When you’re launching your first ecommerce site, you don’t always have a massive amount of cash to invest in products. However, you don’t necessarily need tens of thousands of dollars saved up. There are plenty of inexpensive options that promise higher-than-average margins.
10 Items That You Can Sell at a Significant Markup
Starting an ecommerce business can be a profitable venture, but it can be challenging to find products that offer high margins while still being affordable for consumers. Fortunately, there are many inexpensive wholesale items that ecommerce companies can sell for high margins.
Here are some that meet these criteria:
1. Phone Cases and Screen Protectors
With the ubiquity of smartphones, phone cases and screen protectors are a hot commodity. They can be purchased in bulk at a low cost and sold at a significant markup. These lightweight products are easy to ship, making them ideal for ecommerce businesses.
The only challenge is that there are so many different phone models (and they change every year). This can make keeping the right ones in stock difficult. However, if you pick the three or four most popular options of the year, you can definitely make some money here.
2. Digital Products
Digital products, such as e-books, courses, and software, have no production or shipping costs, making them an ideal product for ecommerce businesses. Offering digital products can mean high margins for sellers, and their electronic delivery makes them convenient for both sellers and consumers.
3. Accessories
Accessories, such as jewelry, sunglasses, and hats, can be purchased extremely inexpensively and sold at a much higher price (while still keeping them affordable for the end customer). These lightweight products are easy to ship, making them a popular choice for ecommerce companies. The emotional appeal of accessories can make them an impulse purchase for consumers.
4. Soaps and Beauty Products
Soaps and beauty products certainly qualify as good candidates for high-margin markups. These products are light and easy to ship, making them an ideal product for ecommerce businesses. Additionally, there is a strong demand for natural and organic beauty products, which can offer even higher margins for sellers.
5. Small Tool Bags
Small tool bags are practical items that can be purchased in bulk. Their strong appeal to DIY enthusiasts and tradespeople can make them an attractive option for ecommerce businesses. These can also be good “upsell” items to advertise when a shopper has already added tools to their cart.
6. Stickers
Stickers are a fun and affordable product. In fact, they might be the highest-margin item around. When purchased in bulk quantities, they cost less than a dime a piece. Yet, you can sell them for four or five dollars each. That means a $100 purchase of stickers could potentially bring in upwards of $4,000 to $5,000.
7. Pet Supplies
Pet supplies, such as toys, collars, and leashes, have a strong appeal to pet owners. They’re also lightweight and easy to ship, which means high margins for sellers. Pet owners are often willing to pay more for high-quality and unique pet products, making pet supplies an attractive option for ecommerce businesses.
8. Party Supplies
Party supplies, such as balloons, decorations, and party favors, are inexpensive when purchased wholesale yet have a strong appeal to event planners and individuals who enjoy hosting parties. Party supplies are seasonal products, but ecommerce companies can capitalize on events like birthdays, holidays, and weddings to sell their products.
9. Stationery
Notebooks, pens, and greeting cards are other product category to keep an eye on. There are plenty of different customers for these types of products, including students, professionals, and artists. Ecommerce businesses can offer a range of designs and styles to appeal to a broad audience.
10. Clothing and Apparel
Clothing and apparel are usually marked up fairly significantly. Depending on your suppliers (and the materials used), workout clothing, graphic t-shirts, belts, and even shoes have plenty of “meat on the bone” when it comes to margins. However, it’s important to consider the cost of shipping, as these products can be heavier and more costly to ship than other products. And then there’s the headache of offering hundreds of different SKUs for various sizes, colors, and materials.
Adding It All Up
When selecting products to sell, it’s important to consider the cost of goods, shipping, and any associated marketing or overhead costs. By focusing on products that offer a high margin and are easy to sell, ecommerce companies can create a profitable and sustainable business.
