For many Canadians looking to earn extra income, ecommerce is proving to be one of the most lucrative side hustles. A new survey from Omnisend finds that 25% of Canadian ecommerce side hustlers make more than $1,000 per month.
The findings come as selling items online is now the most common side hustle overall, chosen by 48% of side hustlers, said Omnisend.
Among ecommerce side hustlers earning more than $1,000 per month, many are building those income streams quickly and without full-time hours: 49% launched their online business less than a year ago, while one-in-three (33%) spend fewer than 10 hours a week managing it, it said.
“Many people assume you need a huge audience, a large budget, or years of experience to succeed online, but that’s rarely the case,” said Marty Bauer, Ecommerce Expert at Omnisend. “Today’s marketplaces and social commerce platforms have lowered the barriers to entry, making it easier for people to test ideas, reach customers, and start generating income much faster than in the past.”
Among high-earning online sellers, the most commonly sold items are handmade or custom goods (25%), print-on-demand products like t-shirts or mugs (19%), and vintage or second-hand items (13%), said Omnisend.
It said high earners also use established marketplaces to reach customers:
- 57% use Amazon
- 51% use Facebook Marketplace
- 38% use eBay
- 25% use Shopify
“Successful side hustlers aren’t necessarily the ones spending the most time on their business. They’re finding products that appeal to a specific audience and using marketplaces that already attract millions of shoppers,” said Bauer. “That allows them to compete successfully even against much larger retailers – without treating it as a second full-time job.”
For those looking to build a profitable ecommerce side hustle, Bauer recommends the following:
- Solve a specific problem. Products that address a clear need or serve a passionate community tend to outperform generic items competing solely on price. Before investing heavily in inventory, test demand through pre-orders or marketplace listings.
- Build direct customer relationships from day one. Marketplaces can help generate initial sales, but you should also encourage customers to subscribe to email or SMS updates. Owning customer relationships makes it easier to grow independently of any single platform.
- Track repeat purchases, not just first-time sales. A product that generates loyal customers can be more valuable than one that sells quickly but rarely brings shoppers back.
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