How Many Products Should I Start Selling on Shopify With?
Learn how to decide the ideal number of products for selling on Shopify. Explore strategies to analyze sales, adjust inventory, and optimize your product range for success.
Updated December 18, 2024.
Starting an online store on Shopify can be an exciting venture, but figuring out the right number of products to launch with can be daunting. While you don’t want to overwhelm your customers with too many choices, offering too few might limit your appeal. Striking the right balance is crucial to attract customers and create a seamless shopping experience.
So, how much inventory should an online retail store carry? The good news? There’s no one-size-fits-all approach.
In the best-case scenario, 10 to 20 products are a good choice.
» Take control of your Shopify store with e-commerce automation
Factors to Consider When Starting to Sell Products on Shopify
We know every Shopify store is unique, so here are a few tips to help you decide for yourself how many products to start with when launching your Shopify store:
- Industry niche: Some niches, like fashion stores, may be more competitive than others, so you might need to carry more products to compete.
- Type of store: A B2B Shopify store may need to stock a different range of products than a B2C-focused online store.
- Inventory costs: If your inventory costs are high, it may be more economical if you stock a limited amount of products only.
- Turnover: The higher your inventory turnover is, the more products you'll have to stock.
» Here's everything you need to know about Shopify inventory forecasting
Selling Products on Shopify
Pros
- Ease of setup: Shopify offers an intuitive setup process, making it accessible to beginners.
- No marketplace fees: Unlike platforms like Amazon, Shopify only charges a subscription fee and payment processing fees.
- Full control: You’re not restricted by third-party marketplace rules.
- 24/7 support: Shopify provides round-the-clock support to address issues and queries promptly.
Cons
- Cost: Shopify’s plans can get expensive as you scale, with additional app costs.
- Limited free themes: Only a few free themes are available, requiring investment in premium ones for advanced features.
- No built-in email hosting: You’ll need to set up a custom business email separately.
» Learn how to sort Shopify products and increase your store's ROI
Finding Your Perfect Product Count With the Right Shopify App
There is no hard set of rules you should follow when determining the right starting inventory for a small business. In all honesty, it will take time to find the right levels as you start conducting business. You may find that a certain product category is more popular and you would like to expand it, or that you'll carry certain products for certain seasons only because they're not in demand otherwise.
The right Shopify app can help you manage all aspects related to your products. Bestsellers reSort allows you to:
- Automate your product sorting on your Shopify store with custom rules
- Sort products according to sales, dates, views, and more
- Analyze product performance via daily reports
Bestsellers reSort
Optimize your Shopify product range and simplify merchandising for increased sales.
Push new products up, push out-of-stock items down, and drive growth automatically
Sort products automatically with advanced rules
Use tags to create tailored product orders
» Read the following Bestsellers reSort review to learn more about this handy app
How to Test and Adjust Your Product Range
As your Shopify store grows, your product range should adapt to customer preferences and market trends. Here’s how to fine-tune the products you’re selling on Shopify:
Analyze sales trends: Use Shopify’s analytics tools to see which products are performing well and which aren’t. Focus on your bestsellers and consider removing or rethinking items that consistently have low sales.
Adjust for seasonal demand: Add seasonal products to your inventory based on customer needs during specific times of the year. Items like winter clothing, summer accessories, or festive decorations can attract buyers and boost sales during peak periods.
Gather customer feedback: Encourage customers to share their opinions through reviews or surveys. Their feedback can reveal gaps in your product range and help you decide which new items to introduce or existing ones to improve.
Test with A/B variations: Experiment with different product selections, pricing, and layouts to see what connects best with your customers. Introducing a new product in Shopify can also help you optimize your store and refine the mix of products you offer.
» Understand how to forecast sales for a new product on Shopify
Boost Sales with Smarter Product Management
Enhance your inventory management and optimize your product range with Bestsellers reSort.
Finding the Sweet Spot for Your Product Range
When starting your Shopify store, there’s no perfect formula for the number of products to stock. Instead, focus on creating a balanced product range that meets customer needs without overextending your resources. Start small, monitor your performance, and adjust based on data and feedback. With tools like Egnition Bestsellers reSort, you can make your Shopify a better one by managing and improving your inventory over time.
Remember, your store’s product range will evolve as your business grows, and flexibility is key to staying competitive in the ever-changing e-commerce landscape.
» Simplify your workflow and optimize your Shopify product range with Egnition's automation tools designed to save time and boost sales
