Anyone looking to start an online business can find it difficult to choose a market to invest in when e-commerce is so competitive. The same goes for current business owners who want to optimise profits by moving into a more suitable and profitable niche market.
Although the trend varies from time to time, niche markets are still beneficial for sellers as they are more focused and can therefore expect better results.
With this in mind, we’ve selected a list of the most trending e-commerce niches for sales in 2023 so that you can start an online shop with much more foundation and security. Read on and find out!
Trends in e-commerce niches in 2023 and the coming years
1. Pet products
Ever since cats and dogs took over the internet, no one can doubt how much we love our furry friends. So the growing popularity of pet products in recent years comes as no surprise.
The demand for pet products is growing as more consumers treat their pets as members of the family and find more ways to keep them healthy and happy.
Many pet owners now feed them organic and natural food. A survey found that 43.6 per cent of the people asked are more demanding about what their pets eat than they are about their own diets.
Along with organic food, wellness products for pets are also on the rise. From supplements that help improve intestinal health to CBD oils that reduce anxiety symptoms, as well as toothbrushes for cats, you’ll find plenty of useful things to sell on an e-commerce site for pet lovers.
2. Subscriptions
From newspaper and milk delivery to gym memberships, the subscription model is not new. However, combined with e-commerce and digitalisation, it now provides consumers with even more convenience, while saving shop owners time and effort.
Shoppers can enjoy a stress-free shopping experience, free shipping and attractive offers when they sign up to buy from e-commerce brands.
On the owners’ end, the subscription means a sustainable number of loyal customers to generate recurring revenue. Their shops can grow without sales and marketing efforts to acquire new customers.
The business model has witnessed an impressive increase in numbers over the last few decades. The e-commerce niche doubled in size in five years, from 2011 to 2016. Covid-19 and the lockdown even pushed it further, according to Forbes.
In addition, BigCommerce suggests that the subscription model is one of the biggest e-commerce trends in 2023.
What’s interesting about subscription plans is that you can sell anything.
Traditionally, there were groceries, vitamins, food, beauty products, etc. Recently, some e-commerce shop owners have creatively invented subscription services for cat litter or toys.
3. Home office equipment
Since the social lockdown, consumers have been buying for the comfort of working from home. As you can see from the graph, the trend has been maintaining a higher average for the last 3 years.
This e-commerce niche is expected to grow sustainably in the near future due to digitalisation and the remote working trend. In addition, the growing popularity of freelance work could contribute to this growth.
A report by Modor Intelligence suggests that the CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of the home office market will increase by 5.5 per cent by 2025.
4. ReCommerce
ReCommerce means selling items that have been previously owned, both new and used. Some common recurring products include clothes, electronics, books, jewellery, etc.
High-quality products are what people are looking for most, as this is a chance to get decent products at much lower prices. The Vinted app has been successful in this market, as it connects sellers of second-hand clothes with people who want to buy good clothes at a more affordable price.
Another brilliant success story is Rent the Runaway. The e-commerce clothing rental platform allows its members to rent luxury and high-end clothes, which are ideal for one-off events, important dates and even eye-catching Instagram photo shoots.
ReCommerce and clothing rental are in line with the sustainability trend, plus they seem to be a decent choice for budget-conscious customers after the pandemic.
5. Ecological products
This is, in fact, a wide range of fields, from cosmetics to household goods, fashion to travel items. The thing is, this e-commerce niche has been popular for a while, and you might wonder if it’s still profitable.
Subjectively, we have good reason to be positive. Eco-sustainability is everywhere on the internet, big publishers and government media talk about it all the time.
What’s more? There have been tonnes of sustainability movements in a wide range of fields, from heavy industries to fashion to vegan food. Online shoppers are 30 per cent more willing to pay for eco-friendly products.
In figures, a 2021 global report conducted by the World Wide Fund for Nature found that “the popularity of searches for sustainable products has increased by 70 per cent in the last five years”.
We can see an increase in searches for electric cars and bikes, as clearly shown in this Google trend graph. The increase in this demand, unsurprisingly, is triggered by environmentally conscious consumers and the sustainability trend.
6. Health and Wellness Products
According to Global New Shire, the health and wellness food market is expected to grow by 9.20 per cent and reach 162.09 billion by 2026.
As health and fitness continue to be the top new resolutions with each passing year, it’s easy to predict growing demand for this e-commerce niche.
On the other hand, this is already one of the biggest e-commerce niches and there are probably plenty of competitors on the market.
The only chances of standing out are to always keep up with the latest trends or to offer unique products that nobody else has.
As this huge niche still has a lot of untouched territory, there’s still plenty of room for newcomers in 2023.
7. Online courses
Online learning is also one of the considerable e-commerce niches, as it has become easier than ever. What’s more, in recent years people have become so accustomed to this learning model that it’s both economical and convenient.
According to the New York Times, online courses are not just for students, but more and more adults are turning to online learning to keep up with the fast-paced economic and digitalised world.
In addition, as people are retiring later and later, people over 50 have increased their demand for learning opportunities.
8. Print-on-Demand products
P.O.D products are printed only after orders have been placed. Shop owners therefore don’t need to invest in stock or work with suppliers to sell.
Due to its flexibility and low risk, P.O.D has attracted many newcomers to the e-commerce game in recent years.
9. Beauty products for men
A survey carried out by GWI found that “beauty and cosmetics have been the ‘fastest growing interest’ among male shoppers since 2018”, and the men’s personal care market is one of the fastest growing beauty niches, according to Allied Market Research.
If you’re interested in the products and believe in the benefits they offer, selling men’s grooming products could be a successful e-commerce niche for you.
Here at Super Plural, we believe that being on top of the latest trends and innovations in the market is essential to boost our customers’ business online sales. If you need a digital marketing agency to create great advertising strategies and make your new business visible and earn a lot, talk to us.
