Top 20 Things To SELL And NOT To Sell On Shopify

In this article, we will show you the top 20 things to sell and not to sell on Shopify based on our research and experience. You will learn what makes a product profitable, how to sell items on shopify, and how to avoid the pitfalls of dropshipping. 

Key Takeaways

• When selling on Shopify, focus on popular and niche products with high demand. However, it’s crucial to avoid restricted or banned goods, steer clear of saturated markets, and refrain from offering low-quality products
• Consider selling high-margin, personalized, or digital products and items with recurring revenue models or eco-friendly options to cater to specific customer preferences and generate consistent income.

What To Sell On Shopify?

Let’s explore in detail what to sell on shopify to make money. We’ll showcase the top 15 high-profit niches and best-sellers in each. You can follow popular trends or alternatively, focus on less competitive areas. Remember, we aim to inspire you, not to dictate your choices.

Health And Fitness

The focus on wellness has led consumers to seek alternatives for a healthier lifestyle. The Global Fitness Equipment Market size exceeded USD 15 billion in 2022 and is projected to expand at more than 4% CAGR from 2023 to 2032 (Source: Global Market Insights). So, what fitness-related products to sell on Shopify? Here are some options for your inventory:

• Yoga mats
• Home gym equipment
• Fitness programs
• Healthy meals and supplements
• Massage chairs/wands
• Gym Clothing

Food Products

Everyone needs food, and our busy schedules often need more time for meal prep. Wouldn’t it be great to have ready-made meals and tasty snacks? The US packaged food market, growing at a 4.1% CAGR from 2021 to 2028 (Source: Research And Markets), offers a significant opportunity. Here are some food items you could offer on your Shopify store:

• Packaged snacks
• Healthy meals
• Bread, cookies, cakes
• Fruits and vegetables
• Coffee and tea
• Cereals
• Oriental dishes like kimchi, kimbap, etc.
• Instant noodles

Kitchen Accessories And Ingredients

The demand for kitchen accessories and ingredients has been soaring since COVID.  Catering to this growing interest could be a promising avenue for sales on Shopify. In the realm of kitchen accessories and ingredients, consider these lucrative offerings for your Shopify store:

• Raw ingredients – meat and vegetables
• Spices
• Kitchen gadgets made of sustainable materials
• Air fryers
• Recipes and cookbooks
• Fridges and other electronic appliances
• Dishwashers
• Aprons and gloves

Home Decor And Furniture

Valued at $316.8 billion in 2020, the home improvement services market is set to rise to $585.3 billion by 2030, boasting a CAGR of 6.2% between 2021 and 2030 (Source: Research and Markets). Given these encouraging figures, it’s worth entering this expanding market.

In recent years, there’s an increasing interest in improving their living spaces. Starting a drop-shipping business in furniture and decor could result in higher conversions. Here are some specific suggestions to help you:

• Sofas
• Tables
• Beds
• Pottery and indoor plants
• Bookshelves
• Lighting, especially LED light strips
• Fans
• Speakers, TV, and other electronics
• Paintings and picture frames

Gaming Products

In recent years, eSports has surged in global popularity, with a notable increase in the number of competitions,boasting million-dollar prizes. Furthermore, the global video game market, valued at 178.37 billion USD in 2021, is projected to exceed 268 billion USD by 2025, reflecting over 50% growth!

With an increasing number of people both playing games and watching video game streams from the comfort of their homes, tapping into this expanding market is vital. Here are some gaming-related products to consider for your inventory:

• Gaming mice and keyboards
• Monitors and monitor stands
• Gaming chairs
• Custom-built gaming PCs
• Gaming laptops
• Video games
• Consoles
• Mousepads and desk pads

Phone Accessories

With the increasing use of social media in recent years, smartphones have become an integral part of our daily lives. It’s essential to provide consumers with accessories integrated with their phones for better phone service experiences. Below are a few suggestions of the hot trending phone accessories to sell on Shopify:

• Phone cases
• Screen protectors
• Wired and wireless chargers
• Headphones and earbuds
• Car mounts and car chargers
• Selfie sticks and ring lights for influencers

Travel Accessories

After the major suffering from the Covid pandemic in the last few years, the travel market is set to regain popularity as travel enthusiasts are keen to quench their wanderlust. Here are some travel-related items you could consider selling:

• Neck pillows
• Fanny packs
• Travel suitcases
• Handbags
• Sunglasses
• Face masks
• Bikinis
• Backpacks
• Hiking accessories.

Health And Safety Products

Health and safety items have become more crucial than ever, especially as individuals prioritize their well-being. Products like masks and hand sanitizers remain in high demand. Here are some health and safety items you might think about offering on your Shopify store.

• Face masks and hand sanitizers
• Disposable gloves
• Supplements
• COVID test kits
• Home disinfectants
• First aid kits
• Electric massagers

Sustainable Products

Sustainable products have recently been increasingly popular as many shoppers are being awareness of eco-friendly products. Offering sustainable products on your Shopify store can lead to the huge increase in your sales and revenues. 

So, what kind of eco-friendly products could your online business offer? Below are some suggestions to consider:

• Popular wood projects
• Metal/glass water bottles
• Bamboo straws and kitchen utensils
• Bamboo toothbrushes
• Metal and glass lunch boxes
• Tote bags made from sustainable materials
• Biodegradable garbage bags
• Organic soaps and shampoos
• Upcycled home decor, especially if you support sustainability
• Recycled clothing

Fashion Products

Fashion products stand out as top offerings for Shopify stores. There are a variety of fashion items you can set up for selling on your Shopify store. Let’s see if any of the following fashion products can draw your attention:

• Hats and caps
• Glasses and frames
• Earrings and body piercings
• Custom print T-shirts
• Jewelry
• Watches
• Lingerie and shapewear
• Shirts and dresses
• Sneakers, boots, and heels
• Undergarments
• Temporary tattoos
• Wigs
• Cosplay and Halloween costumes

Electronic Products

There are approximately 175 million smart homes globally, and by 2022, it’s projected that there will be 63 million connected homes in the US alone. The market for electronic products is expanding quickly, so it’s a good chance to enter it now. Here are some product ideas for electronic goods that you might consider:

• Smart outlet plugs: Control your devices remotely.
• Bright lights: Adjust the ambiance to your liking.
• Smart speakers: Enjoy voice-controlled music and more.
• Smart locks: Enhance your home security.
• Security cameras and smart doorbells: Keep an eye on your property.
• Baby monitors: Keep tabs on your little ones.
• TVs and remotes: Upgrade your entertainment system.
• Electronic scales: Track your health metrics.
• Washing machines: Make laundry day a breeze.
• Electronic thermostats: Regulate your home temperature for comfort and energy efficiency.
• Smartwatches: Stay connected and track your Fitness on the go.
• Tablets: Portable entertainment and productivity at your fingertips.

Baby Care Products

Baby Care Items The market revenue for baby care products will reach 11.1 billion USD by 2025. Parents always want the best for their children, so the demand for this niche will always be strong. Here are some baby care products you can sell:

• Baby monitors
• Car seats
• Baby strollers
• Diapers and baby clothes
• Baby cot beds
• Baby powder and oil
• Baby carriers
• Baby toys

Pet Products

Many people prefer caring for pets over babies, while some do both. Pet lovers are wonderful people, and you should provide them with the means to care for their adorable companions. Here are some pet product ideas for this niche market:

• Pet beds
• Pet food
• Pet clothing
• Pet toys
• Containers for small pets
• Leashes

Vehicles And Vehicle Accessories

Traveling to work is an essential part of many people’s daily routines. Individuals often cycle for health benefits in their leisure time, while others are interested in motorbikes and cars. If we consider anything with wheels as a vehicle, then skateboards and roller skates can also be included.

With the high volume of vehicles available, vehicle accessories are necessary for users. Everyone enjoys personalizing their possessions. So here are a few items you can feature on your product page:

• Bicycles
• Bicycle locks
• Car mats
• Car air fresheners
• Car seat covers
• Tire inflators
• Vehicle cleaning supplies

Hobby Products

Remember, you have the option to specialize in either B2B or B2C sales. Both businesses and individuals require office and productivity items. Regardless of whether the trend of working from home continues, people will need certain things to make their paperwork tasks more comfortable.

Even though a cubicle might seem like a confined and stuffy space, you can opt to sell items that make it more comfortable or think creatively and sell products for people working in various environments. Here are some examples of the hobby products you can possibly sell on Shopify:

• Paper
• Cleaning supplies
• Ergonomic chairs
• Laptop stands
• Keyboards and mice
• Desk decorations such as picture frames, toys
• Stress balls
• Ink cartridges

What Not To Sell On Shopify?

As a global brand, Shopify adheres to specific ethical standards. While the platform does its best to accommodate your online store, there are some activities you should refrain from engaging in.

This section outlines explicitly what products you should not sell on Shopify. If your business profits from the following activities, Shopify will not look the other way:

• Child exploitation

Avoid offering goods, services, or materials that exploit or abuse children. This is a fundamental principle of human decency.

• Harassment, bullying, defamation of others

Shopify will not tolerate any benefit from defaming, harassing, or threatening a specific individual.

• Intellectual property

Refrain from selling anything online that infringes on the copyright or trademarks of others.

• Personal, confidential, and protected health information

Profiting from exchanging, collecting, and processing any protected health or other personal information is prohibited.

• Restricted items

Restricted Items According to Shopify’s Acceptable Use Policy, prohibited items include certain firearms and certain firearm parts. If you want to sell items in this category, please refer to the policy for more information.

What To Prepare Before Selling On Shopify?

Determining what to sell on Shopify is the initial step in your eCommerce journey. A business can only thrive with a solid idea. However, launching your business is a complex task. Turning your dream into reality requires a significant amount of time and effort.

In anticipation of future challenges, we will do our best to outline the necessary steps on how to sell things on Shopify.

Implement Market Research

Once you’ve identified the specific industry to venture into, you need to conduct further research to pinpoint the exact product lines to dropship. Additionally, understanding your target audience is crucial. Take your time with this step, as it forms the foundation of your business. Here are some critical points for conducting market research:

• Analyze your niche market
• Identify market gaps
• Identify potential customers and suppliers
• Understand the needs and pain points of your target audience
• Identify competition – their product offerings and pricing strategy
• Conduct a product test

Two simple yet powerful tools you can use to analyze the market and find “winning products” are Peeksta and Ecomhunt. These services curate daily lists of high-quality, best-selling drop-shipped products. Peeksta even offers marketing functionalities for the later stages of your dropshipping journey.

Find the input source for your products.

This involves finding affordable and reliable manufacturers or suppliers.

If possible, contact local store suppliers or even wholesale distributors. Research their businesses online and compare options. Decide which one aligns best with your business before investing.

Alternatively, consider drop shipping if starting with little to no capital. You can source products from global marketplaces such as AliExpress or CJDropshipping, available on the Shopify App Store.

Establish your brand

Advertising becomes more manageable once your brand is established. Here are a few steps to take before promoting your products:

• Come up with a brand name
• Determine your cause or mission, if applicable
• Design a logo
• Define your brand’s voice/personality
• Purchase a domain name to improve site ranking

Ensure the logistics

This step primarily deals with pricing and shipping or, in short, fulfilling your orders.

Market research will help you devise a suitable strategy, but you must also consider the profit margin for each product sold. Outline long-term financial goals and plans to achieve them.

You have several options for shipping: fulfill orders yourself, drop ship, or partner with a third-party shipping service that handles everything for you.

Execute the marketing and promotion activities.

Promoting your business is crucial for a successful eCommerce venture. Consider social media and search engine optimization (SEO) ads for ads. Start ad campaigns on Facebook and Instagram, and familiarize yourself with Google Ads.

Final thought

The comprehensive guide provided above outlines what products to sell on Shopify. However, remember there’s still much to explore on this journey. Researching and gathering the right resources will be crucial in crafting your ideal Shopify store. For more detailed information and step-by-step instructions on how to sell on Shopify for beginners, continue to explore and enhance your adventure.