What Types of Products Are Best Sellers on Shopify?
Identify your next best sellers to market in your Shopify store.
Published November 5, 2023.
Without a stellar product, even the best user experience on your Shopify store won’t cut it. Have you ever wondered what makes certain types of products best-sellers on Shopify? It’s not just about the item itself—it’s a strategy.
There are over 4.6 million active Shopify websites, so standing out requires curating a selection that appeals to your target audience. When potential customers visit your online store, they’re looking for something special, something they didn’t know they needed. Let’s get right into six essential product types that sell well on Shopify.
» Discover everything you need to know about managing multiple Shopify stores
Meet the Expert
Jameela Ghann is a seasoned online store owner with over a decade of eCommerce experience. Apart from running Alora Boutique, she's also the marketing manager for Fera Product Reviews.
6 Best-Selling Shopify Products
1. Clothing and apparel
Clothing and accessories are one of the most popular categories of products sold on Shopify. The global online fashion market is expected to reach $1.2 trillion U.S. dollars by 2027. The fashion industry is ever-changing, but certain clothing and accessories, like jeans, t-shirts, dresses, and shoes, remain in high demand.
To decide what items to stock, look to Google Trends to gauge seasonality and popularity over time. The skinny jeans debate is a great example of how quickly trends can change.
Gen Z canceled skinny jeans in Feb 2021, resulting in a significant spike in searches, but you can see there's a pretty consistent search rate over time with a slight decline in recent years. Does that mean you shouldn't stock skinny jeans? Perhaps not if you were marketing to Gen Z in 2021, but fashion trends change quickly, so best to keep your finger on the pulse when it comes to apparel.
» Ready to start your fashion empire? Here's how to build a fashion store on Shopify
2. Skincare and beauty
Did you know Kylie Cosmetics was launched on Shopify? That's just one example of a beauty brand doing magic on this platform. Of course, it helps if you're one of the Kardashian-Jenner clan. Still, the skincare and beauty category is growing consistently at 7.7% each year on average.
Shopify merchants can take advantage of this growing market by selling high-quality skincare and beauty products that are in demand. To choose the right products, consider factors like skin or hair type and concerns. For example, Satya Organics caters to people looking for beauty products that won't flare up eczema.
3. Electronics
From smartphones and laptops to gaming consoles, electronics is another popular category of products sold on Shopify. The global consumer electronics market is expected to reach $1.7 trillion by 2028.
Shopify merchants can take advantage of this growing market by selling high-quality electronics that are in high demand. To choose the right products, it's important to consider factors such as:
- Price: Electronics can range in price from a few dollars to several thousand dollars. It's important to choose products that are priced competitively and that meet the needs of your target audience.
- Features: Consider the features that are most important to your target audience. For example, if you're selling smartphones, you may want to consider features such as camera quality, battery life, and storage capacity.
- Reviews: Read reviews from other customers to get an idea of the quality and performance of the products you are considering selling.
4. Eco-friendly items
Eco-friendly products are becoming increasingly popular as consumers become more aware of the environmental impact of their choices. There's a wide variety of eco-friendly products that Shopify merchants can sell, including organic clothing made from natural fibers without the use of harmful pesticides and herbicides, recycled material creations, and renewable energy innovations.
One of my close associates is a successful Shopify entrepreneur who sells sustainable and eco-friendly products. She identified the growing trend in sustainable products and researched popular categories in the sustainable niche.
Once she had a good understanding of the market and her competition, she started choosing products to sell based on her own interests and expertise. She also chose products that are easy to ship and store like bamboo toothbrushes and reusable cloths.
As a result of her careful product selection strategy, my friend's Shopify store has been very successful. She has a loyal customer base and she is constantly adding new cute products to her store.
5. Personalized products
Personalized products are great for gift sales. They're unique, special, and show that you care about the recipient. Think custom jewelry, personalized knick-knacks, and tailor-made clothing. When choosing a personalized product to sell on Shopify, it's important to consider your target audience and what would be meaningful to them. For example, if you're targeting parents, personalized baby gifts would be a great option. If you're targeting fashion-conscious consumers, personalized t-shirts or jewelry would be a good choice.
6. Subscription boxes
Is there anything better than a monthly mystery box arriving on your doorstep? There are subscription boxes for all sorts of interests, from food and wine to beauty and pet supplies. Subscription boxes are a convenient and affordable way to try new products and discover new brands. They're also a great way to give yourself a monthly treat or to show someone you care with a thoughtful gift. When getting into the subscription box market, make sure you focus on pricing as the strongest reason for customer sign-ups and retention is tipped to be good value for money.
» Out of stock? Unlock the fastest way to set up pre-orders in Shopify
How to choose what to sell on Shopify
Choose products to sell on Shopify based on your passions, expertise, and the market. Sell products that you're passionate about, trending, or popular among a specific niche. Research products to make sure there is a demand, you can source them reliably, and sell them at a profit.
Understand your target audience
A target market is a specific group likely to buy your products. Who are you selling to? What are their needs and interests? What problems do they have that you can solve? Research their online behavior, including what websites and social media they use, and what brands they follow to gain insight into their interests and potential product preferences. Conduct surveys and interviews for direct feedback on their needs and wants. This can guide what they’re looking for in a Shopify store.
Research popular product trends and categories
One of the best ways to find winning products to sell on Shopify is to research popular product trends and categories. This information can help you to identify products that are in high demand and that are likely to sell well.
Here are some resources you can use to research product trends and categories:
- Google Trends: Use Google Trends to see how search interest for certain products has changed over time. This information can help you to identify trends and emerging markets.
- Shopify's Commerce Trends Report: Shopify publishes an annual trends report that showcases the top trending products on Shopify. This report is a great resource for discovering new products to sell and for staying up-to-date on the latest trends.
- Amazon's Best Sellers List: Amazon's Best Sellers List shows the most popular products on Amazon. While you may not plan on selling on Amazon yourself, this list is a great way to see what products are selling well in general.
- Dropshipping Apps: Many dropshipping apps have "trending product" reports that analyze what the best-selling products on third-party sites are. This information can be a helpful starting point for finding trending products to sell on your own Shopify store.
Study your competitors
Studying competitors is a great way to understand your niche. Examine their product offerings, especially those selling well, indicated by sales numbers and reviews. Tools like Shopify’s Product Reviews app can highlight top-rated products. Observe their social media promotions and the products gaining the most engagement. Reading their blogs and articles can also provide insights into the products they’re discussing.
Choose your market approach
Deciding between a specific niche or a broader market on Shopify depends on your business objectives, target demographic, and available resources. For beginners, I recommend focusing on a specific niche. This strategy allows you to establish yourself as an authority in a specialized market and build a loyal customer base. Niche markets typically have less competition, offering a favorable environment for new businesses to flourish.
Bamboo toothbrushes have been a niche product success on Shopify due to high demand, competitive pricing, and quality. They also address a need for consumers looking for more sustainable oral hygiene options.
If you have substantial financial resources and a large budget, a broader market strategy could be viable. However, make sure you understand the competitive landscape before adopting this approach.
Leverage seasonality
Seasonality significantly influences the success of certain product categories on Shopify. For example, swimwear sales spike in summer, while winter coats are popular in colder months. However, categories like clothing, electronics, and home and garden products maintain consistent demand throughout the year.
Maximize seasonality by strategically planning your inventory and marketing campaigns. For example, if you sell swimwear, start promotions in spring when people begin planning summer vacations.
Prioritize easy shipping and storage
Choose products that are easy to ship and store if you're managing your own inventory. Small, lightweight, and durable items are ideal. Stackable products save space, reducing storage costs. And if you don't want to worry about storage space and overheads, you can also consider dropshipping where suppliers ship directly to customers.
» What is dropshipping all about? Check out our complete guide on how to dropship on Shopify
Remaining competitive with best-selling products on Shopify
In the Shopify e-commerce market, competition is inevitable so I recommend targeting niche markets with less competition and selling high-quality products and services that your customers can't find elsewhere. Monitor your sell-through rate and adapt to market changes.
Prioritize key metrics like sales tracking, conversion rate analysis, and customer feedback. Use this data to improve your offerings, make sure you're promoting your best products first (we've got an app to help with that), discontinue underperforming products, enhance features of slow-selling items, and introduce new products to meet evolving market demands.
» Need an easy way to organize your stock? Manage your inventory with these essential Shopify apps
