Don’t know where to start when selling online? Look no further!
Table of Contents
Here you will learn:
- How to find products to sell
- The right business model for you
Hopefully by the end of this, you will have some idea of the perfect business model for yourself and what to sell.
Selling online is difficult, I know.
But narrowing down the option of what you want, or don’t want, makes that process just that much easier.
Finding Products to Sell
- Get ideas from interests and areas of expertise
Look at your hobbies and what kind of products or activities you like. Sure whatever you’re selling is for the customer, but brainstorming ideas from something in your area of expertise will be easier to come up with than trying to fabricate something out of thin air.
- Compare ideas to real data
Of course not every idea of yours is not going to work. Just because you like something or are interested in it doesn’t mean that it’s always going to sell. Try to find trending products (using the advice below) in order to find something that you like and still will be able to sell for a profit.
- Explore social media platforms like Instagram and Pinterest and Google Trends
The more trending the product is, the better. Trends create higher demand for whatever you’re selling which eventually leads to more sales for you. Increase your trendiness, increase your relevancy.
- Inform yourself on market data to see industry growth
Looking into trade associations and trade magazines/journals will let you see industry growth trends, product development, industry sales, and other things like that. Doing this will also contribute to your relevancy.
- Search for low competition areas in growing industries
Less competition = more sales for you. I mean, what more can you say besides that?
- Retrieve data on Amazon and Ebay sales, search volume, etc.
Selling the best product
When buying and selling anywhere, there are two types of products involved; niche and commoditized products.
Niche products are things that are made and sold only for a specific group of people, like a piece of equipment needed for a sport, eco-friendly products, or, heck, little handmade dog earrings. Commoditized products are necessities, things that are popular and in high demand. Things like clothes or food are examples of commoditized products.
The truth is, there is no secret to selling the best products. There are different business models out there and not every strategy will work with every model. The overall strategy is to satisfy customer demand in a way that benefits you.
Let’s now examine a few product concepts that will be successful based on the business plan you’re applying for your e-commerce site. The plans we’re focusing on are:
- Private label products
- Dropshipping
- Amazon products
- Print on demand
Best private label products to sell
With a private label brand, you, the online merchant, have complete control over the product’s specifications. You are in charge of its composition, formulation, packaging, etc. The product is made for you by a third party manufacturer, who then sends it to you for sale. Your consumers never realize that another party was involved since they see the product in your e-commerce business as being under your own brand.
Many private label products, such as Walmart’s Equate and Mainstays and Target’s Room Essentials and Market Pantry, are already recognizable to you.
Some good products to sell under a private label are:
Fitness Equipment
There has been a significant increase in demand for workout equipment as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. Many people choose to use their own exercise equipment at home even when gyms and health clubs have reopened with social distancing policies in place. Fitness equipment of various types, including stability balls, yoga straps, balance disks, kettlebells, and resistance bands, is in great demand.
The market for exercise equipment worldwide reached $10 billion in 2020. It is anticipated to expand at an 11% CAGR from 2021 to 2027.
LED Lights
Since LED lights consume a lot less energy than other types of lighting, their popularity has increased. There are many various goods available, including solar-powered lights, LED light strips, light-up shoes, and fairy lights.
You can still carve yourself a niche in the market despite the abundance of product alternatives and businesses offering subtle variants of the same thing. Spend money developing a distinctive brand and differentiating your marketing from the competition to make yourself stand out.
Reusable Water Bottles
Because of the bottled water industry, water bottles have become more and more common throughout time. A growing number of consumers are concerned about the environment and want to do their part to keep single-use bottles out of landfills. According to market research, the global market for reusable water bottles reached $8.38 billion in 2020 and is projected to increase at a 4% CAGR through 2028.
Despite the fact that most retail establishments sell water bottles, an internet firm may nevertheless succeed in this market. It all comes down to the things you sell and your marketing strategy. You may identify a specific target market for this profitable product if you start with a high-quality item that can keep the water cool for several hours and then provide a number of design alternatives to pick from.
Electronics
No matter what is happening in the globe, the electronics market will always be there. Despite reduced growth, this product category remains strong in the long run. The worldwide electronics industry is predicted to reach $1055.29 billion in 2021, according to research. Because of the impact of COVID-19, businesses have changed their operations, which accounts for a large portion of the 11.2% CAGR from 2020. With a 5% CAGR, the market is anticipated to reach $1291.14 billion in 2025.
On your e-commerce website, you may sell a range of electronics items, including earphones, smartwatches, Bluetooth speakers, keyboards, and keyboard accessories. Find a specialized market for a product, like video game accessories, then advertise it to stand out from the competition. Simply choosing the current hot product won’t be profitable in the long run.
Best products for Online Dropshipping Store
You don’t need to bother about keeping or managing inventory if you have a dropshipping shop. Simply post the items for sale in your store, send the supplier the orders (often through automation), and the supplier will take care of the rest.
The supplier transmits the order straight to your client, who is unaware that a third party was involved. An array of products may be sold using a dropshipping concept. However, it’s advisable to stay with items that have cheap delivery costs as these have a lesser profit margin.
Art Supplies
The value of art is timeless. You can opt to specialize on one sort of art, such as painting, or you can cover a wide range and provide materials for other media while selling art supplies. Easels, paintbrushes, clay, decorations for scrapbooks, markers, ribbon, charcoal, paper, canvas, and other items are examples of supplies.
Smartphone Accessories
Although smartphones are immensely helpful, there are many add-ons available that make them even more so. There are many items to sell, like armbands to hold your phone while you run, wireless charging pads to make charging simpler, and waterproof bags to keep your smartphone safe while you’re out on the water.
Vehicle Accessories
A vast variety of product alternatives are included in auto accessories. There is a sizable market for anything from air fresheners to aftermarket backup cameras, vehicle stereos, and steering wheel, seat, and dash coverings.
Fashion Accessories
Fashion accessories and jewelry have always been in demand, despite the many changes in designs and trends throughout the years. This kind of business has a lot of potential, regardless of whether you concentrate on a particular sort of jewelry, like rings, or manage a wider selection of goods.
Best products to sell on Amazon
You must conduct some research to ensure that you are not competing with Amazon for their own items because they are in the product industry. Some things will sell better than others if you want to open an Amazon online store to sell goods online.
Nevertheless, no one method can be relied upon to select a winner each and every time. To find the items that are most effective for you, you should try with a few different options. Always opting for the top-selling items on Amazon is a long-term formula for failure.
Additionally, it will depend on how you want to approach satisfaction. There are a few criteria and limitations to be aware of if you choose to connect your online business with Fulfillment by Amazon (Amazon FBA). Of course, FBA isn’t the only fulfillment provider available. However, knowing the fulfillment costs in advance can help you choose the products you want to concentrate on.
Pet Products/Accessories
There are several solutions available to assist folks in caring for their pets. You may discover a range of items to include in an online store devoted to dogs, ranging from essentials like food and water bowls, collars, and leashes to more entertaining items like toys and workout activities. This is a fantastic area to grow a pet service company into as a source of extra money.
Weighted Blankets
Because they are believed to reduce anxiety, weighted blankets are very popular. A better night’s sleep is also aided by the weight when you are sleeping. These blankets are available in a range of weights and sizes and come in a range of materials as well. Some can be safely washed in the machine, while others cannot. You might also offer the ones that aren’t machine-washable in your online store because they are suggested for usage with duvet covers.
The price of delivery is something to consider when selling weighted blankets. One element that affects how much anything costs to ship is weight. Make sure the blankets are well-packed so they may be transported in the smallest package possible to optimize your shipping savings.
With 457K monthly Amazon searches and 307K monthly Google searches for weighted blankets, it is evident that consumers are going straight to Amazon’s online marketplace to locate the best weighted blanket for their requirements.
Hair Products
Another well-liked category of goods to offer on Amazon is hair care items. In fact, whether you’re a freelance cosmetologist or already own a salon, this might be a terrific method to increase the range of products you provide.
Starting with products like shampoo, conditioner, leave-ins, detanglers, etc., you may then go out to include things like brushes, combs, hair ties, and other accessories. People with curly or ethnic hair might be your target audience.
You may still make money using the platform as an associate if you don’t want to sell directly through Amazon or don’t want to create your own website. Amazon’s Local Associates program makes it simple to connect with your consumers. Your devoted consumers will be able to shop for any items listed on Amazon through your personal online storefront.
Best-Selling Print On Demand Products
A successful internet business model is print-on-demand. There are many print on demand businesses available, whether you want to launch a t-shirt business, a line of goods centered on a theme, wall art, or home décor.
Hoodies and T-Shirts
Even if t-shirts and hoodies are widely available these days, you may still establish your own niche. You may launch your own clothing brand by coming up with ideas that customers adore. Instead of settling for a generic or inferior product, concentrate on selling your designs on high-quality clothing items like the Bella+Canvas 3001 t-shirts.
Mugs
Mugs may be used for more than simply putting your kids’ pictures on for Christmas presents to the grandparents. You are able to print your own line of apparel with eye-catching patterns or clever sayings.
Totes
Many individuals carry their own reusable bags since grocery retailers are under pressure to use less single-use plastic bags. When you can obtain your own personalized bags, why buy bags with the grocery store’s brand on them that are difficult to keep apart from everyone else’s? Many of the same designs that are available for apparel may also be applied to bags and totes which gives shoppers more choices.
What products will you pick?
Having a product that fills a need or resolves an issue is crucial to your success, regardless of the business model you select. Even with a large marketing expenditure, if your products aren’t good, you’ll have trouble turning a profit.
So when you start selling items online, what products will you add to your online store?