E-commerce spending has skyrocketed in the last ten years growing from around 4% of total business turnover, to close to 20% for certain retailers. 

Ignoring the potential of e-commerce is simply not an option. In the US alone, e-commerce businesses generate a staggering $300 billion in revenue every year, and this trend is seen in countries worldwide.

The e-commerce revolution has opened up a world of possibilities, giving birth to countless offbeat and thriving online businesses.

Reasons Behind E-commerce Success

Limitless Potential

Establishing an online presence allows businesses to overcome physical limitations and leverage free marketing tools available in the digital space.

Gone are the days when your success is dependent on your physical location on a high street. Today, brands have found a home online, offering products ranging from pet toys to groceries, clothing, and even travel experiences. 

Low Investment High Returns

One of the key reasons behind e-commerce success is its accessibility to businesses of all sizes. With a relatively low investment, anyone can launch a website and compete on equal footing with larger retailers. 

The beauty is that when you set up a website, nobody knows how big or small your business is.

You can generate customer interest through organic means like word-of-mouth, search engine optimization (SEO), and social media advertising.

Unique Customer Experiences 

It is common for small business owners to feel overwhelmed by the presence of industry giants like Amazon, Costco, and eBay. However, the digital economy rewards unique customer experiences. 

Independent digital businesses can differentiate themselves from these giants by leveraging tools such as reviews, video reviews, box openings, and social media engagement. 

While Amazon may be popular, small businesses have the advantage of providing a personalised touch and genuinely caring about their customers. And it’s this customer-centric approach that can create a niche market that’s untouchable by large retailers.

Genuine care and attention to customer concerns create a lasting impression and build customer loyalty in ways that larger corporations often struggle to achieve.

Weird and Wacky E-Commerce Ventures That are Thriving

Some businesses are turning over hundreds of millions of dollars because they went online. Some were rejected by retailers who are now running after them pleading for them to put their products in their stores.

Black Milk

James Lillis, the founder of Black Milk, faced rejection from traditional retailers when he first introduced his extravagant printed leggings. No retailers wanted to stock his product.

Undeterred, he took his business online and soon turned it into a multi-million-dollar enterprise. 

What's funny is that now that he has traction and proof people want his product. The traditional retailers will come knocking on his door. 

By embracing e-commerce, he created a demand for his unique product, 

Sticker Mule

Sticker Mule recognised the potential for customised stickers as a unique form of guerrilla marketing. 

By turning logos and ideas into artistic stickers, they attracted the attention of big brands like Amazon and Comcast. 

These innovative stickers not only acted as business cards but also served as cool and memorable promotional tools. This was a little bit ‘out of the box’ in the way that they thought and it has worked incredibly well for the founders.

Glasses USA

Challenging the notion that selecting prescription glasses required an in-store experience, Glasses USA revolutionised the world of eyewear by offering customers a virtual reality system. 

This online tool allowed users to try on glasses virtually, eliminating the need for face-to-face interactions. By leveraging digital technologies and augmented reality, they successfully disrupted the traditional market for prescription glasses.

WildRabbitsBurrow

Customisation is key in the e-commerce world, and WildRabbitsBurrow tapped into this by offering quirky and unconventional pillows. Something we would have thought could be bought at any cheap department store.

But they did it differently, from doughnuts to corn on the cobs and sharks, they catered to unique tastes and preferences and made great gift ideas. 

Who would have thought that starting a pillow business would be successful? But this sort of business is proof that it can be if you get your targeted marketing correct.

Spoonful of Comfort

Spoonful of Comfort recognised the emotional power of food and created gourmet care packages for various occasions. Whether sending love to a family member, celebrating a new baby, or comforting a sick friend, their food-based gift packages resonated with customers seeking a heartfelt way to show they care. 

Combining food with emotions, they formed a successful e-commerce business centred around the idea of "loving from a distance " which is a great marketing line.

Neutru

Neutru seized the opportunity in the growing market for herbal supplements, offering a once-a-day nootropic pill that claimed to enhance mental wellness and boost happiness. By tapping into the personal well-being market, they catered to customers looking for alternative ways to improve cognitive function. 

This success story highlights the untapped potential within the e-commerce health and wellness sector and that it's not too late to start one of your own.

Brayola

This last business is interesting and a little bit humorous, proving once again that e-commerce thrives at the intersection of old problems and new solutions. 

Brayola takes the concepts of customer recommendations from platforms like Netflix and Pandora and applies them to lingerie.

By crowdsourcing selection algorithms, customers create personalised "drawers" of their favourite products, and Brayola uses this data to recommend bras based on individual comfort needs. This innovative approach showcases the power of combining old problems with new solutions, and it makes you wonder what are some other old problems that require new solutions.

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These weird and wonderful businesses prove that the world of e-commerce truly is a realm of boundless possibilities for both aspiring entrepreneurs and established business owners. 

With the rapid expansion of the internet and digital landscape, the opportunities within e-commerce will only continue to grow. 

If you’re ready to take hold of this opportunity for yourself and you need help or advice let me know.

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