30 Profitable and High-Demand Ecommerce Business Ideas

If you’re considering starting a business, e-commerce seems like a natural choice, since more and more people are looking for goods and services online. Global e-commerce sales in 2020 were $4.9 trillion and that number is projected to grow to $6.3 trillion by 2024.

 If you’re looking for e-commerce business ideas, this article offers a comprehensive list. Give it a read, choose the one that’s right for you and you’ll be on your way to online success!

1. Homemade Pet Treats

If you have an affinity for animals, open an е-commerce store that specializes in handmadе pet treats. Some baked delicacies even contain ingrеdients that address common concerns of pet owners (CBD-infused pеt delights could alleviate pets’ anxiety).

Before you divе into the business head first, check which state licenses you need, and look at the label requirеments from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the testing protocols from the Association of American Feеd Control Officials (AAFCO).

I think this concеpt is particularly beneficial for e-commerce merchants residing in Nevada and Alaska because these states lack еntry-barrier pet food regulations.

Anila Lahiri, chief marketing officer at EINSearch

2. Educational Materials

You may have great knowledge and an amazing specialized pedagogical framеwork that revolvеs around it. Rather than teaching/tutoring studеnts individually, you can transfer your knowledge by selling courses, ebooks, workbooks, and other еducational materials in multiple formats.

You can either develop your own website or opt for one of the pre-existing platforms. Udemy, for example, will let you offer instructional materials for sale in video form, accompanied by a landing page. You can also sell ebooks that you have self-published for free on other websites (like Amazon).

Usama Khan, manager at Justreply

3. Handmade Toys

This is for you if you sow, weave, knit, or crochet. Selling handmade items is relatively easy online, and it’s also easy to find patterns.

You may ask for a higher payment in exchange for custom toy orders that, for example, reflect parents’ or kids’ preferences.

If you plan to make trendy products, trend research should be your top priority. Go to Facebook groups and ask other artisans which of their handmade toy inventories sells the most.

Another tip: When making custom items, ask for a deposit equal to the total cost of materials before you start making anything.

Ethan Keller, president of Dominion (Company LinkedIn)

4. Reusable Infant Toiletries

On a yearly basis, more than 18 billion disposable diapers end up in landfills. A typical child uses between 6,000 and 7,000 nappies before the age of three — and those are mostly diapers containing chemicals!

Luckily, many parents are turning to more sustainable options and are extremely enthusiastic about the fact that using reusable or biodegradable diapers can have a significant positive impact on the planet — and their kids.

You can assist them for a good profit! Buy biodegradable diapers and other necessities in bulk and resell them in smaller quantities with a markup. You can also learn to create cute, reusable diapers for children out of inexpensive, biodegradable materials such as cotton, which you can then sell for a premium.

Jack William, founder of Great Lakes Tiny Home

5. Flipping Thrifted Items

Repurposing second-hand items has gained significant traction over the past years and has even evolved into a trend. There’s so much that can be done with these items, including the unraveling of wool thrift store garments and using that yarn to crochet or knit cool apparel, as well as the antiquing of furniture and subsequent marketing as heirlooms.

Thrifted items don’t require much effort to turn. You only need a small amount of paint, a few craft supplies, and a few YouTube tutorials to create an heirloom masterpiece for your e-commerce store. Simply photograph them in good light, post great pictures, and optimize your keywords.

Wendy Wilhoit, operations manager at Brick Anew

6. Leveraging Co-Creation

We employ a co-creation model where customers have a say in the product development process. Naturally, this results in a tailored offering, but it also gives our audience a sense of ownership.

We come up with creative interactive content (including polls and quizzes on social media) to engage in meaningful conversations with our customers and gather data about their preferences. It also helps us drive up engagement while at the same time strengthening our brand-consumer relationship.

Market positioning, for us, is a dynamic interplay of storytelling and uniqueness. It emphasizes not just the product but also the values our company represents.

Jessica Kats, e-commerce and retail expert at Soxy (Company LinkedIn)

7. Vintage Rings

Today, one of the biggest trends and challenges is taking care of our environment. Women are becoming more socially conscious and aware of sustainability, environmental impact, and natural alternatives. It is no surprise, then, that many consumers are concerned with choosing an eco-friendly engagement ring that will show their commitment to the planet even as they make their commitment to each other. Vintage rings are inherently sustainable. They represent the ultimate in recycling, protecting the environment, and promoting social justice.

Any business can have a logo and a product, but when a consumer can turn to a company and know their purchases say something about who they are and what matters to them, it falls into a different category. When you connect with them on that level, you are able to tap into their world.

Suzanne Sachs, president of VintageDiamondRing.com

8. Customer-Centric Approach Regardless of the Product

What sets a successful e-commerce venture apart is an intentional focus on the human connection in this digital age. At Lead Engine Labs, we have always emphasized understanding our customers’ needs, their motivations, and their potential roadblocks to making a purchase.

Perhaps the most important yet often overlooked business principle that I’ve learned from my experience is to flip the script on standard product selection. Rather than being product-focused, where we decide what products we think the market needs, we have been more successful when we adopt a customer-focused approach. We concentrate on determining our target audience’s needs first and then carefully curate a product selection that solves their problems. This approach undoubtedly requires more initial research and data analysis, but it pays off remarkably in terms of customer satisfaction and sales.

A one-liner that succinctly summarizes this insight is: In e-commerce, success is less about what you want to sell and more about what your customers need to buy. This is something that’s incredibly powerful yet often overlooked by nascent entrepreneurs in the e-commerce space.

Michael Giannulis, CEO of Lead Engine Labs

9. Boosting Customer Engagement Through Interactive Visuals

As a business owner, I can say the best way you can enhance your customer engagement in an e-commerce business is by providing interactive elements like high-quality visuals to your customers. I strongly believe that if you provide a high-quality picture of your product then the customer will like it more as they can now see the particular detail of a product and then take their decision to buy it. You can also upload a high-quality video to your e-commerce website so that customers can view their product in 3D with the help of the video. All these things provide a great help to the customer while selecting their product or service and create a good impression of the business in front of customers.

Brian Mathew, owner of Computer Technicians (Twitter)

10. Seasonal and Special Events Products

As a marketing manager with great business knowledge, I can say that it is best if you try to do product selection according to seasonal and special events in e-commerce. You can do proper research on the holiday season, any industry event, or any other event that is popular in the current market to select the best product for your business. I strongly believe that aligning your product selection with seasonal events can be really helpful in enhancing your sales and profit. However, it is important that you consider only limited-time promotions for these kinds of products as they are associated with seasonal or special events only.

Enric Robert, marketing manager at Silicon Valley High School

11. Building a Personal Brand

With e-commerce, the market is increasingly saturated, and you have to find ways to stand out and carve a niche for yourself. When looking at the market and developing your strategy, be careful to find the balance between “this is what makes my product/service better” and “this is the value in my product/service.”

Understanding how to fill gaps is crucial, but never fall into the trap of only defining your product/service by its competitors. A strategy that I like to use is to focus on building a personal brand around your e-commerce business.

For example, I sell acupuncture needles on my site because I am a trained acupuncturist and an advocate of acupuncture for physical and mental health. My content focuses on positivity and being willing to think outside the box, which aligns with the products I promote.

Brandon Green, entrepreneur, podcaster & CEO of Let’s Go Brandon Green

12. Informational Guides

When it comes to market positioning, try to find large audiences that are missing something specific. For me, it was the fact that millions of people play the lotto, but there are not a lot of comprehensive online guides to help them develop better strategies.

The next question is, how can you provide value to these people? And the answer is how you start developing your e-commerce business.

Creating a website that provides invaluable information to people is an excellent starting point when you are trying to work out how to monetize your skills and ideas. From there, keep workshopping ideas for products and services that you could provide.

Liam Wilson, editor-in-chief of Lottery ‘n Go

13. Smart Home Upgrades

Be creative and original in the competitive home upgrade business. Focus on product selection catering to customer preferences that emphasize luxurious yet affordable eco-friendly options. You can consider including products that use smart home technology.

Images with high-definition visualizations and virtual rooms are great for enhancing customer engagement. Additionally, build a community through social media and showcase real customer stories of home transformation.

Don’t be a mere product provider, but set your brand as a lifestyle enhancer. Collaborate with home design and HVAC experts or even with esteemed institutions. Take advantage of marketing storytelling to highlight your products’ transformative impact, and last but not least, provide exceptional customer service.

John Serrano, operations manager at The Trade Table

14. AI-Driven Personalized Shopping Platform

As an e-commеrce business owner, I’d suggest launching a personalizеd shopping experience platform that leverages AI to analyze customers’ prefеrences. Based on that, the platform would suggest unique product combos and even some exclusive deals!

I’d also introduce a virtual try-on feature where customers can try the product before purchase. It would be based on augmented reality (AR). On top of that, it would be cool if there was also a gamified loyalty program where users could еarn points for various interactions and redeem those points for discounts or products.

Chris Purvis, founder & CEO of RDW Kenteken

15. E-Commerce PPC Agency

Data shows that small, specialized online stores catering to specific hobbies or lifestyles see a 30% higher customer retention rate compared to general retailers. This evidence highlights the effectiveness of niche marketing.

An е-commerce PPC agеncy can take advantage of this insight to develop precise advertising campaigns that resonatе with specific audiences, thereby maximizing ROI for e-commerce businesses.

Brenton Thomas, founder of Twibi

16. Sustainable Seafood

Sustainable sourcing and еnvironmentally conscious practices set my business apart.

If you decide to adopt a similar еthos, curate a selection of seafood that prioritizes sustainability certifications, traceable sourcing, and low-impact fishing practicеs.

Furthermore, come up with ways to engage customers through informative content — such as cooking tutorials. This can highlight sustainable seafood prеparation techniques, the importance of еthical sourcing, and the impact that responsible consumption has on marine ecosystems.
Joe Bowab, founder & CEO of Lobster Anywhere

17. Online Courses

Do you have some expertise to share with the world? Millions of people are ready to learn online, which is why e-learning is one of the world’s fastest-growing industries.

You can build your own e-courses website or use a platform like Udemy, SkillShare, or MasterClass. You’d be in complete control of the course content you create, and if you make it engaging and relevant, you could be very successful. 

18. Subscription Boxes

Many people love subscription boxes, but what’s even better is offering unique and personalized products that surprise and delight customers. We established our brand by conducting interactive quizzes on our website and used the data to create the boxes the customers wanted.

You can even niche down by focusing on eco-friendly, handmade, or locally sourced goods. They especially appeal to younger consumers who research brands before spending their money. Try a limited-edition strategy — release exclusive products periodically to generate buzz and urgency.

Social media provides authentic customer stories and user-generated content, and you should use them wisely to create a community around your brand.

Alex Williams, CFO of Find This Best

19. Smart Home Products

Smart home products can be anything from speakers to security cameras to doorbells. You can start this business without having to order and hold a bunch of inventory.

You just need to find a supplier or manufacturer that offers drop shipping, meaning that when you get an order from a customer, you place the order with the supplier, and they ship it directly to your customers.

Alternatively, you could order a stock of products, set up an Amazon store, and use Fulfillment by Amazon when orders come in.

20. Online Grocery Store

This one requires getting over a few logistical hurdles. You can create an online grocery store in a few different ways. You can partner with a local food supplier who can fulfill your orders when they come in, and then deliver them yourself, or have them shipped to customers.

Alternatively, you could partner with a small local grocery store to deliver their products to customers. Either way, you’d need to develop an online store or app that lists available products. Online grocery shopping is the way of the future, so if you figure out a great business model, you can make it big.

21. Jewelry

An online jewelry store, whether you create your own or open an Amazon store, has all sorts of potential. You could make your own as many sellers do, or you could create designs using software and have them manufactured.

If you don’t have the creative touch, garage sales can be a gold mine, literally. If you want to find fine jewelry, estate sales are also a great option. Buyers are always looking for fine jewelry at discount prices since new jewelry prices are often astronomical. Just pick your niche!

22. Vape Products

Vaping is becoming a mainstream hobby for many people, in spite of the health warnings. Vaping is actually its own industry now, worth more than $18 billion globally in 2021 and projected to expand 30% every year through 2030. 

Vaping takes hardware and flavored liquids, so you could create your own vape store. You’ll just need to find a supplier and stock up on some inventory. 

23. Selfie Drones

If you haven’t heard of selfie drones yet, you will. Nearly everyone takes selfies, and the days of the selfie stick may be over, as selfie drones take over.

Drones have all sorts of uses, and selfie drones are a niche market in a growing industry. It’s an industry that is still relatively new, so it’s a good time to get in before everyone jumps on the bandwagon.

You’ll need a supplier, possibly one that offers drop shipping, and you can sell them for a nice markup.

24. Watches

Watches offer a world of possibilities. It may be surprising, given that most every adult has a smartphone that tells time, but the watch industry is alive and well. In fact, the global luxury watch market is projected to expand nearly 25% in the next few years.

You could design a line of watches with a certain style and good quality materials, have them manufactured, and sell them as luxury watches. Your brand could become the next Rolex!

25. Video Doorbells

More and more people are turning to video doorbells for privacy and security. In 2020, the video doorbell industry was worth more than a billion dollars and is expected to grow to more than $15 billion by 2028. Now that’s an exploding market!

You can get in on the action by finding a supplier and stocking up on inventory. If you get your store set up soon, you can get in early on a market that is set to expand 15-fold in just a few years. Ding dong! 

26. Essential Oils

The global essential oils industry is booming, expected to nearly double by 2028. The popularity of essential oils stems from their many health benefits, such as inflammation reduction, deeper sleep, and their ability to kill bacteria and viruses.

They are made from the extracts of many different plants and herbs, including lavender flowers and rose petals. They can be made at home, so you could ride the wave and make some good money by selling them online. You’ll also be helping countless people feel better!

27. Home Décor Products

The U.S. home décor industry is worth nearly $190 billion and is expected to expand more than 7% by 2024. You could buy from a wholesaler or manufacturer and then sell the items at a healthy markup.

You just need to have an eye for good products that will be popular and keep up with the latest trends. An Amazon store using the Amazon FBA service would be a perfect avenue to sell your home décor items.

28. Meal Delivery

Meal delivery, meaning boxes of ingredients that come with a recipe, is becoming very popular. You could choose a niche market offering a certain ethnic cuisine, or just get creative and come up with unique recipes that will make your meal kits stand out in the market. This would require finding a local food supplier that you can get ingredients from on a daily basis, but you can make recurring revenue since meal delivery services are generally subscription-based. 

29. Online Thrift Store

Thrift stores can be full of treasures that someone else didn’t want, from clothing to trinkets to furniture. The U.S. thrift store industry is valued at over $10 billion and growing.

Whether you decide to specialize in vintage clothing, furniture, or a variety of items, you can make a profit by opening your own online store. You’d just need to set up a way to take donations of items to sell.

30. Candles

Candles set the mood in a room, whether for romance or relaxation, which is why they represent a fast-growing industry. People love unique and handmade candles that are more interesting than what they can find at the department store.

You can purchase candle-making equipment and supplies for very little money and then let your creative juices flow. Profit margins on your candles will be high since the cost to make them is low. If you sell candles in your online store at $10 each and have a 75% profit margin, that can add up to good money.