Selling online has been a life saver to many Filipino whose jobs and businesses were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Many have started their own business at home, and some are yet to start their own as form of another source of income.
Post pandemic, people have been accustomed to order online and get everything at their door step in a click of a button. If you want to start your online selling business now but haven’t really decided on what product to sell, here are the ideas on how you can find the perfect products to sell online.
1. Start with what you have or what’s on your house or room
If you are tight on budget and do not have a capital to try out a product that you want to sell, then look for things inside your house, storage or room that you no longer use that are still in good condition. A good example of that are your costumes, gadgets, appliances, books, and things from your old hobbies.
Back when i started selling online, I just wanted to have an online garage sale of my clothes that no longer fit me or are no longer my style. Little did i know that i will be able to earn a decent amount of money from the items that have long been hidden in my closet.
The things that are no longer valuable to you can be other people’s treasure.
2. Identify the Upcoming Season
Know to upcoming season. We know that during Christmas, people usually buy Christmas decors and presents. During Heart’s day, people usually buy gift items, flowers and something special for their loved ones.
Last year, as 2021 comes to an end, I decided to sell Inspirational Planners for the upcoming year. It was the perfect time since people are hopeful for the upcoming year and wanted to plan things out. Some also made it as their gifts to their office mates and loved ones for the holiday season. Come February, i still have few stocks of those planners, and seldom that people order since it is almost 2nd quarter of the year.
3. Start with Your passion
Look within. What’s your passion? Are you a guitarist? Maybe you know more about the things that a guitarist needs like guitar accessories, pedals, amplifiers, that unique cables for your guitar devices, etc.
Are you plantita (someone who loves plants), a furparent (cats and/or dog parents), are you passionate about sustainable and zero waste living, or motherhood?
It’s a bonus that you are a subject matter expert to that field/hobby/passion that you can give reliable answers to your customers. Also, by reaching out with people whom you share same passion with, you’ll be able to know the products that they are using that you can potentially sell online.
4. A commodity
Commodity are essential, high demand products that everybody needs like food, water, coffee, vitamins, etc. Skincare products are also a commodity now especially that more people have taken good care of their self more during the pandemic. A good thing about selling commodity is that there is a high chance of repeat customers and a long term relationship with your customer.
5. A product that solves problem
The best product to sell is something that solves a problem. Look around, find the pain points of people and look for ways to solve it.
For example, during the 2020 lockdown, all have transitioned to virtual meetings and classes. It’s such a hard work to come to meeting every morning “camera-ready”. So everybody needs a ring light in front of their desks to add a good lighting and also create that presentable and professional look on the camera during online class or meetings. Some have also created their own home studio for content creation and a ring light became an affordable alternative to that much needed lightning.
Conclusion
There are not really a perfect product to sell that will guarantee sales. It is up still to your marketing strategy and how you, as a business owner can make your business scale.
Let me know in the comments below what are the products that you are thinking to sell?
