We talked about now being the perfect time to start your own business back in June. Yes, it’s a scary time. Many people find it difficult to take the plunge in times like this. But this can be the perfect time for your own idea to flourish.
Many giants have started during the recession--perhaps your dream business will follow in those footsteps. But you have to start somewhere.
We talked about food and beverage businesses last week. We’re continuing this series this week with ideas for that perfect online shop. Ecommerce is the way to go when everyone is worried about going to the mall to shop.
Ecommerce is Exciting Now
People once went to the malls to window-shop and enjoy the free air conditioning. But that’s no longer the case now. Even as shops are starting to open, many are still choosing to stay home instead.
More and more people are going online to buy things than ever before--even the titas and titos who were afraid of using their credit cards online before are starting to do so. Out of necessity at first, but as we all know, once you pop, you can’t stop!
But what’s important is picking the right product to sell via ecommerce. Don’t try to sell something that people aren’t looking for!
Visual Capitalist outlined some of the fastest growing product categories last April, and notably health-related products are on the rise, from disposable gloves and medicine to food items and fitness equipment.
Food- and health-related ecommerce ventures are worth looking into. Filipinos in particular are more health-conscious now than ever before.
Here in the Philippines, the Digital 2020 report by We Are Social and Hootsuite outlined the top ecommerce spends by category, but it’s important to note that these were numbers for 2019--travel has currently drastically declined due to the COVID-19 situation.
Shopee revealed in an article last May that the top searched keywords included face masks, dresses, power banks, and undergarments. Shopping activity has increased for health and fashion products.
Why not use the list below to spark some ideas on what to sell?
- Health-related products
- Clothing perfect for video conferences
- Clothing for babies and toddlers
- Handmade goods
- Phone and tablet cases with your art
- Home decor to make home offices more conducive to working
- Hair accessories to spruce up video calls
- Coffee and coffee accessories like filters
Don’t let the list stop you! Brainstorm for that perfect ecommerce idea.
Get Your Ecommerce Business Off the Ground
Here are some interesting ways to build out your online shop once you’ve settled on what product to sell.
- Don’t let lack of funds for a website stop you--setting up a Facebook Page and letting people chat with you to order might be all you need to start selling products online.
- Online marketplaces like Shopee or Lazada can help you spin up an online shop quickly.
- For a more customized feel for your brand, setting up a website with Shopify can be very fulfilling.
- Dropshipping lets you sell even without having space to house your inventory, as the items are sent directly from your suppliers to your customers.
- Print On Demand is currently primarily an overseas market, but with a little artistic ability or witty flair, you can print your designs into many items like mugs and pillows and sell these products without needing much capital.
- You can resell or make your own products selling on Amazon -- they list and handle fulfillment for you, so you just need to get your products to their warehouse and they handle everything else.
- Affiliate sales are a good idea if you have a website--anytime someone buys a product through a link on your site, you get a percentage of the sale.
An ecommerce business is almost a given with today’s health-safety-focused economy. If you pick the right product and get the ball rolling, you might find yourself swamped with orders and unable to take any more; that’s where an automated assistant that can take your customers’ online orders can be useful.
Stay tuned for next Friday when we’ll share other business ideas in a different industry!