Profitable retail options. What is the most profitable way to trade? We choose a profitable direction before starting a business. Online trading or brick-and-mortar store

Profitable retail options.  What is the most profitable way to trade?  We choose a profitable direction before starting a business.  Online trading or brick-and-mortar store
Profitable retail options. What is the most profitable way to trade? We choose a profitable direction before starting a business. Online trading or brick-and-mortar store

An acquaintance recently came to me for advice - what kind of business is best to start, where to start, what is the best way to trade, how much money can you start doing business with, etc.

You, he says, have already gained some experience and will be able to tell what is more profitable to do now.

Of course, I gained experience working for myself in two years - a little experience in managing retail sales(at one point in time, my partner and I opened 2 small retail outlets and 2 retail stores, and the number of staff reached six. To date, we have sold 2 small retail outlets, and merged 2 stores into one and moved it to another location ).

During this time, we sold everything: fresh flowers, DVDs with films, programs and games, blank media - DVD blanks, flash drives, batteries, light bulbs, and then a large assortment electricians from 200 items, connection services to OPSOS, Cell Phones, chargers, batteries and other accessories, plumbing, photocopying services. They even sold children’s “coloring books.” This, of course, is not everything, but what I managed to remember offhand :)

I can’t consider myself a professional in the field of retail sales; on the contrary, the more I learn, the more I feel like a loser. However, I had already developed my view on most of the issues and problems that I had to solve. I tried to give my answers to these questions, they are subjective, but now these are the beliefs I have.

I divided our conversation into several semantic blocks and will slowly post them. If you want to jump right into practice and get an answer to the question “what to trade/what services to provide,” then immediately read about it in the article “ "(warning! There are no ready-made answers in this article, but it is highly recommended to read it, like all the articles in this series).

So, about my friend who came to me with a question “what is better to trade and what to do”.

The situation in which my friend finds himself is also interesting. He practically doesn’t work anywhere, but he is well off—he has food and housing, i.e. in principle, he can afford not to work at all. He just wants to do something so that he has money, and enjoys it, and so as not to have to go to work for his uncle. Overall, I was a little surprised.

- Tell me what you want.

“I want to do exactly what is profitable now, what works best now!”

- But this is never known in advance. Look, we moved one retail outlet just 200 meters to the side, and revenue increased 10 times - everything is the same as it was, only the location was changed. Well, that is. In the “old” place it was completely unprofitable to deal with this product, but in the new one, you see, some prospects loomed... That is. How can we say for sure what is the best way to trade?

- Well, tell me, what are you trading now? Is it profitable to do this?

“Well, I’m telling you, no matter what I tell you, it won’t help you at all!” Do you think it's all about “what to trade”? Now I think that this is the last thing you should bother with. Especially if you just want to get started. Don't take your attempt to start too seriously and expect super mega success. Most likely this won't happen. This is training and gaining experience, and your task is to minimize the cost of this training. The training, I must say, is very interesting. Those. It’s not a sin to spend money on such training, but if there is an opportunity to reduce its cost, then take advantage of it.

- Well, you say so... If you immediately set yourself up for the fact that “it won’t work out,” then what’s the point of taking on it? Wasting time and money?

- Well, in general, yes. You need to answer yourself the question: how important is this for you, how much do you reject possible failure?

If you decide to work for yourself, i.e. in some way become an entrepreneur (which, in general, is not always the same thing), then in your activities you will more than once change not only the product you will sell, but also the location of your stores, and the form of organization, and key employees etc.. You will have several projects (areas of activity, product groups), some of them will be profitable, and some will be unprofitable. There will be mistakes in your activities, which are an integral part of any development, any purposeful activities. The word “entrepreneur” comes from the word “to undertake” - i.e. you will constantly have to move, be on the lookout, ideally a little ahead of the others, and this is impossible without some kind of risk, even a very small one.

If you mean to engage in any activity that will be guaranteed to generate profit, then put the money in a bank deposit. Bank interest- profit for those who want guarantees.

If you are planning to engage in entrepreneurial activity, then there are only probabilities and opportunities. And if you want some universal formula, which guarantees success for you in your very first business project, then I don’t know one. Maybe it does exist.

- Well, damn it, what if you take retail space in a pass-through place in the city center, bring clothes - is it really possible to fly through? In the center, right? Clothes, I see, they take them everywhere, at any price. It seems to me that the days have already passed when people looked at the price of clothes. Do you remember how it used to be - even the expressions were “they got a new coat” - it was a whole event, and such clothes were worn for years. And now, every year people buy something new for themselves. It’s the same with shoes - they’ve been worn for a year, fashion has changed - you need to buy new ones. Clothes and shoes are now bought almost as often as bread. It seems to me that this is a win-win option...

- Well, this is already very close to my point of view that it is better to start with traditional options tested by others. Personally, I like Chichvarkin’s entrepreneurial concept - “if someone is selling something somewhere, then stand next to it and sell it cheaper.”

The more traditional the business you start with, the better - you will get better at it and learn to see the opportunities that will allow you to stand out among your competitors.

However, I am skeptical about the idea of ​​​​certain “guaranteed” scenarios - such as “in the center”, “a hot commodity that will definitely always be taken.” Everything is interconnected - the closer to the center, the more expensive the rent. The more expensive the rent, the higher your prices, and so on. All gears in this mechanism are interconnected.

- How about this thought? You know, they say that you should go into business only if you have some kind of unique idea, which has not yet been sold by anyone, some kind of revolutionary product. Maybe I shouldn't do business until I come up with something innovative, some unique product?

- Here I categorically disagree. In my opinion, the concept “we need to offer some new, revolutionary product” is wrong. At least you don't need to start there. Build at least one that works stably trading system in a traditional business, you will have no shortage of innovative ideas. You will see such a field of activity and development options that you will have something to make money on even without any revolutionary products, if you are not lazy.

Or maybe, indeed, over time you will come up with a successful innovative idea about a unique product, which you, having experience in entrepreneurial activity, will be able to competently and effectively implement. This is exactly the situation when the seeds fall on fertile, prepared soil. But one innovative idea is not enough - if you cannot implement it, you will be completely disappointed in business. You need to at least practice a little in working with these business mechanisms: sales, purchasing, relationships with partners, relationships with staff, reporting and accounting.

Do you know how many potential “brilliant businessmen” have not even reached the stage of obtaining a certificate of state registration individual entrepreneur? It's so difficult! I know several of them.

This applies not only to registration, but to any “technical” aspects of doing business. When you own technology, it will be easier for you to evaluate “innovative” products from the point of view of... a businessman.

Yes, precisely from the point of view of a businessman. From time to time people appear who have come up with another “unique product” that may be truly unique, but... on which you cannot make money. You should not be misled by the revolutionary nature of the product; this alone is not enough to make a profit from business.

Previously, the show “Capital” was broadcast on TNT, to which people came different people with its innovative products, which were looking for investors among the famous capitalists of our country. 90% of “innovators” stalled and broke down when asked by potential investors “tell me how I can make money using your product?”

- Listen, I still don’t understand what should I trade? It still makes a difference what to trade - shoes or medicines, food or clothes?

- Let's do it this way. I'll speak for myself. Look, since I believe that it doesn’t matter where to start or what to trade, then start with what you like best. That's all. This will be my advice to you. If you like clothes, do clothes, you like it household chemicals- learn to sell it. It's your business. The main thing here, in my opinion, is to master business technologies - sales, purchasing, etc.

And vice versa - successful entrepreneur can make money from almost anything he undertakes. And if it doesn’t work out, then this is not a reason to stop doing business - one more project - one less project. Therefore, it is strategically more profitable to “upgrade” yourself than the product. It doesn’t matter what you are going to trade, your chances of success depend on it very little.

Figuratively speaking, before doing scientific discoveries, learn to at least read and write - this is the basis.

This is my opinion, use it as you wish.

The main conclusion of this article:

For retail sales, choosing WHAT to trade is not as important as WHERE to trade. In a good place, almost EVERYTHING will sell well. And vice versa, if the location is bad, then you will have to experiment with the assortment and specialization of the store.

In some life situations A problem arises when there are not enough material resources. In this case, people often wonder what to sell to make money. Although in some situations, entrepreneurs who are just starting their own business do the same thing.

Products from a Chinese manufacturer

There was a time when buy-sell relationships flourished. However, it has long passed. Currently, in-demand products can be sold using a method such as dropshipping. Its essence is quite simple and does not require virtually any costs from its performer. This is the usual delivery of products from its manufacturer to its buyer. Using this method, you can earn good money by selling products from China. The best-selling products have always been and will be made in China, since their cost is less than that of other producing countries. The advantage of such a sale is that there is no need to invest your cash, since the goods are paid for in advance by the buyer. This same point guarantees that there will be no downtime of products, they will be in circulation all the time.

Using an Internet bulletin board

Since this is the 21st century, it would be logical to ask the question of what to sell on the Internet to make money. Today there are many free Internet sites that operate on the principle of a bulletin board. In addition, such sites are completely free, which means it costs nothing to post information about selling your product. All these sites are quite similar to each other, and therefore the rules and list of what can be implemented there are approximately the same. Here is a small list of products that you can try to sell through online bulletin boards:

  1. Personal items that have become unnecessary for some reason.
  2. You can buy various products and resell them, receiving interest on sales.
  3. Sale of goods wholesale.

In addition to using existing platforms, you can create your own Internet portals on which you can post various lucrative offers for the sale of products. If you ask people who specialize in sales what to sell to make money, they will list roughly the following categories:

  • Gold, silver and other jewelry items, except those owned by the family as heirlooms.
  • You can sell a product such as cosmetics from a large company. True, to do this you need to become a representative of such a company.

What to sell to make good money?

Very interesting option sales of goods may, at first glance, become rubbish, which ordinary people not needed for nothing. However, there is a type of people called collectors. This segment of the population is quite capable of purchasing for a large sum, for example, some kind of badge or coin, which to the average person would seem like a trinket that has no value. In some cases, the answer to the question of what to sell to make money may be antiques and other valuables belonging to different collections. It is more difficult to sell them, since first you need to spend a sum on their purchase, and then find the same collector who will pay even more than the amount for which the item was purchased.

This also includes residents rural areas, since they earn a good income from selling vegetables, fruits, dairy products, etc. Some entrepreneurs buy large volumes of products from villagers, and then resell them in the city at a higher price. This type of activity can also be attributed to the answer to the question of what is profitable to sell.

What do people buy?

When the question arises about making money by selling something, it is always worth remembering that there are areas that will be in demand always, everywhere, and at any time. What to sell to earn money quickly and a lot? One of these areas is real estate. Selling and buying housing will always be in trend, since no one wants to live on the street. This method of earning money requires certain investments, but the right approach will allow you to quickly return the amount spent and earn interest. It's about about the resale of private houses, apartments or garages, for example.

When constantly monitoring various advertisements, you may come across one in which the owner writes about the urgent sale of a home, for example. The reason for this may be leaving, reluctance to search for a buyer for a long time, etc. In such cases, sellers are very often ready to make concessions and reduce the amount from the initial one by 10-15%. It is precisely such proposals that you need to look for. Having bought real estate at a reduced price, all that remains is to add interest and resell it. Thus, you can earn a lot of money without doing practically anything.

What can you quickly sell online?

As mentioned earlier, when wondering what to sell to make money, you should turn your attention to the Internet. However, message boards are not all that can generate income. Despite the fact that almost everything that can be bought is available on the Internet, and the demand, as well as the supply, is great, there are areas in which demand is clearly greater than supply. These categories include the following products:

  1. Clothes and shoes for children and teenagers. Such products are always in use, because, as you know, children grow quickly. We have to buy new things almost every year, which means that the demand will be constant and large.
  2. Various products used at home and in offices.
  3. Real estate and cars.
  4. Original and beautiful photographs are less in demand, but still in demand.

Although it is worth noting that it is much more difficult to make money selling photos, since photo banks that accept photographs have very high requirements.

Most often, when deciding to start a business, people choose trade. This is due to the fact that such activities do not require special knowledge, are accessible to everyone, and with persistence and proper organization business can bring good profits. Despite the fact that there are a huge number of markets, shops and supermarkets in Russia, their number has not yet reached saturation.

Thus, according to statistical data, retail space per capita in our country is almost two times less than in Western Europe. When planning to start trading, first of all you should decide on the product that you will offer to customers. You can make money by selling any product. What is profitable for you to trade on the market depends on your preferences, connections and life experience

  • . Without going into details, there are several large groups of goods that are usually offered in retail trade in markets and small shops:
  • foodstuffs:
  • clothing and shoes;
  • household and personal hygiene products;
  • goods for renovation and construction;

tools and household appliances.

Once you have determined your product niche, the next step in starting a business is choosing a location. It is an axiom that the best places are located in the path of human flow - entrance and exit, central passages near parking lots. However, rental prices here are the highest. If you do not have experience and “buffer” capital for the first time, then it is better to start not from the most prestigious places, but choosing a counter in the “corral” is a deliberately losing option.

Trade in food products Food products are of greatest interest. Indeed, no matter how complex economic conditions

have not developed in the country, the first problem for the head of the family will always be the task of feeding his loved ones. But for the same reason, competition in this market segment is very high.

If you decide to sell food, you will be forced to compete not only with your neighbors at the counter, but also with supermarkets and retail chains. Naturally, your financial capabilities cannot be compared with Pyaterochka, Magnit or Auchan. What can you trade profitably on the market in such difficult conditions? The answer is very simple - the same thing that these network giants sell, but offer the buyer something that these giants cannot offer. How to survive and succeed in such conditions. It should be understood that when trading, for example, eggs produced even on your own farm, you cannot offer more low prices , than in. The secret is to create your own circle of buyers. It is well known that buyers most often prefer “their own and trusted” sellers, even if their prices for some goods are higher than those of their neighbors.

It is necessary to establish informal relationships with customers. In this case, they can give you their phone number to message you about a special or cheap item. You just can’t abuse such contacts. Intrusiveness can play a cruel joke on you. Consider the specific characteristics and needs of your regular customers. Such contacts are very useful on the eve of major holidays.

Read also: How to open a butcher shop from scratch: business plan

Now it is profitable to trade in “village products”, which buyers associate with the absence of chemicals and antibiotics.

However, to meet the requirements of this consumer group, suppliers must be selected very carefully. Indeed, today, due to the availability of veterinary materials and pesticides, there is a high risk of their uncontrolled use in private households. The product display should be as attractive as possible. Buyers usually like the presence of price tags with additional information . For example, if the product indicates its origin or characteristics (“tomatoes open ground " or "ambassador using sea ​​salt

" and so on). Selling meat on the market is a very profitable business

. There are a lot of people (with different income levels) who buy meat exclusively at the market. Only at the market you can communicate with the seller, “smell and touch” this specific product.

In Russia, long-term close cooperation with sellers and people who raise animals on private farms is quite common. In this case, the seller also acts as a supplier of feed, veterinary drugs and other goods (including household goods). Such cooperation is beneficial to both parties. Given the vast distances in our country, it is most often not profitable for a small producer from remote areas to sell meat in the markets of large cities.

Trading fish at the market is, to a certain extent, similar to trading meat products. But fish is an even more perishable product than meat, so the profitability of such trade very much depends on the efficiency of working with suppliers.

Trade in fruits and vegetables in markets is very common. Previously, these were strictly seasonal products. Today at winter period It is quite possible to trade imported or greenhouse products. It is profitable to retail products from Central Asia on the market. Nuts, dried fruits and spices are also in strong demand in Russia. A significant advantage of this group of food products is their fairly long shelf life.

Price fluctuations for fruits and vegetables are quite large. An important role here is played by the fact that these goods, for the most part, are perishable. Prices for them can drop significantly in one day or, conversely, increase depending on the arrival (absence) of a large batch of any product.

Trade in clothing and footwear

Markets most often sell clothes and shoes of low and medium price categories. Wealthy people prefer to buy expensive exclusive and branded goods in boutiques or even abroad. The profitability of trading goods of this range strongly depends on the reliability and competitiveness of prices from suppliers or the presence of direct connections with foreign wholesale markets. The personality of the seller plays a very important role here. We all know the category of people who are able to convince people to buy any item because “you look like a million in this jacket/coat.”

We bet that you have ever visited a local bazaar or collective farm market? Or maybe you dream of opening your own outlet there? And what? It's warm, light and flies don't bite. You are your own boss—trade whether you like or not. Complete independence and independence from the employer. Moreover, the state can help you with this with money - in the amount of 58 thousand rubles. How? Read carefully!

The site has already written about that. In this article, due to numerous requests from readers, we will give several useful tips and give full instructions- how to do it.

So, if you decide to start working for yourself for the first time, then you are entitled to help from the state - a subsidy for Federal Targeted Employment Program. According to the program, everyone who wants to start their own business is paid free financial assistance in the amount of 12 months of unemployment benefits. In 2018, state financial assistance to a start-up entrepreneur is 58,800 rubles. This first step on the way to its own market independence.

How can an entrepreneur get a subsidy to develop his own small business?

Before applying for this subsidy, you must be officially unemployed. For a period of at least a month. This requires registration with your local State Center Employment of the Population (PPE). During the unemployed month, reject all vacancies offered by the center. Let's make a reservation right away. Unfortunately, this instruction does not work for people who have violated the registration rules of the employment center; having a criminal record; receiving an old-age pension; full-time students at a university; fired from previous place work under a court decision; who completed their entrepreneurial activity less than 6 months ago. For the rest, as we say in Russia, “welcome to the club.” In other words, in Russian - welcome, dear citizen!

Having resolved all the formalities with the Entertainment Center, you can begin to receive a subsidy. According to federal program, in most regions it is the central control center that is responsible for financial assistance entrepreneurs.

To do this, you should contact the center’s specialists to find out what targeted assistance programs exist in the region and what is needed to participate in them. You may have to take a short test to identify entrepreneurial knowledge.

After clarification, as a rule, you need to describe your own project in detail in a small business plan. This is where it comes second step to their own market independence. Yes Yes. In the business plan submitted to the Employment Center, you need to write about what the point of sale will be, assortment, ways of promotion, expected profit and other details. If you can’t handle it yourself, then knowledgeable intermediaries will arrange good plan for a small cost.

A business plan, a statement of desire to receive a subsidy and other documents must be submitted to the Center for Significance. Where within 10 days, after consideration of the application, the final decision will be made. You may have to defend your own project before the city commission. If the decision is positive, you need to move on to third step. Registration of an individual entrepreneur (you can do this automatically using the link) and opening a current account. It is to this account that the subsidy will be transferred in the amount of 58,800 rubles.

This amount will be used to rent retail space at the local market and purchase the initial batch of goods.

How to organize proper and profitable trading in the local market

Of course, if an entrepreneur had just taken the first steps towards trading, then he was on the market only as a buyer. And he has his own idea of ​​​​market trading. Most often, the ideas are somewhat erroneous or too ideal. The market, like any other trading establishment, functions according to laws and established traditions.

1. More sellers - fewer buyers. After making a purchase, we think: at a certain purchase price, how much does the seller earn if he serves 10 customers in a day? What if there are 20 buyers? Stop. Unfortunately, we forget that the purchasing flow has its ceiling. Demand is not flexible, increasing the number of offers does not increase sales. Therefore, when deciding on the assortment, you should not stand in a row where all merchants have the same type of product. It turns out that the number of buyers has not increased, but there are more offers. Who will be left without profit?

The market has not been open for the first time, the number of sellers dealing with a similar assortment has self-balanced - the extra ones, with poor profit indicators, have changed their trading orientation. Do you want to follow their path?

To organize your own retail outlet, you need to think about the product range. Ideally, find something that is in demand, but is not yet on the market.

2. Demand creates supply. Not the other way around. Everything is simple here. If the product does not work, it needs to be changed. None - I like it, which means my customers will like it too. The winner in the market is the one who satisfies the buyer, not his own ambitions.

Pareto principle: 20% of effort gives 80% of the result. That is, in relation to trade, 20% of the assortment brings 80% of the profit. You need to find that 20% and focus on it. Not forgetting about the rest of the range. The buyer does not go to an empty shop.

3. It’s not the place that makes the man. It determines the range of sales. The market has an entrance and a general trading area. Those trading at the entry level can expect impulse selling. That is, a product with everyday demand and random demand. Food, groceries, household utensils and the like. In places not located on the aisle, these are exactly what they are given to beginners ( good places occupied for a long time), such goods sell poorly. There you should sell what the buyer will come for - special, narrowly targeted and characteristic goods. For example, a pavilion with yarn and fabrics; everything for fishermen; cosmetics and more.

The main disadvantage of this approach is that it is necessary to constantly attract buyers. Advertising at the entrance, banners, announcements over the local public address system are a prerequisite for successful trading.

4. Money loves counting. When starting your own business, you need to evaluate everything possible risks. Products without demand, rent increases, taxes are expenses independent of income. That is, the primary risk. Without compensation capital, when the month may end in negative territory, it is not worth starting such a business. As a rule, this amount should be enough for 3 months of the existence of a retail outlet without profit. That is, payment of all risks must come from this reserve amount.

5. “First you taste...”. Main mistake all newcomers - having not experienced all the “charm” of trading, they immediately hire sellers. Thus, they completely lose control over demand and do not study all the subtleties, for example, the influence of location on sales volume. An employee works for a salary. The owner is down to business. That is, without trying yourself in trading, you cannot draw conclusions about its success. It's better to do this with someone you trust (a friend or relative). But not with a hired worker.

How to start successful trading on the collective farm market

Undoubtedly, government assistance is a big plus for those who want to open their own business and choose the most affordable option - opening a retail outlet on the market. Subsidies, preferential loans and others local programs, depending on the region of residence, remove the last barriers between unemployment and a person’s financial independence. All that remains is to increase this capital: rent retail space, find a product range, attract buyers.

Profitable niches for trading: pilaf via the Internet, knives, optics and much more.

Since the establishment of commodity-money relations, trade has been one of the most profitable types business. However, during a crisis, the question of what is profitable to trade becomes especially relevant. Which product will definitely be in demand: already known and “promoted” or innovative? Low or high price category? Domestic or imported?

To understand which product to choose for promotion, you should analyze the market situation in various segments, its development prospects, evaluate sales channels and the level of competition.

Market situation

Nowadays, citizens' incomes are declining, and this entails a decrease in their purchasing power. According to Rosstat, in 2015, real disposable income of Russians fell by 4%, and in the 1st quarter of 2016 - by another 3.9%.

According to Romir research, approximately 70% of our compatriots in 2015-2016. began to save up to 10% on the essentials: groceries, clothing, shoes, and other non-food items of daily demand.

Sociologists distinguish four types of buyers depending on their chosen cost-saving strategy (see Table 1).

Table 1. “Portraits” of buyers

Buyer type

Signs

Behavior

"Optimizer"

Men over 45 years of age living in major cities

Refusal from expensive brands (21%), transition to cheaper ones (31%)

"Rationalist"

People with high level income

They make a list of proposed purchases (29%) and always follow it

"Bargain Hunter"

Women 35-44 years old, citizens with low level income, residents of small towns (100-500 thousand people)

They purchase goods mainly through promotions (19%)

"Thrifty"

Residents of small settlements, low income people

They stock up on food for future use (16%), go shopping less often to keep their budget under control (22%)

Similar trends are observed in online sales (see Fig. 1).

*Data is presented excluding online orders of prepared food, tickets, digital goods, and wholesale purchases

In 2015, according to Vedomosti, they grew by only 3% taking into account inflation (excluding - by 16%). This is 2.5 times less than in 2014 (8% taking into account inflation). In the average online store, the receipt “grew” by 8% and amounted to 4,050 rubles, the number of orders also increased by 8% (increase to 160 million)

According to Data Insight statistics, from electronics and household appliances Buyers' interest has shifted to budget products: inexpensive clothes and consumer goods. At the same time, the share of premium brands and expensive goods has decreased. The leaders are sporting goods, products for animals and children's assortment.

Summary: the market situation makes us think about forming a sufficient wide range, designed for an audience interested in saving. At the same time, the quality must be acceptable, since competition in the low and medium segments has been and remains high. The sales strategy should be focused on different categories of citizens and take into account their preferred methods of saving.

What do buyers want?

Let's look at what products are profitable to trade today, using the example of successful startups and the most popular franchises (according to Forbes 2016).

Food products: pilaf via the Internet

Food products are classified as essential. Even in times of austerity, buyers will never exclude them from consumer basket. This means you can take your place in this niche. This is exactly what the young entrepreneur Ilkhom Ismailov did. In 2014, he opened an online Uzbek food store, Plov.com.

Start-up capital- 1 million rubles from my own savings - spent on furnishing the kitchen and creating a website for accepting orders.

At first, the entrepreneur and his partners sold only pilaf, but in 2015 they expanded the range and began offering sweets, salads, manti, and baked goods: sales increased by 88%. The revenue of the online store in the period from January to April 2016 increased by 2 times compared to the same period last year.

Our immediate plans include creating a franchise (there are already about 200 requests from potential franchisees) and opening a business offline: “We understand that we need to go offline,” says Ilkhom Ismailov. — In summer, people try to spend more time on outdoors, in parks. We have to be where our client is.”

At the end of 2015, I. Ismailov became the winner of the “Young Billionaire School”, held annually by Forbes, and his project was recognized as one of the most promising.

Cooking at home: knives for amateur cooks

During the crisis, people began to visit cafes and restaurants less, but at the same time they still want to eat tasty and beautiful food. Entrepreneur Alexey Yakovlev noticed this trend and entered into an agreement with the largest manufacturer of steel and ceramic knives, Samura Cutlery. By promoting the products of this company in the middle price category, you can interest amateur cooks in them. The idea has justified itself: today the Samura franchise (TOP 5 in the Forbes rating of 2016) operates 250 points of sale (23 opened in 2015).

The initial investment is 250,000 rubles: it involves the cost of equipping a retail outlet and purchasing a starting batch of knives. The franchisee's revenue is 3.75 million rubles, profit - 2 million rubles (knives are sold with a 160% markup).

Good vision at a price

The demand for health products is consistently high. This explains the success of Icraft Optics - the federal retail network stores that sell ready-made glasses and make them to order (has its own workshop for turning lenses). Franchise TOP-12 Forbes rating. Currently there are 130 of its own and 350 franchise points (120 opened in 2015).

Geography of business - more than 100 cities. Royalties and lump sum are missing. For the starting fee (1.4 million rubles), franchisees receive retail, lighting, medical equipment and the base batch of goods.

The franchisor offers partners the opportunity to make up to 300% of the retail markup and, as a bonus, gives 50% compensation for advertising costs.

Revenue - 6 million rubles, franchisee profit - 3 million rubles.

For children's creativity

Most parents consider investing in the younger generation to be paramount and most profitable, therefore, among everything that is now profitable to trade, goods for children occupy one of the first places. Let's look at them in more detail.

If we talk about the offline format, the franchise for selling creative kits “Orange Elephant” is successfully promoting (TOP 15 in the Forbes rating): 10 of its own and 422 franchise points. Franchisors have their own production in China of kits for drawing, modeling, design, and decoration. Today it is one of the most recognizable and rapidly growing chains of goods for children, represented in 61 cities in Russia, as well as in the CIS, Europe, Asia, and South Africa. In 2015, 85 new Orange Elephant locations opened.

Initial investment - 250 thousand rubles. Estimated revenue - 7.5 million rubles, profit - 1.9 million rubles.

What is profitable to sell online?

Today, almost anyone can create their own online store. But not everyone knows what to fill it with. The editors of Segodnya invited experts to clarify this issue. Here are some of the categories they recommend for promotion and their marketing features that are worth paying attention to (see Table 2).

Table 2. What is profitable to trade on the Internet?

What to pay attention to

  • high demand (seasonal holidays, birthdays, memorable dates, etc.)
  • you can sell goods own production with markup up to 300%
  • high competition, including with large online platforms and retail souvenir stores
  • seasonality (high season - from May to August, peak - before the holidays)
  • the ability to order delivery of the most popular items - food and filler, which usually have a large volume, so it can be inconvenient to pick them up from the supermarket
  • good decision for those who do not have a pet store near their home
  • products with a long shelf life, so they are ordered at a significant interval: you will have to engage in active promotion
  • during a crisis, many switch to feeding animals by-products

Hobby goods ( diamond mosaic, wool for felting, paints, brushes, paper for decoupage) and collecting (stamps, coins, antiques)

  • enthusiastic people are a grateful audience: they will always find funds for their hobby
  • It is not profitable to maintain an offline store on this topic, since the goods are not essential, but in the online version it is profitable (less overhead costs, lower price, higher demand)
  • Many people hesitate to purchase collectible goods via the Internet due to the risk of counterfeits
  • goods are not cheap, so demand for them during a crisis will be limited

Goods for recreation and tourism

  • All more people focus on active and country holidays
  • delivery of large and bulky goods to the apartment is attractive
  • difficult to find suppliers (China does not suit everyone)
  • a lot of imports - currency risks
  • seasonal demand
  • many competitors

But not everything depends on the popularity of a particular product. In order for trading to be successful, professionals recommend selling what you yourself are well versed in. If the seller is an expert in his product, the buyer trusts him and quickly becomes a regular, recommending him to his friends. This must be taken into account when choosing your trading niche.