Are you curious about which products sell well on platforms like bol.com? You're not alone. Thousands of (aspiring) entrepreneurs ask themselves this question every day. Whether you're just starting out with e-commerce or want to expand your existing product line, finding the right products is the key to success. In this comprehensive article, we'll show you how to use data to find the best products, which categories are growing the fastest in 2026, and how you can stay ahead of the competition with tools like Boloo's Product Tracker and Product Database.
Which products sell well in 2026? The top categories
The Dutch e-commerce market continues to grow year after year. However, not every product category grows at the same rate. Below, you'll find an overview of the categories with the highest demand on bol.com and in the broader market in 2026.
| Category | Example products | Estimated monthly search volume | Competition level | Indicated profit margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electronics & Accessories | Wireless chargers, USB-C hubs, smartwatches | 150.000+ | High | 15-30% |
| Health & Care | Supplements, skincare, electric toothbrushes | 120.000+ | Average | 25-45% |
| Home & Garden | LED lighting, gardening tools, storage solutions | 100.000+ | Average | 20-40% |
| Sports & Outdoor | Resistance bands, yoga mats, running watches | 80.000+ | Average | 25-50% |
| Toys & Games | LEGO, board games, card games | 90.000+ | High | 15-25% |
| Clothing & Accessories | Sneakers, branded clothing, jewelry | 110.000+ | High | 30-60% |
| Pets | Food, toys, beds, care products | 60.000+ | Low-average | 25-40% |
| Baby & Child | Diapers, baby clothes, strollers | 70.000+ | Average | 20-35% |
Note: a high search volume doesn't automatically mean it's a good idea to enter that category. Competition and your margin are just as important. Use the Boloo Profit Calculator to calculate exactly what you'll be left with after commission, shipping costs, and purchase price.
Seasonal products: cleverly responding to demand peaks
In addition to evergreen products that sell throughout the year, there are seasonal products that experience huge peaks in demand at specific times. As a seller, you can cleverly respond to these peaks to significantly increase your revenue.
Spring (March - May)
In the spring, demand for garden products explodes. Think garden furniture, barbecues, planters, seeds, and outdoor lighting. Bike accessories, allergy medication, and cleaning products are also popular during this period. The trend often starts in February, so make sure your stock is ready on time.
Summer (June - August)
Swimming pools, camping gear, sunscreen, outdoor toys, and travel accessories dominate the summer months. Air conditioners, fans, and water bottles also see a strong increase in demand. Note: many sellers jump in too late - start your summer purchases in April.
Autumn (September - November)
Rain jackets, umbrellas, autumn decorations, and Halloween items sell well. Additionally, consumers start preparing for Sinterklaas and Christmas. School supplies and office supplies peak at the beginning of the season due to the start of the school year.
Winter (December - February)
The winter months are the busiest period for e-commerce. Sinterklaas, Christmas, and Black Friday create huge sales peaks. Popular products: gift sets, electronics, warm textiles (blankets, slippers, sweaters), candles, and party lights. After the holidays, demand shifts to fitness equipment and health products (good intentions).
Special Days and Events
Don't forget special days either: Valentine's Day (jewelry, chocolate), Mother's Day (flowers, perfume, gift sets), Father's Day (gadgets, tools), Animal Day (pet products), and King's Day (orange items, outdoor games). By tailoring your assortment to these moments, you maximize your revenue.
How to Discover Which Products Sell Well? Five Proven Methods
Selling successfully starts with thorough product research. Below, we describe five methods professional sellers use to identify profitable products.
1. Keyword Research on bol.com
The easiest way to discover where demand is, is by looking at what consumers are searching for. With the Boloo Keyword Explorer, you can view the search volume of every keyword on bol.com. Type in a product name, and you'll immediately see how many times this word is searched per month - including related search terms and trends over time.
For example: if you search for “electric toothbrush”, you'll see that this keyword is searched thousands of times per month. But the related search term “electric toothbrush for kids” might have less competition at comparable volume - an interesting niche.
2. Competitor Analysis with a Product Tracker
Search volume alone isn't enough. You also want to know how many sellers there are, what their prices are, and how much they sell. With the Boloo Product Tracker, you track products over time: you see daily sales, revenue, number of reviews, price fluctuations, and the number of sellers. This allows you to objectively assess whether a product is still profitable to get into.
Track multiple products simultaneously and compare their performance. After a week, you'll have enough data to make an informed decision. Tip: also track your direct competitors' products to understand their strategy.
3. Analyze bol.com Bestseller Lists
Bol.com regularly publishes bestseller lists per category. By systematically analyzing these lists, you spot trends before they become mainstream. Pay particular attention to products that quickly rise in the rankings - these are often products where demand is increasing.
Combine this data with the Boloo Product Database: search by category, filter by revenue or number of sales, and find products that meet your criteria. This saves you hours of manual search work.
4. Use Google Trends and Social Media
Trends often start outside bol.com. Google Trends shows you which search terms are increasing in popularity. Social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram are breeding grounds for new product trends - think of viral products that are sold en masse within weeks. By monitoring these sources, you can be the first to respond to a new trend.
5. Exploring Supplier Platforms
Platforms like Alibaba and local wholesalers provide insight into which products are internationally popular. If a product is already selling well abroad but is hardly available in the Netherlands, you may have found a goldmine. Always check the search volume on bol.com before making a purchase.
The Characteristics of a Profitable Product
Not every product that sells well is also profitable for you. There are specific characteristics you should pay attention to when selecting products:
Price and margin
Focus on products with a selling price between €15 and €80. Products under €15 often leave too little margin after commission and shipping costs. Products over €80 sell more slowly and require more start-up capital. Calculate your margin in advance with the Profit Calculator - aim for a minimum of 25% net margin.
Size and weight
Lightweight and compact are ideal. Heavy or bulky products cost more to ship and store, which reduces your margin. Products that fit through the mailbox often have the lowest delivery costs.
Competition level
Fewer than 20 sellers on bol.com is ideal for new sellers. More than 50 sellers? Then you really need a unique advantage (better price, own brand, superior listing) to win the buy block.
Number and quality of reviews
If the top sellers already have hundreds of reviews, it's difficult to compete. Look for products where the top listings have fewer than 50 reviews - here the market is not yet saturated. Use Boloo Email Campaigns to automatically collect reviews after sales.
Seasonal dependence
Products with constant, year-round demand are the safest for beginners. Seasonal products can be very lucrative, but require accurate timing and inventory management. Ideally, you want a mix of both.
Common mistakes in product selection
Many new sellers make the same mistakes when choosing products. Avoid these pitfalls:
1. Deciding based on intuition instead of data
The biggest mistake is choosing a product because you think it's popular, without verifying it with data. Always use search volume, sales data, and margin calculations as the basis for your decision. With Boloo, you have all the sales data you need in one dashboard.
2. Only looking at search volume
A product with 100,000 monthly searches sounds great, but if there are 200 sellers and the margins are low, you won't earn much from it. Combine search volume with competition analysis and margin calculation.
3. Starting too broad
Start with one or two products and scale up once you master the sales process. Sellers who start with dozens of products immediately lose oversight of inventory, margins, and customer service.
4. Ignoring regulations
Some products require special certifications. Electronics must comply with CE marking, food supplements with NVWA requirements, and cosmetics with EU safety standards. Always check the regulations before you purchase.
5. Underestimating the competition
Don't just look at the number of sellers, but also their profile. Are they selling via their own brand (private label)? Do they have excellent listings with professional photos? Do they offer same-day delivery? If the competition is very professional, you need a strong unique selling point.
Private label vs. trading products: which strategy suits you?
When choosing products, you have two main strategies: private label (your own brand) and trading products (reselling existing brands).
Trading products
You buy existing brand products from a wholesaler or supplier and resell them on bol.com. Advantages: low startup costs, existing brand awareness, easy to start. Disadvantages: more competition, lower margins, dependent on supplier and brand.
Private label
You develop a product under your own brand name, often produced through manufacturers on Alibaba. Advantages: higher margins (often 40-60%), less direct competition, building brand value. Disadvantages: higher startup costs, longer lead time, risk in product development.
The best strategy depends on your budget, experience, and risk tolerance. Beginners often start with trading products to learn the platform and switch to private label later for higher margins.
Product research checklist: from idea to first order
Use this step-by-step checklist to go from product idea to first purchase:
| Step | Action | Tool/Method | Goal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brainstorm product ideas | Google Trends, social media, bol.com bestseller lists | List of 10-20 potential products |
| 2 | Check search volume | Boloo Keyword Explorer | At least 1,000 searches per month |
| 3 | Analyze competition | Boloo Product Database | Less than 30 sellers for your search term |
| 4 | Track sales data | Boloo Product Tracker | At least 10 sales per day for top sellers |
| 5 | Calculate profit margin | Boloo Profit Calculator | At least 25% net margin after all costs |
| 6 | Find supplier | Alibaba, local wholesalers | Reliable supplier with good price |
| 7 | Check regulations | CE marking, NVWA, EU directives | Product meets all legal requirements |
| 8 | Order samples | Supplier | Check quality and packaging |
| 9 | Optimize listing | Boloo Listing Generator AI | Professional product page with correct keywords |
| 10 | Launch and monitor | Boloo Sales Dashboard | Daily sales and performance tracking |
Trends for 2026: which products will do well?
Based on market analysis and search trends, we predict that the following product categories will perform strongly in 2026:
Sustainable and eco-friendly products
Consumers are increasingly choosing sustainable alternatives. Reusable products (water bottles, lunchboxes, cotton pads), products made from recycled materials, and environmentally friendly packaging are seeing an upward trend. This niche often combines good margins with less competition.
Smart home and domotics
Smart plugs, wifi cameras, smart lighting, and voice-controlled devices are becoming increasingly popular. The technology is becoming more affordable, making the target audience grow. Note: electronic products require CE certification.
Health and wellness
Attention to health continues to grow. Popular subcategories: supplements, fitness accessories, massage devices, air purifiers, and ergonomic office products (with the increase in working from home). They are products that sell throughout the year.
Pet products
The Netherlands is home to millions of pets, and their owners are spending more and more on them. Niche products for specific breeds, premium food, innovative toys, and care products offer great opportunities with relatively little competition.
Personalizable products
Products that can be personalized (name stickers, engraved jewelry, custom phone cases) stand out from the crowd. Their unique character makes price comparison more difficult, which can lead to higher margins.
The role of packaging and branding in best-selling products
One aspect that many sellers underestimate is the impact of packaging and branding on your sales performance. Products with a professional look sell noticeably better and receive fewer returns. Invest in high-quality product packaging with clear product information, an attractive design, and your brand name. This strengthens customer trust and increases the chance of repeat purchases and positive reviews.
Frequently asked questions about best-selling products
How do I know if a product is profitable?
Calculate your total costs: purchase price, bol.com commission, shipping costs, packaging, and any return costs. Subtract this from your selling price. With the Boloo Profit Calculator, you can do this in seconds. Aim for a minimum net margin of 25%.
Can I start with a small budget?
Yes, start with wholesale products that you can purchase from a local wholesaler. With a budget of €500-1,000, you can already order and test a first batch of products. Also, invest in a good listing - the Listing Generator AI from Boloo can help you with this.
How many products do I need to sell to make a living from it?
This depends on your margin per product. With an average net margin of €5 per product and 30 sales per day, you can earn around €4,500 per month. Many sellers reach this level within 6-12 months.
Is it better to start in a niche or to start broad?
Starting in a niche is almost always better. You learn to master the sales process, build expertise, and can focus your marketing. Only when you have mastered your niche, do you expand to other categories.
How do I avoid buying products that don't sell?
Use data instead of intuition. Track products for at least one week with the Product Tracker, check the search volume, and first order a small test batch before making a large purchase. This minimizes your risk.
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