Ecommerce Business Ideas For 2022

The ecommerce marketplace is more lively and competitive than it has ever been. The great benefit of the internet is using an ecommerce platform like ShopWired, anyone of any ability can start an ecommerce website.

Data forecasts that eCommerce could reach $6.54 trillion in 2022. Launching an eCommerce business can be a simple way to earn a living from anywhere. Nonetheless, there are countless ideas and products out there, and narrowing down the options can be quite the challenge. 

In this guide, we're sharing some of the top eCommerce business ideas of the year that are worth your time, effort, and investment. You'll also find tips and advice to start sourcing merchandise for your new business. 

Profitable eCommerce Business Ideas For 2022

Smart Home Products

Home automation is in high demand. These futuristic gadgets make life more convenient by connecting entire ecosystems and interacting with users. However, few eCommerce sites offer smart home devices, making it the perfect opportunity to get in while the competition is still low. 

Last year, over 40% of millennials in the UK used a smart home speaker, like Amazon's Echo, Bose's Home Speaker, or Apple's HomePod. Home automation is forecasted to hold a $99.41 billion market size by 2025 in the United States alone. That said, there's a vast untapped market of homeowners who still are not familiar with smart home products. 

As more shoppers seek modern home gizmos like smart vacuums or security solutions to complete home automation systems, your store could be the go-to hub for consumers in this niche. So now's the time to start building an online presence. 

Healthcare & Wellness Products

If anything screams 2020, 2021, and 2022, it's healthcare items. There's a surge in online sites that sell things like prescription drugs, but there are a lot of regulatory requirements that govern these kinds of sites. 

If you still want to get into the healthcare niche without putting in as much effort, consider selling things like PPE, wound care products, or medical-grade cleansers. There are plenty of online shops making a killing selling masks, gloves, surgical gowns, face shields, and other safety wearables that so many people in 2022 are still in dire need of.  

If you want to tap into the wellness industry, you'll be glad to know that the global Health and Wellness Market is expected to hit $4.24 billion by 2026. However, the wellness industry is incredibly broad, and it can be hard to narrow down the best items for an eCommerce store catering to the 2022 market. Here are some of the top trending wellness items to consider. 

Health Powders: Supplements made from natural ingredients are booming right now. What's this year's most popular health trend? Ashwagandha search volumes have sharply increased and hit a new peak at the beginning of the year. If you're unfamiliar, ashwagandha is a type of herb that grows in Asia and Africa and is most commonly used to help the body deal with stress. Surely no one is shocked that an anti-stress supplement is trending right now. Ashwagandha comes in various forms, including pills, gummies, and powder making it very user-friendly and marketable.  

Detox Tea & Juice: Another popular item right now are detox teas and juices. The detox market is estimated to be worth around $3.4 billion, and there are endless things you can sell in an online shop. 

Air Purifiers: Air purifiers can help reduce pollution in the air and help with health issues like asthma and allergies. Google Trends shows that the search term "air purifier" peaked in September 2020. Nevertheless, it's still heavily searched in 2022. 

Tip: Air purifiers are also great for pet owners! They can help neutralize bad odors and remove some pet dandruff from the air. 

Baby Monitors

Baby monitors are another hot ticket item right now, and the target audience is enormous. The Google search volumes for baby monitors consistently hit peak popularity. Baby monitors are a higher-priced item, ranging from around $60 to $150 per unit, meaning you may have to invest more upfront, but the ROI is well worth your initial investment.  

While we're on the theme of babies, we should also mention baby carriers. Hands-free carriers for infants consistently pull in high monthly global Google search volumes, and the baby carrier market is expanding with more modern baby carriers. In addition, baby carriers in 2022 are more focused on supporting a baby's natural posture, and some predict this type of carrier may bring in more profits than slings and wraps made from a single piece of fabric. 

Consider selecting one of these items or opening up a baby-themed eCommerce site in 2022 with other essentials like clothing, teethers, toys, and baby swings. 

Pet Products 

Valued at over $232.3 billion in 2020, the pet care market is one of the most stable. The spike in 2020 could be due to more people adopting pets for companionship when the pandemic hit. But pet parents are not slowing down. Pet supplies are also projected to increase by 6.1% by 2027, so now is the time to establish yourself in the pet care industry. 

Pet owners are willing to pay big bucks to ensure their four-legged friends are happy, healthy, and comfortable. Not sure what to include in your online pet store? Here's a list of the top trending pet items for 2022. 

Pet Food: Pet food is (and always will be) in constant demand. It's one of the top trending products online, and the most searched pet food is dry dog food and dog treats. Cat food comes in at a close second. 

Pet Bowls: To go with the pet food, consider selling dog bowls. According to Google Trends, dog bowl searches often spike at the start of each new year. If you're looking to tap into the more health-conscious pet parents, go with stainless steel or ceramic bowls over plastic pet bowls. Stainless steel and ceramic are less prone to building up bacteria. 

Cat Beds: Cats enjoy a comfortable space to sleep most of the day, and cat owners are well aware of their needs. The search volume for cat beds is growing steadily. To help stand out from the crowd, sell more unique cat beds like orthopedic beds for older cats or make your own cat beds if you know your way around a sewing machine. 

Small Gadgets 

Small gadgets and phone accessories are a highly profitable niche, and as more people around the world have access to tech items, the demand will grow. That said, it is competitive, so consider that. Things like phone cases, phone holders, and wireless chargers are still trendy in 2022. The smartphone accessories market is expected to hit $328.69 billion by 2030. 

If you're looking to get into the tech space, here are a few other items that are currently trending. 

Wireless Headphones and Earbuds: Did you know that many smartphones are removing headphone jacks altogether? So in the coming years, wireless headphones may not just be a luxury; they could be a necessity if smartphones do away with headphone jacks. If you're thinking about selling earbuds, it's best to work with a dropshipping store because manufacturing can get pricey.  

Wireless Charging Pads: Going along with the wire-free theme, charging pads are rising in popularity. Not every device supports wireless charging yet, but that will likely change in the coming years. Set yourself up now as a go-to online outlet for wireless chargers, so when the time comes when everyone needs a wireless charging station, you'll already be a front-runner.  

Kitchen Appliances

Since the pandemic hit, kitchen appliances have spiked in popularity. This could be due to people eating out less or trying new recipes to cure quarantine boredom. But whatever the reason for the spike, the kitchen appliances market is expected to grow to $377.70 billion by 2027. 

You can go with conventional kitchen items like bullet blenders or toasters, but more trendy appliances like air fryers and waffle makers now bring in significant search volumes. Air fryers became the "it" gift for the holiday season in 2020, but according to Google Trends, the demand and interest at the beginning remain high. Waffle makers are top-rated among Millennials and Gen Zers. We can probably thank social media for the inflated interest in waffle makers. Viral videos show people making things other than waffles like mozzarella sticks and pizza waffles in convenient mini waffle makers.  

Beauty & Personal-Care Products

Finally, the beauty industry is expected to reach $463.5 billion by 2027. Beauty products like hair styling tools, makeup, and accessories took a plunge at the beginning of the pandemic, but now, the beauty industry is thriving with things opening back up. 

There's a massive focus on self-care right now. As a result, products like Gua sha tools, massagers, and other skincare items are growing in popularity. Also, false eyelashes, hair scrunchies, and hair extensions are among the fastest-growing trending products for 2022. 

More consumers are seeking personal care products that will aid in stress relief. That said, many people either don't have the budget or the desire to pamper themselves in traditional spas anymore. Products like essential oil diffusers, face masks, and Epsom salts for relaxing in the tub can help create a more affordable spa-like experience at home. Plus, what better time than the present to promote stress relief?

What Makes a Good Product to Sell Online?

Thinking about the best eCommerce business ideas is one thing, but uncovering the actual items you're going to sell is another. When you're ready to start sourcing merchandise for your online store, keep the following criteria in mind when you're searching for on-trend items.  

Find products that align with your interests. Selling something you're passionate about will always be easier and more natural than pushing an item you don't genuinely care for. In addition, you'll have an easier time connecting with your consumers if you appreciate and understand the worth of your products. You may even want to share some of your experiences and success using an item on yourself. 

Everything you sell should solve a problem. People want to buy items that will make their lives easier. For example, with innovative home products, users can control things like sound systems, lights, and appliances with the touch of a button. 

If you can, choose a product that's hard to find. When you're just starting out selling online, you're going up against multiple other sellers with a similar idea and mindset to yours. Hard to find items like specialty products or handmade goods unavailable your local market could incite excitement and curiosity with less competition 

Does your product have branding potential? Do your products inspire a meaningful brand story that you can share with your audience? Branding gives a product a distinct personality and resonates with shoppers. 

You need to cover overhead expenses. Your product should be profitable (obviously), but it also needs to generate enough income to cover the overall costs of running an online business. Added charges can include shipping, platform fees, hosting payments, returns, refunds, utilities, or inventory management depending on which eCommerce platform you use.  

Final Thoughts

You can make a living in 2022 with an online store. eCommerce isn't slowing down anytime soon, and it's becoming easier to start your own business. With a functional, user-friendly online store and a solid digital marketing strategy, you can be on your way to success. 

We've shared some of the top trending products to sell online in 2022 to get you started. Remember, if a trend remains constant over two years, it means there is a solid market demand for that product. Use these product recommendations and tips to find your niche and start building a business today.