To be a successful retailer, you must sell in-demand products. Good for you if your product is niched and you have a specific consumer in mind. However, if you want to open a general store of any kind, you should know what the most popular items are in South Africa.
Clothing/apparel (53%), entertainment/education (digital/downloadable) (51%), and event tickets (51%), are the three most popular shopping categories among South Africans. So it’s no surprise that Superbalist and Computicket are so successful.
Here is a list of the most popular products in South Africa that you can sell to get you started with new business ideas or to add to your existing store:
Apparel.
Clothing, apparel, and footwear are among the most popular items purchased in South Africa and around the world. And if your store offers free shipping or other promotions, you can expect an increase in online sales. Despite the fact that the clothing market is a competitive niche, there is significant room for growth in this sector.
Pet supplies.
The pet care industry in South Africa has grown by leaps and bounds, with many people searching online for unique ways to spoil their furbabies with the purrfect products. There are literally thousands of products to play with in this category, ranging from cat-nip-filled mice to dog beds. According to a recent Shopify article, the search keyword “dog bed” receives 234,000 monthly searches, and “cat bed” receives 60,500 monthly searches.
Jewellery.
Google Trends shows that searches for jewelry are at an all-time high. While there are many more online jewelry stores, there is still a significant market gap for affordable and minimalist jewelry collections.
Grooming products for men.
Men’s grooming is a multibillion-dollar industry, and the trend is spreading quickly in South Africa. From beard straighteners to beard oils, this category contains a plethora of products for today’s streetwise gentleman.
Shapewear.
Shapewear has always been popular, but due to the intense pressure placed on women to look nothing less than perfect, shapewear is experiencing its highest sales ever worldwide. Even the Kardashians have gotten in on the act, recently launching their own shapewear line. What was once considered a necessary evil for a glam occasion is now considered a sexy item to be worn on a daily basis. This is unquestionably one of the hottest selling products.
Smart Watches.
What began as a futuristic craze for the elite has spread globally, with a smartwatch now on everyone’s shopping list. Statista predicts that over 141 million units will be sold in the coming year. Bluetooth devices with a built-in camera, step counters and exercise apps, sound recorders, sleep monitors, calendars, and much more are the latest trends in smartwatches. If you’re looking for a best-seller, a smartwatch is it!
Marketing Suggestions
Finding fantastic products to sell is only one part of the puzzle. While these and other products are certain to increase sales, your marketing campaigns must be equally effective.
Consider combining sales tactics to turn these items into top-selling products in your store. These could range from Google ads to targeting keywords with high purchase intent, SEO enriched content, to educational videos that answer common questions.
Visual content works well for today’s target audiences on platforms such as Facebook ads, Instagram, and Pinterest, so make sure you’re covering all bases. Working directly with local influencers on Instagram could be another profitable sales channel. Competing with hot-seasonal items can be costly, so plan your product launches carefully.
What are the most popular products in South Africa?
Brands for babies and children. Baby and children’s brands have been a regular and classic ecommerce category since the beginning of time.
Beauty Items. In recent years, the beauty and personal care industry has expanded rapidly.
Electronics.
What is the most popular product on Takealot?
Takealot CEO Mamongae Mahlare claims that air fryers are the online retailer’s best-selling item right now.
