Best-Selling Amazon Seasonal Products: How to Find and Drive Sales
Every Amazon seller dreams of increasing their sales, and one effective way to achieve this is by capitalizing on spikes in demand. Seasonal products offer great opportunities to leverage these peaks and earn high profits. However, selling these types of items successfully requires a well-planned strategy.
In this article, we’ll explore a variety of seasonal products, show you how to identify the best-selling ones, and share expert tips to boost your Amazon seasonal sales.
Table of contents
What Are Seasonal Products?
Seasonal products are items that see a surge in demand during specific times of the year, such as holidays, changes in weather, or special events. For example, pumpkin decorations sell well during Halloween but have much lower demand throughout the rest of the year. These contrast with evergreen products, like kitchen utensils, which maintain steady sales year-round.
To generate a profit from seasonal products, it’s important to understand their characteristics and demand cycles. Here are the main types:
Holiday-based products: Items that peak during specific holidays, such as Christmas decorations or Mother’s Day gifts.
Event-based products: Products tied to special occasions like graduation gifts or back to-school supplies.
Seasonal & weather-related products: Items influenced by climate, such as winter coats, swimwear, or gardening tools.
While seasonal products can boost sales for your Amazon store, seasonality alone isn’t a guarantee that selling a product will be a worthwhile opportunity. In the next section, we’ll explore how to determine whether an item is truly profitable and worth investing in.
How to Determine if a Seasonal Product is Profitable
The potential for a product to generate a profit depends on multiple factors, including competition, demand, associated costs, and more. Evaluating these elements is crucial in order to make informed decisions about which seasonal products to sell.
However, assessing profitability in the Amazon marketplace can be time-consuming and challenging. To streamline the process, it's best to use specialized tools that are designed to help sellers save time and gain valuable insights that are difficult to gather manually, such as product sales volume. Among these tools, AMZScout stands out for its accuracy and user-friendly interface.
Here is how to use it:
1. Install the AMZScout PRO AI Extension. Sign up with your email address to start a free trial and access the features.
2. Look up a product. Enter a product name (for example, such as “water shoes”) into Amazon’s search bar. Open the AMZScout extension by clicking the icon in the top-right corner of your browser.
3. Analyze demand trends. Under any product that catches your eye, click Product History to examine how it has performed in previous seasons (for example, last summer or Christmas). If sales increased during that period, the product is likely to perform well again. You also need to review how prices have changed since the previous season to adjust your pricing strategy accordingly.
Pro Tip: Save products that show strong sales trends by clicking the heart icon to add them to your “Favorites” list for easy access later.
4. Determine if the product aligns with your business. Use the AI Product Analysis tool to review key advantages and potential drawbacks. This feature helps you assess whether the product fits your business strategy and if any potential risks are worth taking.
5. Calculate profitability. To calculate the expected profit, multiply the number of sales (as shown in Step 3) by the product price, then subtract the total fees (fee per product multiplied by the number of sales). If you’re using Amazon FBA, refer to the "FBA Fees" column. Ensure that the profit margin covers expenses and allows room for growth.
6. Compare and finalize your selection. Access your Favorites list and use the Product Comparison tool to analyze different options, side-by-side. This feature helps you choose the most profitable and viable products for your store.
Using AMZScout’s AI-powered tools makes finding seasonal products easier and more efficient. With access to precise data and in-depth insights, you can confidently choose products with strong profit potential, saving time and improving your decision-making process.
How to Grow Seasonal Sales on Amazon
Selecting a profitable product is key to generating revenue, but there are also strategic approaches that can help you increase sales during peak seasons. While specific tactics may vary based on personal preferences, business models, and other factors, here are a few universal proven strategies used by top Amazon sellers.
Note: Although these strategies are designed for Amazon, they can also provide valuable insights into general e-commerce best practices, as Amazon's market leadership reflects broader industry trends.
Pricing Strategies for Seasonal Sales
Adjusting your prices strategically can help to capture more customers and increase profitability. Here are a few ideas on how to do this:
Dynamic pricing: Adjust your prices based on market demand and competitor pricing.
Early-bird discounts: Offer discounts to customers who purchase early in the season, which encourages them to buy before demand peaks.
Postseason discounts: After the season ends, offer discounts on leftover stock to clear your inventory and attract price-sensitive customers.
Remember, the key is to find a balance between appealing to customers and ensuring that your pricing aligns with the value you provide, allowing you to make the most of seasonal opportunities.
Advertising for Seasonal Products
A well-executed advertising campaign ensures that your product reaches the right audience at the right time, maximizing its potential for success. There are several advertising options available, including Google Ads, social media promotions, and influencer partnerships.
For those who sell on Amazon, Amazon PPC (Pay-Per-Click) stands out as an incredibly effective method for targeting shoppers directly on the platform. With PPC, it's important to set up campaigns efficiently to maximize your budget and visibility.
One of the most critical elements of Amazon PPC is choosing the right keywords. These keywords determine whether your ads will appear in relevant search queries at the top of results, directly influencing your product's visibility. While there are different types of ads, keywords are the most vital component for efficient set-up.
Finding the Most Frequently-Searched Keywords
To ensure that you're using the most relevant keywords, you need to leverage tools that help you identify high-traffic search terms. One of the top choices is the AMZScout Amazon Keyword Search, which helps you quickly and easily assess search volume and identify new keyword opportunities. Here's how to use this tool to optimize your PPC campaigns:
1. Go to the AMZScout Keyword Search page.
2. Search for keywords. Enter a product name or related phrase into the search bar. You can refine your search by adjusting your criteria (such as keyword count and search volume) based on your specific needs.
3. Get the results. Click Find Keywords to generate a list of relevant keywords. See which ones are relevant, and which ones should be added to the negative list to avoid irrelevant clicks. Additionally, evaluate parameters such as the average CPC (Cost Per Click) on Amazon and the average monthly sales for products ranking on the first page of search results. It’s important to find the right balance between costs and results.
Note: Explore different variations and synonyms of your keywords to expand your list. By prioritizing the most relevant keywords, you can run more effective Amazon PPC campaigns that attract desirable traffic and drive sales.
By carefully selecting keywords and optimizing your PPC campaigns, you can significantly improve your product's visibility and ultimately increase your chances of success on Amazon.
Inventory Management for Seasonal Products
Effective inventory management is another crucial factor when selling seasonal products. Amazon FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon) offers a convenient solution by handling all of your storage, packing, shipping, and returns, allowing you to focus on growing your business. However, if seasonal products don't sell within their peak season, you may incur significant storage fees. That’s why it's so important to assess demand and plan your inventory carefully to avoid excess stock and unnecessary costs.
If you prefer to handle inventory management yourself, using automated stock tracking tools can help monitor your inventory levels in real time and prevent stock-outs or overstocking. During peak seasons, hiring additional support for packing and shipping can also ensure smooth operations and timely order fulfillment.
Ensuring fast, reliable shipping and minimal order cancellations also contribute to customer satisfaction, leading to positive reviews and higher seller ratings. This, in turn, builds trust and boosts long-term sales.
By applying these approaches, you can maximize your seasonal opportunities, drive sales, and improve overall profitability.
Pros and Cons of Selling Seasonal Products
Like any product, seasonal items come with both advantages and challenges. Here’s a closer look at the pros and cons:
Pros:
Higher conversion rates: During peak seasons, customers tend to make quick purchasing decisions (for example, with summer gear or holiday gifts), which can lead to a surge in impulse buys.
Higher profit margins: Due to demand spikes during certain times, you can often sell seasonal products at a premium, boosting your profit margins.
Opportunities for bundling: Seasonal products are great for bundling with related items, which can increase your average order value while offering customers more value.
Cons:
Complicated inventory management: Managing seasonal inventory can be tricky. Overestimating demand may result in excess stock after the season ends, while underestimating it could lead to missed sales opportunities.
Fluctuating revenue: Since seasonal sales come in peaks, your revenue may fluctuate, with higher earnings during the busy season and slower months during the off-season.
Marketing and advertising challenges: Effective marketing campaigns are essential to drive sales, but they can also require a significant investment. They also demand careful research and planning to ensure that you're maximizing your return on investment.
By understanding these pros and cons, you can better assess whether seasonal products are a good fit for your business and how to leverage them to drive sustainable growth.
Conclusion
Selling seasonal products on Amazon can be highly profitable if you implement the right strategy, by carefully factoring in key elements like high-demand items and effective marketing. Consider using the AMZScout toolkit to help you identify the best opportunities and boost your product’s visibility. This approach will drive more traffic to your store and maximize your sales during peak seasons.
