affected?
- Sellers shipping from outside the US to US customers now face new tariffs.
- US sellers sourcing materials from overseas may face higher costs.
- Domestic-only US sellers likely won’t be impacted.
Quote:
"If you live in the United States, you source goods from the United States, and you ship only in the United States, this should not affect you at all right now."
—Lizzie Smiley (11:41)
What to Do Now?
- Use “Delivery Duty Paid” (DDP) shipping providers (e.g., FedEx, UPS) so customers don’t get hit with surprise charges. USPS is not DDP-ready yet.
- Sellers abroad should check the Etsy Seller Handbook and Printify for further guidance.
- Prepare customers for potential delays as US customs deal with higher volume.
Print on Demand Sellers (Printify update)
- Printify is preemptively switching to DDP providers and covering new tariff charges (for now).
- Strong suggestion to ensure POD production and shipping stays within your customer’s country whenever possible.
Quote:
"Printify is on top of it... they're automatically switching all shipping to the DDP providers... and for now they're covering the cost as well. So literally, thank you Printify."
—Lizzie Smiley (17:14)
Lizzie’s Mindset Encouragement
- Stay calm and stay focused: “Everything is figureoutable. Like, keep your eye on the prize... this nonsense doesn’t get to steal our energy. Enjoy. Okay? We have to just keep moving forward.” (19:37)
3. Trend Report: Fall 2025 & Holiday Insights (20:15–35:53)
Color Trends
- Chocolate Brown: The biggest color of the year, especially for apparel and mockups.
- Plum Purple: Accent, rich tone, also popular for fall.
Gen Z and Vintage/Thrifting Trends
- Gen Z drives a huge wave in thrifting, sustainable shopping, and vintage aesthetic ("grandma core"), reflected in sharp growth in Pinterest searches.
- Elements: retro fonts, lightning bolts, daisies, mystical stars, smiley faces (but caution on IP!), 90s preppy looks, and especially patchwork clothing and décor.
Memorable Quote:
"This love right now for... everything kind of like grandma core, like a little bit vintage, like a little of updated vintage. Let's take something old, pair it with something new and make it a little bit updated."
—Lizzie Smiley (24:53)
Caution on Trends and IP
- “Smiley face” images and the term "smiley" are trademarked. Sellers risk takedowns and legal trouble by using these directly.
Home Décor & Art Trends
- Personalized spaces, art deco touches, cozy/vintage/nostalgic elements.
- "Elevating the everyday" in décor and gift products.
Apparel & Beauty
- Grunge-inspired makeup, 90s pixie cuts, and fall fragrances (apple, vanilla, caramel)—useful for those creating beauty or scent-related products.
Etsy/POD Design Strategies — Trend Combining
- Lizzie emphasizes trend combining (layering two or more trending ideas in one design) to stand out and defeat market saturation.
- Example: Not just a pumpkin shirt, but a patchwork or watercolor pumpkin; football + patchwork; boho Halloween.
Quote:
"You're going to want a trend combine. You want to bring multiple things together that make sense... and that is how you beat saturation and you stand out in a busy marketplace."
—Lizzie Smiley (28:35)
Fall/Holiday Seasonal Themes (Trend Watch)
- For Fall: Football, coffee, pumpkins (patchwork/brushstroke/doodle), boho, skeletons (all year!), patchwork, brushstroke, doodle, and watercolor.
- Halloween: Ghosts (often with cats or in unique costumes), bats, spiderwebs, black cats, witches with ‘feminist twist’, skeletons.
- Watch for trends like "silly goose" (but avoid the actual term and trademark issues).
- Thanksgiving: Pumpkin pie, pumpkin spice, hand-drawn or patchwork/doodle turkeys, vintage/nostalgia-heavy designs with an updated look.
- Christmas: Pink and red (Barbie effect), holographic, gingerbread, gold glitter or metallic touches, leopard print, rhinestone red, peacock-inspired palettes, pastel candy, minty green, white owls, pheasants, woodland themes, vintage Santa.
- Designs from Italy (3–5 years ago) are trending in the US.
- Collages (rectangular or doodle) and vintage postage stamp-style layouts for seasonal graphics are huge.
Evergreen Trends (Year-Round Winning Styles)
- 90s/Retro: Checkered patterns, lightning bolts, doodle collages.
- Vintage Postage Stamp Designs: Group motifs relevant to the niche (e.g., Halloween, school, Christmas, etc.) within illustrated stamps.
- Watercolor/Brushstroke Elements: Visibly painted look, especially for holiday motifs and hearts for Valentine's.
- Coquette: Bows used as accent elements in all niches.
- Patchwork/Grand Millennial: In both décor and wearable niches; layering fabrics, vintage flair in even unexpected categories.
- “Silly Goose” Trend: Ubiquitous across categories (alter slogan/design to avoid trademark).
Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments
-
On overcoming business changes:
"Keep your eye on the prize. Around here we sharpen our mindset, we keep things high vibe, because we only have so much capacity and this nonsense doesn't get to steal our energy."
—Lizzie Smiley (19:33) -
On understanding and leveraging Etsy trends:
"You'd be amazed to see... how long things kind of stick around. I thought it was going to constantly change a lot, and it's really interesting to watch how they stick and then the ones that are kind of flash in the pan."
—Lizzie Smiley (01:45) -
Clarifying the practical, positive mindset:
"Everything is figureoutable... Don't let it ruffle your feathers too much. I know it's easy to get frustrated but... we're just looking out for you."
—Lizzie Smiley (19:50) -
On trend strategy:
"It is not a good idea to just throw one fall thing on a design and think that's going to work. You're going to want a trend combine. You want to bring multiple things together that make sense. They shouldn't be random, they should make sense, but bring them together to create something new."
—Lizzie Smiley (28:29)
Timestamps for Key Segments
| Timestamp | Segment Description | |-----------|-----------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:57 | Episode roadmap & personal updates | | 01:30 | Intro to trendspotting membership and upcoming bonuses | | 04:00 | Profit Tree tool overview and product research benefits | | 06:10 | Upcoming live SEO workshop details | | 07:08 | Q4 encouragement and transition to main topics | | 07:38 | Tariff overview: what changed and why it matters | | 10:42 | Detailed explanation: who’s affected, practical scenarios | | 14:07 | How to respond: DDP providers and customer communication | | 16:45 | Printify’s automatic adaptation to tariff impact | | 19:31 | Mindset encouragement and moving on (“everything is figureoutable”) | | 20:24 | Fall trend report intro; focus on colors, Gen Z behavior, vintage| | 23:35 | Gen Z’s thrifting, vintage, and sustainability trend | | 24:53 | “Grandma core,” nostalgia (Millennials/Gen Z trend crossover) | | 26:40 | Risk of trademarks—smiley face warning | | 27:40 | Home décor, art deco, elevating the everyday | | 29:04 | Beauty and scent trends for fall (hints for candle/scent sellers)| | 28:29 | Design strategy: trend combining | | 33:25 | Christmas trends: colors, motifs, collages, and Italian influence| | 35:21 | Evergreen trends for all year: 90s, checkers, postage stamp designs| | 35:53 | Closing encouragement and summary |
Takeaways & Action Steps
- Stay current on new tariff regulations—international sellers and those who source materials abroad need to adapt shipping providers immediately to avoid unhappy customers and unanticipated fees.
- Monitor updates—rules are in flux; check Etsy and Printify resources regularly.
- Adopt trend stacking—combine two or three current trends thoughtfully; avoid random mashups for best results.
- Mind trademark risks—when in doubt, find workarounds for popular motifs like smiley faces or quirky slogans.
- Lean into nostalgia and personalization— timeless elements with a modern update are winning across product categories.
- Prep early for Q4—start working now with these trends and techniques to maximize sales opportunities through the end of the year.
Final Encouragement:
"Go make something awesome. Thanks guys."
(Lizzie, 35:53)
Resource Links, detailed membership bonuses, and free mockup PDF mentioned in the episode are available via Lizzie's show notes at howtosellyourstuff.com.