We’ve discussed trending products and how to find them several times on this blog, and every year there continues to be even more exciting innovations and breakthrough trends that creep into consumer’s purchasing habits. In this post on trending products, we showed you all the resources we use to uncover niches and products that are exploding in growth, and in this post, we’re sharing all the trending products for 2021 that we’ve discovered using those resources.

Many of these products are likely to continue growing in popularity and generating even more of a following throughout the year and into next year so we’ll be keeping an eye on them.

Some of these trending products and niches are a great starting place for new businesses, others are a useful direction for established businesses to focus their attention on throughout the year. Some of these trends may be fleeting—only time will tell—however, many of them we expect to stick it out for the long haul.

So, dig into this post to get a glimpse into what makes a product or trend go viral, things you should think about before entering a competitive market, and the future of ecommerce with 50 trending products and niches for 2021!

What Makes a Trending Product Go Viral?

There are several factors that influence the virality of a product and they range from the emotional impact to the visibility that the product delivers.

• Emotional Impact: Anything that elicits an emotional response within consumers will automatically form a connection with them. After a stressful or bad day, people want to be able to destress and have something that helps them brighten their day. When a product is able to provide that emotional release, it is likely to go viral.
• Practical Value: A product that is truly useful and helps solve a problem for consumers or helps them be more productive is more likely to be recommended by them. Practical value can beat the aesthetic or face value of some products and can help a product reach that viral stage. Oftentimes, competing brands within the same industry build on the basic practical value of a product and add the aesthetics to boost sales and give customers exactly what they want. This helps build the viral status of a trending product.
• Social Currency: When a product helps establish a consumer’s image as someone who is “with the times” and ahead of the social curve it establishes itself as a must-have item. This attribute helps in the virality of a trending product immensely.
• Visibility & Recognition: A product that stands out and is easily recognizable by customers is a product that is likely to trend as the brand positioning is apparent and desirable.

Things to Think About Before Entering a Competitive Market

Where there are trending products, there are also usually competitive markets because many merchants are trying to get a slice of the popularity. If your trending product or niche can withstand the following questions, chances are that you have a shot at profiting in a competitive market:

• Does my product or service solve a specific problem for a specific set of people?
• How competitive is the market and is there room for more businesses?
• What are the startup costs associated with this business?
• How long after starting before I can become profitable?
• How can I be innovative in this pre-existing market?

These questions provide a basic framework to help you tackle a saturated market and come up with a strategy that will work in your favor (Source).

Is it a Fad, Trend, or Growing Market?

Believe it or not, there are actually three different types of categories that trending products can fall into. Each category determines how long a trending product will last into the future—which, as an ecommerce merchant, is important information to know before you start building a business around a product so you can understand the product’s longevity in the market.

Some products will be huge hits for a short period of time and then they’ll suddenly drop off the face of the earth. These are known as fads. Other products will creep into consumer’s lives and hang around for one, two, three, or even four years, and then they’ll slowly drop out of fashion. Those products are trends. And finally, there are products that didn’t really exist before but now that they do, customers can’t imagine their lives without them and they’ll continue to use and repurchase the products throughout their lifetime. These types of products are part of a growing market. We discussed these concepts in our Reverse Engineering the Perfect Product article, but we’ll break it down here as well:

• Fads: These products burn bright and fast. They start trending very quickly and they stop trending very suddenly. Fads last up to one to two years, maximum.
• Trends: These products are more of a slow burn to start and stick around for a little while, but ultimately they do not last the test of time. Trends last 5 years, tops.
• Growing Markets: These trends start from nothing and grow into a stable market that lasts the test of time. These products come in like a trend but never actually go out of style because consumer demand continues to build over time. Growing markets can last for decades.

While going through this list of trending products, consider the potential each product has to either be a fad, trend, or growing market. No one category is better than the other, it’s just helpful for you as a merchant to consider the longevity of a product before you build a business around it so you can plan and appropriately time your entrance and exit strategy. Not all businesses last forever and that’s okay if you’re ready to capitalize on the demand when it exists and prepared to exit your business when the demand diminishes.

If you want a business you can start up quickly and cash out in a couple of years, pick a fad product. If you want a business you can grow over a period of a few years but one that won’t last forever, then pick a trending product. If you want a business that you can grow over time and one that will be as relevant now as it will in ten years, then pick a product in a growing market.

The trick to this all is that there’s no absolute way of definitively knowing which product will turn out to be a fad, trend, or growing market, so you’ll have to conduct your own research, do your own due diligence, make your own informed decisions and follow your instincts.

The Top Trending Products & Niches for 2021

Food, Health & Wellness Trending Products

Gummy Vitamins

Gummy vitamins of all kinds are a big trend right now, including ones for hair and nail health, sleep improvement, and ones with CBD properties. The market for these easy-to-chew-and-swallow vitamin options is estimated to reach over $9.3 billion by 2026 which is a growth of 6.5% since 2019!

Not only could you create gummy vitamin products like the ones that are already on the market, but you could also create innovative gummy vitamin formulas to fit consumers’ needs that aren’t already being targeted. Ask yourself: What health concerns are consumers looking to improve and how could gummy vitamins help them?

If you choose to pursue this product idea, ensure that you conduct the necessary due diligence and consult qualified professionals when it comes to creating your formulas. It’s imperative that you work with a reputable and qualified gummy vitamin supplier and consider any legal responsibilities you need to meet when selling consumable products.

Collagen

A quick tour around Instagram, Facebook, and Google makes it clear that collagen products are on many virtual and physical store shelves.

Long embraced by many as a skin savior, however, collagen’s benefits aren’t unanimously agreed on by all authorities. That doesn’t seem to put off consumers, though. Most consumers are interested in collagen’s health benefits, such as improved skin elasticity and joint health—and they’re interested in consuming collagen in many different forms, such as through powders, oils, serums, supplements, creams, and even collagen coffee!

Evidence suggests that the market will continue to grow by 5.9% between 2020 and 2027, so it may be worth jumping in now.

Hard Kombucha

Kombucha has been around for almost 2000 years, originating from China. But lately, due to its increasing popularity, kombucha products with a twist have started to emerge—namely, hard kombucha.

Traditional kombucha already has a low alcohol content of around 0.5%. Hard kombucha, however, is created in the same way as its less-potent cousin, but it goes through an extra round of fermentation to significantly raise its alcohol level.

Currently, US Google searches for kombucha sit around 368,000 searches per month, and global Google searches for hard kombucha have increased by 383% over the past two years.

If you’re interested in selling hard kombucha, it’s worth taking a few things into account:

• When it comes to writing your product copy, be sure to include the alcohol content that your hard kombucha contains (typically around 4.5%–7%) and whether it comes in different flavors.
• You may also want to clarify that while hard kombucha has a similar alcohol content to some beers and lagers, it isn’t a beer or lager. Confusingly, the Tax and Trade Bureau defines it as such, which may mean having to place the word “beer” on your labels.

So, do some homework to ensure that your product labels and marketing materials comply with your local rules and regulations.

Alcohol-Free Alcohol

“Sober curious” is a new trend as drinking-age adults are looking towards non-alcohol drink alternatives to replace or supplement their usual alcohol intake. Typical reasons for this lifestyle choice include personal preference, fitness and health goals, and concern over the negative health implications of binge drinking.

Because of this, consumers are looking for interesting, delicious, well-branded, alcohol-free drinks that are a step above soda/water/cordial alternatives. Just because some consumers choose not to drink alcohol, doesn’t mean they’re not interested in innovative and exciting drink combinations!

This is why more and more brands are offering alcohol-free cocktails and spirit substitutes.

If you’re an ecommerce startup looking for an exciting venture, look to brands like Seedlip and Zero Proof which have experienced record sales in 2020. So, if you want to get into this niche, now’s the time to jump on the bandwagon! Especially when you consider that revenue in the non-alcoholic drinks market is projected to reach over $322 million in 2021.

In addition to non-alcoholic drinks, you could also offer non-alcoholic, branded accessories such as cocktail shakers, glassware, and environmentally friendly straws. The possibilities within this niche are seemingly endless.

CBD Products

CBD products continue to trend this year.

Cannabidiol first came on the scene in 1940 and is the second-most prevalent active ingredient in cannabis. Today, it can be found as an active ingredient in multiple products across the skincare, health, and wellbeing niches.

Much has been researched about how CBD products can positively impact people experiencing anxiety, chronic pain, and sleep issues, so it’s no wonder that general interest and Google searches for CBD are on the rise. Monthly US Google search figures are currently coming in at 450,000 searches per month, and a global increase in searches rose 335% over the past five years.

If we dive in a bit deeper and look at search results for specific CBD products, this what can be found:

• CBD for Skin: A 1440% increase in global searches in the past five years
• CBD Gummies: An 8300% increase in worldwide searches over the past five years
• CBD Oil: A 700% increase in international searches in the past five years

These products certainly look like they’re here to stay, so if you’re looking to break into the CBD niche, it’s worth finding a reputable CBD supplier that you can trust. This means taking the time to thoroughly verify their products’ safety, quality, and compliance with the US Hemp Authority program.

Macadamia Nut Milk

Milk alternatives are nothing new—from ubiquitous options like oat, soy, almond, cashew, hemp, and coconut milk—we’re likely all very familiar with what’s already on the market.

In fact, according to The Good Food Institute, purchases of plant-based milk grew 5% in the past year and 14% over the past two years, making the plant-based milk market worth 2 billion dollars in the US alone.

While there are plenty of options to choose from, another much newer alternative is macadamia nut milk.

Macadamia nut milk is a new and exciting option to offer customers, and this is the time to bring new nut milks to the market since consumers are obviously very interested in them. If you’re looking for an innovative product that appeals to the vegan, plant-based, and health-food markets, macadamia nut milk might be worth considering.

Snack, Grazing & Candy Boxes

Snack boxes are a fun way to consume candies or treats—or even a unique presentation of charcuterie boards that people can order online and have delivered to their homes.

Monthly searches for snack boxes sit at around 22,200 searches at the time of writing, and over the past year, global searches have increased by 67%. Snack sales, in general, account for 40% of the US packaged food market, and this is attributed mostly to Millennials who apparently snack more than any other generation.

Meal Box Services

Food meal box services such as HelloFresh are super popular at the moment. These meal boxes are usually sold on a subscription basis, and they’re often positioned as an alternative to ordering-in, while making at-home cooking simpler and less time-consuming.

Typical meal box service USPs include innovative, fast, and simple meal ideas that are healthy and waste-free. They also reduce the amount of time people have to spend in supermarkets.

There were 14,800 monthly Google searches for meal kits in the US alone at the time of writing, and a 43% increase in global searches just in the past year, so it’s clear that interest in meal box services is growing.

When starting a food meal box service, you could focus on niche dietary preferences like vegan or paleo diets. Or, consider focusing on consumer demographics facing allergies to dairy, gluten, or nuts. There are plenty of ways to stand out in the meal box service industry right now.

Beauty, Hygiene & Personal Grooming Trending Products

Hand Sanitizer

There are no prizes for guessing that this product idea would make it into our Top Trending Products for 2021.

While a year or two ago, there may have just been a few types of hand sanitizer to choose from, today’s consumers are looking for more choices.

At the start of March 2020, hand sanitizer sales rose by 470% compared to the same time in 2019. Fast forward to December 2020, and consumers are now checking out all the different types of hand sanitizers on offer, whether they’re scented, unscented, come with a pump dispenser, a spray nozzle, different colors, high-end brands, or just from your bog-standard chemist. Due to the popularity of hand sanitizer products, the FDA has even put together a Hand Sanitizer Quiz to test consumer’s knowledge of the product!

If you’re looking to kickstart your market research, some of the top high-end sanitizers currently trending include ones from brands like Aesop, Byredo, Tammy Fender, SanRe, and Herban Essentials.

If you’re interested in selling this product, it’s worth checking out the FDA’s recommendations on hand sanitizer preparation before choosing a reputable and safe supplier to work with.

Ear Drops

Ear drops are a classic product used to clear up ear infections or soften ear wax. They’ve been around for decades, but a new breed of natural and homeopathic brands in this niche has resulted in a 70% increase in searches related to ear drops over the past five years.

Brands like Natrulo that contain ingredients like “mullein and garlic bulb extract” are popular. Also, ear drops that are alcohol and preservative-free are another appealing choice for those wanting a natural remedy to soften ear wax.

Acne Patches/Pimple Patches

The job of acne patches and pimple patches is to speed up the healing process of blemishes by absorbing toxins. They use hydrocolloid technology to absorb the pimple’s toxins and create a moist environment to promote healing. All the while, the spot is protected from external bacteria, and inflammation is reduced. They’re also proven to be useful at preventing the wearer from scratching or squeezing the spot.

The largest market right now is interested in invisible or transparent round patches in different sizes—but there is some interest in colorful alternatives or ones in fun shapes.

Google searches for this product have grown by 2,800% over the past five years, with over 40,000 monthly Google searches in the US alone.

Skincare Tools

The global skincare market is predicted to increase to more than $180 billion dollars by 2024 and data from Spate (as reported by Vogue Business) identified that an increased interest in skincare tools was one of the top emerging trends during the pandemic.

With beauty spas and salons intermittently closing, skincare tools empowered consumers to take care of their complexions at home while creating a calming, at-home spa experience.

These are some most popular skincare tools at the moment:

• Red and blue light masks
• Microdermabrasion kits
• Gua shas
• Quartz, jade, and amethyst face rollers
• Facial steamers

And much more!

Looking just at face rollers alone, Google searches ran to 8,100 searches per month in the US alone.

Touch-Tools

There has been an increased interest in “touch-tools” due to the pandemic. Whether it’s door handles, elevator buttons, handrails, shopping carts, you name it—amidst the global pandemic, we want to touch them as little as possible.

The solution? Touch-tools.

Touch-tools are specifically designed to open and close doors, press buttons, and generally to be an extension of our fingers and hands so we can go about our daily lives without having to touch communal surfaces as often or at all.

These simple and small devices can be kept in a pocket or handbag, attached to a keyring, or fastened to a lanyard when at the office. They’ve become a must-have accessory, with many companies diversifying into offering them. Check out Printful’s touch-tools to get an idea of what they look like!

Reusable Q-Tips

There are several advantages to adding this eco-friendly, sustainable alternative to the traditional cotton earbud to your ecommerce store. The most obvious is that they’re small and light, so they won’t cost a lot to ship.

Also, it’s simple to see how you could market them. The eco-friendly aspects of these silicon swabs are that they’re easy to clean with soapy water and come in handy for all kinds of things. For instance, cleaning small items, removing makeup, cleaning ears, etc.

Fashion & Accessories Trending Products

Face Masks

Here’s a top trending product that’s also likely to continue for a while: Face masks. They’re the new normal, and we can likely expect to see them around for some time.

There’s a lot of variety when it comes to this trending product, as face masks can be reusable, disposable, they can be made of different fabrics like cotton or silk, they can be plain or have interesting designs, they can include nose wires to prevent fogging up glasses, and even made of transparent panels to make it easier for people to lip read.

This makes selling face masks an ideal opportunity to either make a unique product or source masks that suit specific consumer needs.

Add face masks to your online store for a highly demanded, low-cost product idea with inexpensive shipping costs!

Sweatpants

This year, consumers continue to embrace 2020’s hottest trend in office wear…

Sweatpants!

Anyone working from home—whether they’re tied to Zoom meetings or otherwise—is now familiar with the joys of not having to wear workwear to… Well, work.

The best part is that even if you’re summoned to a Zoom meeting, you can throw on a neatly pressed shirt to look smart from the waist up, and still chill in your sweatpants from the waist down. Maybe that’s why searches for sweatsuits have escalated by 100% in the past year alone.

Fashion legend Karl Lagerfeld may have said, “Sweatpants are a sign of defeat,” but after years of derision, sweatpants are undoubtedly making a comeback—and their shelf life will likely last well past lockdown life.

Multiple fashion brands reported huge upturns in sweatpant sales in 2020, including Scott Sternberg’s Entireworld reporting a 662% increase in sales since the pandemic. So sweatpants are clearly a great addition to your ecommerce store, or a great business idea to launch altogether.

Slippers

Shoe sales during COVID-19 were hit hard, but the same can’t be said for slippers. As working from home becomes the new normal, the rise in slipper sales reflects consumers’ need for comfortable footwear to wear around the house. According to NPD’s Retail Tracking Service, slipper sales from 2019 to 2020 doubled—increasing 12% in March, when lockdown began in many locations.

Silk Pajamas

If your audience leans towards more premium tastes, then silk pajamas are a perfect substitute for sweatpants.

Google searches for pajamas have risen by 26% in the past year, with 246,000 monthly Google searches in the US alone. In fact, Adobe Analytics said that online pajama sales rose by 143% in April 2020 compared with March.

Depending on your customer personas, you could opt to sell more affordable satin pairs or more premium pure silk ones. The key here is to focus on luxurious comfort that consumers can experience at home.

Hiking Boots

Since COVID-19 hit the world, consumer’s approach to exercise has changed due to gym closures and a drastic reduction in activities and entertainment. As such, many people have turned to the great outdoors to get exercise.

Consequently, online searches for hiking boots have risen by more than 200%.

The beauty of adding hiking boots to your ecommerce store is that you can market them for outdoor exercise and (depending on your target audience) as fashion items.

Lifestyle Trending Products

Micro-Weddings

Whether it’s due to travel restrictions or local restrictions, the future of weddings is looking very different. Searches for the term “micro-wedding” have increased by 600% since March 2020, which has prompted a change of pace in the wedding industry.

For retailers, we’ve seen a wave of micro-wedding products such as bespoke personalized gifts and table decorations—but the product ideas don’t stop there! Consider the intimacy and personality micro-weddings can have, and the products you can offer to complement those feelings.

While consumers may be looking to downsize the number of guests they host, that doesn’t mean they’ll be downsizing on the specialness of the day so quality is likely to be high on the list of micro-wedding products, rather than quantity.

Homeschool Programs

COVID-19’s impact on learning is widely noted, with temporary school closures and learning-from-home taking priority in some parts of the world.

Consequently, we’ve seen an increase in Google searches surrounding the topic of homeschooling—a 12% rise in 2020, to be precise. That said, this is clearly a trend that started before COVID, as homeschool-related searches boast a 60% increase over the past two years.

There are 2.5 million homeschooled kids in the US as of Spring 2019, and in the UK it has increased by 40% over the past three years. Whether it’s pandemic-related or just general dissatisfaction with mainstream schooling, it’s clear that homeschooling is here to stay, and materials, programs, and websites are taking off to reflect that need.

If you have the capabilities to create homeschooling programs for teachers or parents/guardians, then now is as good of a time as any to jump into the market. There’s undoubtedly going to be a lot of interest in innovating this area, so there will be room to grow.

Functional Beverages

“Functional drinks” are beverages with an intended purpose or outcome. A well-known example of a functional drink is Gatorade—a beverage that helps health-conscious consumers achieve their fitness and wellbeing goals.

Other examples of this growing trend include mushroom coffee, sugar-free energy drinks, CBD drinks, and coffee replacements such as matcha and turmeric lattes.

An August 2020 report by the Business Research Company found that more consumers than ever are looking for healthy food and drink alternatives. And since the pandemic, more and more consumers seem to be searching for ways to boost their immune systems and overall health.

Big brands such as Coca Cola and PepsiCo Inc. are already on board with this trending product category and are introducing their own functional beverages such as Coca-Cola with Coffee and PepsiCo’s Driftwell. It’s no wonder that they are, since the functional beverage market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.96% between 2020 and 2025!

Home & Office Trending Products

Laptop Stands

Remote working has risen exponentially in 2020 for obvious reasons, and that has many people working from their laptops. A useful accessory to lessen back pain and assist with better posture when working from home is the simple laptop stand.

Searches for laptop stands have increased by 113% in the past year, making them an exciting niche to consider. There are multiple takes on this compact accessory—aluminum, plastic, and acrylic, to name a few—plus, there are folding options, lightweight options, and ones that even suction onto windows to make the most of at-home office views!

Standing Desks

The standing desk market was priced at $1.3 billion in 2019, with predicted growth of over 10% by 2028. With remote working on the rise, and health and fitness still a priority in many consumers’ lives, the standing desk market is continuing to grow.

Many workers turn to standing desks as a way to stay active, alert, and keep better posture while they work. Some standing desks are also adjustable to suit different heights and working positions, making it easy for the user to switch between sitting and standing.

Ergonomic Office Chairs

In the past, ergonomic chairs tended to be bought by businesses for their employees. Fast forward to today, and around half of all American workers are now working from home, and consequently, consumer demand to replicate their office environment is growing.

Primarily attributed to the new work from home culture, former office workers are keen to avoid back pain and achieve maximum comfort during their workday. Monthly Google searches for this product idea have risen by 110% so if you’re looking to innovate a market that was previously more focused on B2B retail, you could consider making appealing ergonomic office chairs for B2C, with a flair for DTC.

At-Home Workout Equipment

All kinds of at-home workout equipment are trending right now, including but not limited to folding treadmills, indoor exercise bikes, weights, yoga mats, workout bands, ankle weights, resistance bands, etc.

Although the market is predicted to grow just under 3% between 2020 and 2025, we’ll just have to see what the next few months have in store for public gyms and workout classes. Companies like Peloton have seen their sales surge by a whopping 172% due to the pandemic, and over one million people have subscribed to their streaming classes so there’s obviously demand for at-home workouts.

In light of all of this, selling home-friendly workout equipment and accessories could be a trending product worth considering. After all, with consumers increasing interest in health and fitness coupled with lockdowns and restrictions, this is a trend that’s likely to stick around for a while.

For tips on how to make the most of consumer’s growing interest in fitness, check out our article on Creator Marketing Tips for Health and Fitness Brands.

Zero-Waste Cleaning Products

The cleaning niche has seen rising interest in zero-waste cleaning products as an effort to reduce plastic use.

A popular product at the moment is cleaning solution tablets. Consumers can simply add these tablets into bottles or containers that they already have at home, top them up with water, and then the cleaning solution is created!

The tablets are basically dehydrated liquid concentrates that dissolve when they come into contact with water. When you consider most liquid cleaning products comprise around 90% water anyway, it makes logical sense to switch to zero-waste alternatives!

Air-Purifying Plants

As consumers are spending more and more time indoors, their indoor space is becoming even more important to them. For many, sprucing up their indoor space means adding a little bit of nature.

But, there are more benefits to bringing nature into the home than just aesthetics.

It was NASA who, in 1989, discovered that indoor plants help to remove air pollution. So, given the current events of the world, air-purifying plants have an even more attractive quality to them. This is clear by the 71% increase in global Google searches for air-purifying plants over the last five years.

According to NASA’s study, they recommend having two to three indoor plants for every 100 square feet, so for many consumers, that likely means having multiple plants in one household. As an ecommerce plant seller, you could assist your customers by creating a lookbook of suggestions about where to best place air-purifying plants for maximum health benefits.

Living Walls (Wall Gardens)

If you’ve never heard of a living wall, it’s a vertical outdoor or indoor garden that’s attached to a wall.

Searches for living walls have risen by almost 100% in the past year. This increased interest could be attributed to people wanting to improve their homes as they spend more time indoors, and to people also wanting to bring the outdoors inside in a reasonable way.

Resin Homewares & Accessories

If you’re already scouring Pinterest and Instagram for the latest homeware trends to capitalize on, you likely can’t help but notice the increased interest in resin homewares and accessories.

The furnishings world is seeing all sorts of products being made with resin, like lamps, chairs, coasters, ring trays, bookmarks, jewelry, vases, spoons, and much more.

A quick peek at the many resin products sold on Etsy tells us that this isn’t a trend that’s going away anytime soon. Plus, we’ve also noticed that worldwide Google searches for resin has increased by 43% in the past year, so if you’re looking for a product idea you can make from home, or an innovative way to make existing homeware products, then look no further than resin.

Electronics Trending Products

Under-Desk Treadmills

In an effort to stay active while working from home, consumers are making use of under-desk treadmills—also known as a Cubii.

This piece of equipment is ergonomically designed, portable, and has a low impact on joints. Not only that, but it can connect to your FitBit, iPhone, or Android device to track your movement throughout the day.

Searches for the Cubii have grown 9% in the past year and 1,266% in the last five, making them an innovative trending product to pursue if you want to target the health and fitness niche.

Massage Guns

As the pandemic restricted many people’s ability to visit gyms and health centers, it brought health and fitness lovers to look for other ways to nurture their wellbeing. One such way is to use a muscle massage gun.

These tools are easy to use and combat soft tissue aches and pains by providing quick bursts of pressure into the muscle, which enhances blood flow to the affected area.

Interest in these devices has grown enormously, with a 4,900% increase in Google searches over the past five years and 201,000 monthly searches over the last year alone. As such, massage guns are proving to be more than just a passing trend.

LED Lights

While it’s been an enormous source of fun and much-needed diversion during the pandemic, TikTok is also responsible for bringing to light a huge new trend: LED lights.

These products are especially popular amongst teens who use them in their bedrooms to create a tranquil space they can switch up at the change of a button. But, not only do they create a calm ambiance, they also make for interesting backgrounds behind video content that users post to their social feeds.

At the time of writing, monthly US Google searches for LED lamps stand at 18,100 searches per month, with a 58% growth in global searches over the past five years.

If you’re interested in jumping on board this trend, you’ll find that LED lights come in multiple colors and are often sold in strips that switch between different colors and lighting modes.

Air Purifiers

Since the population at large is spending more time indoors, and paired with the focus on general health and wellbeing due to the pandemic, it’s no wonder that consumers are increasingly concerned about the quality of the air they’re breathing.

Cue, air purifiers.

Air purifiers rid spaces of indoor pollutants, allergens, and particles and right now, there’s no better time to sell a product that does those things.

According to a report from AP News, the air purifier industry is expected to increase by around 10% between 2019 and 2029. This projected increase is attributed mainly to broader concerns about air quality since the pandemic started.

If you’re considering selling air purifiers, it’s essential to clarify what they do and don’t do. The last thing you want is to make any unsubstantiated promises to your customers!

UV Sanitizers

UV sanitizers are hand-held lights or table-top boxes that can sanitize small objects such as watches, pens, cell phones, headphones, etc. to rid them of bacteria and germs

Since the start of the pandemic, consumers are taking a step up from just sanitizing their hands and are looking for ways to sanitize the things they regularly touch, too. Global Google searches for UV sanitizers rose by 50% over the past year and startups specializing in video conferencing equipment, phone cleaning products, and UV lights for cleaning medical equipment also reported a surge in interest.

The beauty of selling a product like a hand-held UV sanitizer is that it can be inexpensive and easy to ship. Whether you’re picking a niche for a new ecommerce store or wanting to expand your product selection, UV sanitizers could be the way to go. There’s a vast array of shapes and sizes available, all of which are simple to source from wholesale outlets like AliExpress.

Air Fryers

Finding a healthy way to eat fried food was never going to be unpopular. The statistics support this, with the air fryer market size expected to grow from almost $895 million in 2018 to $1,425.7 million by 2026—and global Google searches rising by 608% over the past five years.

From an ecommerce seller’s perspective, emphasizing the benefits of air fryers—such as their ability to remove high fat and calorie-dense oils from the cooking process—makes a strong sales pitch.

There are multiple versions of the air fryer out there, with prices retailing as low as $50 on Amazon to higher-end models for hundreds of dollars. It’s also worth considering selling air fryer accessories on your online store, such as paper liners and cookbooks.

Mini Waffle Makers

We all love to treat ourselves to something sweet to eat every now and again, and the mini waffle maker certainly satisfies that craving! It’s the perfect kitchen accessory and doesn’t hog too much space.

Not only that, but they are relatively inexpensive to buy, lightweight, and easy to store. One popular model is the Dash Mini Waffle Maker retailing at $10, which is hugely popular on Amazon, earning thousands of 5-star reviews.

If you’re contemplating setting up a homeware ecommerce store or looking for new and exciting products to add to your inventory, consider mini waffle makers! Not only are they easy to source, but they also come in a range of prices and colors, making them a suitable option for all kinds of demographics.

Sleep Trackers

One possible way for consumers to improve their sleep hygiene is to invest in a sleep tracker. This wearable device monitors your sleep patterns and provides data on sleep quality and duration.

The number of global online searches for information on sleep hygiene has increased by 82% over the last five years so it’s little surprise that the worldwide sleep tracker market is expected to grow at around 8.4% between 2018-2028.

Sleep trackers are lightweight, easy to wear, and most models make it easy to view sleep data from your smartphone. All in all, if you’re already selling other tech items or sleep hygiene products, sleep trackers could be an excellent fit for your business.

Video Doorbells

This handy gadget boasts two immediate advantages: it acts as both a doorbell and a security device.

While global Google searches for video doorbells have declined over the past year (68%), interest over the last five years has increased by 377%.

This suggests that while we’re all languishing at home during the pandemic, we have a less immediate need for these gadgets. That said, there’s potential for market growth here and these products could be a welcome addition to an ecommerce store.

Ring Lights

Ring lights are circle-shaped lights often used by content creators, video streamers, or Instagram influencers.

Online searches for this product have more than doubled in the past year, and monthly US Google searches during the same period sit at a whopping 450,000 searches!

But, before you dive in and start stocking ring lights, it’s worth doing some research. By understanding what the right lights do, you can better market them and create content on how to use them. But to help get the ball rolling, most ring lights basically allow the light to wrap itself around whatever you’re videoing/photographing. This means light falls on both sides of the lens, eliminating any shadow. This creates a far more flattering image and provides the photo or video with way more detail.

USB Microphones

While many consumers rely on their laptops or mobile device’s built-in microphone for their video meetings, there’s a market of consumers that want to take their video quality up a notch, and that involves improving the sound quality.

These devices can be plugged into personal computers and used for video calls, podcasting, video recording, streaming games, or recording music.

One particular USB microphone that’s trending is the Yeti from Blue Microphones, with worldwide searches up by 45% in the past year.

Epilators

Current COVID-19 restrictions across many US states and countries worldwide have resulted in salons having to close their doors. As such, in-person professional hair removal isn’t an option.

Consequently, at-home hair-removal products using laser technology to remove unwanted body and facial hair are the perfect solution. They also tend to be a more economical option long-term.

Epilators are a hair-removal tool that can be used at-home, and interest in the product has been rising as more consumers are looking for at-home solutions to hair removal, and hair-removal tools that offer long-term results.

Video Projectors

Cinemas around the world remain primarily closed so one possible solution to the pain movie buffs feel at the loss of the traditional cinema experience is to use a video projector.

Video projectors bring the movie theatre experience to the home without busting the bank balance and with so many people stuck at home looking for any way to elevate their at-home living experience, now is one of the best times to capitalize on consumers’ growing interest in video projectors.

Fairy Lights

Fairy lights have been a popular product for a while—but consumer interest in them continues to grow over the years.

These items are a cute, dainty way to decorate interior spaces, and they often help create a cozy atmosphere. But they can even extend to outdoor use, with outdoor-friendly fairy lights on the rise as well.

One of the best things about these products is how versatile they can be. Customers are interested in new and innovative designs, seasonal versions, plain white lights and colorful lights, battery-powered options and electricity-powered options, lights for indoor use and outdoor use, etc. There seems to be no limit to the kinds of fairy lights that consumers are interested in and the market for them continues to grow.

Pets, Hobbies & Games Trending Products

Pet Ear-Drops

Just as ear drops are a trending product for humans, it seems that consumers are interested in maintaining the ear health of their furry pets, too. Searches for this remedy have risen globally by a whopping 825% over the past five years, with solutions for mites, ear irritation, and blocked ears being the main concerns.

But, before diving into this product idea, ensure that you source your products with care. This is a health product for pets just like it’s a health product for humans, so ensure that your product meets all health, safety, and legal requirements.

Luxury Cat Litter

Anyone who’s owned a cat knows that cat litter doesn’t smell like a bed of roses—far from it, in fact. That’s just one reason why searches for luxury cat litter, and brands like PrettyLitter, have surged.

This type of cat litter is made from silica which absorbs unpleasant odors and it also helps cat owners detect possible health issues that their feline might have due to changes in urine pH levels.

While it might seem like a niche product idea, there are over 95 million house cats in the USA, and it’s likely that their owners are very open to innovation in the cat litter market. It’s also a product that a subscription delivery service can be built around, which can increase consumer loyalty and bring in recurring revenue, which is obviously good for business.

Gaming Glasses & Blue Light Glasses

There are 2.7 billion gamers worldwide, with the Asia Pacific region taking the lion’s share, followed by Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, and then the US. Gaming is big business, and gamers need (and love) accessories.

One rising trend is gaming and blue light glasses. Consumers are interested in the product’s apparent ability to reduce eye fatigue, eye strain, and headaches caused by many hours of gaming. Searches for these products have risen by an astonishing 2,800% over the past five years.

The glasses are meant to filter out blue light given off by digital devices, which is often the root cause of the symptoms listed above.

There are plenty of places to source blue light glasses nowadays, so whether you’re interested in dropshipping, manufacturing, private labeling, or wholesaling, you should be able to find an option that suits your needs.

Puzzles & Tabletop Activities

Jigsaw puzzles and board games are long-established pastimes enjoyed by people of all ages. Interestingly, global searches for jigsaw puzzles have grown by 94% in the past year. A CNBC report in April 2020 also found that jigsaw puzzle sales for one US game maker, Ravensburger, rose by 370% over the past two years!

Given the amount of time consumers are spending indoors, it’s no surprise that they’re looking for creative ways to fill their time. Add to this the added pressure of parents homeschooling kids who can’t attend school due to lockdowns, and it’s easy to see why sales of tabletop activities are on the rise.

Forbes reported back in April 2020 that sales of board games, puzzles, and crafts had risen enormously as Americans were forced to stay at home. One retailer reported its sales increased by 4,000% in the last week in March 2020 as the pandemic struck the US.

Global searches for tabletop games rose by 44% in the last year, with monthly US Google searches sitting at 110,000.

Online Games

Since Zoom became part of our everyday lexicon, so have games that can be played via online chat and video apps. Here we’re talking about things like online board games, online card games, online bingo, etc.

Online board games are a fun and effective way for friends and families to stay connected with each other during the pandemic. If games are your passion or you have a good idea for an online game people can play over video calls, now’s the time to launch it!

Chess

The Netflix series The Queen’s Gambit has gripped viewers since its launch in October 2020, with a total of 62 million households having watched it!

One interesting by-product of The Queen’s Gambit is a renewed interest in chess. In the past three months alone, global searches for chess boards have risen by 354%. Also, since the show’s launch, the New York Times reported a 125% rise in chessboard sales, with some retailers reporting increases as high as 1000%!

The beauty of selling chess products is that both budget-friendly and upscale products are available and desirable to different consumer groups, so you have plenty of options.

Past Top Trending Products & Niches

We’ve created trending product roundup posts for many years, so we thought we’d include some past trending product ideas to help spark some more product ideas. Though these may not be trending products at the moment, many of these are still popular products with plenty of consumer demand. Others, however, may be declining in popularity, so approach these trending product ideas with caution and conduct your own due diligence before deciding to start a business selling them.

But—there’s still lots of value here so check out these past trending product and niches and see what gems you can find!

Food, Health & Wellness Trending Products

Green Tea

Not only has green tea consistently been climbing as a trend since the early 2000s but it has been growing in popularity for good reason. Green tea is generally a healthier option than other beverages in its category, it contains less caffeine than other beverages and, most importantly, there are so many uses and variations of the product allowing for merchants to come up with new product ideas that incorporate green tea or green tea extracts in them.

Matcha

Matcha tea is an increasingly popular variation of green tea and is considered to be a premium product. Ultimately, it’s a high-end green tea that has been ground into a fine powder and because you actually consume the whole leaf as opposed to just steeping it in hot water, you get a much higher concentration of good things from the tea. Much like green tea, this product can be used as an ingredient in many other products as a flavor, infusion, or extract.

For merchants looking for a premium tea to sell, or premium tea-flavored or tea-infused products to sell, then matcha is worth looking into. In fact, we have an entire case study dedicated to building a matcha tea dropshipping business from scratch here if you’re interested in learning more about the set-up process.

Detox Products

“Detox” is a trending buzzword that can refer to many different types of products in the health and wellness industry but right now the detox trend is tea. Tea detoxes, otherwise known as “Teatoxes,” claim to help consumers lose weight, gain energy and deplete harmful substances from their body. It’s likely that you’ve seen detox teas being advertised on your Instagram and Facebook feeds in recent months as this trend has gained momentum.

If you choose to pursue detox teas or any other type of detox products, for your ecommerce business we encourage you to conduct your own product and market research, work with any relevant and qualified professionals to help you create your product, and take into consideration the legal responsibilities you’ll face as a business for selling consumable products.

Nootropics (“Smart Drugs”)

Nootropics, also referred to as “smart drugs,” help consumers focus better, think clearer, and work harder, and they have been rising in popularity in recent years. Popular faces in the ecommerce industry such as Tim Ferris introduced many people to this relatively new term in 2015 and it seems as if this has just added fuel to the fire ever since. One thing to keep in mind is that nootropics are a mostly unregulated market at the moment so you’ll want to take careful consideration about choosing them as a potential product idea to sell and do your own research before blindly selling them to the public.

Macronutrients & Workout Enhancing Powders

Macronutrients and workout enhancing powders are not new inventions that consumers have never heard of before, however, their up swinging trend stems from their delivery to the end consumer. Consumers concerning themselves with their macronutrient intake is becoming more and more prevalent as people’s interests are rapidly shifting towards their health, diet, and wellbeing. Macronutrients are nothing new, consumers have just become newly interested in them. This has started to generate a response in brands who are looking to connect with these consumers by advertising their food product’s macronutrients at the forefront of their marketing campaigns.

Protein powder is a well-known workout enhancement powder that helps muscles repair after a workout, but it’s nothing new. It has been a part of mainstream trends for many years now, however, the workout enhancing powder market has started to shift into new territory: Pre-workout powders. Pre-workout powders, commonly referred to simply as “pre-workout,” has started to carve a place in the market.

While protein powders are commonly consumed post-workout to help muscle repair, pre-workouts are meant to be consumed before the workout, giving individuals a hit of energy to help them have productive workouts. This innovative delivery of a simple product is an ingenious way to sell to the end consumer.

Already in the fitness industry? Shift your focus and offer pre-workout supplements while this trend is on the upswing. Marketing a food or beverage product? Shine the light on its macros. Not in the fitness, diet, and health industry yet? Get on it sooner rather than later, because consumers are buying into it more and more each year.

Active Holidays

Perhaps it’s thanks to the booming fitness industry, the number of millennials who prioritize working out as part of their lifestyles, or the growing number of retirees who are looking to maintain active in retirement, but active holidays have been a rising trend in recent years.

Rather than vacationing in a warm climate where families, friends, and couples normally relax oceanside and indulge in tasty foods and drinks, active holidays mix a bit of travel, relaxation, fitness, and healthy living together into one good-for-the-soul bundle. Active holidays allow vacationers to stay on track with their fitness and health goals while they relax away from ordinary routines and enjoy a tropical environment. Two of the top companies offering active holidays right now include The Body Holiday and Beyond Active Escapes which promise individuals a total wellness experience.

If you’re able to host or lead active holidays, go for it! Their value really stems from their location and the activities and amenities they offer, so bear that in mind. If that’s not in your realm of expertise, base a business around providing gear, accessories, or gadgets to active holiday providers or to customers who participate in active holidays.

Keto Foods

The ketogenic diet is a high-fat, adequate-protein, low-carbohydrate one. The diet forces the body to burn fats rather than carbohydrates and has become fairly popular over the past few years. While the fitness and health food industry is constantly hit with swells of new-age fads, the keto diet has some solid medical backing and thus has stayed around for a while.

There is a niche for keto food products that has a pretty solid consumer base, too. In order to break into this niche, it would be advisable to really dig in deep into the world of fit foods, ingredients that constitute such foods, and alternative nutrient sources. Once you get the hang of it, the pay off can be pretty big.

While the ketogenic diet is sometimes a medical diet that is prescribed for several conditions such as prediabetic and diabetic states, seizure disorders, and such, many people also adopt this low carb, high fat, and high protein diet for everyday life. This means that many people on a keto diet still want snacks and treats to eat! For example, keto-friendly bars are popular not only among keto dieters, as they are rich in protein, so people who care about their protein intake eat keto bars as a healthy snack alternative, too.

Vegan Foods

The vegan food industry is booming and it is a market with a large scope as it isn’t quite in the mainstream yet. Be it soy products, vegan meat alternatives, vegan alternatives to household items like furniture and cleaning products, or even chains of vegan restaurants—there is so much untapped potential.

Think about all the food choices and options that are available to the majority of the urban population: Confectionery items, condiments, gourmet desserts, home delivered meal boxes, recipe books, etc.—it’s an endless world. Finding alternatives to such products and services for the vegan sector can help you break into and carve your own niche in this segment while establishing a base for a solid business in the vegan foods industry.

Beauty, Hygiene & Personal Grooming Trending Products

Coffee Scrubs

We’ve talked about trending tea products already and now tea’s arch-nemesis, coffee, is also making an appearance in the trend forecast in the form of a body scrub. It appears that the company Frank Body started the coffee scrub trend, with a bunch of other players entering the market closely after. This is a classic and smart example of someone taking a current product on the market and repurposing it for another market. Don’t just think about coffee—also consider what other products can re-purposed beyond their initial use.

Coconut Oil Based Products

Considered healthy and functional, coconut oil can be used for a multitude of purposes like cooking, as a body moisturizer, to make soaps, toothpaste, deodorant, and more. Coconut oil has become a more mainstream ingredient in the past few years, so consumers are interested in it and are already using it to fulfill various roles in their life.

Think about how you can hop on the coconut oil trend and make it more accessible or desirable to consumers. Maybe there’s a use for coconut oil that consumers haven’t heard of yet, or maybe you can package coconut oil in a more convenient way for consumers. Consider whether you can add coconut oil to other products to make them more desirable, as well. Coconut oil is an extremely versatile ingredient so take advantage of that!

Beard Oil

Beard oil has been trending for the last few years and it appears that the trend is continuing. Lately, this market has become pretty saturated with a lot of new companies but there’s likely still room for those that get a little more creative and tighten their focus to serve narrow niches within the beard grooming category.

Charcoal Beauty Products

Everywhere we look—be it Facebook, Instagram, or even in actual stores (both online and brick-and-mortar)—there are charcoal beauty products on the shelves. These products boast the presence of activated charcoal which apparently has several benefits: In toothpaste it’s purported to act as a natural whitening agent and in face washes and face masks it supposedly acts as a purifier and helps to detoxify the skin.

On the vendor’s side of things, charcoal beauty products are one of the best-selling products in the beauty and makeup niche. The trend seems to continue this year as well with support from customers and influencers alike. Such products are also great to dropship and ePacket delivery is also easily available to most countries.

Balayage Products

Balayage is a popular form of hair coloring that makes the hair look like it has natural volume with the use of highlights. While this is a recurring trend in the fashion and hair industry, this time around it seems more popular than ever! The look can be achieved at home or by going to a salon which means that the target base is slightly bigger: Salons, stockists, and individuals can all be targeted for sales.

The products used to achieve this look include hair toners, lighteners, spatulas, color application brushes, aftercare products (shampoos, masks, conditioners, etc.), and more. As a lot of influencers on social media are continuously sporting the look, this trend continues to spread and the sales stay high. If you are looking to break into the beauty segment and especially the hairstyling and care niche, the balayage trend and the associated products may be worth looking into.

Body Wipes (“Dude Wipes”)

Men’s hygiene is a niche that doesn’t get the attention it really deserves and, despite that, it’s certainly on an upswing right now. In this case, there are manufacturers that already create hygiene wipes for children and women, however, smaller vendors have recently noticed that there’s a great opportunity to supply a similar sort of product for men as well.

The “dude wipes” are targeted to men across the board—from those who enjoy camping and outdoor activities, to those who have busy urban lifestyles and commute a lot. Due to the fact that body wipes are a product that needs to be purchased regularly as it falls into the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) group, manufacturers are making “customers for life.” For a vendor, that offer the potential for subscription purchases or automated re-ordering.

Silicone Makeup Sponges

The silicone makeup sponge is a flat, teardrop-shaped sponge that helps individuals evenly apply liquid or cream makeup products to the face and blend it together. As soon as this product hit stores it piqued consumer’s interest and started to sell. Online, this product went viral and has attained a cult status.

Dermatologists suggest that the beauty sponge be replaced every three months to prevent bacteria growth which makes this a fast-moving consumer good and means that merchants selling this product are bound to have returning customers. However, it is important to note that to have returning customers to your store, your customer service and product quality have to be top-notch.

Anti-Cellulite Cup

The anti-cellulite cup helps reduce the appearance of cellulite on the body using a suction cup similar to the ones used for cupping massages. The anti-cellulite cup is relatively simple to use, individuals just need to apply the cup and move it around the target area. Not only can the device be used for reducing the appearance of cellulite but it also doubles as a massager, clearly showing how versatile it is.

This is one of those products that has the virality factor attached to it as you can find plenty of viral videos of influencers and customers using the cup and sharing their opinions and reviews of the product.

Fake Eyelashes

Fake eyelashes have been around for a while, however, in recent years they’ve experienced a massive overhaul in both style and innovation to make them more beautiful and functional than ever before.

Brands, makeup artists, and influencers have been creating their own collections of false eyelashes in recent years by using different materials, sizes, colors, and even adhesive methods in an effort to make false lash application easier and for a more worthwhile result. There’s lots of room in this niche for innovation and creativity and consumers are open to trying new things.

The product also falls into the category of products that can be upsold. In most cases, false eyelashes are bought in bulk. Furthermore, these are disposable items thus the chance of returning customers is extremely high. These are also a great product to dropship since ePacket delivery is easily available, they are extremely light and cost-efficient to manufacture and ship. To learn more about starting a false eyelash company from scratch, check out our case study with Esqido, a luxury false eyelash company.

Bamboo Toothbrushes

Minimalism has increasingly become a lifestyle choice for many people and it is a trend that is continuing to grow. This, coupled with the fact that consumers are often looking for more sustainable alternatives to products they regularly use, has also put products such as bamboo toothbrushes on the trending list.

While this product has been around for a while, popularity-wise, it still hasn’t reached its peak which means that getting into a business that sells sustainable products like bamboo toothbrushes so early on in the game can provide advantages later on as the product continues to gain momentum.

While you are at it, look into the “zero-waste” trend to see which other major markets could potentially be disrupted in the future—soap, detergent, storage containers, packaging? There are just so many options out there! Capitalizing on sustainability isn’t just a lucrative business path but it also has a feel-good factor to it, making it almost irresistible to the new age of eco-friendly or trend-savvy entrepreneurs.

Night Face Masks

The beauty and skincare industry is something that will perhaps always be around as a “trending market” which is why it constantly attracts entrepreneurs to it. One of the latest fads in the market is night masks.

Just like the charcoal face masks that took the market by storm and were one of the hottest trending products, night masks are touted as becoming the next “hot product.” If you are planning on starting a beauty or skincare business, or already have one, then adding night masks to your arsenal of products should be a no-brainer.

Makeup Brush Cleaners

Makeup has become such an interesting niche to work within as trends are constantly evolving, and they do so quickly. The things that do not drastically change, however, are the application tools; the most prominent ones being makeup brushes and sponges. What’s surprising is that statistically, 61% of makeup wearers don’t clean their brushes every month due to the effort and lack of general know-how. This leads to makeup brushes deteriorating over time and causes bacteria to build up, which is terrible for the skin.

This is where makeup brush cleaners step in. There are many different types of brush cleaners like solid soap-like cleansing bars, liquid detergents, or even spray cleaners. There are even different types of brush cleaning tools like mats, drying racks, and brush hair re-shapers to make the cleaning process even more efficient for consumers. Think about how you can make makeup brush cleaning easier or more efficient for consumers and how you would design your product.

Clothing & Accessories Trending Products

Niche-Specific Branded Apparel & Hyper-Local Apparel

Companies like Printful are making it increasingly easy to create a clothing brand. As they continue to increase the number of ecommerce platforms they integrate with along with the apparel and customization options they offer, creating a custom apparel brand is only going to become more popular. But with apparel being such an over-saturated market already, any new businesses will have to work hard to stand out. Two ways to make that happen are to have very niche-specific branded apparel or hyper-local apparel.

Niche-specific apparel refers to clothing items that are only relevant to a certain type of consumer whether that’s because of the clothing item’s style, functionality, or even the designs on it. An example of niche-specific apparel includes the IconSpeak t-shirts that appeal to the niche of people who like to travel, which we discussed in our Nomad Gear: 10 Minimalist Travel Essentials for Digital Nomads article.

Hyper-local apparel refers to creating products that cater to a very defined audience in a certain geographical area. For example, we launched a 24-hour t-shirt business as a fun side project and targeted a hyper-local audience with creative designs that appealed to commuters that frequented local subway stations.

Here are some other examples of hyper-local apparel brands:

• Detroit vs. Everybody (Detroit)
• Drake General Store (Toronto)

Enamel Pins

Enamel pins seem to be one of those recurring trends that come around every few years and has been around for several decades. These days, enamel pins are trending again due to the capability and ease of designing and/or personalizing your own pins.

These pins are a great fashion accessory as they spruce up anything from bags to jackets to t-shirts, etc. They can be tiny and still be called statement pieces. Enamel pins, on the other hand, are also used by companies, NGOs or individuals that want to represent that they stand for something in particular. A tiny product like this holds great social and cultural significance as it can be a signifier or the medium of a certain message.

Ideally, to sell these in high volumes, you might want to build a strong marketing campaign and perhaps target fandoms, lifestyle groups, and pop culture enthusiasts. If you’re interested in learning more about how to start your own enamel pin business, check out this article.

Beanie Hats

While most stores don’t stock beanies beyond the winter season, this particular fashion accessory is still a hot commodity throughout the year. Depending on the size, knit pattern, and material of the beanie hat, they are widely purchased and even worn in places with a warmer climate. The fact that most of the styles are unisex automatically widens your target audience.

When the winter months do arrive and the temperature drops, this product will almost become a necessity for customers. A great way to increase sales would be to bundle beanie hats with other winter accessories like gloves or maybe even scarves—all these products are easily available to stock.

For a newcomer in the ecommerce industry with a focus on the fashion niche, these are a great product to start off with as they are relatively cheaper, come in a variety of styles and options, and are light, thus easier to package and make them a great item to dropship.

Fitness Leggings

Another great product for dropshippers is fitness leggings. These have been around for a couple of years now and by the looks of it, they don’t seem to be going anywhere anytime soon. This product caters to multiple target bases which make them a versatile commodity for anyone focusing on building a fashion, fitness, or athleisure brand.

Just like beanie hats, fitness leggings are also extremely light, come in a plethora of styles, fabrics, and colors, and are inexpensive to stock and ship. As a dropshipper, you can easily stock your inventory with multiple styles and options to test out what sells the best, while providing your customers with great options, which keeps them happy and coming back to your store.

Titanium Rings

Titanium rings have become increasingly popular and are trending in a niche that is relatively harder to tackle: Men’s fashion, accessories, and jewelry. This product is the perfect amalgamation of aesthetics and masculinity which is the key combination to “making it” in this particular niche. Titanium is a premium material, yet relatively cheaper than other precious metals, and the fact that there are several ring designs to choose from to suit every taste, definitely bolsters its place in the trending category.

For tips on how to start your own jewelry business, check out our How to Start a Jewelry Business article for in-depth information.

Novelty Socks

Socks. Yep, you read that right. Socks are another one of those evergreen products that are almost always trending. In fact, novelty socks have been trending for a few years now, especially around the holidays.

They’re a perfect product: They’re comfortable, aren’t restricted to a specific gender, age, or style and are simple to coordinate with an outfit, too. The one thing to keep in mind, however, is that while novelty socks are a great niche, regular socks have far more competition and the market is saturated for them. Novelty socks are a great alternative to the more traditional ones as the market is still growing.

Unicorn Pajamas

Unicorns pajamas might just be exactly what you need to add to your inventory for a bit of magic! Anything unicorn-themed has been trending for the past couple of years and the trend isn’t slowing down, on the contrary, it’s rising steadily.

There was an uptick in the sales of unicorn pajamas and stores that specialize in women’s clothing found the product to be a winner as it sets a tone for their brand and sets them apart from the competition!

This product is eye-catching, a novelty, and trending on social media, which makes it perfect to build a fun marketing campaign around.

Leather Bracelets

Leather bracelets have been gaining traction for a while and cater to several different niches. Leather is a premium material that can be styled to suit the customer’s taste and needs which means it provides a very important function—variety!

As a merchant, you can get the product in multiple colors and styles which means that it can be bundled with similar products to boost sales. Due to their low cost of sourcing and shipping, they happen to make a perfect product for dropshippers, too.

Shapewear

With a projection of $5.6 billion in sales by 2022, as a merchant, you should definitely be interested in selling shapewear. Shapewear comes in multiple styles—some can be worn under clothing, some over, and some come in the form of lingerie. You can find almost any style, color, and size to stock your inventory with and you can cater to the different needs of your customers.

With even big fashion houses and brands stocking shapewear, it is apparent that customers continue to pursue products that offer them a slimmer silhouette—which means that this trend is not going anywhere for a while.

Athleisure

Athleisure is described as activewear that is worn as an everyday look instead of for solely athletic purposes. This clothing trend emphasizes comfort, durability, and style which is exactly why it’s been trending in recent years. As a seller, this opens a wide door for you as you can sell multiple products such as leggings, sweatpants, t-shirts, shoes, socks, headbands, sports bras, etc.

What makes athleisure great is that unlike most fashion trends, it is here to stay. This niche also gives you a great entry point into other market segments such as sports and fitness or health and holistic living.

With social media platforms like Instagram and Pinterest making athleisure even more popular and influencers promoting athleisure products, the trend is going to be around for a while. Fashion + Comfort = Recipe for success!

Minimalist Watches

Another trending product category that has its roots in the minimalism trend is minimalist watches. Social media has helped make this product extremely popular through influencer marketing which is one of the major reasons why this has been such a trending product category as of late.

If you do decide to break into or explore this niche and start a watch brand, you could leverage the power that influencers have in the segment to make some really captivating ads and marketing campaigns. This may help boost engagement with your brand and drive up those sales.

Backpacks

Backpacks have increasingly become a very popular trend in recent years. Part of this can be credited to startups on crowdfunding platforms such as Kickstarter and their mission to create the perfect urban backpack but carrying backpacks to work has also become cool again and now there are many types and styles that are easily accessible in shops.

The new style of anti-theft backpacks that safeguard the belongings of urban commuters, or the tracking systems and battery charging capabilities of high-tech urban packs has ushered in a new age for a product that used to just be seen as a back-to-school special. While the August to September back-to-school period is definitely peak sales time for this product, it doesn’t mean that the product won’t sell year-round, especially for a more professional crowd.

As a merchant, stock and sell different types of backpacks that could be targeted to different age groups, activities, and styles—such as to students, travelers, IT specialists, urban commuters, etc. This trend is a great way to explore the different directions that one product can take you in.

Homewares & Appliances Trending Products

Mattresses

While a mattress might seem like an awkward fit on a trending products list, it makes total sense. Not only is there almost always a demand for mattresses but with the evolution of technology, mundane and everyday objects like mattresses have also evolved.

Just a few examples of the new breed of high-tech mattresses include ones that track your sleep and sleep health, ones that have auto-temperature settings that cool down in the summer and heats up in the winter, ones that are attached to automatic coffee makers, and ones that have a built-in vibrating alarm system, to mention a few.

Even the benefits of mattresses differ: Some aid in orthopedic healing and others help with sleep disorders—the choices are vast and the technology is constantly evolving. There are even mattresses that come bundled up in a box so they’re easy to move into new places, they’re compact enough to fit in elevators or to be carried up stairs. It would be a very smart idea to jump on this trending product while the market still has space to carve out your own niche.

Essential Oil Diffusers

People have been using essential oils for centuries. Several religious, cultural and wellbeing practices involve the use of essential oils. Every essential oil has a plethora of different benefits, for example, lavender helps with relaxation, tea tree oil is considered great for the skin, peppermint oil is known for its antimicrobial properties and is a remedy for digestive issues and bad breath, etc.

A diffuser specifically designed for essential oils is a great delivery system to get the scent of the oils into the air in order to benefit from their natural properties. The reason that this product has become so popular over time is because a spa-like ambiance at home can easily be created just by switching up oils for different scents or purposes. The best part is that users can create and diffuse their own personalized scents using this product without the need or use of any harmful chemicals.

If you are a seller and would like to break into this segment, you can sell a mix of the electric and heat-based (works with candles) diffusers and stock your inventory in a way that your customers have options to pick from. Creating essential oil kits for specific purposes such as a destress kit, revitalize kit, or energy boosting kit may be a good option to help consumers find the right product for them and increase your sales. Since sustainable living and personal wellbeing are major trends at the moment, products like the essential oil diffusers are going to be trending for a while.

Chalk Paint

Chalk paint is another major trend in the DIY and home decor industry. With the influence of social media—specifically Instagram and Pinterest—on consumers, chalk paint has become fairly popular.

Chalk paint is also a great way to give an old piece of furniture a different look. One of the reasons it is so popular is also because it is a paint that requires no stripping, sanding, or priming. As a merchant, consider whether you can sell chalk paint or related chalk paint accessories to your market or if you can sell furniture and homewares that customers can apply chalk paint to.

Terrariums

Terrariums are glass containers that can sustain tiny ecosystems within them. They can accommodate all sorts of living things, but they are usually planted with a variety of small succulents. Over the past couple of years, these indoor plants have been trending both as gift items and as home decor accessories. They’re appealing to consumers because they add a bit of greenery to any space and are extremely low-maintenance since a majority of them are self-sustained and need little to no attention.

As a merchant, you have the option to sell terrariums as a whole or in parts. Either design and create your own terrariums and sell them to your target market or sell the glass containers, succulents, soil, planting tools, and decorative accessories separately. If you do choose to sell each terrarium-making item separately, also consider how you can make the items into one kit for first-time buyers or bundles for gift-givers. For more information on how to start a terrarium business from scratch, check out this post.

Vegetable Spiralizers

Vegetable spiralizers have been all the rage lately. For anyone who is looking for a healthier alternative to noodles or pasta in their day-to-day diet, there is now a perfect solution. Vegetable spiralizers are basically shredders or graters that make long noodles out of vegetables such as zucchini, carrots, sweet potatoes, cucumbers, etc.

There are multiple types of spiralizers: Handheld spiralizers, stationary spiralizers, counter-top spiralizers, and electric spiralizers are the most popular. For vendors, this means that they can stock their inventory with multiple versions of the product and provide a greater variety to their customers.

Grill Mat

Grill mats are another one of those mundane products that consumers may not necessarily think of buying, however, they do upsell very well. Grill mats make grilling easier by providing a non-stick surface that is easy to clean up. Due to the products being reasonably cheap, grill mats can be sold in packs to boost average order values.

Fairy Lights

Fairy lights are another product that has become extremely popular due to social media sites like Instagram and Pinterest. People have been using these lights for home decor, in restaurants to create a cozy ambiance, as holiday decorations, and more.

There are even entire social media pages dedicated to teaching consumers how to utilize fairy lights and style them to their taste! These lights are often bought in bundles and can be sold with other decorative products, too.

Car Windshield Protectors

Car and automotive accessories is a great niche to break into because the market for these products is relatively new to the ecommerce industry. One of the top products in this niche is car windshield protectors.

The reason this product sells well is because it is a practical tool that is essential during the colder months or in places with lower temperatures. Stocking up on these can prove beneficial for consumers in the longer run (towards the end of the year) and they can beat pricing surges when the demand drives them up.

The reason this product would be great for dropshipping is because they are inexpensive to source and are eligible for ePacket delivery due to their lightweight and low price.

Electronics Trending Products

LED Lighting

In the coming decade, it is likely that nearly all lighting will eventually be converted to LED lighting. It’s much more energy-efficient, lasts exponentially longer than regular bulbs, is a lot more controllable, and better for the environment. This trend is only going to keep growing and in particular, there seems to be a growing trend for colored LED lighting to improve ambiance, and for “smart” LED lighting that can be controlled by apps and smart devices.

Drones & Drone Accessories

In recent years you’ve likely heard more and more about drones. Whether it’s about the military using them for missions, Amazon using them to deliver packages to homes, or just consumers playing with them as a hobby, drones have been huge in recent years. With more and more drones from companies such as DJI being sold and setting trends, looking into the future it appears they will only be getting more popular. As a merchant, think about whether you can sell drones, who you can sell drones to, or whether you can sell drone accessories or services.

Auto-Follow Drones & Underwater Drones

Not only are drones trending, but there are new types of drones coming into consumer’s lives. In the past few years, we’ve seen drones rise swiftly into popularity as they became a more justifiable purchase for consumers to make but throughout the years, drone technology has continued to advance and the way people utilize them in their everyday lives has continued to evolve.

This year, expect to see drones as one of the top trending products, however, expect further advancements in technology that will allow consumers to integrate drones into different aspects of their lifestyles. First, auto-follow drones are coming into trend now because their advanced technology allows users to manage the drone in a hands-free way. Also on the rise are underwater drones which help users to locate fish and chart underwater landscapes.

Consider how drone technology can enhance people’s lives: Is there a way drones can be used for consumers or businesses that they aren’t being utilized for yet? Find a gap in the market. If harnessing drone technology isn’t your specialty, think about how your business can enhance a consumer’s experience with their drone. What kind of products can you sell to make their experience more streamlined, stylish, or user friendly, no matter what they use their drone for.

Virtual & Augmented Reality

This kind of technology is finally becoming a reality in consumers’ lives, available for them to use, experience, and purchase for themselves.

There may not be a huge consumer market yet but it’s trending upwards as we speak, so by the time you do your research, formulate a product and produce something for consumers to purchase, you might just hit the first wave of consumers gearing up to try virtual and augmented reality for themselves.

Either get into the virtual/augmented reality game itself or get into the market for the respective accessories. Accessories are one of the best ways to get into a market you don’t have the technological experience to actually create a central product for, so creating a supporting product that makes the main product function better is a great way to attract enthusiastic consumers.

Accessories of Accessories

For many businesses, this is going to be the largest window of opportunity when it comes to finding the perfect product to sell online. With consumers adding more and more technological products into their daily routines there is more interest in accessorizing these devices to make them more stylish, streamlined, and functional.

These accessories can add style to the device itself whether it be a phone, computer, camera, drone, etc, or these accessories can be a more stylish version of something you regularly use in tandem with a device such as docking stations, power banks, cords, chargers, etc. Some popular accessory items include the iRing and PopSockets which add additional functionality to the smartphone devices, AirPod Skins add style and protection to the Apple Airpods, or even sweaters for drones and Airpod floss stickers. Yep. Those are a thing.

Take advantage of the demand for stylish, sleek, streamlined, and functional accessories and create a new product that makes an existing device or accessory better. The beauty of this approach is that it doesn’t have to be complicated. Spend some time thinking of the devices you use every day and what small accessory would make them either function or look even better. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel here, just think about useful, functional, quirky, or customizable additions that make existing devices better.

Smartwatches & Wearable Technology

The release and popularity of the Apple Watch and the Fitbit has resulted in a rise of other smartwatches and wearable devices from other companies throughout the year, and it isn’t expected to slow down anytime soon.

Cropping up all over the internet are things like smartwatches for kids, mindfulness watches, GPS pet trackers, wearable sunlight trackers, posture devices and more, that are riding the wave of the wearable technology trend. Each device is getting more and more specific with the intention of helping consumers find a technological solution or monitoring system to any one of their problems.

Similar to the Virtual Reality trend, either start developing your own useful device (remember to find a niche and solve a pain point) or, if that’s not in your realm of expertise, focus more on accessories like cases, stands, covers, cleaners, cables or chargers.

Smart Home Appliances

Along the same wavelength, smart accessories are seeping into other aspects of consumers’ shopping habits. Appliances such as the Google Home, Amazon Echo, and even smart toothbrushes and cutting boards are aimed at helping consumers improve their day-to-day lives, and they’re becoming more popular.

Anything and everything seems to be on the table and there’s no telling where the future will take us. These smart appliances are slowly becoming a part of the average consumer’s daily life and we expect to see them become even more normalized as they continue to improve and consumers start to see real benefits to integrating them into their lifestyle.

Pay attention to your daily life: Where can you see smarter innovations being made in your home, no matter how seemingly small the innovation might be. Smart appliances are the future and we’ll definitely see their popularity rise throughout the year.

Wireless Headphones

Technology is forever changing, streamlining, and minimizing which means the fewer cords and plug-ins, the better. Lately, this has meant that headphones are now becoming wireless and operating via Bluetooth rather than through the headphone jack.

Currently, consumers are starting to purchase wireless headphones rather than the generic wired ones that have dominated for so long, however, the technology is still being developed and the average consumer is still wary about cost, battery life, and sound quality. With giants like Apple and Google excluding the headphone jacks from their products, wireless is definitely becoming the way of the future and we expect to see wireless headphones improve drastically over the coming years and anticipate consumers will start making more and more purchases in their direction as it does.

In this case, less is more, so get ready to drop the wires from your headphones while this shift starts to take shape. Looking for a product idea? Start looking up manufacturers who can supply you with this product so you can get in on this trend as soon as possible.

3D Printing

Finally, 3D printing is on its way to becoming part of mainstream business and consumer’s daily lives. For so long it seemed like a futuristic experiment that we mere mortals could only dream of but the time has come where owning a 3D printer can be a reality.

The technology and development are finally coming to a place where it’s an approachable item for some consumers to purchase. It hasn’t become a fully justifiable purchase for the mainstream market yet, however, we expect to see leaps and bounds of growth over the course of the next couple of years. Keep an eye on its progression and start getting your ideas in place ready to take advantage of this trend as it becomes an active part of consumer’s lives.

It’s likely that you don’t have the technological know-how or the means to produce your own 3D printer, so leave that to the experts and focus on the accessories. Once it launches into the lives of the masses they’ll be eager for add ons that make the experience even more streamlined.

360 Degree Camera

Photography is such a vast and varied segment that there is a niche for almost everything—niches that relate to the style, ones that are specific to technical skills, etc. One of the newer trends in the industry is that of 360 Degree cameras. Initially, photographers would take multiple high definition photos and stitch them together using software to create a 360-degree photo, but in recent times cameras that can actually shoot (both photo and videos) in 360-degree landscape, have become easily available.

This breed of cameras also come in a variety of styles, but most use 2 fisheye lens cameras to get the job done. However, it is important to note that different kinds of activities will require different cameras, therefore as a potential seller, you should make sure that you stock up on different models and types (battery life and resolution differ from model to model) to ensure that you are catering to a wider audience base. Also pay attention to other details such as live streaming capabilities, 4K res, etc.

One of the major reasons that 360-degree cameras have been trending and are projected to do well over a longer time span is because they are essentially “future-proof”. The 360-degree format is keeping true to virtual reality and possible applications for consumers in the near future.

Video Security Cameras & Doorbells

The physical security industry has been growing at a rapid pace and doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon. One thing that has been clear for a while now, is how consumer technology has pushed the barriers for innovation within the security industry. From biometrics to remote surveillance, there is a market out there for it all.

Video security cameras and doorbells are some of the tools that have become increasingly popular within this segment—and with good reason. With crime and violence in urban areas, consumers have started taking safety more seriously and this seems to be an ideology that will be around for a long time and evolve with the advancements in technology.

Breaking into this industry will truly require a lot of research and the ability to keep up with trends in the segment—but once you are able to do so, this can be an incredibly lucrative niche.

Smart Lighting

As children, we all probably wished that we wouldn’t have to get up from our comfortable position on the couch or bed to turn the lights on or off. We wished we could just clap and voila! Job done. Welcome to the future! Not only are there smart lights that respond to clapping but there is an entire universe of smart lighting systems and smart lights. A few to mention are eco-friendly lighting, automatic timing for lights, mood settings, color control, remote access to lighting systems in places with wifi, motion-activated lighting, and more. There are endless options!

As the options in the industry grow by the second, so does the consumer base. Customers have become more sustainability-centric, and have created a demand for smart lighting companies to get creative with the products that are offered.

Listen to the customers: Create a product that they’re asking for that isn’t available, or a tweaked version of an existing one. Smart lighting is the future of home lighting and it’s picking up steam now so it would be a good idea to jump into the sector when you can.

Bluetooth & Wifi Speakers

Bluetooth speakers seem to have been around for ages yet they’re still getting better and better each year with added features and additional functionalities so consumers are still turning towards them as their speakers of choice. Especially as technology becomes even more wireless, consumers are interested in speakers that can connect to their devices without any cables, and that’s where Bluetooth and wifi speakers come into play.

“The Bluetooth technology roadmap is a powerful expression of our mission to continue as a catalyst for industry innovation,” Mark Powell, executive director, Bluetooth SIG, said in the statement. “Bluetooth has been adopted by countless developers and manufacturers as their connectivity solution of choice for the IoT. The new functionality we will soon be adding will further solidify Bluetooth as the backbone of IoT technology.” (Dealerscope)

This statement makes it clear that Bluetooth and wifi technologies will be around for a while and thus, is an advantageous industry to be in. It is, however, beginning to become a saturated market so consider how you can make a Bluetooth or wifi speaker with additional features or functionalities to make it an even better product for consumers. Do that, and you’ll stand out in this growing market.

GPS Trackers for Keys

These little nuggets of technology have become extremely popular due to their practicality and functionality. Tile is a Bluetooth tracker that is paired with an intuitive app which makes it easy to find any object that it is attached to such as keys, wallets, bags, etc.

The key to the success of this product is simple: It provides a solution for a problem that nearly everyone faces at some point in their day-to-day lives. With Bluetooth technology becoming more involved in our everyday lives, it would make sense to look into simple solutions that customers are looking for. What other products could a GPS tracker be useful for?

Phone Accessories

With the advent of the smartphone, a new market was formed: Smartphone accessories.

The variety of products in this niche can range from unique and custom phone cases, screen protectors, chargers, USB converters, stickers, earphones (both the wired and wireless kinds), and much more. The more that smartphones evolve over time, the more smartphone accessories will be created to improve customer satisfaction and enhance their smartphone experience.

The problem with this market, however, is that it is extremely saturated, and there many competitors. Unless you have an extremely niche product idea, such as this company that only creates premium wood finished phone cases, there is a chance that your store might not even get noticed. The key to gaining success in this niche is to have the right combination of a premium quality product, an impactful marketing campaign, brilliant customer service, and consistency.

Portable LED Projectors

Portable LED Projectors come in different styles and types and can be used for multiple niches, which makes them a versatile product. They can be used by consumers at home to watch movies on, they can be used at schools as a tool for teachers, they can be used in the workplace for presentations and, most importantly, they can be used on the go with minimal equipment and set up required.

Some projectors work by attaching to mobile devices or laptops which make them great for people on the go, other projectors can project starscapes or constellations onto walls and ceilings which make them great for decor or educational purposes.

Hobbies & Toys Trending Products

Adult Coloring Books

Adult coloring books became popular a few years ago and since then have turned from a fad product into a growing market. They’ve remained popular as time has gone on and consumers have continued to express interest in their meditative and calming effects.

The success behind the adult coloring book trend stems from the fact that they incorporate other relevant trends into the contents of their pages. For example, new coloring books are released all the time that depict scenes from popular movies and TV shows or other pop culture trends at the moment. Adult coloring books can apply to so many different niches and markets of people, it all depends on the contents of the coloring book. Think about what niche you could cater an adult coloring book to.

Journaling

Again, not a new innovation by any stretch, however, it all comes down to how it’s delivered to the end consumer. Journaling has started to rise into popularity as people are looking for ways to destress, reflect, and practice mindfulness or gratefulness in an effort to take care of their mental and emotional health.

Products such as The Five Minute Journal, The Bullet Journal, The Happiness Planner, The Anxiety Journal, The Passion Planner, and the SELF Journal have become popular in recent years. Consumers will tell you that these simple tools reap so many benefits that lead to improving their overall quality of life.

Do you have a great idea for a journal or a journaling system you want to share with the world? Start developing and refining your idea and turn it into a journal business! It’s too early to tell if it’ll last long term or be a fleeting fad, but nevertheless, there’s room for more growth in this market.

Fidget Spinners & Fidget Toys

Every year there is this one product that turns into a phenomenon that tends to last for quite a while. The last year was dominated by fidget spinners and other related fidgeting toys. Be it the spinner toy, the fidget cubes, or the squishy toys that you can attach to your phone or laptop, they all were selling out like crazy.

The fidget spinner, however, enjoyed cult status with its own social media challenges cropping up all over. The demand for these toys was so high that at some point the manufacturers that created the ball bearings being used in the toys were under pressure to create more than their capacity allowed.

Even though these toys were initially created for those with anxiety and/or autism and have been around for over 25 years, this now became one of the must-have office toys. Now is a good time to jump in and stock up on these items, for adults and kids alike. Is there another niche you could target fidget toys to, or is there another type of fidget toy you can create?

Plush Toys

Plush toys are the perfect addition to your store if you run a home or lifestyle business geared towards products for children. These types of toys have always been popular, however, there’s always a new type of plush toy that becomes the talk of the children’s community and is a must-have for every parent and child out there.

Research into popular plush toys at the moment and consider how you can make a plush toy that’s irresistible to children, or one that has special functions or additional benefits that parents might be interested in.

Conclusion

We hope this post gives you a sense of what this year has in store for ecommerce businesses as old trends fade away and new trends rise to take their place. Take these trending products and niche ideas into account and either integrate aspects of them into your existing business or use them as inspiration to develop something new that consumers can get excited about.

These are the top trends we’ve noticed— but what do you think will be trending this year? We’ll be interested to see which of these ideas lasts long-term and which will be a fleeting fad. Only time will tell!