Trading businesses are companies that acquire a variety of products from wholesalers and manufacturers to sell to retailers, or directly to customers. Often bigger trading enterprises have their own storage units, where they store products in bulk, readily available for shipping. Smaller trading units buy products in a small quantity, or based on the orders they receive from customers, so shipping off items might take longer for them.

Like all businesses, trading involves its fair share of risks. But it is a good start-up idea because it is a ‘low investment, high return’ type opportunity. So all you need is a deep knowledge of the market your products are geared towards, and an excellent business model to sustain your vision.

However, there are a variety of different trading markets and a multitude of products to choose from. Deciding on what items to trade can be tricky.

In this article, we bring you several ideas about the best trading business ventures that you can undertake. These ideas have been picked after studying various trading business markets in great detail and shortlisting items that will bring you success.

1. Garments

You can never go wrong with a trading company that deals in clothes because customers will always have a need for them. Not just that, customers always look forward to new styles and fresh trends. So, if you are someone who has a knack for understanding the ever-changing sensibilities in fashion, look no further.

With a little investment, you can manage a successful clothes trading business. You need to create an inventory and make it available for potential customers to see. You can either build a website or create business accounts on different social media platforms.

Remember to start small, and gradually expand your inventory once you’ve found some success. T-shirts, in particular, sell like hot cakes. But there are several trading outlets selling only t-shirts, so your catalog needs to stand out from others if you want to succeed.

2. FMCGs

Exactly like clothes, customers will always have a need for everyday items like groceries, toiletries, cosmetics, and medicines. These items fall under the big umbrella of Fast Moving Consumer Goods, which is another lucrative trading business idea. But unlike clothes, you need a big inventory of goods, because customers prefer getting most, if not all items, from a single source. Customers also tend to buy these items in big quantities.

You’ll also find more success if you have home delivery or store pick-up options, so consumers can get exactly what they need, in no time. Try including exciting offers and discounts for bulk purchases and returning customers.

3. Jewelry

Jewelry offers a new and exciting market for entrepreneurs looking to make it big in the trading industry. Like clothes, jewelry is also a fashion item, thus is always in demand. Due to the ever-rising demand for imitation jewelry, nowadays independent sellers make and sell their own jewelry without any hassle.

As a jewelry trader, you can offer to provide a marketplace for independent jewelry makers who have creative design ideas but no platform to sell their designs. You need to have a keen eye for design though. Like clothes trading, start with a small inventory and then gradually expand, offering to deliver custom-made jewelry, suited to each customer’s demand. People love to add a personal touch to their rings or necklaces, so this would definitely attract attention.

4. Books

If you’ve come this far, you must have figured that the best items to trade are necessities and essentials. Books are no different in that regard. Everybody reads books and most of them are ready to sell the ones they don’t need anymore.

Think of investing in a used-books trading business. As a used-books trader, you need to build an extensive catalog of books of all kinds. Include novels, school/college textbooks, graphic novels, travelogues, as well as the ones that are expensive or difficult to come by.

A good place to find books in a large quantity would be used-books wholesale markets. You can also include offers for your customers through which they can buy a book from you in exchange for a book they bring. You can also invest in a book store selling brand-new books, but you need a sizeable investment for that.

Now Over to you

What’s your favorite trade idea? Or do you have a more lucrative idea to share? Please let us know!