There are three keys to success in e-commerce: having a product that is in demand, selling know-how, and making the effort to make it successful.

If you’ve done a lot of research, are constantly learning, and are ready for success, but still haven’t found the right product to sell, here are some trends to watch for in 2020.

You can find trending products in this product list that will spark new business ideas or discover products to add to your existing store. These products are selected based on the highest order volumes on Oberlo and AliExpress.

2020 Sales Trend Products

1. Pet bed

The first product is a pet bed. According to Google Trending, dog bed searches are going strong at 234,000 searches per month. Cat bed is also not small at 60,500 searches.

If you run a pet store, it would be a good idea to utilize visual platforms such as Pinterest or Instagram. You can promote to a wider audience by using the pet group board on Pinterest, and you can post or post stories as a partner on pet-related fan pages on Instagram. Becoming a partner on a fan page will allow you to reach a much larger audience and expose your products.

2. Universal sofa cover

The versatile sofa cover is a popular choice for households with pets or children. It’s also a useful product for operating shared space services like AirBNB.

Not only has this product seen a notable rise in Google Trends, but Statista estimates that the sofa and upholstery industry will be a $447.06 million market by 2020. According to Statista’s data, it is expected to grow by 0.6% annually until 2023. In other words, sofa-related products are expected to remain popular for the next few years.

When marketing to guests with pets or children, broad channels like Facebook and Google are your best bet. Also, if you’re targeting AirBnB hosts, it’s helpful to consider “geographic location.” According to All The Rooms Analytics, the 30 cities with the highest occupancy are in the U.S., with 23 cities concentrated in California, Hawaii, or Florida. This data can help you understand and target the types of Facebook Custom People you’ll be marketing to AirBnB hosts.

3. Minimal Jewelry

This is the product with the highest sales growth in recent years. Google Trending shows that this kind of modest minimalist jewelry is being searched by consumers in large numbers. Although it is expected to grow by 2% annually until 2023, the jewelry industry as a whole has actually decreased. Since there is demand for the product but competition is not fierce, selling minimalist jewelry can be a profitable venture for jewelry sellers.

The ideal platforms for marketing trendy products like necklaces are Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook. The best way to promote your jewelry store is to create videos of your products. Videos are more visible on Instagram’s search and explore pages, so you can showcase your posts better. In most cases, when you use a lot of photos, using videos can give you a more effective competitive edge.

4. Grooming products

The male grooming market is quickly becoming a lucrative one, with Statista valuing it at $60.6 billion in 2018 and projecting it to grow to $81.2 billion by 2024. While the male grooming industry as a whole is a rich opportunity, one item in particular is catching the eye: beard straighteners. Google Trends shows that not only is there a growing demand for this item, but it’s also seeing 37,000 searches per month. It’s clear that this is a popular product.

For marketing, we recommend using targeted Google Ads that combine high-intent keywords (e.g., 'buy men's beard straightener') with SEO-focused content (e.g., 'how to straighten a beard').

5. Backpack

Backpacks have long been one of the most popular items, but data shows that they are now a clear leader among the best-selling items online. In particular, backpack sales have been skyrocketing recently, and as you can see from the Google Trends below, searches for them have been increasing year over year, with a steady spike around August. Statista projects that backpack sales will grow from $19.1 billion in 2020 to $22.5 billion in 2023, making them the most popular item in the coming years.

The ideal target for backpack sales is children's, college student's, or adult's backpacks. For children's backpack sales, you can use Facebook or Instagram ads to target parents who will buy them. However, one thing to keep in mind is that competing with other "back to school" marketing campaigns can increase advertising costs, so if you time your store or product launch before school starts, you can increase sales with a reasonable advertising cost.

However, if you are selling to college students or adults, it is more effective to find Instagram influencers or operate partnerships through Instagram ads. In particular, backpacks for adults are trendy products all year round regardless of the season, so you can expect advertising effects through continuous sales.

6. Massage gun

Massage guns are portable massage devices designed to relax tense muscles after exercise. Massage guns have been gaining consumer interest since last summer, and interest has steadily increased since Christmas, establishing them as a solid sales trend product in 2020.

The best way to market your massage gun is through video marketing and direct advertising on top distribution channels like Instagram. Advertising around specific Instagram hashtags or influencers can be the best way to attract customers. Sharing everything from workout tips, daily routine videos, and what’s in your gym bag is on the rise among fitness professionals, fitness enthusiasts, and dieters. Your followers are curious about the essential gear they need for their routine and workouts.

Working directly with influencers on Instagram can also be another lucrative sales channel. For example, in the fitness industry, a photo or video of someone massaging their sore muscles after a workout, from running to CrossFit, can generate interest or generate a lot of likes. If you’re ready to turn that into a purchase, it can be a huge selling point.

7. Infant carrier

One of the latest trends among young parents of newborns is the baby carrier. Many are opting for a more compact and smaller baby carrier style as a means of transport for their children, replacing bulky strollers. Google Trends shows that interest in this product is at an all-time high.

Selling this item also requires attention to Facebook and Instagram ads to reach parents. If you want to explore other sales channels, consider selling on Amazon or showing your products on Google Shopping. Of course, you should consider paying a sales commission. New channels include running discount promotions online at cafes like Mom’s Cafe or creating flyers to local parent groups to offer discounts offline.

These products we have looked at are just a few of the trending products that will be sold in 2020, but there are so many to choose from. If you are thinking about what to sell, why not start selling by referring to the trending products that have been proven by various data?