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✨ Annual Planning & Thinking Ahead on Etsy
I wanted to quickly talk you through how I use this annual planning sheet and, more importantly, how I think ahead when planning products for my Etsy shop.
This is just a simple Google Sheet — I made it quickly — but now it’s filled in, you’ll get the idea of how powerful this kind of planning can be.
🗓️ Starting with Key Dates
The first thing I’ve done on the planning sheet is add in key dates.
These are the main dates for the UK and USA, simply because the USA is my biggest customer base.
If there are extra dates that are important for your country or niche, you can absolutely add those in too.
I’ve filled this out for the whole year, right through to December, because Etsy (and retail in general) tends to work in quarters:
- Q4 is always the biggest — the run up to Christmas
- Q1 is usually the spring quarter…and so on.
⏳ Why I Plan So Far Ahead
One thing I really want to stress is that I try to plan ahead, because realistically I don’t have endless time.
I’m running my Etsy shop alongside a full time job, so planning gives me breathing space.
Last year, I made a pumpkin spice themed product.
It was ready early — and instead of waiting until autumn, I listed it in late July or August, even though pumpkins and Halloween don’t really peak until October.
And honestly? That early listing made all the difference.
🍂 The Domino Effect of Listing Early
Because the product was already in my shop:
- it started getting traffic before the trend peaked
- people saw it before they were actively searching for it
- by the time September came around, buyers had already found and bought it
At first I got one sale… then another… and then it created a domino effect with more and more sales following.
That’s why I don’t plan for “right now”.
I plan for what’s coming next.
🔮 Thinking in “Next Three Months”
Instead of focusing on the current month, I’m always thinking:
- the next month
- the next two months
- or ideally the next three months
So even though we’re early January, I’m already thinking about February and March.
For example, for February we might be considering themes like:
- seasonal moments
- awareness dates
- or events such as Black History Month, depending on your niche
The goal is to get as much prepared before demand peaks.
🌱 Final Thought
This planning approach helps me stay calm, consistent, and realistic — especially when time is limited.
You don’t need a perfect plan.
You just need something that helps you look ahead, rather than always feeling like you’re catching up.
I hope this gives you a clearer idea of how and why I use this planning sheet 💛
16:30
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✨ Annual Planning & Thinking Ahead on Etsy
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