If you want to start an e-commerce business but don’t want to invest in inventory, staff, or warehouse, the perfect opportunity may be right inside your laptop.
Dropshipping has boomed since the last decade. Not only is it a relatively simple and convenient way for e-commerce businesses to start selling products, but it also costs very little to get started. In some cases, all you need is a keen knack for business and an internet connection. With an easy entry into the business, who wouldn’t want to dive into the dropshipping world?
But is it really that simple?
The answer is probably both yes and no. It really depends on your goals as a business. If you are just looking to make a quick profit by selling hot items as long as the fun lasts and don't mind the risk, it may still be. If, on the other hand, you are looking to make a lasting business with steady growth, you might want to consider other options.
How dropshipping works
Before moving ahead with the list of best dropshipping products this year, let's go through how dropshipping works.
Dropshipping involves selecting products from a wholesale partner who manufactures, stocks, and ships your products on demand. With dropshipping, you don’t need to worry about the warehousing, staff, or stocking inventory. Dropshipping companies handle most logistics, including shipping and merchandise, and the business owner handles customer service and marketing.
The flip side of the coin is that you have no control over the shipping process. Many times the merchandise arrives from a distant location, possibly overseas, and the shipping times could easily be months instead of days. You can't control the packaging or make sure the quality of the product meets your standards in each shipment. The risk of bad customer experience and negative reviews is higher and with too much promised, too little delivered, the whole business may suffer.
So, about the products, while some people opt for trending products, others go for the products that relate to their interests.
The best-case scenario: finding products that fall under both categories. Your interest could add excitement and enthusiasm for both types of products.
The hottest dropshipping products in 2021
Here is a list of the 12 most popular dropshipping products in 2021 that combine trends and a decent profit margin.
Kids' face masks
Kids' face masks have grown to be an essential shopping item this year. It can be challenging to make children wear their masks. Unique, kid-friendly designs encourage kids to keep the masks on — and not to lose them.
Phone cases
Everyone owns a phone, so phone cases and covers have demand. Phone covers come in thousands of colours and styles, and it’s easy to find dropshipping partners with great options for your business. What could be better than picking a product that is always in demand and easy to source?
As a bonus, it can help you make recurring revenue as phone cases are often reordered.
Earplugs
Earplugs are another shopping item that is always in demand and reordered frequently, so picking earplugs for dropshipping is an excellent choice for e-commerce. You can quickly source them at a low price.
Exercise gear
When the COVID pandemic hit the world, one of the first places to shut down were the gyms. Many fitness enthusiasts were forced to miss their workout and training sessions. As a result, home-based fitness equipment became very popular with online buyers. These may include dumbbells, yoga mats, stretch bands, and other home gym equipment, all of which have various options for your customers.
Accessories for pets
A massive number of the European population owns and loves pets. The past few years have seen quite a boom in online shopping for pet products. As per Statista, Europeans spent 19.7 billion Euros on pet-related products last year. The market is there and is expected to grow even further.
You can work with products like dog toys, dog beds, leashes, scratch posts, cat toys, and even cute clothes for pets.
Jade rollers
The beauty industry is constantly thriving and coming up with innovative beauty products. Beauty enthusiasts are all-in when trying out new products that could help their beauty routine — especially when they see them in action with influencers! Jade rollers have been quite popular for a few years and will likely maintain as more consumers practice self-care.
Ring lights
The ring light is another dropshipping product of 2021 related to the pandemic and changes in our world. With the pandemic, many people started working from home. Hence, an era of video conferences, online meetings, and video blogging boomed.
Looking good and professional on camera is important, so it’s no surprise that ring lights became one of the most popular dropshipping products of 2021.
Air fryers
Air fryers have been around for quite some time now. However, their popularity has multiplied over the last few years. As more people cook at home this year, air fryers have been one of the top purchases. It quickly replaced the conventional fryers. The reason for this newfound love: making healthier choices and putting those extra pounds at bay — and trying to replicate their favourite dishes from restaurants at home.
Vitamin C serum
The vitamin C serum is a trending beauty product that has gained popularity in the last couple of years. It is essentially a hydrating oil that apparently offers various skin benefits. No wonder it has been one of the top beauty purchases since the beginning of last year.
Portable massagers
Never was health and fitness such a hot topic until the time pandemic hit. We see people across the globe searching for products that can help build immunity or strengthen their bodies. As a result, the demand for health and fitness products has boosted significantly. Portable massagers are one of those fitness products. This is a very profitable item to be sold as a dropshipping product in 2021.
Portable blenders
Portability and convenience are vital in making food in our fast-paced world, which is why portable blenders have become quite a popular purchase in the last couple of years. They are smaller and more convenient than conventional blenders and an ideal investment for smaller households. People who like to have healthy eating options accessible are buying in droves! The buying trend for portable blenders is only increasing and will continue to grow steadily in the future.
Final thoughts
One way to start thinking about your product selection is to choose a product that you would use yourself or would choose for a friend or family member. Some level of familiarity is always a good thing: it will help you design campaigns and market them like a pro.
Every business comes with its pros and cons, and you need to be wise in making decisions. Profitability and demand are essential for a successful dropshipping business.
And, if you are still wondering if you should start dropshipping or for example, just outsource order fulfillment: warehousing, picking, packing, and shipping, check out our Dropshipping or 3PL comparison to give you more insight into the alternatives.