21 Trendy & Evergreen Ecommerce Business Ideas for 2024
Do you want to start your own eCommerce business but don’t know the software to use? Here are five of the best eCommerce platforms for your unique business ideas.
Squarespace Commerce
Bluehost
Thinkific
Podia
eCommerce statistics show there are over 24 million eCommerce websites on the internet. Every day, the number keeps increasing.
You need to do more than successfully launch an eCommerce site if you are going to stand out from the crowd and generate profit. Knowing the right eCommerce business ideas to pursue and the products to sell online for high profits will set you up for success.
Ready to learn profitable eCommerce business ideas and the best niche examples that are worth investing your time and money in? Let’s dive in.
The Best Ecommerce Business Ideas
1. Sell Pet Products to Pet Owners
The pet niche remains one of the most lucrative niches in eCommerce. Grand View Research data shows that the pet care market had a value of $159.10 billion in 2022.
If you don’t get how lucrative the online business idea of selling pet products is, check the number of pet owners in the United States. APPA (the American Pet Products Association) estimated that 66% of U.S. households own a pet, which is roughly 86.9 million households!
There are many pet products you can sell on your online store and generate massive profits. The list is endless.
- Special Pet Foods.
- Supportive and Cushy Beds.
- Joint Supplements.
- Training Hoops.
- Decorated Jackets.
Before you run with this online business idea, avoid making the common mistake new enthusiastic entrepreneurs make. Can you guess the mistake? Targeting a profitable but broad eCommerce niche.
If you focus your eCommerce business on selling general pet products, you will get crushed by strong competitors.
The solution?
Target a sub-niche within the pet care market that is underserved but has huge demands, and watch your sales skyrocket with the right online advertising. For example, you can sell cannabidiol (CBD)-infused treats for dogs to help relieve their anxiety.
2. Sell Online Courses
Creating and selling online courses is a profitable startup business idea for an eCommerce business. If you think the online education market is saturated, remember the target audience is unlimited. Everyone that can learn is a potential customer.
eLearning statistics show that the global eLearning market size surpassed $250 billion in 2020. If you have a unique skill or expertise with a ready market, center your courses around it.
You can create and sell a widely successful online course with online course platforms like Thinkific. People are always looking for the best online courses that help them fill up their knowledge gaps.
However, note that with online learning platforms, you don’t have total control over your business. You can solve this problem by hosting online courses on your eCommerce website.
Another excellent way to stand out is to pick a sub-niche to focus on and target a specific audience. For example, you can sell fitness content and books to millennials.
3. Sell Smart Home Products and Accessories
Despite the growth in demand for smart home products in recent years, not many eCommerce businesses sell this profitable and in-demand eCommerce product idea.
The smart home market is one of the fastest-growing industries. Consumer spending on smart home devices was $99.41 billion (Statista) in 2021. What’s even more impressive is that the smart home penetration rate worldwide was just 12.2% in 2021.
You can build a successful business online around selling smart home products. There’s an option of selling a single product line or a full lineup of smart home devices. For example, focus on selling video doorbells or niche products like home security smart devices.
Here’s a list of the top-selling smart home products to sell online.
- Robotic Vacuum Cleaner.
- Smart Outdoor Security Cameras.
- Smart Speaker.
- Smart Coffee Makers.
- Smart Water Purifier.
- Smart Pet Toys.
- Smartwatches.
- Smart Trackers.
- Smart Lighting.
- Smart Air Conditioners.
4. Sell Vaping Products
Selling vape hardware, flavors, and liquids is a good eCommerce business idea for new entrepreneurs looking to start a profitable online store.
The best business ideas to generate instant profits are those with high-demand products and a growing market. Although many eCommerce stores sell vaping products, there are niche markets, and local customer needs you can target.
How big is the vaping or e-cigarette industry? Revenue in this industry will reach $24.61 billion in 2023 (Statista). You can expect the numbers to keep rising.
There are many vaping products you can sell on your eCommerce store. They include vaping devices, electronic cigarettes, and vaping supplies like liquid refills, cartridges, and chargers.
5. Sell Subscription Boxes
Selling subscription boxes is a profitable business idea to adopt for your own eCommerce business.
A subscription box is a collection of niche products packaged and delivered regularly to customers. For example, a fragrance company delivers a box of different scent products to customers monthly.
Subscription is one of the best eCommerce business models for generating recurring revenue. The global market size for subscription boxes was $26.9 billion in 2022 (Expert Market Research). There’s enough room for startups to thrive in this global business.
Even in subscription box niches with top companies like Amazon, Blue Apron, Dollar Shave Company, Glossybox, and Birchbox, you can stand out and earn good profits. How? Offer a new and attractive product to your subscribers in your subscription box.
As part of your marketing strategy, you can offer different subscription tiers to appeal to different customer types and quickly sell your products.
6. Provide Online Coaching or Mentoring Services
Online coaching is an excellent eCommerce business idea that can earn you good profits. If you have an in-demand skill or expertise in a field, you can provide online coaching or mentoring services to those who need it.
Many people mistake eLearning and online coaching for having similar meanings. The difference is that eLearning covers formal education services while online coaching revolves around helping individuals hit their personal or professional goals.
You don’t need to be an expert to make money from this eCommerce business idea. Hire professionals with the in-demand skills, deep knowledge, and expertise to coach or mentor your customers.
With this brilliant passive income idea, you earn easy money without having to coach anyone. Note that you need an online learning platform to offer coaching lessons to your customers. You can use your website or online coaching platforms like Kajabi and Thinkific.
Here are the top in-demand online coaching niches you can target.
- Online Fitness Coaching.
- Career Counseling.
- Nutritional Guidance.
- Financial Coaching.
- Relationship Coaching.
- Parenting Coaching.
7. Make and Sell Natural Products
There’s a growing market for selling natural beauty products. People are becoming more aware and conscious about the products they use, leading to a rise in the demand for natural, organic, and handmade products.
If you are passionate about using all-natural and environmentally-friendly products, making and selling natural products online can become a profitable eCommerce business idea.
Depending on the natural products you want to sell, you can start with a low initial investment. Also, use social media channels like Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram to advertise your products.
The best natural and organic products to sell that are in high demand include daily items for cleaning, personal hygiene, beauty, and natural cosmetics.
However, selling many natural products in an online store can be a huge disadvantage for a startup. It’s easier for startups to attract more sales when they focus on selling one natural product category.
One of the best categories with a large market demand to pick is natural cosmetic products. Yes, the cosmetic industry has many big companies like Sephora with a rich line of products, but that doesn’t mean there’s no room for an alternative.
Focus on selling natural cosmetic products to appeal to the growing number of potential customers that prefer natural products over synthetic ones. The best part is that you can naturally make this product yourself from the comfort of your home.
8. Offer Digital Marketing Services
More than ever before, businesses and personal brands are looking for those with digital marketing skills to help them promote their websites and online presence.
Digital marketing is using the internet to promote goods and services to potential and existing customers through digital channels like email and social media.
Digital marketing statistics show that the industry will reach a market value of $786.2 billion by 2026. If you have skills that relate to any digital marketing sub-niches, you can sell your services on your eCommerce website and earn huge profits.
The best digital marketing skills to offer on your website to earn instant profit include:
- Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Search Engine Advertising (SEA).
- Content Creation and Marketing.
- Video Production and Marketing.
- Email Marketing.
- Copywriting.
- Social Media Ads.
9. Sell Personal Safety Equipment
Remember the COVID years and the sudden spike in the sales of face masks, toiletries, gloves, and hand sanitizers? Those were good times for many eCommerce stores that sold these products on a massive scale.
Although the demand for these products has dropped, other trendy personal safety products are currently attracting high demand. They include:
- Face Shields.
- Latex Gloves.
- Helmets.
- Goggles.
- Overalls.
- Life Jackets.
- Protective Footwear.
- Hearing Protective Devices.
- Disposable Protective Clothing.
Selling personal safety equipment is a top eCommerce business idea. But first, you have to know who your target audience are (construction workers, health practitioners, lab workers, or safety-conscious individuals). Also, find a reliable supplier that can deliver innovative products that appeal to your customers.
10. Sell Electric Scooters, Skateboards, and Hoverboards
Electric scooters, skateboards, and hoverboards are three trending eCommerce products you can list on your store to gain instant profit.
You can decide to sell only one of these products and still generate significant profit. For example, electric scooters had a global market valuation of approximately $33.72 billion in 2022 and will hit $88.75 billion by 2032.
Electric skateboards will hit a global market valuation of $2.4 billion by 2025 (Grand View Research). On the other hand, the market valuation of electric hoverboards will reach $1.215 billion by 2030 (Acumen Research and Consulting).
This eCommerce business idea requires significant capital to start because of the cost of the product. Another problem you may encounter is how to get the products from the manufacturers or suppliers to the customers without incurring high order fulfillment costs.
You can solve these problems by using a dropshipping business model to lower your startup, inventory, and order fulfillment costs. This business model lets you send products directly from the supplier to your customer’s doorstep without holding the inventory.
Dropshipping statistics show that 27% of online retailers use dropshipping as their primary method for fulfilling customers’ orders.
Smart eCommerce business owners use the dropshipping business model to reduce their costs and create large product listings without having the items in stock.
11. Sell Wedding Products and Services
If you excel at planning weddings, the wedding products and services space is a highly-profitable eCommerce niche. You can check these best wedding website examples to get inspiration to create your own website.
How profitable is this niche? The global wedding services market had a valuation of $160.5 billion in 2020 and is expected to reach $414.2 billion by 2030 (Allied Market Research).
When you next attend a wedding, think of the money you can make from setting up an eCommerce website that provides wedding planning and logistics services.
Your eCommerce store can also profit by selling wedding products like:
- Handmade Wedding Gowns.
- Bow Ties and Suits.
- Unique Guest Books.
- Custom Gift Boxes.
- Tableware.
- Custom Cakes.
If you choose this profitable eCommerce business idea, you need to get your marketing right. Ensure your wedding website ranks high for local SEO. Use Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest, and Facebook to market your wedding products and services.
12. Sell Kitchenware
Selling kitchenware may not be the most fashionable eCommerce business idea to start, but it’s a profitable one. The demand for kitchenware like kitchen and dining mats is evergreen and not subject to fluctuations like many other eCommerce business ideas.
Since everyone who has a kitchen is a potential customer, breaking into the industry is not as difficult as you may think. With the right trendy kitchenware for sale on your online store and a well-oiled sales funnel, you can generate sales consistently.
If you don’t have the capital or reach to sell multiple kitchenware, start by selling a brand product like affordable drinkware or wooden cooking utensils. As you attract a loyal customer base, you can add more products to sell online.
Examples of trendy kitchenware to sell on your online store include:
- Plastic or Textured Fabric Mats.
- Cooking Utensils.
- Coffee Mugs.
- Food Serving Tray.
13. Sell Online Grocery and Foods
How do you buy your groceries, in-store or online? Online retail statistics show that 41% of people shop online more than in-store. With more people preferring online shopping, starting an online grocery and food store is a great way to earn from the evergreen food market.
The online grocery and food industry have a large target market. This covers a wide range of products. While there are many big players in this industry, there’s room for new players. You can target local markets and offer product specialization to attract a loyal customer base.
Start with a local food product that is in high demand. For example, honey is an in-demand food product you can source from local beekeepers easily and sell to a ready market. As your ROI increases, you can scale this eCommerce business by adding more food products.
Selling groceries is not the only way to earn from this eCommerce business. You can earn a good profit by offering grocery delivery services. Target groceries with high customer demand or take direct customer orders.
14. Resell Fashionable Products
Fashion reselling is an excellent online business idea entrepreneurs can launch with no capital. How big is the fashion resale industry? The global market value of secondhand and resale apparel was $96 billion in 2021 and will reach a value of $218 billion in 2026 (Statista).
You don’t need to buy inventory. Simply connect with brick-and-mortar stores or suppliers with secondhand goods, list their products on your website, and fulfill customer orders.
There’s no limit to the number of fashionable products you can sell online. Luckily, the fashion resale market is thriving on the web. You can resell clothing items, home goods, and antique furniture.
Start by focusing on the least costly fashion resale sub-niche, such as selling clothing items, if you want to maximize your sales as a newbie. Take high-quality images of your products from different angles and list them during seasons of high demand.
You can expand into other products like antique furniture as your business grows. However, no rule says you can’t start by reselling antique furniture and other fashionable products.
15. Sell Video Doorbells
Video doorbells are one of the trending eCommerce products you can sell on your online store. People buy this security device to get a clear visual picture of who’s at their door. There are video doorbell products that help you monitor visitors remotely from your mobile phones.
Selling this fashionable home security product is a great business idea. Video doorbells are popular in many homes. 1 in 5 Brits have this product installed in their homes (Consumer Intelligence).
Apart from selling video doorbells on your eCommerce store, offer relevant home security products that will interest your customers.
- CCTV.
- Burglary Alarm.
- Fire Alarm.
- Multi-locking System.
16. Sell Dash Cams
The demand for dashboard cameras is on the rise. Car owners with insurance coverage are setting up dash cams in their vehicles to get legal proof they can file in the event of an accident.
Selling dash cams is one of the best small business ideas to make money online. While the dash cam is the primary product you can sell with this eCommerce business idea, it’s not the only option. You can sell cables, charges, mounting devices, and other dash cam accessories.
As your eCommerce business grows, consider selling other car accessories, especially trendy products attracting high customer demand.
17. Sell Smartwatches
You probably own a smartwatch or are looking forward to getting one. If you are a smartwatch enthusiast like me, you own an impressive collection.
The smartwatch industry is one of the most lucrative product ideas for eCommerce businesses. You can earn a living from selling fashionable and innovative smart watches online, even if you don’t use one.
People use smartwatches to track their footsteps, heart and pulse rates, and sleep, receive notifications from a connected smartphone, and plan their day-to-day activities. Your job is to promote and sell smartwatches with the best use cases that appeal to your target audience.
Smartwatches are one of the winning eCommerce product ideas of 2023 and beyond.
How do you tap into such a lucrative market? Sell smartwatches for a specific audience like outdoor runners, female customers, and the youth aged between 20 and 45. You can also sell smartwatch accessories like bands and protective cases.
18. Sell Baby Clothes
Baby clothing is a profitable small-scale business idea that attracts demand throughout the year. You can market and sell different baby clothing and apparel for newborns and toddlers on your online store for a healthy profit.
Consider dropshipping if you don’t have the capital to buy inventory. Ensure you use reliable suppliers with high-quality products that your target audience (parents) wants. Some of the best places to find suppliers are AliExpress, Amazon, and specific baby clothing vendors.
Here are the top baby clothes to sell online.
- Baby Sleeping Bags.
- Winter Romper.
- Unisex Non-Slip Socks.
- Swimsuits.
- Muslin Blankets.
- Funny Baby Costumes.
- Cartoon Hooded Bathrobe.
- Baby Girl Hair Accessories.
- Baby Bibs.
Offer print-on-demand baby clothes for customers that love to personalize their baby’s items. You can easily sell other baby products like reusable diapers, baby gift packages, and handmade baby toys.
19. Sell Selfie Drones
Drones are one of the hottest products to sell online. You can use these aerial robotic technologies to deliver packages, survey a piece of land, and capture aerial shots. Luckily, the drone market is far from mature. There are many unserved markets you can target.
While the drone market offers opportunities for eCommerce business owners, note that it covers many products. Your online store will stand out if you sell a unique drone product to a particular audience.
Selfie drones are one of the best products that sell themselves. Let me explain. Today, every smartphone has a built-in camera because people love taking pictures and shooting videos. But, there is a limit to the camera angles you get from your smartphone without using a selfie stick.
The solution to these limitations? Selfie drones. You can easily capture pictures and videos from different angles, even wide ones.
Selling selfie drones is one of the most lucrative online business ideas you can start on the side. You can also sell other products like drone accessories and replacement parts.
20. Sell Natural Hair Care Products
The natural hair care industry, with all its potential, struggles to attract the attention it deserves, both in the local and international markets. Although more eCommerce businesses are entering this underserved niche, there is room for more players.
You can set up an eCommerce business that focuses on selling natural hair care products and grow it into a successful brand, which depends on your marketing budget and campaign.
Start a blog and publish high-quality content about your natural hair products to gain a following, build credibility, and rank on Google for your target keywords. Apart from selling natural hair products and accessories, you can offer hairstyle consulting services.
21. Sell CBD Products
Selling and consuming CBD products was illegal globally. Here’s the good news. In many countries like the United States, the use of CBD products is legal for medicinal and recreational purposes, while some countries only make exceptions for medicinal reasons.
However, there are countries where selling CBD products is illegal and can put you in trouble with the authorities. These countries include Russia, Serbia, Ecuador, Iceland, Venezuela, Saudi Arabia (a death sentence for possessing cannabis), Singapore, and Japan.
Before you start selling CBD products on your online store, check if your product is legal in the markets you are targeting. If you target the right markets and use the best marketing strategies, you will swim in profits from this lucrative industry.
Also, research if the eCommerce platforms selected support selling your CBD products on a global scale. For example, Amazon doesn’t support the sale of CBD products on its marketplace, while Shopify and WooCommerce allow you to sell them on your online store.
Start Your eCommerce Business with a Robust eCommerce Platform
Hundreds of eCommerce business ideas can generate profits for entrepreneurs. There are many successful eCommerce business examples you can learn from. Choose the best online business ideas that fit your personal or professional goals, needs, and objectives.
If you want eCommerce business ideas with the highest profitability, pick the ones you can personalize to meet your target audience’s unique needs. Don’t pick based on market value and demand levels alone.
No matter how attractive your eCommerce business idea is, it will not power itself. You need an eCommerce platform to manage every aspect of your online business.
Here are five of the best eCommerce platforms for your unique business ideas.
Squarespace Commerce
Bluehost
Thinkific
Podia
Shopify
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Sources
- Pet Care Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Pet Type (Dog, Cat, Fish, Bird), By Type (Product, Food), By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2022 – 2030
- Pet Industry Market Size, Trends & Ownership Statistics
- Smart home – Statistics & Facts
- 82 million vapers worldwide in 2021: the GSTHR estimate
- E-Cigarettes – Worldwide
- Global Subscription Box Market Outlook
- Electric Scooters Market
- Skateboard Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Product (Street Board, Long Board), By End User (Kids, Teenagers, Adults), By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2019 – 2025
- Hoverboard Market Size – Global Industry Share, Analysis, Trends, and Forecast 2022 – 2030
- Wedding Services Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2020-2030
- Secondhand apparel market value worldwide from 2021 to 2026
- One in 5 Brits now have a video doorbell in home security tech boom