eBay is one of the largest e-commerce platforms in the world. It began as a site whose primary purpose was to talk about Ebola since its creator was interested in improving sanitary conditions to combat this virus.
Later, it became an exchange site between users; the concept was to safely sell goods and services through the platform from consumer to consumer.
Since 1995 eBay is most famous for its auctions. You can find the most different items ranging from antique jewelry (belonging to the bloody countess or the fourth princess Petrova) to kitchen items, musicals, collectibles of all kinds, and anything you can imagine, including kryptonite and other stellar rocks.
eBay's claim to fame is the variety of goods available on the platform and the exciting ways (auctions) to acquire them.
How to Sell on eBay
eBay has two options for sellers venturing into e-business: a fixed price for each item or auctions. The fixed cost approach predominates on the site, but don't rule out auctions; they're an attractive option for listing items, especially collectibles.
The auction can last up to ten days, and during that time, people interested can bid on items as high as they are willing to pay, which is very beneficial for the seller and exciting for buyers.
Tricks For Success
While it is true that anyone can open an eBay account for free, not all sellers are successful; this may be due to the type of item they are offering or the type of sales strategy they are employing. Suppose an item does not have an explicit description
or does not have at least three images. In that case, buyers may lose interest or mistrust the item's quality, even if the seller has good reviews.
A proverbial saying often used by grandmothers is that: what does not enter through sight does not enter through any place, so whatever you are offering, document it visually and provide as much detail as possible so that your consumers can be 100% sure that they want your product, this will avoid you hassles of returns and bad reviews all of which can damage your reputation and therefore your income.
Next, we will list the most popular items on eBay and provide insight into what makes them desired. We must bear in mind that trends change depending on the time of year. Still, we will refer to the most popular categories that remain popular on the platform regardless of season, as these are good options to generate income year-round. If your goal is to become an eBay super seller, you should keep these in mind.
# 1 Collectibles
Collectibles are sensational on the platform; perhaps it is the euphoria of cyber hunting for a hidden gem. Much of the popularity surrounding eBay comes from the possibility of obtaining a rare treasure like famous Chinese porcelains of the Ming dynasty; for some people, finding a replica is as good as finding the real thing.
Among the best sellers in the collection category, we find art and artifacts originating from Africa, such as masks, sculptures, and exotic textiles.
Decorative items such as wood carvings, metal, vases, and mirrors are trendy. This category also includes ethnic jewels of African, Tibetan, and Indian origin, among other ancestral cultures.
The animal figurines are in high-demand, pictorial works from different stages of history (don't expect to find the Mona Lisa, but some exciting vintage paintings), as well as ritualistic crockery, traditional dishes, complete Japanese tea ceremony sets, vintage kimonos, and other beauties belonging to the ancient cultural wealth of all latitudes, including rare and discontinued books.
What is unique about this category
What makes this category distinctive is the element of exclusivity that antique items possess. Antiques are niche items, but that does not impede selling your unique objects at favorable prices, especially when using the auction strategy. Remember, if you list an item as original, you should have proof of its authenticity. It helps to know the origin and the period to which the piece belongs since consumers of this type of product are well versed in the matter and detecting when something seems off.
# 2 Clothes, Footwear, and Accessories
Within this category, we find everything necessary for any human being; in other words, these are necessities because everyone dresses, and preferably, they like to dress well.
The success of selling clothes lies in knowing what's in style and tailoring your products and marketing around who buys clothes most, hint, WOMEN (yes, even men's clothing we purchase ourselves, no one knows better than us what the family needs, in summer we store coats for winter and in winter we buy swimsuits for summer, that's how far-sighted we are) which does not rule out the fact that men, although they buy less, tend to spend more (aha! Myth collapsed) a recent statistic showed that men tend to be more efficient in shopping since to save time they buy several items at once, so a good strategy for guys would revolve around suggesting related products.
If you want to do very well, separate by niches, divide and conquer, whether you specialize in gym clothes, underwear, or luxury dresses, be consistent and stick to a trend, style, and group.
Learn about the brands you are offering, have a clear understanding of sizing, and include references/illustrations of the dimensions. A confused customer will surely return the precious garments if you did not include details regarding sizing.
The issue of fit is usually a concern for many consumers, mostly since not all manufacturers agree with the same measurement standards. You must offer conversion tables and be very specific in the information you provide about your product. You should also know that you will always be receiving orders, so be conscious of your inventory and that it matches the demand.
Among the best-selling items in the clothing category, we have sportswear, shoes, and sunglasses. Pay special attention to the time of year and product placement, since depending on whether it is winter or summer; you can combine different product bundles or enhance your top products with attractive accessories.
A very successful item on eBay are travel bags; it is usually a fairly consistent market since everyone travels year-round.
The travel market has been severely affected by the series of unfortunate events linked to the COVID-19 pandemic, but do not worry. It is a market that will grow double in a short time, nothing more desired than what you cannot have.
# 3 Electronic Items
These items are extra popular, starting with new and used cell phones, tablets, and laptops. This category represents a robust market and, above all, one of the most competitive and lucrative divisions selling on eBay. We would only recommend the electronics category if you're capable of buying in wholesale quantities; if not, stay clear. It is a cutthroat and highly competitive section where the margins are thin, and profit is generally made in volume.
Once you have mastered this market, you can implement the sale of complementary accessories such as headphones, chargers, screen protectors, linings, among others.
This category's popularity is conspicuous for its usefulness; mobile technology has become indispensable, primarily as a work tool, since on our phones we receive emails, make audio or video calls, and allow unified communications with the rest of the world in real-time.
Our mobile devices also provide access to the news and a flurry of information via the internet, plus it is highly convenient when searching for pizza parlors near us think of the geolocation tool (it is the cutest way to refer to the GPS).
Mobile phones and tablets have expanded vastly from their original concept. The features and applications that these devices offer currently have become part of daily life. Can you imagine 1 minute, much less a day, without your phone?
# 4 Video Game Systems
You are probably wondering why I did not include this section in the electronics category. Simply because this market is so HOT, it deserves its own category. In 2018 alone, the international video game market had a turnover of 122 million dollars. In 2020, despite being a catastrophic year for many other companies, the video game industry flourished. From January to July 2020, they sold a little more than 22 million consoles, and the number of players grew to a little over 3 billion.
Many of these players purchase their video games on eBay. We see many transactions and buyers/sellers in the new consoles and games market; for this reason, eBay makes plenty of sense when video games make a large part of your business.
# 5 Health and Beauty
This category is extensive and ranges from anti-aging products, makeup of all kinds, vitamins, creams, facial balms, lipsticks, and everything that falls within the beauty umbrella such as skincare, perfumes, tonics, waxing kits, brushes, sponges, makeup removers, and many more products that include consumers of both sexes.
Haircare products are often among the most popular in this category, especially hair loss shampoos, growth treatments, and kits for curling or straightening.
Nail products are highly sought after; it seems that more and more women are choosing to do their nails themselves, so UV gel drying machines, electronic file paints, or other nail-related products are in high demand.
The health conscience shopper is keenly on the lookout for collagen powders, vitamins, weight loss formulas, nutrition supplements, among others. This category popular because, like clothes and accessories, it deals with self-image and appeals to a shopper's vanity and desire to look better. Think about it, who doesn't want to look better?
There are added benefits enjoyed by beauty product consumers since these products impact more than just the skin; when carrying out these cares, we enhance the psychological and emotional well-being related to the perception of self-image and satisfaction. Health and beauty products are a good investment for sellers and buyers alike.
# 6 Baby Clothes and Accessories
Baby products are not only popular but in high demand. Babies require many accessories, including but not limited to clothes, strollers, sheets, bedspreads, pacifiers, and for many of these items, people choose used products. Clothes specifically we've noticed being sold on the second-hand market. In short, babies outgrow their clothes exceptionally quickly, pushing parents to a cost-effective solution to their baby's clothing needs.
# 7 books CDs DVS (educational content)
eBay has an absurd demand for educational material. Many students choose to buy their books second-hand or in previous editions because it is a cheaper alternative. Education is an attractive niche for those who have experience and access to the material that is in demand. Having a connection with a younger demographic still in college will surely help guide you on the types of books needed for college courses.
Fitness content is trending. No secret there, videos related to fitness or exercise, in general, are growing at a rapid rate.
We should point out that books that aid in learning a new language are surprisingly popular.
To run a successful educational materials business, you must know who your suppliers are and be sure of the products' quality so that you don't run into inventory issues, leading to bad reviews and penalties.
Concluding with tips
The categories above are quite popular and encompass a long list of high demand products, but beware that it is not smooth sailing. The competition is fierce, and you depend on carving out enough market-share to be profitable.
Practicing good customer service is a good starting point; answer customer questions timely and position yourself with keywords that correctly fit the product.
A detailed and honest description of your merchandise will always pay off. Remember that some products are seasonal, so their popularity will vary according to the date. Keep this in mind and load up on inventory for special occasions such as Mothers ' Day, Valentine's Day, Halloween, Christmas, etc.
Ultimately it all comes down to supply and demand that's true for fist need items (clothing, household appliances, health care products, etc.) and pleasure/well-being products (video games, beauty products, or entertainment)
So Whenever you are analyzing the profitability of any product, you should ask yourself these questions: Is it useful and necessary? Does it cause pleasure or entertainment? If you answer yes to either of these questions or both, you will have a great launching point for your eBay commerce endeavors.