{"id":14293,"date":"2021-02-04T09:00:42","date_gmt":"2021-02-04T09:00:42","guid":{"rendered":"\/gb\/en\/blog\/?p=14293"},"modified":"2023-01-17T10:25:12","modified_gmt":"2023-01-17T10:25:12","slug":"recession-proof-products-to-sell-online-and-how-to-sell-them","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"\/gb\/en\/blog\/recession-proof-products-to-sell-online-and-how-to-sell-them\/","title":{"rendered":"Recession Proof Products To Sell Online (and How To Sell Them)"},"content":{"rendered":"

For many of us, 2020 has been a year to forget \u2013 but it\u2019s been a great time for eCommerce, with buying and selling online at an all-time high.<\/span><\/p>\n

Worldwide retail e-commerce sales are predicted to reach<\/span> $4.13 trillion<\/span><\/a> by the end of the year, and by 2021, this jumps to<\/span> $4.9 trillion<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

But with warnings of a recession around the corner, what are the best products for online selling in uncertain times?<\/span><\/p>\n

Savvy online sellers are sourcing products that sold well during 2020 and are likely to do so in coming years, too \u2013 the things that people will continue to buy, no matter what the world economy is doing.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, it can be tricky to identify a recession-proof product that really captures buyers\u2019 attention and makes your online store stand out from the crowd.<\/span><\/p>\n

You can get pretty much anything online already, so product markets are saturated, and competition is fierce. Meanwhile, consumers demand convenience and excellent<\/span> customer service<\/span><\/a>, more than ever before.<\/span><\/p>\n

As well as finding the most appealing products to offer, you need to develop a smart strategy to successfully market them, sell them, and deliver them to your customers.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Types of Products to Sell Online<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Products are broadly divided into two categories: <\/span>commoditised products<\/b> and <\/span>niche products<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Commoditised products are essential goods or services in high demand. Because the products are very similar no matter where they are sold, pricing becomes the only differentiation. This makes it harder for smaller businesses to compete with big players.<\/span><\/p>\n

Niche products are goods or services that fit a particular category and cater to a specific customer base, such as handmade or customised items. As they are not widely available, they can give your eCommerce site a competitive advantage.<\/span><\/p>\n

Selling a combination of the two will help you reach more consumers, as your eCommerce website will be a convenient choice for customers looking to buy both types of product.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Because you\u2019re selling online rather than in a physical store, you also need to think about storage and shipping. Larger items take up more space and cost more to deliver. Do you want to pass those costs on to the customer? Very fragile items are also difficult to ship.<\/span><\/p>\n

Over the past year, certain products have seen an increase in online sales, partly due to the current worldwide situation and somewhat due to ongoing trends.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here are some products that have performed well recently on online selling sites to give you some business ideas<\/a> for the years ahead:<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Food and drink.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Home deliveries of food, especially health-conscious and organic foods, have increased as people care more about what they eat, but have less time to buy and prepare it. This category also includes dietary supplements and niche foods to suit special diets, such as vegan or gluten-free. Deliveries of craft beverages are also popular.<\/span><\/p>\n

2. Subscription boxes.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Subscription boxes are huge right now. Covering not just the food and drink market, but also grooming, hobbies, and accessories, you can create a subscription box around any passion. Customers are excited to receive their box each month, and there are plenty of bloggers and influencers who cover subscription-based products.<\/span><\/p>\n

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3. Exercise at home.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Instead of going to gyms, consumers invest in exercise bands, yoga and Pilates mats, and more \u2013 because exercising from home is convenient and saves money in the long run.<\/span><\/p>\n

4. Eco-friendly products.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Water bottles and reusable coffee cups are a growing trend, as part of the war on single-use plastic. Upcycled, second-hand, and vintage products also fit the eco-friendly lifestyle.<\/span><\/p>\n

5. Cruelty-free beauty.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

This taps into the continuing vegan and environmentally-conscious trend, as well as people carrying out their own beauty services (nails, facials) at home.<\/span><\/p>\n

6. Journals and planners.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

People are recording their 2020 experiences and dreaming of a time when they can get back to travelling. So, they\u2019re buying notebooks and related supplies like stickers, pens, and bookmarks.<\/span><\/p>\n

7. Low-tech leisure.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Online sales of jigsaw puzzles and board games increased. That\u2019s as people started to spend more time at home and discovered the joy of reconnecting with family over a childhood favourite or a new game.<\/span><\/p>\n

8. Print on demand.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Used mainly for T-shirts and posters that help customers show their support for an ideology or passion, this is an ideal market for smaller online retailers and business owners who don\u2019t have the budget or space to buy stock in bulk.<\/span><\/p>\n

9. Pet products.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The pet industry is already worth nearly<\/span> $100 billion<\/span><\/a>, and pet owners will buy almost anything for their beloved companions, from practical items to treats and costumes.<\/span><\/p>\n

10. Handmade crafts.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Unique offerings and personalised customer service are always appealing, but there\u2019s been a recent uptick in support for independent local small businesses.<\/span><\/p>\n

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How to Choose Products to Sell<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Wouldn\u2019t it be great if you could confidently predict the next big thing in retail, and start selling it before anyone else? Sadly, it\u2019s not as simple as that \u2013 but there are plenty of ways to identify recession-proof products.<\/span><\/p>\n

Looking at the list in the previous section will give you a few ideas, and help you work out which products might have peaked and which will continue to grow in popularity.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here are some further handy hints you can follow when deciding what to sell online.<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Find a gap in the market.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

If you can identify a product that solves a problem or addresses a particular need, your online shop is on to a winner.<\/span><\/p>\n

Think about your own lifestyle, hobbies, career \u2013 is there something that would make your life easier in some way? Ask your friends and family the same question. You could even set up focus groups online to access a wider range of views and ideas.<\/span><\/p>\n

Coming up with a completely new product would be great, but it\u2019s not the only way to be an<\/span> innovator<\/span><\/a>. You could look at an existing product and consider enhancing or improving its features or finding a unique digital marketing strategy.<\/span><\/p>\n

It helps to look at new or current products from the customer\u2019s point of view \u2013 how will it benefit them, and why should they part with their hard-earned money at the checkout for it?<\/span><\/p>\n

2. Maximise branding potential.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Creating a recognisable and memorable brand and online presence is important, as it will be easier to build a loyal customer base.<\/span><\/p>\n

The look of the product and packaging would help if you thought about how you\u2019ll design your website and marketing materials to reflect the branding. And ensure that you extend this theme across all the platforms or channels you use.<\/span><\/p>\n

Customers need to relate to your brand \u2013 if they love it, they\u2019ll not only become loyal patrons, but they\u2019ll also be your most important brand ambassadors.<\/span><\/p>\n

To enhance your business’s expansion potential, it\u2019s a good idea to sell products that are conducive to upselling and cross-selling.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u00a03. Tap into the trends.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

While you don\u2019t want to be seen as a copycat, it really pays to take advantage of emerging markets. It\u2019s not about bandwagonism \u2013 it\u2019s about staying up to date with trends and tapping into them while they\u2019re popular.<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s important to analyse the latest data, and there are plenty of tools to help you do this. For example, Google Trends provides data based on the popularity of your chosen search term in Google over a period of time.<\/span><\/p>\n

You can also use keyword analysis with other search engines, and look at online forums and comments. Search for \u201conline selling sites the UK\u201d and see which names come up first and what they did to boost their rating.<\/span><\/p>\n

Look at the top-selling products sold by the big online stores \u2013 and check out what\u2019s trending on Pinterest, where people go to find new ideas and products.<\/span><\/p>\n\t

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4. Use your passion.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Selling something you love is a perfect way to enhance your business. If you are passionate about what you do, it won\u2019t feel so much like hard work!<\/span><\/p>\n

Your passion will be obvious to your customers \u2013 they will know you\u2019re authentic and not just trying to make a fast buck. You\u2019ll also be better at marketing the product to others if you truly believe in its value.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, don\u2019t make the mistake of trying to sell products based purely on your own interests. They will only sell if there\u2019s a market for them, so do the<\/span> research<\/span><\/a> first.<\/span><\/p>\n

5. Cater to a niche market.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Serving a niche segment means you\u2019re providing something of value to a very passionate audience, who will buy these products no matter what happens to the economy.<\/span><\/p>\n

They are likely to be highly-engaged, which should translate into a higher conversion rate. You could choose to sell products that already have dedicated blogs or fan pages.<\/span><\/p>\n

6. Keep an eye out for opportunities.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Don\u2019t become complacent just because some products are doing well. Always look for expansion opportunities such as cross-selling and upselling. Use your imagination, and keep on top of what\u2019s happening in the wider world, not just retail.<\/span><\/p>\n

Make use of hints and tips from others who have made a success of their eCommerce business \u2013 there are plenty of these available online.<\/span><\/p>\n

Tips to Start Selling Products Online<\/strong><\/h2>\n

So, you\u2019ve done the market research, and you\u2019ve decided on a recession-proof product to sell online. There are still plenty of other aspects you need to finalise before you can get started.<\/span><\/p>\n

One of these is pricing, and this will depend on the type of product. Luxury, handmade, or customised goods can command a high price, whereas commodities need to be competitive. You should also consider payment gateways, remembering that transactions with credit cards or PayPal may incur extra charges.<\/span><\/p>\n

It goes without saying that you must ensure your online business complies with licensing laws and that you\u2019re across details like international shipping restrictions and taxes.<\/span><\/p>\n

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1. Choose your platform.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Are you going to sell your products through your own website? The advantage is that you\u2019ll have full control over the branding and the product information, but you\u2019ll have to pay fees for hosting and taking customer payments.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re taking this option, make sure you look into the best CRM<\/a><\/span> software<\/span><\/a> for small businesses and startups. Then you can begin to design and optimise your eCommerce store. Use a template if you don\u2019t have the skills to start from scratch, and make sure it has all the functionality it needs.<\/span><\/p>\n

High-quality product content is vital, with the same overall look for every section of the site. You\u2019ll need great imagery, showing the products in every colour, way, and from different angles. Product descriptions should reflect your branding \u2013 write in your customers\u2019 language and think about what will motivate them<\/span> to buy.<\/span><\/p>\n

The alternative is to sell your goods through an online marketplace such as eBay or Amazon or to use a platform like Shopify or Etsy. You\u2019ll have to relinquish some control, and the platform will take a percentage of your sales, but you\u2019ll be selling online UK-wide, plus you get an association with a well-known and trusted name.<\/span><\/p>\n

Many eCommerce platforms will help you to set up your own professional-looking storefront with no need for you to learn complicated coding. It\u2019s often free to try these out. Also, don\u2019t sleep on the more modern sales channels out there. Facebook Marketplace, Google Shopping, and more are rich avenues to explore.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

2. Choose your fulfilment method.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

How will you fulfil customer orders? This depends on the size and type of business.<\/span><\/p>\n

You could use the self-fulfilment option, commonly used by people selling handmade items. You\u2019ll have total quality control, but packing and shipping the goods yourself is time-consuming, while inventory storage can be a problem.<\/span><\/p>\n

Instead, you could partner with a third-party fulfilment service, which takes care of all the logistics<\/a> such as storage, processing, and shipping (for a fee). Or you could use dropshipping to fulfil orders without having to stock or handle the product yourself.<\/span><\/p>\n