Fall is fast approaching! Soon, shoppers will add some celebratory shine to their spaces and gather gifts for the holiday season. Luckily, we’ve got an eagle eye on the items they might be seeking.
“This year’s early holiday trends are infusing joy, creativity, and functionality to life at every level,” says Etsy Trend Expert Dayna Isom Johnson. From playful back-to-school bag charms to eerie, earthy Halloween designs, plus a sneak peek at what’s coming this winter, read on to learn about the fresh decor, style, and gifting themes we predict will be popular in the coming months, based on Etsy search data and wider industry forecasting.
The year-over-year (YoY) increases below were calculated by comparing search volume on Etsy from May through July 2024 to the same period of 2023.
Table of Contents
How to use this report
In this quick video, Etsy Trend Expert Dayna Isom Johnson explains how to put the content covered in the report to use.
Use the insights here to inspire updates both big and small, from adding to your inventory to refreshing your titles and tags. Prep your shop for the upcoming season by:
- Getting ideas for new products.
- Optimizing your listings to appeal to shoppers with gift recipients in mind. Here's a checklist to help you get started!
- Brainstorming content ideas for your social media promotions.
- Updating your photos with on-trend styling.
- Refreshing your Shop Banner with seasonal details.
- Including seasonally relevant top-searched terms in your tags, titles, and descriptions.
- Timing your inventory to take advantage of upticks in relevant searches and in advance of key occasions.
- Choosing which listings to promote through Etsy Ads.
Gifting and occasions
August 21–September 2: Labor Day Savings Spectacular (US)/Early Autumn Savings Spectacular (All other countries)
Add a sale with at least 25% off during this event to participate. Visit etsy.me/schedule-a-sale to get started.
September 22: Fall Equinox
October 14: Thanksgiving (CA)
November 1: All Saints (FR)
November 11: Singles Day (CH)
November 11: Armistice (FR)
November 18–December 3: Cyber Savings Spectacular
Add a sale by Tuesday, October 1, 2024 with at least 25% off during this event to participate. Visit etsy.me/schedule-a-sale to get started.
November 28: Thanksgiving (US)
November 29: Black Friday
November 30: Small Business Saturday
December 1- December 24: Advent
December 2: Cyber Monday
December 3: Giving Tuesday
December 6: St. Nicholas Day (Europe)
December 12: Christmas Jumper Day (UK)
December 21: Winter Solstice
December 24: Christmas Eve
December 25: Christmas Day
December 25-January 2: Hanukkah
December 26-January 1: Kwanzaa
December 26: Boxing Day (UK, CA, AU)
December 31: New Year’s Eve
Additional events and key moments to keep in mind:
Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 - October 15), World Teachers Day (October 5), Indigenous People's Day (October 14), Diwali (October 31), Dia de los Muertos (November 1-2), International Day of Persons with Disabilities (December 3)
Decor and style trends
Expanded imaginations
Halloween gets an invigorating update with whimsical influences balanced by soothing hues. This includes pastel colors, eye-catching effects, unexpected ideas—like a flying saucer disco ball!—and tongue-in-cheek touches, like googly eyes. Overall, a softer, more lighthearted approach to spooky season.
Statement dorm art
This year, college dorm rooms are transforming into vibrant personal galleries with bold and expressive art. Searches on Etsy for travel-inspired prints have skyrocketed, while rhinestone and sequin art adds a touch of glam to any space.
- Mykonos prints +1,254%
- Amalfi prints +784%
- Athens prints +535%
- Capri prints +385%
- Rhinestone or sequin art +35%
- Dorm art +20%
Prep revival
As students head back to school, they are readily embracing nostalgia meets contemporary style through this revival trend. Think: classic plaid skirts, monogrammed sweaters, cute polo shirts, and argyle patterns. This trend brings a modern twist to timeless preppy aesthetics, making it a hit with the fashion-forward.
- Bow earrings +135%
- Khaki items +35%
- Polos +24%
- Vests +16%
Charms
Individuality is key this year, and charms are a surefire way to stand out amongst the crowd. Whether adorning backpacks, cups, or keychains, these eye-catching accessories allow students to express their unique style. From delightful designs to personalized initials, charms can be mixed and matched for a truly custom look. Plus, they make thoughtful and fun gifts for the back-to-school season.
- Cup charms +90%
- Bag charms +29%
Nod to nature
For this autumn design direction, tap into organic inspiration with lush, textural finishes. Think skeletons made of clay, dried foliage that shoppers can use well into Thanksgiving—and then again next year!—and otherworldly styled plants and planters. Go wild with wreaths, earthy updates, and fall harvest favorites, like pumpkins.
Holiday preview
Nature will continue to make a big impact during the holiday season. Citrus accents—a nice call back to Chef’s Kiss, one of our key trends from Spring/Summer—will pop up everywhere, from mantles to tablescapes. Jewel tones will play a pivotal part as well, perfect for cozy celebrations with family and friends.
Gifting trends
Roommate gifts
A thoughtful gift can go a long way when meeting a new dorm roommate, breaking the ice and transforming a shared space into a cozy, welcoming home. From friendship necklaces to embroidered pillows, these gifts can help start the school year – and a new living situation – on a positive note from day one.
- College gifts +63%
- Custom-made pillows +29%
- Friend gifts +10%
Kidulting
Bridging the gap between childhood fun and adulthood, “kidulting” brings joy to everyday tasks, and Etsy has seen a surge in searches for crafting kits, offering a creative escape and a chance to unwind for stressed-out students and busy parents alike.
- Custom or personalized paint by number kits +22%
- Crochet kits +28%
- Adult crafting kits +22%
Book club essentials
As book clubs gain popularity, essentials such as beautifully-designed bookmarks, personalized bookplates, and other items that celebrate the joy of reading are increasingly on the rise. These essentials not only make reading more enjoyable, but also make perfect gifts for fellow book lovers.
- Magnetic bookmarks +73%
- Book lover gifts +54%
- Ebook cases +45%
- Leather bookmarks +34%
- Book lover items +29%
- Custom bookmarks +19%
Holiday preview
Gifting will be all about quality, making each one as special as possible, with a focused intention on the details. Personalization will be key, as well as sustainability. Shoppers will think about ways to blend old and new to create modern heirlooms, incorporating meaningful pieces and vintage for items that can be passed down for generations.
Trending tools
Here are a few trending tools and marketing techniques you can use to help promote your Etsy shop:
Cutout stickers
Use Instagram to create custom stickers of your listings to feature in your stories and reels! In your stories, tap the sticker icon, select the Cutouts tool, and trace around the item you want to feature. When you’re ready to add it to a story, select the sticker icon.
One idea is to make a trending gift guide with stickers of your favorite listings for a fun promotional moment! Check out our tutorial on our Etsy Success Instagram to see how it works.
Engaging video content Videos are also an important way to make your brand more personal. When you create video content, you’re showcasing the person behind your shop and your brand. This helps to form more meaningful connections with your audience and potential buyers.
Point of View, or “POV” videos are popular on social media currently. You can film a video demonstrating a specific scenario, and add a caption that frames the perspective of the viewer. Here are some ideas for POV video content to get you inspired:
- Give a studio tour: Take the audience on a tour of your studio space and the tools you use to create your items.
- Show your process or behind the scenes: We’ve seen these types of videos perform well for us on the Etsy TikTok account. Remember, you can also speed up your videos to show a timelapse video of your creation process while keeping viewers engaged. Check out an example.
- Pack an order: Show your buyers what it looks like when you pack an order. “Pack an order with me” videos are a great way to engage with your audience and give buyers a behind the scenes look at your process. Check out an example.
- Tutorials: Tutorials are another great type of content that can add value for the viewer and help drive engagement, positioning you as an expert in your craft or genre. In addition to being useful, incorporating ways your items can be used within tutorials can help potential buyers imagine how they might use them in their own life! Check out an example.
Listing videos
Listing videos are an impactful, wonderful way to help capture eyes and interest. Try filming your personalization process, highlighting each step to show the care you take to make every gift special. End the video with a reveal of the finished item. Or, highlight your unique gift wrap items like stamped paper, stickers, bows, ribbons, and customized tissues. Show off any special techniques you may have—gift wrapping is hard!
To learn more about creating high quality videos for your listings and social media, RSVP for our upcoming seller workshop at etsyup.com.
Etsy Creator Collective
Did you know that we have a program where you can earn a commission for every sale you drive to Etsy through your social media channels? Our creator program, called Etsy Creator Collective, is a great way to help you get rewarded for the amazing work you’re already doing on your channels. You can learn more and apply at creatorcollective.etsy.com. Terms apply.
Stay tuned for even more insights, inspiration, and emerging trends when our holiday press report is released in October! This report is designed for press and media outlets to help attract press attention that can boost Etsy’s reach and help to bring customers to the site. In the meantime, stay up to date on the latest and greatest by following Etsy Success on Instagram and YouTube.
Header photos by Southern Bluebird Day, Wool Couture Company, and SO SO STORE.
Words by Stephanie Moise
Stephanie is a Senior Copywriter at Etsy who loves theater, new places, and all things synth.
