What can you sell on Shopify? A guide to products and services
23/12/2023
19:00 min
Bartosz Lewandowski
What can you sell on Shopify? A guide to products and services
23/12/2023
19:00 min
Bartosz Lewandowski
Table of Contents
- What products can be sold on Shopify?
- Selling physical products on Shopify
- Selling digital products on Shopify
- Selling services on Shopify
- Prohibited and restricted products on Shopify
- Summary
Shopify is a unique e-commerce platform created for every entrepreneur! It allows for a lot - creating, customizing, and managing online stores. Importantly, no programming skills are needed to handle it. Setting up a Shopify store is quick, sales are effective, and costs are low, within the framework of a license fee. Let's find out what can be sold on Shopify and discover the products offered on the platform!
What products can be sold on Shopify?
Shopify is an e-commerce platform known practically across every geographical area, which is not surprising when you realize how many advantages it provides. First and foremost, it allows you to quickly create a fully functional online store, enabling you to dive into the vast waters of online commerce. The vast majority of people take advantage of what online stores have to offer. If you want to make a mark in this market, you should choose Shopify to gain a competitive edge.
The variety of assortment that can be offered on Shopify opens the door to almost unlimited business possibilities. From unique artworks, through eco-friendly home products, to innovative technological solutions – Shopify adapts to your needs. Additionally, you can easily explore the global market, reaching customers worldwide. This versatility makes Shopify an ideal solution for anyone who wants to turn their passions and ideas into a thriving online store.
Selling physical products on Shopify
In the category of physical products, many goods can be successfully sold on Shopify. This category includes not only popular segments such as fashion and accessories, home articles, sports equipment, or health and beauty products, but also many others. Entrepreneurs can offer, for example, unique artworks, innovative electronic gadgets, handmade furniture, or even fresh food products. Anyone with a passion for creating or selecting unique products will find Shopify an ideal tool for presenting and selling them on the global market.
It's worth emphasizing that in the case of physical products, there can be diversity and the possibility of tailoring the offer to different target groups. Besides the mentioned categories, Shopify allows the sale of handcrafted items, vintage collections, educational toys, gardening equipment, and interior decoration articles. This enables entrepreneurs to experiment with different market niches, reaching specific customer groups. It's also worth noting that Shopify offers advanced inventory management and order fulfillment features, which is particularly important for those selling a variety of physical products.
Fashion and accessories
If you are passionate about the broad topic of fashion and related accessories, on Shopify you can showcase your unique creations and accessories to the world. It's a place where you can shine by offering something that truly distinguishes your brand. On Shopify, it's easy to keep up with changing trends by adding new products to your collections. Moreover, with analytics, you can better understand what your customers are looking for and adjust your offer, which in turn can help build lasting relationships with them. For example, if you sell leggings, the analysis might show that users are not only looking for regular leggings but also leather ones. The offer creates itself!
Example product categories in this category:
- Clothing: Dresses, t-shirts, pants, jackets, hoodies.
- Footwear: Sports shoes, elegant footwear, sandals, boots.
- Jewelry: Necklaces, bracelets, earrings, rings.
- Accessories: Handbags, belts, hats, scarves.
- Specialist products: Eco-friendly fashion, plus-size clothing, baby clothes.
- Personalized products: Clothes with custom prints, personalized jewelry.
These are just examples, and the possibilities are practically limitless, allowing sellers to create unique and diverse collections.
Home products
Do you love furniture and home gadgets? That's great! On Shopify, sellers can showcase a wide range of articles that beautify and simplify everyday life. From stylish accessories, through practical kitchen gadgets, to decorative interior elements, each item can contribute to creating a unique home sanctuary. Shopify enables entrepreneurs to sell products that not only stand out for their aesthetics but also functionality, meeting the diverse needs and lifestyles of their customers. In this category, you can offer both handmade items and those produced in larger quantities, providing customers with a rich selection and the ability to personalize their homes.
Example product categories in this category:
- Decorations and accessories: Photo frames, vases, candle holders, mirrors.
- Textiles: Curtains, rugs, bedding, towels, decorative pillows.
- Furniture: Tables, chairs, sofas, shelves, cabinets.
- Lighting: Table lamps, pendant lamps, wall lights.
- Kitchenware: Pots, pans, cutlery, dishes.
- Kitchen gadgets and accessories: Blenders, toasters, kitchen organizers.
- Plants and garden: Pots, gardening tools, potted plants.
- Storage articles: Boxes, baskets, organizers.
As you can see, home products offer a lot of opportunities to find your niche. Personally, I'm not a home furnishing specialist, but even I can see that the potential in this segment can be much larger.
Sports and recreational equipment
Sports and outdoor activity enthusiasts will find everything they need on Shopify to pursue their passions. This category includes not only professional equipment for various disciplines but also sportswear and recreational accessories. This offer meets the expectations of both amateurs and professionals, providing them with appropriate quality and functionality. It's an excellent opportunity for sellers to combine their passion for sports with the possibility of creating an inspiring and engaging product offer.
Example product categories in this category:
- Fitness equipment: Yoga mats, dumbbells, crossfit equipment.
- Sportswear: Leggings, technical shirts, running attire.
- Outdoor equipment: Tents, trekking backpacks, sleeping bags.
- Water sports equipment: Surfboards, neoprene suits, kayaks.
- Sports accessories: Bottles, compression bands, sports watches.
- Winter sports equipment: Skis, snowboards, ski helmets.
- Team sports equipment: Balls, team uniforms, protectors.
- Recreation accessories: Frisbees, badminton sets, scooters.
And these are still just a few examples from the rich offer available in this category.
Health and beauty products
As a seller in the field of health and beauty care, you can introduce a rich assortment of products to your Shopify store. The possibilities are endless – from natural cosmetics, through dietary supplements, to advanced skincare devices. Your customers will appreciate products that are safe, effective, and ethically produced, and you have the chance to become their trusted supplier. This is where you will find the perfect space to showcase products that highlight a commitment to health and natural beauty.
Example product categories in this category:
- Natural cosmetics: Creams, face serums, essential oils.
- Dietary supplements: Vitamins, immunity-boosting supplements, probiotics.
- Care products: Masks, tonics, peels.
- Care accessories: Face brushes, jade rollers, microdermabrasion devices.
- Wellness products: Aromatic candles, bath salts, massage oils.
- Makeup: Foundations, eyeshadows, lipsticks.
The key is for products in this category to actually possess the described properties and positively impact beauty and health. Otherwise, customers will quickly verify the offered assortment, and the store will lose its established traffic. A very good, although not always practiced approach is to provide product ingredients.
Selling digital products on Shopify
Of course, besides physical products, you can also offer your customers digital products such as e-books, which bring knowledge to a whole new dimension, as well as interactive online courses, opening doors to new skills and passions. Your offer can also include graphics that adorn every digital space, from websites to social media profiles. And for music lovers? Create your own tracks or offer exclusive melodies.
In the world of software, you can sell applications or tools that make life and work easier. Moreover, digital products have the advantage of being easily accessible to customers worldwide and do not require physical shipping, making them eco-friendly and efficient. It's a world where creativity meets technology, creating new opportunities for entrepreneurs and customers. So if you believe in the notion that digital products are the future, I think the following overview might be useful to you.
E-books and online courses
Perhaps you have a passion for teaching? On Shopify, you have the opportunity to offer a wide range of educational and developmental materials. E-books can cover various topics, from culinary guides, through professional literature, to self-development guides. Online courses, on the other hand, offer practical knowledge in many fields – from programming, through marketing, to language courses. It's an excellent opportunity for experts from various industries to share their knowledge and skills with a wide audience.
Example product categories in this category:
- E-books:
- Culinary: recipes, dietary guides.
- Health and fitness: training programs, health tips.
- Personal development: motivation strategies, time management.
- Business and finance: basics of entrepreneurship, investing.
- Online courses:
- Technology: programming, software handling.
- Digital marketing: SEO, social media.
- Languages: courses for beginners and advanced.
- Art and crafts: painting courses, jewelry making.
If you possess specialized knowledge that you want to share with the world, you will surely find your niche.
Graphics and templates
Selling graphics and templates on Shopify allows you to reach a wide group of customers, from bloggers to small business owners. Your products can include a variety of designs and motifs, from minimalist website templates to colorful graphics for social media. It's a great opportunity for creative minds to express their artistic visions and offer clients something that will enliven their digital space. These products not only enrich websites and social media profiles visually but can also help build a cohesive brand image.
Example product categories in this category:
- Website templates: Ready-to-use, aesthetic, and responsive designs for various industries.
- Graphics for social media: Sets of graphics for posts and profile backgrounds.
- CV and presentation templates: Professional CV designs and PowerPoint presentation templates.
- Illustrations and icons: Unique graphics that can be used in various projects.
- Email marketing templates: Newsletter designs ready for customization and sending.
Here, just like in graphics... Your imagination is the only limit.
Music and sounds
If you have musical talent, you can offer clients a wide range of unique tracks and sound effects. Your products can include original compositions, relaxing sounds for meditation, sound effects for film productions or podcasts. It's a great opportunity for musicians, producers, and sound engineers to share their work with a wider audience. These products can enrich various projects, from personal blogs to professional multimedia productions.
Example product categories in this category:
- Music Albums: Original albums of various music genres.
- Sound Effects: Sounds for use in games, films, presentations.
- Relaxation Sounds: Nature recordings, meditation sounds, relaxation music.
- Samples and Loops: For music producers and DJs.
- Music Backgrounds: For use in videos, podcasts, advertisements.
This is not only an opportunity for high sales in a specific niche but also a good starting point for acquiring new commissions and long-term contracts.
Software
Offering more or less specialized software opens the door to the world of technology and innovation. You can offer your clients applications that simplify daily tasks, business-supporting tools, or even specialized programs for specific industries. Whether you are a programmer or a software company, it's an excellent opportunity to reach a wider audience with your products, both among individual users and enterprises.
Example product categories in this category:
- Business applications: Project management tools, accounting software, CRM.
- Educational tools: Language learning programs, educational software for children.
- Health and fitness apps: Physical activity trackers, meditation apps.
- Graphic and design programs: Software for graphic design, photo editing.
- Programming tools: Development environments, code libraries, plugins.
As you can see, there are plenty of possibilities. It's worth noting that whether you're just starting or already have a profitable company doesn't matter here; the only thing that matters is the usefulness of your tools.
Selling services on Shopify
Selling online is not just about products but also a variety of services. On Shopify, you can offer a wide range of services that meet the needs of different customer groups. From professional business consulting, through graphic services, to specialized support in marketing and SEO. It's a great platform for experts from various fields who want to leverage the potential of the internet to grow their business and build strong relationships with clients.
The possibilities are vast – from personal trainers offering exercise programs, through IT specialists providing programming services, to legal and financial advisors. Shopify enables the presentation of comprehensive services that can distinguish your business from the competition, providing clients with valuable solutions tailored to their unique needs. Use this platform to showcase your skills, experience, and knowledge, offering services that help your clients achieve their goals.
How to sell services on Shopify?
- Add services as products: Treat services like "intangible products." Add services on Shopify as products, without selecting the "this is a physical product" option in the shipping section. Pay attention to the product description, highlighting the value and results the client will gain from the service.
- Use variants and personalization apps: Offer different dates, locations, and types of services. You can set different prices for different variants. To handle individual customer inquiries, you can use apps like Product Personalizer by Zepto.
- Build a compelling homepage: The homepage should be persuasive and user-friendly. Include customer testimonials and showcase the value of services.
- Create an attractive "About Us" page: Tell the story of your company and add team photos.
- Check the mobile version of the store: Ensure the store works smoothly on mobile devices, as many users use apps on their mobile devices.
Prohibited and restricted products on Shopify
There are, of course, groups of products that cannot be sold on the Shopify app or have restrictions related to their sale. This includes age-restricted goods (alcohol, tobacco, gambling-related products), animals or animal products, cars, drugs, financial services, hazardous materials. Other restrictions on Shopify apply to body parts, adult content, payment methods (stamps, cash, tokens), medical products and accessories, weapons, surveillance equipment, submissions.
Selling prohibited products on Shopify can cause significant trouble. Your account may be suspended or even permanently closed, which can be a major blow to your business. Additionally, you risk legal consequences, which can have serious financial and legal implications. It also harms your store's reputation and customer trust, which is crucial in any business. Therefore, before deciding to sell a controversial product, make sure it can indeed be allowed for sale.
Summary
Shopify is a great place for entrepreneurs who want to sell both physical products, like fashion and accessories or home articles, and digital ones, such as e-books or music. However, it's important to remember certain restrictions, such as the ban on selling alcohol or weapons. Always ensure that what you sell complies with the platform's rules to avoid legal issues and loss of reputation. Selling online offers many opportunities but also requires responsibility.
FAQ
- Can I sell digital products on Shopify? Yes, Shopify allows the sale of digital products, such as e-books, online courses, graphics, and software.
- What are the restrictions on selling products on Shopify? Shopify has restrictions on selling alcohol, tobacco, drugs, weapons, and certain health and safety-related products.
- Can I sell services on Shopify? Yes, you can offer services by treating them as intangible products and tailoring the offer to customer needs.
- Do I need programming skills to use Shopify? No, Shopify is a user-friendly platform that does not require programming skills.
- How can I ensure my products comply with Shopify's rules? Before adding products to your store, familiarize yourself with Shopify's rules and regulations to ensure they comply with the platform's guidelines.
Bartosz Lewandowski
CEO
Newsletter
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