In Latin America, electronic commerce does not stop growing. We can verify this fact in our own habits as consumers: not only do we buy online more frequently, but we also add other products to the shopping cart , such as furniture or training courses.

In the case of Mexico, online sales registered an increase of 27% during 2021 (to $401,000 million pesos) and represented 11.3% of total retail sales in the country, according to the latest report from the Mexican Association of Online Sales (AMVO). . Another interesting fact is that around 58% of the Mexican population will buy goods and services online by 2025 , compared to 39% at the end of 2020.

So if you are thinking of making money from home and becoming your own boss, online businesses are a great opportunity! In this article we want to share 10 profitable ideas, but above all how to find them.

So that you have very clear information, start by differentiating the business models that exist in ecommerce.

1. Physical products

It is what sells the most on the Internet: tangible products that reach customers through mail , courier services or by personal delivery. The list of examples is endless: from food and stationery to clothing and accessories.

2. Digital products

Here you have a great opportunity to share your knowledge, skills and experiences with a large number of people, allowing you to reach other cities and countries. The variety of modalities and formats is also great: you can offer live or recorded virtual courses, downloadable templates, ebooks, etc.

3. Services

In this category, the key is that the sale operation is done through the Internet. But then, you can provide the service remotely or in person . What kind of services are we talking about? For example, cooking classes, training, consulting, event photography or insurance .

4. Advertising

With this business model, you can offer visibility for a brand, product or service through traditional advertising (banners on web pages, Google Ads) or mentions on social networks, sponsored content, alliances with influencers, etc.

5. Affiliates

In an affiliate marketing model, you can offer income from an advertiser for the results obtained in a certain campaign. That is, every time a user clicks on a link, downloads a file or makes a purchase, you can pay a commission to your network.

HOW TO FIND THE BEST OPPORTUNITIES?

Now that you are clear about what you can sell, and before going into specific business ideas , we will tell you how to find the best opportunities for products and services to sell online.

As the experts explain (and we have repeated many times in this blog), the key is not to get carried away only by what we are passionate about or by our impressions, but to make decisions based on data . Therefore, you have to investigate what the current trends are, what unattended needs are in the market, what your potential competition offers and what are the products or services that people are talking about on the Internet.

Some useful tools for finding this information are:

• Articles published in business and entrepreneurship media
• Market studies
• Google Trends (search results for a term like “gluten-free pastry” may indicate an upward trend, downward trend, or query peaks at certain times)
• surveys
• Focus groups

BEST SELLING PRODUCTS IN MEXICO

Although your idea may not be on this list, it is very important that you know in detail what is sold the most in the country; Because with this information you will also understand behavior and changes in consumption habits.

According to an AMVO survey, in 2021 Mexicans bought online:

1. home food
2. Moda
3. electronic
4. Culture
5. Toys
6. beauty and personal care
7. Home appliances
8. Furniture and home decoration
9. sports
10. Tools

10 PROFITABLE ONLINE BUSINESS IDEAS

Now yes (finally!), we share 10 product ideas that you can profitably market online, since their demand is booming and the initial investment is not that great. Of course, you will always need an interesting value proposition, creativity, service quality, delivery efficiency and controlled costs.

1. Healthy frozen food

With the return to normal activities —and the greater commitment to activities that promote physical and mental health (such as exercise, or free time with the family)— Mexicans are investing more money in practical solutions for day to day. For example, frozen dishes that you can receive at home, to eat whenever you want. You can offer everyday menus (such as beef or chicken stews accompanied by vegetables), specialty foods (such as organic baby food) and explore gourmet options at certain times of the year, such as chiles en nogada or romeritos. In this area, quality is key: if a client has a single bad experience, he will not return.

2. Personal care products and natural cosmetics

With the quarantine, this niche grew exponentially. Interest in skin and hair care and personal appearance in general has spread to chemical-free, less aggressive and locally produced products. One of the great advantages for the growth of this type of business is regular consumption by loyal customers and word of mouth recommendations .

3. Handmade decoration pieces with a social impact

Although the large online decoration stores, which offer design at low cost, are advancing, there is a great opportunity among those customers who have a higher purchasing power: they are willing to invest more in unique pieces and also have an interest in the impact social of your purchases . Therefore, you can buy exclusive pieces from artists and artisans from all over the country (Mexico has an enormous wealth in this field!) to resell them through an online store. In the marketing strategy , one of the pillars is to tell who is the person behind each piece of ceramics, painting or lamp, and what is its story.

4. Fashion accessories

With the increase in clothing prices, more and more people are choosing to buy basic, good-quality garments (such as a white shirt or black pants) and complement their looks with accessories, such as original necklaces or earrings. If you have the skill, you can craft those accessories on your own or buy them in bulk and resell them. For your store to be successful, it is better to offer a few pieces of each model (to give it a sense of exclusivity) and renew the stock seasonally.

5. Freelance services

This opportunity is explained by two trends: professionals who seek autonomy and independence to generate their income, and companies that are looking for talent, but prefer not to increase their staff of permanent collaborators. Do not stay only in your knowledge and current experiences and investigate what you can offer according to the current needs of the market . For example, if you’re a designer, you can move towards developing brand identity, illustration, or custom templates for social media.

6. Personalized gifts

The end of the year and the gifting season are approaching, both in the retail and corporate markets. In this area, originality and details that highlight the quality of the products, such as presentation or packaging, are key. What types of gifts can you offer? Stationery and decoration items, experiences (such as tickets to shows, spa sessions or weekend outings), gourmet products, cosmetics, etc. The list of opportunities is huge!

7. Online courses

The target market is vast: from professionals who want to advance their career and entrepreneurs, to people who want to pursue a hobby or improve their health, through practices such as meditation or exercise. Classes can be delivered live (through a platform like Zoom) or through recorded sessions and downloadable material (such as guides, additional reading material, etc.). Be careful: always share your knowledge honestly and do not sell magic solutions.

8. Books

Reading is one of the habits that grew the most during the quarantine and that many people want to maintain in this “new normal”. Now, facing competition from large bookstores and commercial spaces, the key is to target market niches , such as gothic literature lovers, entrepreneurs or kitchen professionals who are willing to pay more for quality works. In addition to physical books, you can offer its electronic version.

9. Pet Products

According to data from the Euromonitor International consultancy, the estimated value of sales of the pet care industry in Mexico reached $2,455 million dollars during 2021, which means a growth of 47.5% compared to 2016. To attract customers, think in innovative products such as tech collars to monitor the vital signs of your dog or cat, GPS trackers, mini hair removers and biodigesters for waste.

10. Good quality second-hand items

This business model’s main clients are people who are concerned about the impact on the environment of rapid consumption of clothing and footwear , furniture, decoration pieces, toys, etc. The key to the success of second-hand online stores is the curation or selection of the pieces, based on criteria such as “vintage”, “unique piece” or “author”. Of course, it is also essential to clean, care for and recondition each product and inform each visitor to the store about the processes it has gone through to reach their hands in the best conditions.