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eCommerce is already responsible for $4 trillion in annual sales, a number that will only continue to grow in the coming years. Online shopping currently accounts for 12% of the worldwide retail market, thanks in large part to some industry giants like Amazon and eBay. It’s not all about the big businesses though, as recent years have seen the rise of many smaller online retailers into major players.
What are the TOP 10 hottest online shopping brands out there today? Which stores are making waves on social media? Where can you find all the trendiest items without even leaving the couch? Read on to find out!
Kylie Jenner is everywhere these days. The former “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” child star is now an adult with well over 100 million Instagram followers and nearly $1 billion in net worth. Considering those impressive facts, it’s no surprise that her “Kylie Cosmetics” line has become one of the trendiest brands in the world.
Kylie Cosmetics launched in late 2015 and is already valued at $800 million, thanks in no small part to Jenner’s status as an elite social-media influencer. That’s not the only reason for the success of Kylie Cosmetics though, as the brand receives excellent customer reviews, plus none of the products are animal-tested, and they offer many vegan products.
ASOS is all about the inclusivity. The fashion retailer has an official partnership with GLAAD, with whom they cross-promote a popular gender-neutral clothing line. In addition, ASOS offers all of their clothes in an astounding 30+ sizes, meaning they have great looks for all bodies — whether that’s plus-sized, petite, or anywhere in between! In addition, ASOS has more than 200 models for their fashion lines, and they don’t do any airbrushing of their photos either.
Originally launched in the United Kingdom, ASOS expanded into the United States in 2012, when they opened their New York office. Since then, their presence in the U.S. online retail sphere has continued to expand, and their mobile-friendly web design is a big reason why. ASOS says that over half of their sales take place in their mobile app, which is a great way to stay relevant in today’s increasingly mobile-focused tech space.
Since 2015, Lisa Says Gah has bridged the gap between fashion and inspiration. The online women’s clothing retailer offers a wide array of environmentally friendly threads, while also providing a surprisingly in-depth blog that includes interviews with designers, discussions of new trends in fashion, and a wonderful feature called “Film Friday” that takes a look at fashion in popular movies.
If that’s not enough to get would-be customers to give Lisa Says Gah a shot, they also provide a 15% discount to all new customers, and their clearance section is to die for! Based in San Francisco, Lisa Says Gah also has a brick-and-mortar shop in the Bay Area, and if you’re lucky you can catch one of their pop-up shops in New York.
Sure, online shopping is great — but don’t you ever miss going to the mall? Orchard Mile strives to bring the experience of a large boutique to your computer screen, offering products from a variety of reputable brands, including Adam Lippes and Fivestory. Orchard Mile also sells way more than just clothing, with full collections of home furnishings for every room in the house, and a great selection of shoes, bags, and accessories.
All told, Orchard Mile offers selections from nearly 200 designers and brands, and they also have an official partnership with Saks Fifth Avenue. Orchard Mile allows customers to shop this wide variety while still maintaining the convenience of a shared shopping cart, meaning checkout is a breeze no matter how much you buy!
Though the site is owned by consumer retail giant Williams-Sonoma, West Elm carves out its own niche by offering products with a homemade feel. The vast majority (over 90%) of West Elm’s products are designed in-house, which means their prices are quite affordable. Additionally, they offer vast selections of handmade items, as well as organically sourced and Fair Trade Certified products.
One attribute that puts West Elm over the top is the fact that they were the first home goods retailer in the United States to offer their customers Fair Trade goods. Finally, while West Elm does have a brick-and-mortar presence as well, their website has all of their locally sourced products in one place. Sure, they might be a bit more established than some of the other companies in this article, but their online footprint is still seemingly growing by the day.
Think of ban.do as the grown-up equivalent of Lisa Frank. This Los Angeles-based retailer embodies SoCal’s “fun in the sun” side without any of the pretentiousness, selling clothing and accessories, as well as gift items and even some office supplies. We were serious with the Lisa Frank comparison — some of ban.do’s most popular items are their Trapper Keeper-esque daily planners, covered in flowers and sunshine.
Originally launched by two friends as a hair accessories shop, ban.do got their big break in 2011 when they collaborated with Taylor Swift on a line of hair products. Today, they sell lots of fun, breezy items in conjunction with some of the biggest brands in the world, including Starbucks.
Online retail is great for many lines of business, but window treatment certainly didn’t seem like an industry that would easily convert to the medium. Decorative Films solved that problem with their new Product Visualizer, a web-based tool that allows customers to see what the company’s dynamic window coverings look like in different environments. While the phrase “virtual showroom” is often just a clever way of saying “our website has pictures,” Decorative Films truly brings the concept to life.
Throw in their free two-day shipping and free samples, and it’s clear that Decorative Films is doing everything they can to bring the showroom to your living room. Most importantly, their window treatments look expensive, but don’t actually break the bank — always a welcome attribute for any retailer, online or otherwise.
In many ways, a nursery faces many of the same issues a window treatment retailer runs into when selling online: it’s hard to tell what their products will look like in your home. Prairie Moon solves that problem with their unique “mix and match” feature that allows you to order up to 38 potted plants from as many as six different species. This allows customers to get a feel for how their plants will blend in with each other before they buy.
Based in small-town Minnesota, Prairie Moon Nursery is a prime example of how online retail is expanding the reach of businesses in every corner of the country. Their environmentally friendly attitude is a big part of their identity, as Prairie Moon Nursery sells only native plants that can assist in ecosystem restoration and endangered species protection.
The growth of the American coffee market over the last couple decades has been nothing short of astounding. Today, well over half of all Americans regularly drink coffee, and specialty coffee sales are increasing by about 20% every year! Being part of a trend like that certainly isn’t a bad idea, but at the same time it’s hard to stand out in an industry with such heavy competition.
THRIVE Farmers sells high-end coffee and tea products in partnership with the farmers that grow them, which THRIVE refers to as their “Farmer-Direct” model. While there are countless coffee companies advertising sustainability these days, THRIVE’s claim to fame is that they make it easy to acquire mass quantities of top-quality beverages while also supporting sustainable farming practices.
As the coffee supplier for the entirety of Chick-fil-A’s 2,000+ restaurants, it’s clear that THRIVE has no problem filling even the largest orders, while still being fair to the farmer — and respecting their land. Even if you’re just buying coffee for yourself, THRIVE’s robust online store has a myriad of great options for every taste and budget.
Based in Manhattan, with an additional physical retail store in Seattle, Totokaelo offers the options of a big-box department store with the personal touch of a designer shopping event. Selling trendy clothing and artistic home goods, Totokaelo provides upscale, fashion-forward items for discerning modern shoppers. Totokaelo’s website markets their products in creative ways, including through their series of online editorials, which serve as a sort of fusion between art, fashion, and literature.
Totokaelo’s products aren’t for everyone — even if you can afford them — but they certainly know how to market to their niche. Whether online or at a physical retailer, where else are you going to find upscale reed diffusers and experimentally designed winter parkas in the same place, if not at Totokaelo?
