You have killer custom patches, a camera roll full of outfit shots, and a mild addiction to parcel tape. Time to spin that energy into sales on Etsy and TikTok Shop. This UK-flavoured playbook covers what to list, how to shoot, which mockups to use, how to price, and the Royal Mail bits that quietly decide your margins. We will keep it chatty, practical, and a touch salesy because you are here to sell, not just scroll.
The Shop Stack What To Sell First
Start with the easy wins your audience can wear today.
- A hero set of Custom Embroidered Patches for hoodies and denim
- One budget friendly printed mini for upsells and freebies
- A neat sew on patches for clothes option for purists
- A convenience variant of custom iron on patches with an application card
- Add ons for custom logo patches for hats, custom logo patches for jackets, and custom logo patches for bags
Bundle smart. Offer a single patch, a two pack at a small saving, and a five pack at your best price per unit. That makes your listing feel generous and boosts average order value without feeling pushy.
If you want a deeper dive into materials, edges, and Patch Styles, skim this primer Custom Patches UK – The Ultimate Guide to High-Quality Personalised Design and come back with a shortlist.
Mockups That Actually Convert
Mockups are not there for catfish. They are there to help a buyer visualise your art in the wild.
- Show the patch big, flat, and clean on a neutral background
- Show the patch on a real garment close up stitch, border, and sheen in focus
- Show the patch in context hoodie pocket, cap front, tote corner
- Show scale next to a standard item or include a ruler overlay
On Etsy, policy prefers original photos of the real product, not stock renders, except in narrow cases. Keep your lead image a real photo, then use tasteful mockups deeper in the carousel to suggest styling ideas. Etsy’s listing image rules explicitly ask for original photos and clarify the limited exceptions, so stay inside the lines to avoid takedowns.
On TikTok Shop, the video is your mockup. A 6–12 second clip showing peel, place, press is worth paragraphs of text. Shoot vertically, fill the frame, add a wash-safe caption, and end with a quick CTA like tap to add iron on the kit.
Listing Anatomy Titles That Pull Their Weight
A tidy structure wins search and clicks without looking like spam.
Title format
“Black Cat Embroidered Patch Iron On Or Sew On 8 cm UK Made”
Why it works
Primary phrase up front, variant keywords baked in, UK signal present, size specified. Works for “buy custom patches online,” “order custom embroidered patches UK,” and the classic custom patches searchers.
Attributes and variations
- Backing Iron On, Sew On, Velcro
- Size 5 cm, 8 cm, 10 cm
- Colourways Original, Monochrome, Neon
Description checklist
- What the patch is, who it is for
- Materials and border style
- Backing instructions in three steps
- Washing guidance
- Shipping speed and Royal Mail service used
- Friendly returns promise
Weave in natural terms like the custom patch maker near me and custom patches made in the United Kingdom without stacking keywords. Human first, algorithm second.
Pricing Without Regret
Everyone asks how much do custom patches cost and the real answer is size plus stitch density plus backing plus quantity. For marketplaces, keep it simple.
- Entry Printed or woven minis for the algorithm pleasing low price
- Core Embroidered 7–9 cm at your healthy margin
- Premium Leather, chenille, bullion, or a shaped cut at an eye-catching anchor price
Offer Custom Patches at Low Prices on multi-packs while keeping single-unit pricing firm. Use shipping profiles to push baskets over your free-post threshold.
Royal Mail Rules That Quietly Save Your Profit
Patches are light, which is a gift. Most orders sit in Large Letters if you pack slim. Your goal is to stay under the Large Letter size and thickness where possible, then step up to Small Parcel when the order is chunky.
Large Letter max
35.3 cm length, 25 cm width, 2.5 cm thickness, 750 g weight. If you exceed any of those, it is not a Large Letter.
Small Parcel max
45 cm length, 35 cm width, 16 cm thickness, 2 kg weight. Great for hoodies plus patch bundles, gift boxes, or big multi-packs.
Quick wins
- Use stiff mailer cards and slim sleeves to keep thickness under 2.5 cm
- Put your care card and invoice behind the patch, not stacked, to avoid swelling
- Weigh parcels honestly, choose service in Click & Drop, and post within the seven-day window for online postage purchases.
Prohibited and restricted
Patches are fine, but adhesives, solvents, or batteries packaged with them may trigger restrictions. Check the current prohibited and restricted list before adding freebies such as miniature glues or liquids.
TikTok Shop shipping note
TikTok Shop integrates Royal Mail Click & Drop in the UK, making label printing and dispatch smoother inside Seller Centre. Install the integration from TikTok Shop’s Service Market to keep on-time dispatch tidy.
If you ship bigger bundles, check the latest 2025 Royal Mail price guides to keep your margins safe when rates adjust.
TikTok Shop Creative That Actually Sells A Patch
You are not making a feature film. You are showing a solve.
- Hook Show a jacket, then a quick before and after cut with the patch on
- Proof Show the hot press or iron routine in two shots with captions
- Social Proof Flash a five-star overlay or UGC clip
- CTA “Tap to choose iron on or sew on”
Keep audio UK trending and captions legible. Reply to comments with quick video answers showing Velcro swaps, hoodie placement, or washing results.
Etsy Carousel That Builds Trust
Etsy buyers love details. Give them angles and answers.
- Hero photo real, crisp stitches, true colour
- Lifestyle shot on hoodie or tote in natural light
- Flat lay with ruler or coins for scale
- Reverse side showing backing
- Edge close-up merrow border or laser cut
- Instruction card
- Packaging image Large Letter friendly
- Optional colourways
- Care and backing options graphic
- You wearing it, smiling, humanising the brand
Ensure the lead image is your strongest real photo to align with Etsy’s listing image requirements and avoid policy snags.
Kitting And Inserts That Cut Customer Support
Include a tidy A6 card.
- Three-step iron on guide plus a tip to add a perimeter stitch for heavy wear
- A link to a one-minute demo video
- Wash advice cool wash inside out
- QR code for reorder and a loyalty perk
Your support inbox will thank you and your reviews will read easier to apply than expected.
Shapes That Stop The Scroll
Not every winning patch is a circle. A clever silhouette reads faster, photographs better, and can carry your brand DNA.
- Shields for club crests and custom team patches for sports uniforms
- Tab shapes for hats and sleeves
- Die-cut outlines for animals, initials, or icons
- Micro rectangles for subtle cuff branding on custom patches for hoodies
When you are ready to go beyond basic shapes, this short read Recognize And Personalise Your Belongings With Custom Patches will spark ideas and we will cut samples that actually sit flat.
The Soft Sell You Will Thank Yourself For
Close every listing and live with choices.
- Choose iron on for hoodies or sew on for denim
- Add Velcro if you love to swap looks
- Grab a 3-pack for gifts and keep postage the same
Make it easy, polite, and specific. People do not want to be sold at. They want a clear next step.
FAQs
How Do I Keep Shipping Costs Low In The UK?
Pack slim. Aim for Large Letter by staying under 2.5 cm thick with a rigid mailer. If you tip into Small Parcel for bundles, use Click & Drop and compare Tracked 24 vs 48.
Can I Use Mockups On Etsy?
Use real photos for lead images. Etsy expects original photos of the item buyers will receive, with narrow exceptions. Keep mockups as supporting images only.
What About TikTok Shop Shipping Labels?
Enable the Royal Mail Click & Drop integration inside TikTok Shop’s Service Market to print labels and streamline dispatch.
Can You Help With Etsy Titles And SEO?
Absolutely. We will build clean titles, attributes, and descriptions that read naturally and still cover phrases like custom patches, custom embroidered patches, and Custom patches Etsy without keyword stuffing.
Are There Any Items I Should Not Include In Packages?
Avoid restricted items like liquids or adhesives that fall under Royal Mail’s prohibited or restricted lists. Check the current guidance before bundling extras.
What Sizes Sell Best For Apparel?
Seven to nine centimetres is the hoodie sweet spot. Offer a five centimetre mini for totes and caps, and a ten to twelve for statement back patches.
Build Your First Five Etsy And TikTok Listings
We make high quality embroidered patches made in UK, plus printed, woven, PVC, leather, chenille, applique, sequin, and bullion for special runs. Tell us the five designs you want live first, your preferred backing, and your Royal Mail plan. We will tidy the art, sample fast, and deliver a photo-ready set with instruction cards and packaging.
If you are wondering where to get custom patches made, you just found the best place to order custom patches and that is Patch Makers UK with grown-up lead times and real humans on email.
