Creating an Etsy Listing with Multiple Products using Printify

This playbook outlines how to create a single Etsy listing that offers multiple product types (t-shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies, etc.) with variation options for size and color, all fulfilled through Printify. It is based on Taylor Posada’s walkthrough video and expanded with additional best practices for SEO, fulfillment, and scaling.

Goal: Create a single, professional Etsy listing where customers can seamlessly choose different product types, colors, and sizes, while ensuring smooth fulfillment through Printify.

Step 1: Design Your Products in Printify

1. Select Your First Product

  • Go to the Printify product catalog.

  • Choose your first product (example: Bella + Canvas 3001 t-shirt).

  • Select a reliable print provider.

    • Monster Digital or SwiftPOD are recommended for consistent print quality and faster shipping.

    • Keep in mind: All products within one Etsy listing must use the same print provider to avoid shipping inconsistencies.

  • Click "Start Designing."

2. Upload and Customize Your Design

  • Upload your artwork file (e.g., PNG with transparent background).

  • Verify that your design has a full POD usage license. If sourced from Creative Fabrica or similar platforms, check licensing rights.

  • Etsy requires designs to be unique/customized for your shop. Best practices:

    • Add text overlays or personalization options.

    • Adjust color schemes, textures, or layering.

  • Placement:

    • Standard placement is chest-centered, slightly below the neckline.

  • Select available color options in Printify (choose 4–8 core colors to keep your listing clean and buyer-friendly).

3. Publish Your First Product to Etsy

  • Click "Save Product."

  • Add metadata:

    • Title: Include design theme, product type, and target keywords.

    • Description: Highlight product quality, fabric, fit, and washing instructions. Use keyword-rich phrasing.

    • Tags: Maximize Etsy SEO with up to 13 tags.

  • Assign a unique shipping profile for this listing.

  • In publishing settings:

    • Keep "Show all variants as available for purchase" checked.

    • Uncheck “mockups” if you intend to upload custom mockups later.

  • Publish to Etsy.

4. Design Subsequent Products (Save as Drafts)

  • Select your next product type (example: Gildan 18000 sweatshirt).

  • Choose the same print provider as the first product.

  • Upload and adjust the same design for the new product.

  • Select the relevant color options.

  • Click "Save Product" → Save as Draft.

  • Repeat for any other product types (hoodies, tank tops, tote bags).

Step 2: Customize Your Etsy Listing

1. Access the Published Listing

  • Go to your Etsy shop and open the first published listing.

  • Upload custom mockup images:

    • Lifestyle shots (models, home environments).

    • Flat lays or studio mockups showing each product variation.

    • Ensure all product types are represented to reduce customer confusion.

2. Edit Variations

  • Delete Printify’s auto-generated variations.

  • Create new variations:

    1. Variation 1: "Product & Size"

      • Example entries: T-shirt Small, T-shirt Medium, Sweatshirt Small, Sweatshirt Medium.

      • Check boxes for “Prices vary,” “Quantities vary,” and “SKUs vary.”

    2. Variation 2: "Color"

      • Add all available colors across product types.

      • Example: White, Black, Dark Heather, Sand, Sport Gray.

      • Again, check all three boxes for price, quantity, SKU.

3. Input Product + Size Combinations

  • Under "Product & Size," manually type each combination.

  • Cover all sizes you plan to offer (Small through 5XL if supported by provider).

4. Input Color Options

  • List all colors across product types.

  • Example: T-shirts may have Athletic Heather, Sweatshirts may have Sand.

5. Manage Quantities, Prices, and Availability

  • Quantities: Set all to 999 (Printify fulfills on demand).

  • Disable irrelevant variations:

    • For each product type, turn off colors not offered.

  • Pricing:

    • Adjust pricing based on product type and size.

    • Example: T-shirts $24.95, Sweatshirts $34.95, Hoodies $39.95.

Step 3: SKU Management for Automated Fulfillment

1. Retrieve SKUs from Printify Drafts

  • Go to Printify → Products → Open each draft product.

  • Locate SKU numbers in the product details (each size/color has a unique SKU).

2. Add SKUs to Etsy Listing

  • In your Etsy listing, paste the corresponding SKU into the variation’s SKU field.

  • Repeat for every product-size-color variation.

3. Decide on SKU Strategy

  • With SKUs: Orders flow directly into Printify, auto-processed.

  • Without SKUs: Orders appear in Printify’s “Other Orders” tab and must be manually matched.

  • Time-saving approach: Add SKUs only for variations once they begin selling.

Step 4: Optimize and Scale

1. Finalize Your Listing

  • Double-check variations, pricing, SKUs, and mockups.

  • Preview listing before publishing changes.

2. Use Listing as a Template

  • Copy listing inside Etsy to launch new designs.

  • Replace design mockups, titles, and tags while keeping the multi-product structure intact.

3. Optimize for SEO and Conversion

  • Regularly test different titles, thumbnails, and keywords.

  • Use keyword research tools (eRank, Marmalead, EverBee) to refine listing titles and tags.

  • Refresh mockups seasonally or with trend-driven updates.

4. Monitor and Improve

  • Track performance in Etsy analytics: conversion rate, favorites, sales.

  • Adjust underperforming color/size options.

  • Scale bestsellers into new templates with similar design concepts.

Etsy, Printify, Print on DemandFrancesca Tabor