You've heard that e-commerce is the future of business and you'd like to start a business in this niche. However, you know that the competition in this industry is HUGE, so you're wondering where to find your place online. The question arises: what should you sell to ensure your online store establishes a strong online presence? How do you come up with an online store idea? Here are a few ideas that might inspire you to find your own.
An idea for an online store
First, an important note: the e-commerce market is very large, so it's worth finding a business niche you feel you specialize in or… one you want to delve into. A thorough understanding of the products you'll be selling is absolutely essential. However, you might be wondering which one to choose.
Basically, regardless of what field you are an expert in, you can take one of two paths:
- choose a niche that is not very popular, but has development potential for the coming years
This solution can bring you long-term success. However, you should be aware that initially, you should expect limited reach and a small number of customers. However, with a properly implemented marketing strategy, you can expect a gradual increase in interest.
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If the niche you choose is currently unpopular, there's a chance you'll be one of the pioneers, and your store will eventually become one of the most important in the industry. However, you must be aware of the risks – the market is unpredictable, and trends can suddenly reverse (as the outbreak of the pandemic in 2020 demonstrated). Therefore, you need to be prepared and have a "plan B."
- choose a popular e-commerce branch
So, focus on selling products that are readily available online. The idea for an online store doesn't have to be far-fetched. On the contrary, it's often worth doing what others are doing. In this case, with effective advertising, you can start achieving good revenues faster. However, with intense competition, it will be harder to stand out, so you may need to invest more in promotion right from the start. You'll also need to find elements that will make your offering competitive. Something that will make you stand out from the dozens or hundreds of stores offering similar products.
What could it be? For example:
- more competitive prices,
- offering goods from brands previously unknown on the Polish market,
- unique branding,
- additional services, such as product personalization.
Of course, everything depends on the specific specialization of the online store. One thing is certain: if you choose this path, you need to find something that will distinguish your brand and make it more attractive to customers.
What sells best on the internet?
What products are most popular on the Polish internet? What are Poles buying online? Research, such as the 2019 E-commerce in Poland report prepared by Gemius, provides the answer. It shows that the most popular product categories purchased online are:
- clothing, accessories and accessories – the fashion industry is of interest to more than 2/3 of buyers,
- footwear – purchased by approximately 60% of people who shop online,
- books, films and CDs,
- cosmetics and perfumes,
- consumer electronics and household appliances,
- cinema/theatre tickets,
- sportswear,
- pharmaceutical products, including dietary supplements,
- mobile devices and GSM accessories,
- children's items and toys,
- travel services.
These areas of the e-commerce world are worth exploring if you want to find your place in the online world. But be warned! To break into them, you need to look at them from a different, fresh perspective. Otherwise, you might have trouble carving out a piece of the pie for yourself.
So how can you narrow down your product range within the categories listed above? The possibilities are endless. For example, you could offer:
- plus-size clothing from well-known European brands – the number of customers interested in clothing in larger sizes is growing, but at the same time there are no stores offering a wide selection,
- cosmetics from manufacturers not available in stationary sales in Poland – e.g. from beyond the eastern border or from the Far East (but take into account that there are quite a few stores offering the recently very fashionable Korean products!),
- Eco-friendly children's toys – although this niche is already quite full, the "eco" trend seems to be spreading more and more, so there are quite a lot of people who would like to buy this type of products,
- a specific category of electronic devices – e.g. trendy drones, electric scooters or VR equipment.
As you can see, specialization can be the real key to success. Simply find an unusual area within a popular niche and offer your audience something completely new!
Is what sells best always the best choice?
What's most popular is—as you already know—both an opportunity and a threat in the world of e-commerce. The most important thing is to find an area where you can offer customers something new, and on the other hand, something that will meet their needs. Remember: you don't have to aim high at the beginning, aiming for vast reach and high sales volume . You can also achieve good revenue by operating on a smaller scale. Your business could therefore revolve around less popular products, but ones that have a specific audience. What might be a good idea?
Do you have a hobby in the craft sector? Perhaps you're into crocheting, decoupage, or DIY decorations? What if you started selling them online in your own store? Setting up an online store , for example, on a SaaS platform, doesn't require many formalities or high costs. If you also invest in social media advertising and create well-optimized content, you have a chance to stand out!
- Online store with disinfection products
…and other products that are useful in the context of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Although this is a topic that periodically becomes popular, it seems like it's still a good time to offer customers something new. We continue to eagerly buy designer masks (which have become a styling element), as well as hand sanitizers that don't irritate our hands.
This niche market is currently developing rapidly, primarily due to the growing interest in healthy pet diets. Pet owners are seeking organic, well-balanced meals for dogs and cats, made with the highest quality ingredients. If you have access to such products, you have the potential to attract a large customer base.
- Eco-friendly accessories store
Living in harmony with nature and making eco-friendly choices is a trend that's currently on the rise. It's expected to continue for the next few years, if not longer. Therefore, it's worth considering opening a store that offers accessories with a low carbon footprint. Examples include metal or paper straws, disposable plates and cutlery made from biodegradable materials, linen shopping bags, reusable fruit and vegetable bags… the list goes on. These types of accessories will easily attract a large customer base.
The trend of well-groomed men's beards and barbershop visits began a few years ago. Today, a growing number of men are seeking professional beard care products, so it's worth offering them. A store that specializes in distributing beard pomades and oils, as well as classic straight razors and other vintage shaving accessories, can attract the market's attention!
Modern learning? It's about learning through play, igniting curiosity about the world. Do you agree with this statement? You're like many parents! They're looking for interesting and inspiring toys that will help their children expand their horizons. Want to help them? If so, consider finding interesting educational toys and selling them. Such a store could have great potential!
Seasonal products – a good idea for an online store?
Some goods offered in online stores are only readily purchased during certain seasons. A good example? Air conditioners and fans. Demand for them begins just before the arrival of hot summer and ends with the first cool evenings. So, is it profitable to create an online store that sells only these devices? Not entirely. However, you can supplement your store's core assortment with such seasonal products and position them for related phrases . You can also select several seasonal product groups, popular in different months of the year, and change your primary sales profile depending on the demand for individual items. In this business model, however, you must prioritize using your own warehouse and, most often, be prepared for some of the goods to remain there until the next peak season.
Need some ideas on what to sell? Check out dropshipping!
If you're still unsure which direction your e-commerce business should take, look for inspiration at wholesalers specializing in dropshipping. They're a ready-made solution for those looking for quick fixes.
How exactly does dropshipping work? In this business model, your store acts somewhat like a wholesaler's "sales representative office." More specifically, your job is to sell products from your chosen partner's inventory and then submit the order for fulfillment. Therefore, you're solely responsible for promoting your online store, acquiring customers, and servicing them. However, all logistics are handled by your business partner. They ensure the continuous supply of goods to the warehouse and their shipment to the end customer.
The dropshipping model is becoming more and more popular because those running this type of e-shops:
- they operate under their own brand, which means that the wholesaler sends the products to the end customer, stating the company that accepted the order as the sender,
- can be opened with great ease – you can even find ready-made packages that you just need to configure and start working,
- they provide great freedom to act and invest without having to deal with all the logistical challenges.
This, of course, does not mean that income from such activities comes without effort.
Regardless of the model you use to run your online store and the product range you offer, the key to success is ensuring high visibility and a good reputation . The bottom line? A good idea of what to sell online is only one side of the coin. The other is how you run and promote your business. In this regard, it's worth enlisting the help of experts. They will take care of, among other things:
- optimizing your e-store for SEO,
- planning a coherent and well-thought-out promotional campaign in appropriately selected channels (e.g. remarketing, social media advertising, email marketing, etc.),
- building a positive image of the website.
So if you already have an idea of what niche to pursue, it's time to implement it, and then... promote it and patiently wait for the results. 🙂
Summary
The above article covers the following topics:
- How to find an online business idea?
- Seasonal Products Store: Analysis
