Many aspiring entrepreneurs nowadays are starting out with setting up and running their online stores as their first foray into the industry. This saves them the hassle of finding a place to rent for a brick and mortar shop and requires only some savvy web, SEO, social media, marketing, and business management skills. Not to mention some good connections with logistics and supplies, an excellent eCommerce platform to start with, and a good Internet connection. Transactions can be done anywhere, anytime and are convenient for both seller and buyer.
One of the most important decisions to make before starting an online store is choosing what sort of product to sell. After all, we all have so many needs and wants that it’s hard to pick just one out of thousands. Not to mention that some products are more popular or are easier to sell than others as there is a bigger market for them.
If you are thinking of starting your first online store this year, here are some products we recommend that you can start with as they are relatively easy to sell and have a huge following that you can quickly tap:
1. Cosmetics (Makeup and Skincare)
In 2016, according to Statista skincare accounted for about 36% of the global market, making it the most profitable product category, followed by hair care products at 23%, and make-up at 18.2%. From here, the cosmetics industry’s market size is expected to grow to about $429.8 billion in sales by 2022.
The market has seen so many changes in such a short period for cosmetics, with more brands, more products, evolving trends, an expanding market, etc. Because of the large variety of products you can sell and an ever-growing demand that does not discriminate on gender identity as long as one loves cosmetics and beauty products, you can find a customer practically anywhere!
The key to success in selling makeup is in knowing what enthusiasts are currently raving about, as well as the availability of cult favorites in the area. Products that are harder to get in the immediate area are much sought after, especially those that have garnered widespread positive attention. Conversely, you can provide them with brands that have not expanded in your country, such as in the case of many Korean skincare and makeup brands.
Marketing cosmetics also works well with visual social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest for both organic content and advertisements. For example, you can build posts on Facebook about how to use the products that can be bought from you or why they should be in every cosmetics enthusiast’s collection, while also using Facebook advertising to target those who have shown interest in beauty products into seeing your most important posts and offers.
2. Fandom Merchandise
Whether it’s about music, TV shows, movies, books, sports, or other forms of entertainment that have developed a following, fandom merchandises are some of the most common products sold in stores and even online. Eventbrite notes that, when it comes to fan conventions, nearly 70% of fans surveyed are motivated by the chance to shop for items and clothes related to their passion.
Fans are strongly enthusiastic about being able to show their love for their preferences through merchandise collection. In fact, this is a big deal in many fandoms — anime fans, for example, would grab at any opportunity to collect nendoroids (action figures featuring characters from anime, manga, or video games), clothes, posters, accessories, and even costumes.
Fans of Korean pop also willingly spend a fortune to collect merchandise – from official ones like albums and lightsticks to unofficial merch like fan-designed shirts and fansite goods.
What’s incredible about selling fandom merchandise is that you’re not restricted to selling only official goods. While you can go about this route and choose options like dropshipping to meet the demand for albums, clothes, accessories, and other merch from the parent companies, you can also choose to create fanmade merchandise yourself.
This gives the customers more options when it comes to the design and kind of item they can choose. It may also be more convenient to you if international shipping seems complicated or time-consuming.
3. Phone Accessories
With smartphones being an essential part of everyone’s lives, it’s no surprise that there is also a huge demand for accessories that will augment the user experience. Phone cases, Bluetooth-enabled accessories (such as earphones, speakers, or phone camera shutters), clip lenses, phone grips, screen protectors, chargers, power banks, etc. are all sought-after products to anyone who owns at least one smartphone.
There are lots of options now in the market on what kind of phone accessory you can sell, and some can be customized as well. It’s also relatively easy to sell these items online, especially if you have some knowledge of SEO. If it isn’t your strong suit, however, you can instead offer these accessories as an upsell for phone buyers. You can also use the power of social media advertising tools to create and display ads that will fit the profile and devices of your intended audience – for example; you can create an advertisement about Samsung phone cases that will be seen by Samsung phone users or iPhone cases for iPhone users.
4. Athleisure
Selling clothes online is quite common because of the ever-growing need for clothes based on style, current fashion trends, need for comfort, and purpose. Among the many trends that comes and goes, athleisure has always stayed strong. “Athleisure” are clothes that are primarily activewear – leggings, sports bras, hoodies, sweatshirts, sweatpants, shoes, etc. – but are worn as an everyday look more than just clothes for going to the gym or for a run. Several celebrities have been seen going places wearing athleisure, which has also kept the trend alive.
There are several ways on how you can position yourself in the market when it comes to selling athleisure clothes and accessories. You can be a standalone brand, work with other brands as a collaboration, or even market your products within specific sub-niches of the fitness market. And while the primary target for athleisure is female millennials, the market is also currently expanding to male millennials and even other generations such as Generation X and Generation Z.
You can also utilize influencer marketing to strengthen your positioning, and even use a solid Instagram marketing strategy alongside some impressive photography to showcase your products!
5. E-cigarettes and E-juice
Vapes or e-cigarettes have become popular in recent years as an alternative to nicotine-laced cigarettes for smokers who can’t seem to kick the habit. However, the rise of videos showcasing different tricks that can be done with vapes has sparked renewed interest in this gadget. Whether you’re targeting casual vape smokers or those who are trying their hand at various vapor tricks, the market you’re about to enter is a growing one and is expected to have fiercer competition in the coming years. If there’s ever a better time to enter the market now, it’s this time.
With the purchase of vapes, of course, is the purchase of e-juices. They are special liquids that give the vape user a different flavor with each bottle and can taste anything from sweet Oreo cheesecakes, tangy herbs, and spices, cool mint or menthol, fresh fruits, or even refreshing beverage flavors. They also have varying nicotine content, which can help smokers curb their nicotine dependence down the road by regularly switching to lower nicotine-leveled juice concentrates, or even involve non-smokers in on the activity by providing them with no-nicotine options.
A quick note about selling e-cigarettes and e-juices online: Take extra care when shipping them, as they can be fragile. It’s best to discuss with your logistics provider on how to properly ship these (they would typically recommend a layered wrapping of bubble wrap) and if you need to remove batteries or make sure they are not charged (as many logistics providers do not allow shipping packages with batteries).
The key to figuring out what you want to sell online, especially this year, is knowing what you’d want to buy yourself, and what you’re interested in. Make sure that your e-commerce website is well-optimized; companies like Omega SEO can help you maximize your sales. This helps you immensely as you’d know where you can start when marketing your products and your new store, and what you can say when potential customers are asking for recommendations or the condition of the items you’re selling to them. Of course, it also helps you start with popular products that people can’t seem to get enough of these days!
[Image credits: Main Pixabay, ivanovgood 1. Pixabay 2. Crash Bandicoot POP! Vinyl 3. Burgaofficial, 4. Photo by Lena Shekhovtsova from Pexels 5. Pixabay]
Dana Mia Kim is a former business consultant turned into an online marketer. She has worked with several industries such retail, hospitality and fitness companies which helped her to gain knowledge and experience in these fields. With six years’ experience as an online marketer, she has been helping several start-up clothing companies to establish their brands, getting them closer to their desired goals and success.