Shopify business ideas to boost your online presence

How long have you told yourself that your passion for creativity and design is just a hobby? Well, what if we told you that you could transform your niche business ideas into a bonafide small business that earns you money online? It’s true! With a Shopify storefront and print on demand partner, you can start selling products and earning profit in minutes.

Now, we know what you might be thinking — what could your online business sell? The answer is just about anything! But if you’re wondering what you could sell to make money, the answer is a bit more nuanced. You must select a profitable product niche to drive revenue on Shopify. Here are eight Shopify business ideas to spark your inspiration, with examples!

• The Shopify ecommerce platform makes launching your own business and selling unique products online easier than ever.

• Successful Shopify stores focus on a niche audience or product offering to encourage recurring sales.

• Shopify business ideas range from apparel items like clothing and accessories to home décor items and office equipment.

According to DemandSage, around 4.8 million global online stores are powered by Shopify, including those backed by celebrities like Adele, David Beckham, and Kylie Jenner. When you strip away the name behind the brand, what makes online business ideas successful? Market demand and profitability! Every Shopify store must be able to access a large pool of potential customers to be successful.

Market research, like Google Trends search volume, can reveal if your Shopify store ideas are in-demand and can drive recurring sales. Research how easily the product can be sourced, produced, and customized to ensure profitability. Businesses powered by print on demand (POD) suppliers can customize customer orders without ever handling costly inventory.

Begin with what you love and know well. Your interests can guide you to a niche that’s both enjoyable and profitable. Use Google Trends to see what people are searching for and check out popular social media platforms to spot trending topics.

Next, look at successful Shopify stores in the areas you’re interested in. What products are they selling? How are they engaging with their customers? This can give you valuable insights. Don’t forget to join online communities and forums to hear what real people are saying about different products and niches.

Before going all in, test your Shopify business ideas on a small scale. This way, you can see what works without a huge investment. 

Pay attention to customer feedback and be flexible—sometimes, the market can surprise you.

New curated product trends from social media and magazines seem to hit the ecommerce industry daily. As you brainstorm Shopify business ideas for your own online store, you’ll want to consider the top products to sell on Shopify. Fortunately, we’ve got you covered with eight Shopify store ideas powered by print on demand (POD) to earn a profit with minimal investment!

If you’re searching for a lucrative business opportunity, look no further than selling art online. The global wall art market continues to grow in popularity, leaping from an estimated $48.50 billion in 2021 to a projected value of $72.61 billion by 2028. And with Shopify and POD, anyone from professional artists to creative hobbyists can sell wall art online!

You can even turn digital products like photography and art prints into tangible, sellable items on Shopify with print on demand. This can explain why there are so many available product offerings for wall art, including but not limited to:

• Foam prints

• Wood prints

• Canvas prints

• Acrylic prints

• Aluminum prints

• Ready-to-hang framed prints

• Wooden framed posters

• Metal framed posters

• Posters

Want to check out a small business known for its wall art? Take a peek at Gelato customer, Mapiful! Mapiful is a leading provider of personalized, stylized maps. Beyond the consistently high quality of its products, the Mapiful online store is booming due to its simplistic layout, which features the brand’s top five best-selling products with brief, illustrative descriptions.

Clothing is the largest niche market on Shopify by far, accounting for nearly half of the platform’s trending products in recent years. Revenue in the t-shirt segment alone is projected to reach $44.56 billion this year, and the share of online t-shirt sales is on track to surpass in-store sales by 2030. However, it’s not just t-shirts that account for the clothing income stream on Shopify.

Depending on the demographics of your target audience, like the climates and seasons in their geographic locations, you can tap into a variety of clothing items to sell online:

• Men’s t-shirts and women’s t-shirts

• Men’s hoodies and women’s hoodies

• Men’s sweatshirts and women’s sweatshirts

• Men’s sportswear and women’s sportswear

• Men’s tank tops and women’s tank tops

With a reliable print on demand provider, you can even sell custom kids and baby clothing online, like Shirtbox! Shirtbox was recently listed on our list of the top Shopify t-shirt stores (and for a good reason). The online business caters to a more targeted audience of potential customers, with product categories that range from pet owners and animals to sports fans and gaming enthusiasts.

Pro Tip: Unsure which clothing items you want to sell online? Partner with a trusted print on demand provider like Gelato and experiment with our unrivaled collection of custom apparel products without ever managing inventory!

Few niche markets are projected to grow quite like ecommerce fashion accessories, slated to skyrocket from $207 billion in 2022 to $475 billion in 2028. The key driver in the growth of the fashion accessories market is the smaller tote bags market, which is forecasted to rake in upwards of $3.6 billion of the entire fashion accessories market.

Why tote bags? Well, consumers are becoming just as eco-conscious as they are fashion-conscious! Though still considered a fashion accessory, tote bags are increasingly more practical for customers who want to reduce their carbon footprint and reuse items. As an alternative to single-use plastic bags, custom tote bags are just as durable and eco-friendly as they are stylish.

With the rapid increase in demand for fashion accessories like tote bags, online stores like Passionfruit are taking notice. Passionfruit is known for selling products that are designed with inclusivity in mind. We love that this small business keeps its customers up to speed at all times and includes an upcoming restock date for its tote bags in the header of the collection page.

Chances are, you’re reading this blog from an electronic device like a computer, tablet, or smartphone. So, it’s no surprise that accompanying electronic accessories have become a popular niche for Shopify store ideas! In fact, the market size for an electronic accessory as simple as a phone case is projected to increase by a whopping $13.33 billion over the next four years.

Phone cases have quickly become a top-selling product for print on demand providers like Gelato. While our custom products range from transparent cases to double-layered tough cases, we also have to give a shout-out to Shadawear phone cases! The Shadawear Shopify store features unique product designs celebrating customers' heritages, like national flags and emblems.

Pro Tip: Want to learn how to make custom phone cases to start an online business? Click here for a step-by-step guide on designing, listing, and selling custom phone cases from the comfort of your home!

If apparel and accessories aren’t up your alley, drinkware Shopify store ideas might spark your inspiration instead! Drinkware is one of the more popular up-and-coming online business ideas due partly to its ease as a print on demand or dropshipping business. With no inventory required and the sky as the limit for customization, drinkware is one of the best dropshipping products!

Just how much can you customize drinkware? First, you’ll have to browse through the vast collection of customizable drinkware available through print on demand partners like Gelato, including but not limited to:

• Latte mugs

• Travel mugs

• Enamel mugs

• Slim porcelain mugs

• Standard ceramic mugs

• Mugs with colorful handles

• Magic color-changing mugs

• Stainless steel water bottles

Check out Famous in Real Life mugs to get a better idea of customizable drinkware in action! Of all drinkware Shopify online stores, Famous in Real Life offers the widest variety of silly mug designs. This ecommerce business is beneficial for Shopify store ideas because it boasts more than two dozen design categories spanning holidays, movies, music, food, and funny sayings

It’s no secret that hundreds of thousands of employees began to work from home a few years ago, and a vast majority still spend a decent amount of time #WFH. Consumers began seeking custom office equipment and supplies as more workers adopted a home office. Case in point? The personalized stationery products market, which has grown nearly 10% year-over-year.

Shopify store ideas encompass a wide range of customizable stationery and business products, including but not limited to:

• Business cards

• Business flyers

• Roll-fold brochures

• Single-fold brochures

• Accordion-fold brochures

• Multi-page brochures

• Presentation folders

• Roll-up banners

• Letterheads

You can even tailor the product offerings for your online store to a particular industry or niche market, like our friends over at The Goth Stationery Company! With a clear target audience of business stationery styled for gothic businesses, this Shopify store is the perfect example of an online business with a niche market that sells related niche products nailed to a T.

Stationery isn’t the only custom product in high demand across home offices — the home décor market was valued at $727.6 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach an incredible $939.7 billion by 2028! Today’s consumers are on the hunt for customizable décor they can purchase online and send directly to their front door to add a personal touch to their homes.

In particular, photo books and wall calendars have become popular in recent years. The global photo book market reached an impressive $3.76 billion in 2021, with a spike in demand for wedding and family photo books. Customizable wall calendars also peaked in recent years, with the market size reaching $1.38 billion in 2021 and continuing to grow 5.4% year-over-year.

You can browse Gelato’s selection of customizable wall calendars, soft-cover photo books, and hard-cover photo books to gain inspiration for your Shopify store. For an extra boost, look at the Chatbooks website, too! Chatbooks is the perfect business model to mirror if you want to sell photo books online, especially the brightly-colored and eye-catching product collection page.

As a final Shopify business idea, consider the niche market for eco-friendly products. Consumers are online shopping for sustainable, eco-friendly products more than ever before. Approximately 72% of consumers report buying more environmentally friendly products than they did five years ago, and 81% expect to buy more sustainable items over the next five years.

Gelato is committed to sustainability, and our new eco-conscious apparel collection is a testament to that mission! Now, you can select our print on demand services for a wide range of eco-friendly products, including but not limited to:

• Unisex organic zip hoodie

• Unisex organic pullover hoodie

• Unisex organic crewneck t-shirt

• Unisex organic crewneck sweatshirt

• Women’s organic crewneck t-shirt

• Kids organic crewneck t-shirt

If you want to break the mold with your eco-friendly Shopify business ideas, check out The Happy Givers Shopify storefront for significant inspiration. The Happy Givers Shopify site leads with the motto, “Your purchase has a purpose.” The products are printed on 100% cotton with 100% biodegradable toxin-free, water-based inks and are made in the USA in a sustainable, eco-friendly fashion.

Pro Tip: Looking to access curated product trends daily? Hit the Gelato Resource Center to find everything you need to identify a niche market, launch a successful Shopify store, and customize and sell products with a reliable print on demand provider!

Choosing the best Shopify business ideas can set you on the path to success. Here’s how to find the right one for you:

• Reflect on your interests: Start by considering what you’re passionate about. Your enthusiasm can drive your business forward and make your work more enjoyable.

• Research market trends: Use tools like Google Trends and explore social media to identify what’s currently popular. Look for emerging trends that you can capitalize on.

• Validate your ideas: Before diving in, test your ideas on a small scale. This could be through market surveys, small product launches, or even pre-orders. Feedback from these tests can guide your final decision.

• Identify your target audience: Who are your potential customers? Understanding their needs and preferences can help you choose a niche that will attract and retain buyers.

• Analyze the competition: Check out other Shopify stores in your prospective niche. What is it that they are doing well? Where do they fall short? This can help you find ways to stand out.

• Consider profit margins: Factor in costs like production, shipping, and marketing to see if you can achieve sustainable profitability.

Tapping into the full potential of your Shopify store can increase your visibility and sales. Here are some tips to help you get there:

• Optimize your store design: Ensure your store is visually appealing and user-friendly. A clean, professional layout builds trust and makes navigation easy.

• High-quality product images and descriptions: Great visuals and detailed descriptions can significantly increase sales. Show your products from multiple angles and highlight their features and benefits.

• Utilize SEO: Boost your store’s visibility by optimizing for search engines. Use relevant keywords, such as "Shopify business ideas" and "Shopify store ideas," in your product titles, descriptions, and blog posts.

• Social media: Connect with your audience on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. Share engaging content, run promotions, and interact with your followers to drive traffic to your store.

• Use apps and integrations: Shopify’s App Store offers various tools to enhance your store’s functionality. From email marketing to inventory management, find apps that suit your needs.

At a time when an average Shopify business owner earns $72 in profit from each customer and nearly $4,000 per month, your product ideas are no longer just a hobby — they’re a potential revenue stream! With the above eight Shopify store ideas to guide your business, you can launch a new online store with high customer demand and massive flexibility for customizable products.

Starting an online business has never been easier, especially with a reliable supplier like Gelato to process, produce, and ship your custom orders. A POD partner like Gelato allows you to tap into a range of Shopify business ideas, from apparel and fashion accessories to wall art and home décor, all with a strict commitment to sustainable business practices that localize production and distribution.

Launch your own online store of custom stand-out products with the Gelato Shopify integration today!

There are several profitable Shopify store ideas, including but not limited to clothing and accessories, drinkware, home décor, and office supplies. As a general rule of thumb, product ideas with high demand and ease of creation and customization are ideal to sell on your own website.

Setting up a Shopify store is straightforward and can be done in a few steps:

• Sign up for Shopify: Create an account on the Shopify website by providing some basic information and choosing a store name.

• Choose a plan: Select a pricing plan that fits your needs. Shopify offers several options, including a free trial period to get you started.

• Customize your store: Pick a theme that reflects your brand. Customize the look and feel of your store by adjusting colors, fonts, and layouts.

• Add products: Enter details about the products you’ll be selling, including descriptions, prices, and high-quality images.

• Set up payment and shipping: Configure payment gateways to accept payments from customers. Set up your shipping options based on where you plan to ship your products.

Driving traffic to your Shopify store is critical for revenue. Here are some strategies:

• Optimize for SEO: Use relevant keywords, such as "Shopify business ideas" and "Shopify store ideas," in your product titles and descriptions to improve search engine rankings.

• Utilize social media: Promote your store on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. Share engaging content, run ads, and interact with your followers.

• Create quality content: Start a blog related to your niche. Write helpful articles that attract your target audience and link back to your products.

• Use email marketing: Build an email list and send newsletters, promotions, and updates to keep your customers engaged and encourage repeat visits.

Shopify is a popular choice for online businesses for several reasons:

• Ease of use: Shopify’s user-friendly interface makes it easy to set up and manage your store, even if you have no prior technical experience.

• Customization options: With a wide range of themes and apps, you can create a unique store that reflects your brand and meets your specific needs.

• Reliable and secure: Shopify provides secure hosting and handles the technical aspects of running an online store, including security and software updates.

• Scalability: Whether you’re just starting out or looking to grow, Shopify can scale with your business. It offers plans and features for businesses of all sizes.

• Support and resources: Shopify offers excellent customer support and a wealth of resources, including tutorials, forums, and guides to help you succeed.

• Integrated marketing tools: With built-in SEO features, social media integrations, and email marketing capabilities, Shopify helps you drive traffic and grow your business.

Every ecommerce business must have a visually appealing and branded business website with high-quality product images and thorough product descriptions, robust digital marketing campaigns (such as email marketing or Google Ads), and a reliable supplier like Gelato.