22 of The Best Ecommerce Business Ideas

November 10, 2022
Contents

Ecommerce business ideas are a dime a dozen. But what makes a business idea succeed? 

It’s not the business but the idea that turns a company from rust to gold. 

Launching an eCommerce business becomes comparatively smoother when you know what product to sell! 

Your dream of sitting on the beach and running a profitable online business starts with a viable eCommerce idea. 

Now we are talking about starting a legit eCommerce business, not a churn-and-burn eCommerce business model. There’s no real one best idea as each person has different interests, strengths, and skills.

Ecommerce: Advantages and Disadvantages

There are many eCommerce platforms and tools available today, making it easier than ever to start a business. You can create your eCommerce website or sell items on existing marketplaces, including eBay, Amazon, or Etsy, using your own eCommerce storefront, which you license from a provider.

Advantages To Starting an Ecommerce Business

Location Independence

You can run eCommerce businesses from anywhere with a laptop and reliable internet access. They can serve a virtually limitless global audience if you provide overseas shipping, meaning that you can run your business from wherever you are at any given time and go back home when you want to. 

You can travel indefinitely, move abroad or move to a more affordable location. Ecommerce businesses are also much easier to scale because you don’t need to expand physical premises.

You can set your own hours at your eCommerce business. 

With intelligent integrations, delegation and automation, you can run a growing eCommerce business with one or two people without having to work 12-hour shifts.

Disadvantages Of Starting An Ecommerce Business

Relatively Fragile

A favorite saying of eCommerce business owners is, “Get online, get found. Get online, get sold.” 

However, Ecommerce businesses are not as resilient as other online businesses because many moving pieces can be prone to disruption. 

Shipping can be delayed, Manufacturing can get stalled, and product recalls can prove costly. Since many third parties are involved in your supply chain, there are a lot of risks. 

Huge Competition

As a small business owner, you can’t afford to ignore the competition or take things for granted. The big-box retailers and eCommerce giants set high standards for your business, and if you want to succeed, you need to meet them. 

Needing Extra Effort to Distinguish Yourself

You also have to work hard to stand out from the crowd, which means finding ways to differentiate from the competition. But even if you don’t have a lot of money, there are ways that you can overcome these disadvantages with a good strategy in place.

The Best Ecommerce Business Ideas

Jewelry

More than 29 million people purchase jewelry every day. That’s big business! And it’s easy to see why buying and selling jewelry online is booming. 

Jewelry is an excellent choice for online sellers because jewelry is small, easy to ship, and unlikely to break while transported from one place to another.

Jewelry is also incredibly diverse: You can find many options ranging from gold and gemstones to shells and necklaces, as well as rings and anklets. 

If you’re looking for something specific in your store or have an idea of what kind of merchandise you’d like to sell but don’t know where to start, check out the hundreds of options available for jewelry on Etsy. 

There are also plenty of other ways sellers can customize their stores with new products by taking customer requests or adding more products from existing categories.

Smart Home Products and Accessories

Although innovative products are in high demand, few eCommerce stores sell them. During the last year alone, at least 40 percent of millennials in America used a smart home speaker. 

This is one of the innovative eCommerce ideas predicted to have a market size of $99.41 billion by 2025 in the United States alone. 

Now is the time to plan your online presence in this exciting niche.

AR/VR Headsets

Augmented / Virtual Reality (AR/VR) has been around for a while, but it’s only recently that the demand has gone up considerably. 

This means more companies will invest and develop AR/VR apps in the coming months as the growth of VR/AR reaches the $108 billion sales mark by the end of 2022. 

This niche offers you a chance to become an early advocate of an exciting technology that will soon become a vital eCommerce business.

Online Grocery and Foods Delivery

The industry’s profitability, like the online grocery niche, depends on vendor relations and a relentless drive to increase your customer base.

The vast range of products and the equally massive target market make this an excellent eCommerce startup idea in the coming years. 

Local sourcing is a rising trend that benefits your business and local stakeholders. 

Start small by offering just local produce and products at your store. As profits increase, you can decide on scaling up the business to make it the most profitable eCommerce business for yourself.

Enamel Pins

Enamel pins are fast becoming a huge business; you can use a particular design offering or serve the customers as they come to your store. 

You can also sell them quickly on multi-vendor marketplaces. If you can find a lapel pin manufacturer in your area, setting up an enamel pin business will be a success in 2022.  

Selfie Drones

People have been using selfie drones for a few years now. 

From farmers who use them to check on crops to journalists and videographers—who use them to capture aerial shots, the demand for this product is growing with each passing day. 

Selfie drones allow individuals to capture pictures easily from different angles without needing a selfie stick. According to a recent report by MarketWatch, the global selfie drone market is anticipated to record a modest CAGR during the forecast period, i.e., 2020-2028.

Smartwatches

Smartwatches are the latest technology in wearable tech. They offer to be punctual, access your smartphone, and be on the go. 

Although smartwatches have been around for years, sales have only increased recently due to their popularity. 

A sell rate of at least 50% indicates that a product sells well online. With this information in mind, it’s safe to say that smartwatches have higher selling rates of about 63%, which indicates that there is indeed market potential for smartwatches. 

Another benefit of a smartwatch eCommerce store in 2022 is its high selling price. Whether you use it to track your footsteps or plan your day, innovation is the name of the game for smartwatches – which is why demand will also increase in the following year.

Dash Cam

Launching a dash cam business is excellent because these products are practical and have a viral element. 

Basic technology dashcams are more prevalent in developing regions due to their easy process and low cost of production. 

The boom of affordable 1-channel dash cams has caused significant growth in the market. 

This product type has high popularity and sales in developing regions. The rear-view product segment is expected to register the fastest growth rate during the forecast years.

Dashboard cameras are typically easy to install and use. Hence customers can easily purchase the product in-store or online without having to do much research about features.  

Doorbell Camera

Smart video doorbells are one of several entryway communication devices, including digital door chimes and intercoms. 

Traditionally, doorbells, door chimes, and intercoms have been hard-wired devices communicating only within the home. 

In the connected home, these devices may be hard-wired, or battery powered. They have wireless connectivity to the Internet and communicate both within the home and through mobile apps to the owners’ smartphones and computers. 

Video doorbells have been garnering popularity recently and have become a trending business idea. With the rise of video phone calls, it makes sense that people will also want to see who’s at their door on a screen. 

It works great as a security device and will perform wonders if it offers high-quality night vision.

Baby Rompers

Baby rompers are adorable. Everybody loves them, which is why they’re a great product to sell online. If you have an online store that covers the infant/baby cloth niche, you can add baby rompers to your trending product category.

You can quickly sell maternity products as well. To spice things up, sell toys or clothing for children. Adding variety will allow your eCommerce store to become a one-stop shop for parents.

Kitchen and Dining Mats

Selling kitchen and dining mats on the Internet could be an excellent way to make a living. 

You can choose from a wide range of designs and colors, so you won’t have to worry about competition. 

And once you introduce something that generates a loyal following, you can expand further with other products!

Personal Safety Equipment

Face masks are one of the hottest trends when it comes to personal safety equipment for eCommerce business ideas.

More and more people are looking for face shields, latex gloves, and other safety wearables to protect themselves from germs, chemicals, and other dangers.

This is a serious opportunity—so if you can find a reliable supplier, you should definitely throw your hat in the ring!

Natural Products

You can start selling natural products online to help people live an all-natural lifestyle. 

This trend will not fade away soon. So, if you want to make money online selling products made using clean, safe ingredients, consider starting an eCommerce business that sells organic cosmetics and beauty products. 

The global market for natural cosmetics is estimated to grow from $36 billion to $54 billion in 2027. 

Even organic food items have been gaining much popularity in recent years, with the organic market in the United States growing by 6.3% in 2018 alone—a figure totaling $52.5 billion.

Pet Foods

Pet food is one of the most critical things any pet owner requires. Although many pet owners prepare their pets’ food in their houses, they might need outside food from time to time.

The best thing about this business is that you can start it with some upfront capital. You can assemble the food in your kitchen, eliminating the need for any processing facility.

Hence, since you are looking for a strong and profitable eCommerce business idea, there is a lot of opportunity to tap into a pet goods niche and sell related products. 

You can profit from selling carefully-selected treats, comfy beds, toys, and more. 

You can source durable toys for tough chewers, supportive beds, and other products to keep pets warm during cold weather or hot summers.

By standing out from the pack, you can create new products to meet a pet’s or pet owner’s pain point.

Wedding Goods

If you’re interested in wedding products, consider starting an eCommerce business. You could sell unique guest books, fresh flowers, handmade wedding gowns, centerpieces, tablecloths, candles, veils and hair accessories, jewelry, and bow ties.

The global market size for bridal gowns alone is forecasted to reach $43.5 billion by 2022 in the United States.

This is an incredibly profitable eCommerce business idea and if you choose to get into this niche, make sure to use Instagram and Pinterest to market your eCommerce business. 

Attending local wedding events will also help you connect with other vendors and help you promote your products.

Kids Toys

Toys are products that will always be in demand and require a lot of innovation to sustain. Some toys like Legos and cloth dolls never go out of style, but there’s always room for innovation in the toys niche. 

You can bring in creative ideas that appeal to a particular age group.

Shoppers want to give children the highest possible quality to contribute to their health, education, and upbringing, but they also find the lowest price for these non-essential items. 

Therefore starting an online store that sells these products will give you a good business. 

Print-On-Demand

The print-on-demand model is a way to create custom designs for products, then sell them directly to customers. It gets rid of the biggest downside of inventory-based commerce: stock costs. 

Since items are only printed and created after the customer makes a purchase, you don’t have to worry about getting stuck with merchandise you cannot sell because it might not sell well before being shipped.

Another big headache in retail is order fulfillment. The process of packaging and shipping items has a lot of moving parts.

It can be challenging to manage, particularly for small businesses and artists who don’t have enough time or resources for this task. 

All of these problems lead to one big pro. Moreover, on-demand printing allows you more time and freedom to focus on what you love doing in your business!

Rent or Resell Fashion

Renting out dresses online might seem odd at first, but the success of rental platforms like Rent the Runway and Le Tote proves the potential of this eCommerce business idea. 

They are hot topics in the fashion industry and popular online businesses these days. Social media marketing is effective for this niche. 

You can also add a subscription service, say $100 a month, for a certain number of dresses and accessories. Also, you can cross-rent with a ‘complete the look’ section for accessories on your online store.

As much as this great idea is profitable, it’s also very demanding to run. Preparing your strategy and organizing a good business plan will help you succeed. 

Handmade Goods

Buying handmade items can be a great way to build trust, which is essential for eCommerce success. Make sure you connect with your potential customers before selling them your products or services.

Identify the unique selling proposition (USP) that will attract them in the first place. 

For instance, selling jewelry made from natural or recycled materials could be a USP. Consider selling handcrafted items on Etsy, Craigslist, or domestic alternatives to these platforms as your profits grow so that you can save money to launch your website.

Eco-Friendly Products

Natural and organic cosmetics are a growing trend in the beauty industry, with global revenue from natural and organic cosmetics expected to increase by 134 percent between 2012 and 2022.

Hygienic products like soaps and shower gels, beauty products, and cleaning liquids are only some examples of potentially profitable natural products. 

Another option is to merge a niche product with natural ingredients to target a specific audience. This will take your online business to heights. 

Health and Fitness Products

Companies are capitalizing on consumers’ changing exercise preferences by offering on-demand content services and subscriptions to connect with consumers who no longer have access to fitness centers. 

Wearable fitness technology, streaming content platforms, and other ‘fit tech’ capitalize on consumers’ changing exercise preferences by providing access to highly personalized health and fitness data through subscription services. 

These online business ideas will make you stand out in the online business world. 

Why You Should Do Something With Your Ecommerce Business Idea 

Expected Growth

E-commerce is expected to grow in the next few years. There will be a lot of sales by 2023. Statista projects around $6.5 trillion in sales globally by 2023. 

Easy To Get Started

Starting an eCommerce business doesn’t require a significant investment. 

If you decide to start as a dropshipper, you can launch an eCommerce website for as little as $1,000. 

The above budget would be enough to set up an online store using pre-made templates on BigCommerce and attract your first buyers with social media ads, SEO, and influencer marketing. 

Modern out-of-the-box eCommerce platforms have extensive native functionality, such as ready-to-use store designs, payment processing integration, and customizable product catalogs. That makes it easy for anyone to navigate the technical side of designing an eCommerce website.

Opportunity To Scale Business

When you start, it takes some time to figure out what works and what doesn’t. Once you do, you will be able to scale your eCommerce business.

FAQs: Ecommerce Business Ideas

What Is an Ecommerce Business Idea? 

A good eCommerce business idea is based on the intersection of customer needs, industry gaps, and delivery capabilities. If you notice that many people struggle with an issue and can provide an answer (e.g., by sourcing or producing a product) that nobody else seems to handle, that’s a good start!

Is Ecommerce Profitable?

Ecommerce as a business niche is a good fit for many people. But it would be best if you were prepared that your business may initially struggle to break even or make a profit.

What Is the Best Ecommerce Business Idea To Start? 

To sell successfully, you’ll need to understand your customer needs deeply. That means understanding the market for your product or service. Making the right marketing decisions can be challenging if you don’t understand your target market well enough.

What Are the Best Niche Ecommerce Business Ideas?

There are several niche eCommerce business ideas in the sustainability and eco sub-niches. A growing number of consumers are searching for ‘clean,’ reusable, organic, and recyclable products across various product verticals, such as cosmetics, clothes, toys, food, and more.

How Do I Find an Ecommerce Business Idea?

To determine your business’s market value, conduct online market research. Use Google Trends to analyze the flux in demand for different product types and compare your business’s offerings to those of competitors. 

Browse online marketplaces and analyze the most popular products on those sites. Try to understand how you could make them better and what could differentiate your business.

Is It Difficult to Start an Ecommerce Business?

The size of your eCommerce business will determine how much planning you need to do. A website builder such as BigCommerce can handle setting up a small hobbyist store. Still, if you plan on starting a mid-to-large scale eCommerce operation, you’ll probably need more detailed technical and operational support.

How Long After Starting an Ecommerce Business, Will I Be Profitable?

Profitability is very subjective. You can break even or profit within a week if you drop ship or sell on-demand printed products. Still, it may take up to 12 months to become profitable if you invested significantly in purchasing inventory and warehouse facility/operations.

Are All Ecommerce Business Ideas Successful?

It would help if you did not pursue every eCommerce business idea. Some niches are saturated, and others may lack depth regarding consumer demand or originality.

What are Innovative Ecommerce Business Ideas?

The best eCommerce ideas are based on emerging consumer trends, or they solve a pressing problem that no one has yet addressed.

Is Dropshipping a Good Business Idea?

Dropshipping is a great way to start an online business. On the plus side, dropshipping allows you to create quickly and operate an online store at a low cost. 

The con is that you have little control over product quality, and shipping times can be extended; you may struggle to differentiate from the competition (sourcing from the same supplier).

What Is a B2B Ecommerce Business Idea?

This is a business idea that fills in the gap in the B2B market. It is like a B2C based on the customer’s needs and challenges. 

Conclusion: Ecommerce Business Ideas

For merchants who are ambitious and driven, eCommerce provides a lot of opportunities. 

All these ideas discussed in this article will help you find a lucrative business idea helping you to earn a lot of money. 

Research and planning and all these ideas will help you get a good business out of these ideas. 

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