What sells most in the Indian Ecommerce market?

The first question every online retail newbie has when they enter the sector is, ‘what to sell?’ The Long Tail Phenomenon, propounded and discussed by Chris Anderson, the editor of Wired Magazine tells you not to fret about this question much. Every product has a profitable place in the online market, however niche it is.

The problem with high demand products is that the competition is the toughest there, which means that even though the demand is high, so is the supply. One must really work hard and use smart strategy to excel in such a competitive market.

Another option is to find a niche product with a quieter market and sell there. But these decisions are to be made subjectively by the seller. The point is, it is good to know which products are the top earners in the market.

In 2012, Google India combined data from Google Trends and research conducted by TNS Australia with a sample size of 800 to compile a report on the demand trends of the Indian online market. Here are some of the findings.

Demand Trends of the Indian Online Market

Market Size

Another study conducted by Google India in 2014 shows us the colossal rate at which the Indian e-commerce market is growing. The number of online buyers in 2014 was 35 million as compared to the meager 8 million in 2012. Of course, in 2012, the number of buyers had seen a whopping 128% jump as compared to 2011.

So it’s no joke when the number of buyers in 2016 has been estimated to a 100 million. What we can take away from all this is that the e-commerce sector in India is quickly becoming a phenomenon that has never been observed before in the Indian markets.

Sample Size

The 2012 report consists of a sample size of 800, with 63% males and 37% females. 71% respondents were between 18 to 35 years of age. The respondents were spread across Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Pune, Hyderabad, and Others.

Products that Generate Maximum Online Interest

In terms of online interest generated, Google compiled consumer search data to come up with a list of top product categories. These are:

1. Electronics (34%)
2. Apparel and Accessories (30%)
3. Books (15%)
4. Beauty and Personal Care (10%)
5. Home and Furnishing (6%)
6. Healthcare (3%)
7. Baby Care (2%)

Products with Maximum Sales Figures

In terms of products sold online, the figures change slightly. Here is the list:

1. Apparel and Accessories (84%)
2. Electronics (71%)
3. Beauty and Personal Care (64%)
4. Books (62%)
5. Household Products (61%)

The frequency of sale was also the highest for the Apparel and Accessories category (34%), followed by Beauty and Personal Care (33%). This makes these categories all the more profitable due to repeat purchases.

These are some of the top product categories on the Indian online marketplace