As the COVID-19 pandemic forced us to stay home, we turned to online shopping.
Ecommerce has been booming for years now, even before the COVID-19 crisis. Global retail ecommerce sales surged 27.6% during 2020, reaching an estimated worldwide total of $4.28 trillion.
In the USA, shoppers spent an estimated $201.3 billion online during the 2020 holiday season, a 45.2% increase over 2019.
It seems like another record-breaking holiday season is near as—according to statistics—there is already a 48% surge in global ecommerce app downloads this year. Additionally, as much as 91% of ecommerce CMOs believe their brand’s revenue will grow in the next 12 months.
Sounds great, but what exactly are people buying these days?
Experts believe that to succeed in ecommerce, you need three things: high-demand products to sell, the skills to market them, and the drive to succeed.
Even if you already have the hard skills and the winner’s mindset, finding popular products to sell can be challenging.
That’s why we have created this list of 50+ top trending products to sell this season, focusing on health & wellness, beauty, and fashion industries.
While it’s impossible to know with complete certainty what will remain popular long-term, the products listed below will surely be in high demand in 2021.
Top-Selling Health & Wellness Products
The COVID-19 pandemic was a massive wake-up call for many of us. As a result, a lot of people have started taking better care of themselves and their health.
In 2020, the global health and wellness industry was valued at $3.31 billion. More than that, by 2025, it’s expected to hit $4.24 billion.
Therefore, it is not surprising that health & wellness products are among the top-selling products this season.
According to Boost Media Agency, choosing the right health products is key to our vitality and living a sustainable life.
With so many products on the market, it can be hard to choose. However, the following lists of the top health & wellness products might help you understand better what is popular among customers.
Top-Selling CBD Products
CBD stands for cannabidiol, which is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid found in the cannabis plant. Over the last couple of years, CBD products have taken the health & wellness industry by storm, and it all started with the Farm Bill in 2018 and the legalization of hemp.
CBD has many health benefits. It is believed to help reduce anxiety, relieve pain, limit the feeling of nausea, and even support neurological health. However, it is important to keep in mind that there’s still a lot about CBD that we don’t know, and more research is needed.
The health and wellness industry started manufacturing and selling CBD-infused creams, oil tinctures, drops, balms, vapes, and many other products & accessories.
The CBD industry was popular even before the pandemic. However, as people were quarantined, many started prioritizing their physical and mental health. As a result, sales of CBD products skyrocketed.
However, keep in mind that there are certain regulations you need to follow if you want to sell & ship CBD products. Yet, if you play your cards right, this can be a very profitable venture.
Here are some criteria that we think are good indicators of safety, quality, and transparency. Each product should:
- be made by a company that provides proof of third-party testing by an ISO 17025-compliant lab
- be made with U.S.-grown hemp
- contain no more than 0.3 percent THC, according to the certificate of analysis (COA)
- pass testing for pesticides, heavy metals, and molds, according to the COA
Recommended CBD products:
- CBD oils:
- Joy Organics Organic CBD Oil, Tropical Sunrise
- R + R Medicinals THC-Free Tincture (Fresh Mint)
- CBD gummies and capsules:
- Kiva Camino Wild Berry
- CBDfx CBD Gummy Bears
- Sunsoil CBD Oil vegan capsules
- CBD drops:
- Jade Nectar CBD Drops, High Potency 30:1, 30 ml
- Social Lemon Ginger Isolate CBD Oil Drops, 30 ml
Top-Selling Vitamins & Supplements
According to the Council for Responsible Nutrition, approximately 77% of Americans take at least one dietary supplement—a record high. The number is even higher—81%—in adults aged 35–54 years.
Based on ConsumerLab.com’s data, these are the most popular vitamins & supplements of 2020:
- Vitamin D is naturally produced by sun exposure and is extremely popular during the winter months. It might improve bone health or hypertension.
- Magnesium can reduce headaches and improve sleep.
- Fish oil and other omega-3 supplements might prevent heart disease and may support mental health.
- CoQ10 is believed to have beneficial effects on heart health and might play a role in cancer prevention.
- Multivitamin has been popular for centuries and is especially valuable for people who don’t eat a healthful diet.
- Probiotics might support the bacteria balance in your digestive system.
- Curcumin/turmeric has been shown to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
- Vitamin C is believed to be a potent antioxidant that also plays a role in immune function.
- B-complex might be, in particular, helpful for pregnant women and the elderly as it supports neurological function and blood cell production.
Here are some extra popular supplements that have been trending in the past months:
- Zinc might effectively reduce inflammation, boost immune health, reduce your risk of age-related diseases
- Neurotransmitters help manage a variety of psychological functions.
- L-theanine helps with anxiety, stress relief, and increases focus and cognitive performance.
- Collagen improves skin, reducing wrinkles and dryness.
- Whey protein provides essential amino acids and is very popular in the fitness community as it promotes faster muscle recovery.
Some of the well-known supplement brands include:
- Now Foods (popular for its vitamin D-3 supplements)
- Nutrafol (popular for Nutrafol Women for hair growth and thickness)
- Life Extension (popular for Vitamin D3 capsules)
- Ritual (popular for its multivitamins for women and men of different ages)
- Garden of Life (popular for its probiotics)
- Nature’s Bounty (popular for its zinc)
Top-Selling Healthy Food Products
Healthy food products have been on the market for decades. Even though this product category might not be something new & shocking, the COVID-19 pandemic changed a lot about healthy groceries.
Many people spent the long days of the pandemic stress-baking banana bread, whipping up dalgona coffees, and hoarding takeout food containers. But after some time, consumers started to recognize the impact of such behavior on both mental and physical health.
In a 2020 survey conducted by FMCG Gurus—a market research company specializing in food—80% of consumers worldwide indicated they were planning to eat and drink more healthily in 2021 due to COVID-19.
Moreover, 58% of North American consumers say they already regularly research different ways to improve their health.
Among already popular vegan, gluten-free and keto-friendly products that have been trending for years now, there are some new industry trends in 2021.
According to Food Dive and Nielsen data, meat-free products and meat alternative sales were up 129% in the first seven months of the pandemic compared to the first nine months of 2019. That makes meat-free foods one of the five categories with the most significant sales amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The meatless trend is pushed by millennials and Gen Z so many industry experts believe this trend will last in the following years as well. The industry—already worth billions—is projected to increase to $85 billion by 2030.
Recommended top-trending healthy food products:
- Gluten-free pasta:
- Banza Chickpea Pasta
- Explore Cuisine Organic Black Bean Spaghetti
- Matcha powder:
- Jade Leaf Organic Matcha Green Tea Powder
- Matcha DNA Certified Organic Matcha Green Tea Powder
- Naturally essenced sparkling water:
Top-Selling Beauty Products
The COVID-19 pandemic saw an enormous boost in ecommerce sales. Beauty and skincare were ecommerce sectors that prospered. The beauty industry went from $483B in 2020 to $511B in 2021 — and with an annual compounded growth rate of 4.75% worldwide—it’s predicted to exceed $716B by 2025.
The beauty industry is extremely popular amongst the female demographic and due to self-isolation, more and more women have turned to order their beauty products online.
One of the biggest trends is definitely natural, organic, and vegan products. Its market is estimated to hit $54 billion in 2027.
Top-Selling Eyebrow Enhancers
Keeping up with trends is important in every industry, but it is essential when it comes to the beauty industry.
These days, one of the biggest trends is eyebrow enhancers, which is proved by the number of YouTube videos where influencers are using this product.
If you have a store that specializes in beauty products, eyebrow enhancers—highlighters, liners, gels, and pencils—need to be included in your line of products. You can also try creating bundles with these products and sell them at a slightly cheaper price.
However, one thing you need to keep in mind if you choose to sell a trending product such as this one, you should go all-in on marketing since you will have a lot of competitors.
If your budget allows it, partner with YouTube and TikTok makeup influencers that will promote your products to your target demographic.
Recommended eyebrow products:
- Maybelline Total Temptation Eyebrow Definer Pencil
- Benefit Goof Proof Brow
- Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz
- FENTY Brow MVP Ultra Fine Brow Pencil & Styler
- Benefit Gimme Brow+ Volumizing Eyebrow Gel
- Wet n Wild Ultimate Retractable Brow Pencil
- Julep Eyeshadow 101 Crème to Powder Shadow Stick
Top-Selling Skincare Products
During the COVID-19 pandemic, people couldn’t get the facial and spa treatments they were used to and began paying closer attention than ever to their appearance on Zoom calls.
As more people work remotely and get on video calls, their appearance is closely analyzed. That’s why we feel the appetite for beauty products will only grow.
Women and men were forced to experiment and test new skincare products and routines to see what works the best for them outside of beauty salons.
Now, consumers are 40% more willing to try new beauty products than before the pandemic. And as brick-and-mortar stores were closed, ecommerce was booming.
Every day, ecommerce businesses sold thousands of rich facial creams, exfoliators, multipurpose oils, acne treatments, and much more.
Now, as we get back to dinners, events, and outside activities, people want to make sure their face is clean, hydrated, and glowing.
The big trend of the past years to consider is all-natural, non-toxic, vegan, cruelty-free skincare products that are more ethical and sustainable.
Some of the most popular ingredients in these natural products include coconut oil, aloe vera, tea tree oil, and apple cider vinegar.
To make your skincare best-sellers search more efficient, we’ve compiled a list of the top skincare items that are trending online these months:
- CeraVe Moisturizing Cream for Dry Skin – the best lotion
- Hero Cosmetics The Original Mighty Patch – the best acne patches
- Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes – the best make-up remover wipes
- Bio-Oil skincare oil – best multi-use oil for skin for scars and stretch marks
- TruSkin Naturals Vitamin C Serum – the best vitamin C serum for face
- Schick Hydro Silk Touch-Up Multipurpose Exfoliating Dermaplaning Tool
- Bioderma Sensibio H2O Makeup Removing Micellar Solution – the best micellar water
- The Ordinary serums, lotions, oils became top-trending thanks to TikTok
Top-Selling Manicure & Pedicure Products
With no access to the salon and a lot of extra time on our hands, many women set out to do what they previously believed to be impossible: get a salon-quality manicure or pedicure at home.
A couple of years before the pandemic, nail polish sales were on the decline because there weren’t that many women who did their nails at home. Nail salons offering professional manicures and pedicures were popular so there was no need to have the kit at home. That all changed in 2020.
With non-essential businesses being closed for many months, women started doing their manicures again in 2020 and the trend is still alive in 2021.
Consumers who have turned to DIY nail care and realized that it’s much cheaper to take care of their nails at home have caused a dramatic uptick in nail polish and nail kit sales.
If you take a look at popular social media networks, you will notice an increase in DIY nail tutorials. More and more women are replacing nail salons with home manicures and don’t even plan on going back.
The big nail trends for 2021 are almond and ballerina-shaped nails. Details like holographic finishes, glitter, and ombre are also in style. When it comes to colors, the most popular are:
- creamy blue
- soft red
- dark turquoise
- bright pink
- milk chocolate
- sand
- grey and black
Recommended manicure & pedicure products:
- Beurer 10-piece Professional Nail Drill Kit for Manicure & Pedicure
- Olive & June Everything Box – the best complex manicure kit
- Kiara Sky Dipping Powders Essentials Kit – the best dip powder nail kit
- Nails Inc. Plant Power Nail Polish – the best vegan, plant-based nail polish
- Le Mini Macaron Gel Manicure Kit – the best gel manicure kit
Top-Selling Apparel & Fashion Products
Fashion is undoubtedly a competitive niche, but worldwide revenue for fashion is projected to grow from $481.2 billion in 2018 to $712.9 billion by 2022, so there’s clearly room for new businesses to enter the market in the future.
Top-Selling Shapewear
You have to get into shapewear now. It’s one of the fastest trending niches of 2021 and will continue to yield dividends for people who know how to market and sell them in the correct manner.
Shapewear is a discreet foundation garment used to shape the body into a preferred form. Emerging brands have made this women’s fashion item a trending product.
When the celebrity shapewear line SKIMS by Kim Kardashian entered the market, the number of searches for the product increased by 45%.
If you want to turn this trending item into a profitable opportunity, provide a broad range of sizes and shades. A large reason why SKIMS became popular is its inclusivity, which has enabled various demographics to use the product.
Partnering with bloggers and social media influencers would be a good idea to promote your brand. You can ask them to style the item in the form of an outfit-of-the-day post or do a product review.
If you play your cards right, you can grow your business to include other lingerie products as well as related product verticals such as bras, panties, and sleepwear. With the right products and good marketing, you can easily break through in this industry.
Recommended shapewear products:
- SKIMS Fits Everybody underwear – the best-selling shapewear collection
- Spanx OnCore Open-Bust Mid-Thigh Bodysuit
- Bali® Lace ‘N Smooth Body Shaper
- Spanx Bra-llelujah!® Lightly Lined Full Coverage Bra
- Bare Necessities Miraclesuit – several types
- Spanx Suit Your Fancy Plunge Low-Back Mid-Thigh Bodysuit
Top-Selling Loungewear & Leisurewear
Ever since more people have started working from home, loungewear and leisurewear have replaced workwear as everyday apparel. According to Google Trends, the search queries for this trending product category have drastically increased.
The typical loungewear attire appears more stylish than the regular clothes one might wear at home. This is so that remote workers can look presentable during video calls while feeling comfortable.
The clothing items typically include leggings, comfy sweatpants and hoodies, matching sets, jumpsuits, pajama dresses, robes, and so on.
Women tend to be the target audience of these trending products. To be successful in this market, consider partnering with female fashion bloggers to promote your loungewear. They can model the item for you and make it more attractive to potential buyers.
Recommended loungewear products:
- Athleta Salutation Stash Pocket Tight
- Soma WKND loungewear collection
- Lululemon Wunder Under leggings
- Alo Yoga Soho Pullover
- Aerie OFFLINE Real Me High Waisted Leggings
- Soma Cool Nights sleepwear collection
Top-Selling Sneakers
Almost everybody needs shoes. And actually, shoes—specifically sneakers—are one of the best-performing products in the first half of 2021. Sneakers are perfect for selling any time of year, especially around the holiday season, when customers like to take advantage of sales.
Generally, you have 3 options: you can sell custom-made shoes, resell popular brands like Nike or Adidas, or sell dress shoes. With a global market size of $365.5 billion, there is no shortage of opportunities to sell shoes online.
When it comes to selling shoes online, focus on finding a target market and selling to one group first. People search online for specific types of shoes, such as “best running shoes for men”. There are also opportunities in selling shoes that cure common foot problems like flat feet. No matter if you want to sell regular everyday sneakers, resell popular brands, or create your custom-made ones, you will undoubtedly find the right demographic.
When you find the target market you can appeal to, focus on what they’re interested in and become a specialized store that can cater to their wants and needs. And when you gain popularity and find success, you can expand to other demographics and increase your sales even further.
These are the best-selling sneakers of 2021 (so far) in the USA:
- Nike Air Force 1 Low
- Nike Air Max 270
- Nike Vapormax Plus
- Adidas NMD_R1
- Brooks Ghost 13
- Brooks Adrenaline GTS 21
Alongside Converse, Vans, and Under Armour, Brooks sales grew by over half. And New Balance also enjoyed growth. This surge in sales is being credited by some observers to the increased desire for consumers to get outside and exercise. And this newfound passion for the outdoors also drove an increase in hiking and walking shoes, with sales up by nearly 50 percent.
Final Thoughts
In this article, we have provided 50+ top-trending products that you can include in your ecommerce business. No matter which one you choose, make sure your ecommerce store is optimized and that your digital marketing strategy is maximized.
When trying to find the most popular and high-demand products on the market, be careful about what you ultimately choose to sell. Some trends are just fads that come and go in the blink of an eye.
Take fidget spinners, for example. A few years ago, they were popular all over the world and their sales significantly increased, but almost overnight, the trend was over and people stopped buying them. This is because people realized they were a commodity with no real lasting value.
A lot of people are currently selling products that are popular just because there’s a pandemic going on. Items such as hand sanitizers and face masks are currently spiking in sales, but once the pandemic passes and the world is back to normal, these products will be almost worthless.
All of the products mentioned above, however, have a high chance of trending for the next few years. And if you make a name for yourself, all you have to do is keep up with new trends as they come up and you’ll have no issues finding success.
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