The shift from in-person to online shopping is one of the reasons for the rapid growth of ecommerce. As a result, many are considering setting up an online business. The question is, what are the best eCommerce business ideas and how do you begin?
To help you answer this question, I browsed several market trend reports and business articles to create a list of the best ecommerce niches and ideas.
In this article, you’ll discover 20 promising ecommerce businesses to help you get started selling online and learn why they are worth your time.
Let’s begin!
Best eCommerce Business Ideas
eCommerce Product Ideas for Your Own Online Store
1. Home Organization Supplies
You may have watched some ASMR restocking videos on TikTok. Did you know that they increase the demand for home organization supplies?
Working from home and moving to smaller spaces also drive the demand for home organization products. According to Data Bridge Market Research, the market for home organization supplies will have a growth rate of 4.70% from 2022 to 2029.
However, these organizers are usually sold in bulk, and not many online retail stores cater to this trend. This gap is what makes this ecommerce business idea promising.
2. Face Masks
At present, face masks remain in demand across the globe. In fact, the projected market growth for face masks is from $10.76 billion in 2022 to $19.85 billion by 2029.
How can you stand out when there are so many online sellers of this essential item? Ensure that your face masks are not only fashionable but also offer complete protection. You can also offer custom options as a unique selling proposition.
3. Personal Safety Equipment
Aside from face masks, there is a high demand for personal protective equipment or PPE.
According to Fortune Business Insights, the market projection for PPE is $80.38 billion in 2022. This number is expected to grow to $110.85 billion by 2029.
If you’re already offering face masks in your store, adding PPE to your offerings will make a lot of sense.
4. Enamel Pins
Enamel pins are rising in popularity for many reasons. For instance, you can make any design into an enamel pin. You can wear school emblems, company logos, and campaign symbols as lapel pins. They’re also effective in promoting your brand.
Additionally, you can wear an enamel pin to support causes and movements. The many uses of enamel pins make them a profitable product idea; you just have to find the right target market, a reliable supplier, and lots of creativity.
5. Sustainable Clothes
People are becoming increasingly concerned with their carbon footprint, and the fashion industry is one of the biggest contributors to carbon emissions. Therefore, it’s not surprising to see the market for sustainable fashion on the rise.
Ethical fashion is an umbrella term that includes apparel made of sustainable materials and community-friendly processes. The global market for this product is expected to grow from $10,109.9 million in 2025 to $15,584.2 million in 2030.
Consider clothes made of natural fabric or recycled materials when starting your online store. You can also offer print-on-demand sustainable shirts.
6. Healthcare Products
People are becoming more aware of the importance of a healthy body. That’s why the healthcare market is a promising area for those who want to sell healthcare products online, like vitamins and dietary supplements.
GlobeNewswire reported that the market size for healthcare products was $6,674.4 million in 2020 and will reach $11,430 million by 2027.
The only downside to this ecommerce product idea is the need to pass regulatory requirements, which can get a bit expensive. In other words, this product idea isn’t for those who want a quick start.
7. Works of Art
If you have a passion for art, why not turn it into a profitable ecommerce business? Original artwork is priced higher since it’s unique and individually created. You also have various options: launch your own ecommerce website or sell your art online via marketplaces like Amazon or Etsy.
You can also try your hand at commissioned art. Start by accepting requests from people you know to build your portfolio. You can extend your services to a larger market as you go along.
8. Pet Supplies
Many people now staying home or working remotely have turned to pets for companionship. As such, the demand for pet supplies naturally increased.
For instance, the total expenditure for pet food and treats reached $50 billion in 2021. With more people treating pets as part of their families, this market isn’t showing signs of going down anytime soon.
This trend among pet owners makes pet food and other supplies a great ecommerce product idea.
eCommerce Business Opportunities
9. Smart Home Products and Accessories eCommerce Store
Smart homes are those that utilize a variety of automated devices to save time, money, and energy. According to Statista, there will be more than 350 million smart homes by 2023. Therefore, it is a great idea to consider setting up a smart home appliances and accessories online store.
You can offer smart TVs, video doorbell systems, home security devices, intelligent lighting, and smart sensors, among other things. Offering repair services is also a good way to increase the customer lifetime value of your online business.
10. Blogging and Content Writing Business Idea
Have a penchant for writing? If so, you can enter the online business world through blogging and content writing. It can even be a personal blog around your personal brand.
Writing blogs is still a feasible business model. As of this writing, there are a total of 1.9 million websites, increasing every second. Later on, you can use your own blog site for affiliate marketing.
If blogging is not for you, try offering content writing services to help others set up their own website or online marketplace instead. It’s a promising business idea because of the continuous dependence on digital marketing and ecommerce.
11. AR/VR Headsets, Apps, and Accessories Store
Does the idea of navigating large stores and showrooms in virtual reality or virtually trying on clothes or accessories excite you? Others might have the same reaction, too. That’s why many businesses are beginning to use augmented reality/virtual reality (AR/VR) systems.
Statista reports that, by 2022, the market size for augmented reality/virtual reality (AR/VR) will reach 9 billion.
This market trend means that the use of AR/VR devices and accessories will increase in the coming years.
However, only a few online retailers offer AR/VR parts and accessories. Thus, setting up an online store to cater to this niche is a great ecommerce business idea.
12. Natural Health and Beauty Products
People’s awareness of the harmful effects of chemicals on the body is growing. As a result, many are shifting to natural products, making them a good category of items you can sell online.
For example, the global market size for natural skin care products was at $6.7 billion in 2021, and this will continue to expand until 2030. The natural health product market, which includes herbal supplements, is expected to be at $10.10 million in 2022.
If this market growth isn’t enough to make you consider setting up your online store of natural products, I don’t know what will.
13. Digital Health Services
Providing digital health services is probably one of the most expensive online business ideas on this list in terms of capital.
To set up a digital health ecommerce space, you need to spend a considerable amount of money on getting approved to operate, identifying service routes, and determining the easiest ways to reach your target market.
Why is it a great ecommerce idea if it’s costly? It’s the convenience of providing excellent customer service online. Healthcare professionals can see their patients without commuting to and from hospitals and clinics except for emergency cases.
14. Creative Services eCommerce Business Idea
Aside from writing content, you can also set up your own creative services ecommerce business. If you have graphic or product design skills, then this business idea is for you.
The market size for graphics design in 2022 is valued at $43.4 billion, with a 3.7% growth. Statistics show that people are more responsive to visual cues than text. In addition, not all companies have an in-house creative team to help them build a professional website.
eCommerce Startup Ideas
15. Online Grocery and Food Store
More than half of the population in the US are digital grocery customers, says Insider Intelligence. Factors that influence this online market are remote work setups and convenience.
Despite the current economic hurdles, grocery and food delivery service is expected to boom. This market is expected to reach $2,158.53 billion by 2030, making a grocery and food store one of the most profitable ecommerce business ideas.
If you’re planning to launch an online grocery and food startup business, now is the time.
16. Online Learning Platforms
Because more schools offer online education, online learning platforms have become a lucrative ecommerce business idea. In 2021, online learning reached up to 220 million students.
One of the causes of this shift to online learning is the gap between education and employment. For example, short online courses can help students acquire the skills they need to get well-paid jobs after graduation.
Online fitness coaching and tutorial platforms have also become a trend. Students can get personalized help from qualified professionals around the world.
If you have expertise in one or more fields of study, an online learning platform startup might work for you.
Niche eCommerce Ideas
17. Subscription Services
The subscription box market is one of those fast-growing ecommerce niches. Its projected growth by 2027 is $65 billion, with a compounded annual growth rate of 18.3%.
Customers sign up for subscription boxes to save money and time when shopping. Each subscription box is curated based on the customer’s preferences. There’s also the excitement of getting mystery items in the box.
Subscription boxes provide both large and small businesses with recurring income, especially if they cater to a largely untapped niche market.
18. Clean Food On Demand eCommerce Store
Recent health threats caused many consumers to become conscious of their food. Many shifted to healthier options such as organic food and food items free from dairy, gluten, and artificial ingredients.
In the US, the health and wellness food market has an estimated value of $279.1 billion in 2021. It’s projected to grow to $124.6 billion by 2026.
With the increasing interest in healthier food choices, aspiring ecommerce entrepreneurs like you can opt for online clean food delivery services and partner with organic food farmers or other sellers.
19. Dropshipping
Dropshipping is an ecommerce business model that is low-risk, inexpensive, and profitable. Cloudways recommends going with a low-competition ecommerce niche, choosing niche products with high search volumes, or riding the trend wave and selling products that are “in.”
Some products that you can dropship include:
- HIIT equipment
- Drones and drone accessories
- Handmade jewelry
- Electric scooters, skateboards, and hoverboards
These items have an identifiable niche audience, and suppliers are trying to find ways to lower the cost of getting the items to their customers.
You can also sell training programs to beginners through dropshipping.
20. Fashion Rentals
More people are becoming more aware of the fashion industry’s environmental impact. Thus, they turn to eco-friendly ways to remain fashionistas without generating more waste and breaking the bank.
In addition, the online clothing rental market is projected to have a CAGR of 11.0% from 2021 to 2031. This is why clothes and high-end fashion rentals are becoming one of the most promising business ideas in ecommerce.
With this business idea and digital marketing, you can cater to those concerned about cost but want something nice to wear without turning to fast fashion.
Some eCommerce Business Examples
Wondering who else made it into ecommerce besides the big companies like Amazon and Shopify?
Check out these websites and see if you can pick up some useful strategies:
Pact
Pact is an ecommerce store that offers sustainable clothing for men, women, and kids. They use organic fiber and partner with manufacturers that employ safe working conditions, take care of their employees and local communities, and support the environment.
To ensure sustainability even in shipping their products, Pact offers carbon offset shipping and give-back boxes for donating used clothing.
They also use 100% recyclable paper envelopes made of post-consumer recycled materials and biodegradable plastic packaging.
Chewy
Chewy is an online pet store with over 2,000 brands in their selection of pet food and supplies. They offer 24/7 customer service.
Many customers express their joy about Chewy’s return policy. Instead of asking the customer to ship back the item, Chewy asks them to donate the pet product and gives them a full refund. Another strength of this online pet shop is its fast shipping time.
I’m an Organizing Junkie
I’m an Organizing Junkie is a home organization blog site that is also used for affiliate marketing. The author, Laura Wittmann, is a self-proclaimed organization addict who shares expert advice to organize your home and links to get the supplies you need.
The website generates income through ads, affiliate links, and sponsored posts.
Skillshare
Skillshare is a popular online education platform with over 27,000 classes in its library. It offers both free and paid memberships to its users.
The platform uses a project-based approach to learning. It’s important to note that the courses they offer aren’t meant to replace any degree. Their purpose is to teach students new skills and expand their knowledge.
Birchbox
Birchbox offers customized beauty subscription boxes. To do this, they ask customers to take a quiz to know their preferences. Users can either choose samples or full-sized products to try or let Birchbox curate a beauty box for them.
With this marketing strategy, Birchbox was able to generate lots of user-based content and thrive after being launched by Harvard business students Katia Beauchamp and Hayley Barna in 2010.
How to Become the Best eCommerce Business
1. Explore Business Opportunities in eCommerce
Many beginners make the mistake of rushing towards ecommerce. Don’t.
We have provided you with a list of ecommerce business ideas and niche examples. Take your time. Do thorough research on what interests you. Once you’ve done a fair amount of market research, go to the next step.
2. Identify the Best eCommerce Business to Start for You
Back up your decision with the results of your research, and stick to it. Don’t start an online store only to give up halfway through. Invest time in it, and be patient.
Another important thing to remember is to focus on your customers. Use their feedback to improve your online business.
It’s good practice to test everything before launching. Have a clear business plan and a contingency plan. When everything is ready, then launch your product or service.
3. Make It the Most Profitable eCommerce Business
How? Don’t forget your goal and your customers.
Provide your customers with excellent online support. This way, they’ll feel that you’re taking good care of them and not just in there for the money.
It pays to engage in social media marketing. According to BusinessWire, there are 4.62 billion social media users globally. Imagine how many people would know about your products online if you were to make your presence on social media platforms.
The Bottom Line
Market research is an important step towards successfully setting up an ecommerce business. While this article doesn’t cover every opportunity in the ecommerce market, I hope that it helped you get started.
If building your own ecommerce website isn’t an option, you can always opt to sell via Amazon. You can get started by reading our article about the best products to sell on Amazon.
Good luck!
