If you’re an Etsy shop owner, you may need to take a break from selling your products at some point. Whether it’s for a personal reason or for business-related purposes, putting your shop on vacation mode can be a great solution.
But, how long can you put your Etsy shop on vacation? Let’s dive in and find out.
What is Vacation Mode?
Etsy’s Vacation Mode is a feature that allows you to temporarily close your shop without permanently deleting it. When you put your shop on vacation, items in your shop won’t be visible to buyers.
Additionally, buyers won’t be able to purchase anything from your store. Instead, they will see a message that says the shop is on vacation mode.
How Long Can You Put Your Shop on Vacation?
Etsy allows you to put your shop on vacation for up to six months at a time. During this time, you won’t be charged any fees and all of your listings will be saved. However, if you have any open orders or unpaid fees when you put your shop in vacation mode, these issues will need to be resolved before the feature can be activated.
Extending Vacation Mode
If you need more than six months away from selling on Etsy, you can extend the duration of the vacation mode by another six months before it expires. However, keep in mind that if you exceed 12 months of consecutive time off, Etsy may remove your listings and suspend or close your account.
How Does Vacation Mode Affect Your Shop?
Putting your Etsy shop in vacation mode can have both positive and negative effects on your store.
Positive Effects:
- It gives you a break from selling and shipping products
- You won’t receive any messages or orders during this period
- Your shop will remain intact, and you can resume selling when you’re ready
Negative Effects:
- Your shop won’t be visible to new customers during this period
- You won’t be able to sell any products during this time, which could impact your revenue
- If you have a lot of competition in your niche, your absence may allow other shops to gain market share
How to Activate Vacation Mode on Etsy?
Activating vacation mode on Etsy is relatively easy. Here’s how you can do it:
- Log in to your Etsy account and go to the “Shop Manager” section.
- Select the “Settings” option from the left-hand menu.
- Click on the “Options” tab and scroll down until you see the “Vacation Mode” option.
- Toggle the switch next to “Vacation Mode” and enter a message for customers explaining why your shop is on vacation.
- Choose a return date or select “Open My Shop Manually” if you’re unsure when you’ll return.
- Click on “Save Changes,” and your shop will be put on vacation mode.
The Bottom Line:
Putting your Etsy shop in vacation mode is an excellent way to take a break from selling without deleting your store altogether. You can put your shop in vacation mode for up to six months at a time, with an option to extend it for another six months.
However, keep in mind that exceeding one year of consecutive time off may lead to account suspension or closure. Overall, vacation mode is an excellent feature that gives shop owners flexibility and peace of mind when they need it.