Products in demand post COVID-19 lockdown

Here’s some good news for all businesses!

The lockdown had hit all the businesses pretty hard. But now with the relaxations from the government for businesses to operate again, it is definitely a big relief for all the sellers. They can now sell all products (except in the containment zones), whether it’s essentials or non-essentials.

As good as this news is, it’s also a reminder to re-evaluate the business strategies. Most of the consumers heavily relied on e-commerce for products and services for the past few months. They focused on buying essentials and this has affected their buying decisions post lockdown too. This is the time for businesses who are already selling and could be selling online to look out for growth opportunities.

We know it’s been tough for most of the businesses. But don’t worry, we’re here to help all the sellers to re-establish their businesses. We have prepared a list of products that are in high demand and profitable for business right now and will continue to be in the future too . This can help all the sellers to choose the right products, post the lockdown, and kick start their businesses again.

The highest demand during and after lockdown is for daily consumables like grocery and other food products. The possibility of getting exposed to the COVID-19 virus through multiple contact points/surfaces in local shops is diverting people to e-commerce. They are relying on e-commerce for their safe and on-time delivery. Amazon has built trust among the consumers with its superior customer service and they still continue to buy these products online. This is an excellent example of how building a loyal customer base can help in the long run.

People are searching for daily food items and pet foods more than usual. Items like oil, rice, flours, pulses, breakfast cereals, sugar, and honey have gained a significant rise in searches on Amazon.

Some of the trending daily consumables include:
● Grocery
● Food staples
● Pet food

In fact, grocery is the fastest-growing category on Amazon.in, with more than 60,000 items sold per day.

Stepping out without a mask nowadays is highly risky and not a good decision. The COVID-19 virus has compelled everyone to focus on hygiene and health safety, now more than ever. It has become the top priority for people. Health and safety products are, therefore, now in huge demand. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is a new uprising category on Amazon. In fact, more than half-million customers viewed masks and gloves this year , with more than 9 lakh units already sold. The constant need to disinfect hands or other objects has increased the sale of sanitizers by 6X during the lockdown . More than 25,000 sanitizers have been sold on Amazon till now.

People are focussing on developing their immunity against the COVID-19 virus and this has resulted in a 6X spike in the sale of immunity boosters. Fitness equipment requirements are also on the rise since the lockdown. All these products are selling higher than ever due to increased awareness of COVID-19.

Health & safety products that have seen a spike in demand and will be relevant in the time to come include:

● Masks, Gloves, Sanitizers
● Wipes, Disinfectants
● Infrared thermometers
● Medical equipment
● Ayurveda and Vitamins, Immunity boosters
● Home gym & other fitness equipment

The phrase ‘new normal’ has been trending recently and a critical part of it is working from home (WFH). But if people have to be at their homes 24*7, it’s only natural that they’re going to need some stay-at-home essentials. Products that can help them work comfortably from home and also enjoy their homestay are trending on Amazon. For instance, the search volume for PC accessories has a whopping 190% increase. Other similar products with a surge in their Amazon search are laptops (30%), chargers (30%), and headsets (15%) .

Stay-at-home essentials that are seeing a jump in demand for WFH include:
● Laptop tables
● Office Chairs
● Laptops
● PC accessories
● Chargers
● Headsets

Since people are at home, the usage of home products has increased dramatically. Demand for such products has also spiked and is anticipated to rise further. More than 1 lakh home products have been sold on Amazon this year till now.

Home products that are seeing a jump in demand due to homestay include:
● Fans
● ACs
● Coolers
● Voltage stabilizers

Staying back at home also gives people some leisure time. This is the time when people reunite with their lost hobbies or explore new interests. Many people developed an interest in music, reading, gardening, exercising, gaming, etc. during the lockdown Eventually, the search for hobby products has also increased. The demand for indoor games has increased by 30% and is expected to increase yet more .

Hobby products that are seeing a jump in demand due to leisure time include:
● Books
● Musical instruments, guitar, flute, musical accessories
● Home & Garden, Live plants, Succulent plants
● Sports gears, Home Gyms, Yoga Mats
● Board Games
● Video game accessories, digital video game selection
● Toys

One thing that has been affected by lockdown is education - in schools and colleges, which have not yet opened. Students are continuing their studies from home and video calls and online classes have become the new way of learning. Demand for school supplies that can help them with their studies is thus rising.

Some educational products in demand include:
● School supplies, stationery
● NCERT books, higher education & regional books
● Educational software

Since the last couple of months, social media has been flooding with food and delicacy posts. As cooks could not come during the lockdown, people who never cooked before started making some delicious recipes. We’re all seeing some talented chefs budding around us. And thanks to that, the sale of kitchen essentials started trending on Amazon and is seeing a growth of almost 50% .

Some of the kitchen essentials selling more since the lockdown are:
● Cooking Appliances
● Cooking Utensils
● Baking Equipment

With cooking experts, we also have some cleaning experts. People are relating cleaning and home-organizing to mindfulness. The sale of cleaning items like wipes and disinfectants has increased by 30% as people started cleaning by themselves. Many other supplies mentioned below are also in great demand now.

Some of the hygiene & cleaning supplies selling more since the lockdown are:
● Cleaning Chemicals
● Restroom Products
● Personal Hygiene
● Cleaning & Mopping Supplies
● Vacuum Cleaners
● Mopping supplies
● Robotic cleaners

The lockdown has given people more time for personal care at home. And why not? They all deserved a little pampering for practicing social distancing. The demand for skin and hair care products has jumped up since the lockdown for both men and women. Products like shaving and hair removal appliances are selling 30% more than usual . In fact, trends suggest that the demand for DIY shaving and grooming will continue to grow.

Here are some personal care products that people started buying more:
● Balms, Creams, Lotions
● Perfumes & Deodorants
● Bathing accessories
● Hair Products (Appliances, Creams, etc.)

As far as apparel and fashion are concerned, people are sticking to casuals and comfort wear. As they have very few places to go, they are more inclined to fashion wear that can be put to daily use, rather than stocking up their favorite party or outing collection. Indoor clothing and safety coverings are in demand and selling more than others.

Apparels currently in demand are:
● Socks, Underclothes
● Face coverings, Designer cloth masks
● Nightwear

The shutdown of local shops made baby products inaccessible. Hence, new parents are relying on e-commerce marketplaces to get baby care products during and after the lockdown .

Baby care products seeing a rise in online demand are:
● Baby food
● Diapers
● Feeding items

All these product categories are trending on Amazon. And looking at their search volumes and sales, their demand is expected to increase further.

The crisis has changed the way people used to buy. Now they are relying more on e-commerce, as it offers a safer option of non-contact delivery without the need to step out of the home. Amazon anticipates that these products mentioned are going to sell more post lockdown as people are paying more attention to the essentials. So this is the ripe time for the sellers to sell these product categories on Amazon and make good money in the business.