The value of the global supplements market is expected to rise from $149 billion to over $240 billion from 2021 to 2028. That’s an increase of around 60%. If you want your supplements brand to succeed in this growing market, there are lots of factors to consider – from compliance and marketing to fulfillment and shipping.
In this article, we’ll discuss how to sell supplements online, including the best practices for eCommerce fulfillment and so much more.
Understanding the target market
Knowing your audience is crucial. Understanding their needs, preferences, health goals, and purchasing behaviour can help you market the right products to the right people. But it could also improve inventory management, allowing you to increase stock levels for in-demand products.
To achieve this, leverage analytics and data to track customer behaviour, preferences, and trends. This will allow you to make informed business decisions and fulfill more eCommerce supplements orders from the get-go.
Maintaining regulatory compliance and product quality
It’s also important to be familiar with regulations for your target market. For example, the EU has a comprehensive list of vitamins and minerals that can be added to food supplements, along with permitted sources from which supplements can be manufactured.
Understanding these regulations will ensure that your products are compliant for each region you’re targeting. It will also ensure high product quality and minimise the risk of any safety issues. Not adhering to regulatory compliance for supplement sales can result in hefty fines for your business.
Sustainability and ethical practices
Alongside compliance, it’s also important to consider sustainability. While it’s not obligatory like EU regulations, it could seriously impact your appeal to customers, who are increasingly eco-conscious. 78% of consumers say that a sustainable lifestyle is important to them, for instance, with 60% saying that they would pay more for products with sustainable packaging.
To remain environmentally friendly on behalf of our eCommerce fulfilment clients, Autofulfil takes the following sustainability measures:
- Packaging materials are biodegradable, paper-based, and recyclable.
- Cardboard boxes are produced with sustainable forest management practices, certified by the FSC.
- Our fulfillment centre is powered by 65% renewable energy with LED lights to reduce energy consumption.
- We plant trees to offset carbon emissions from our facilities, employee commutes, and shipping.
Effective branding and marketing
In a competitive market like eCommerce supplements, it’s vital to stand out with effective branding and marketing. You’ll need a strong brand identity and clear value proposition to set you apart from other supplements suppliers, but that’s not all. Here are some marketing must-haves to consider:
Educational content and transparency
Creating educational content can help consumers understand the benefits and uses of your supplements. It also provides an opportunity for transparency about ingredients, sourcing, and manufacturing processes.
Social media marketing
Social media allows you to connect with your audience on a regular basis. Choose platforms based on your target market, considering the distinct age demographics of Facebook versus TikTok, for example. Partnerships with influencers can give you instant credibility amongst your audience, but again it’s important to do your research in terms of which influencers are relevant for your target market.
Legal and ethical marketing practices
It’s vital that marketing is ethical and honest. Crucially, you should avoid exaggerated or unproven health claims.
Partnering for successful product fulfillment
Fulfillment is a key part of how to sell supplements online. In the beginning, many companies try to tackle it in house. When volumes rise, it becomes difficult, costly and highly time-consuming to continue on your own.
Outsourcing to a fulfillment company can ensure you continue to fulfill orders quickly and accurately. At Autofulfil, for example, we have a 99.9% rate for order accuracy and same-day fulfillment.
The best advice is to choose a partner with experience in supplement fulfillment. They will know all about managing batches and BBE dates, so your products and customers will be in safe, capable hands.
Online presence and eCommerce optimisation
Whatever you’re selling online, your eCommerce platform plays a big part. Your online store should be user-friendly, whether it’s your own Shopify site or a storefront on Amazon or eBay. Key factors include loading speed, easy navigation, and secure payment options for a seamless online experience. Below are some more important areas:
Search engine optimisation (SEO)
SEO refers to a range of practices that improve your website’s ranking in search engine results. It includes everything from optimised content and ongoing blogging to backlinks and site performance. Given that search engines are the number one method for both brand discovery and research, it’s vital that your brand is performing well in this respect.
Mobile optimisation
It’s also critical that your eCommerce site is mobile-friendly. For one, because Google predominantly uses the mobile version of websites to index and rank them. Additionally, 44% of overall online sales are from mobile devices.
Social proof
Social proof refers to the idea that people like to copy others. More broadly, it’s about people looking to their peers for reassurance. With customer reviews read by 93% of consumers before making a purchase, asking customers to leave their feedback for supplements could have a bigger impact than you think.
Subscription models and loyalty programs
It’s commonly cited that customer retention costs a lot less than acquisition. Loyalty programs and subscriptions can keep customers coming back for more. Ongoing subscriptions are particularly suited to the supplement industry, with most customers wanting to take products on a continual basis.
Take advantage of this with a subscription service to avoid losing those customers to your competitors. A subscription box is a good way to broaden the products bought by existing customers.
Diversifying your product range
In the dynamic supplement market, you can’t rest on your laurels. Expanding your product line allows you to cater to different segments of the market. That could be organic, vegan, or sports-specific supplements.
The best brands will continually innovate, keeping up with the latest wellness concepts or new ingredient trends.
Global shipping and logistics
If your supplements meet the requirements of multiple regions, what’s stopping you from selling them internationally? The answer could be shipping, but it doesn’t have to be. With the right fulfillment partner, you can ship supplements to different countries quickly and cost-effectively.
At Autofulfil, we leverage our buying power to secure discounted shipping rates with major carriers both domestically and internationally. We’re also experienced in the necessary customs paperwork when shipping products to other countries, so we can take care of that on your behalf.
Ready to grow your eCommerce supplements business?
If you’re ready to take the next step in selling supplements onlinein Ireland, Europe, and beyond,, Autofulfil can help. We’ll take care of the time-consuming fulfillment process, from picking and packing to shipping and even returns management. The result is a better service for your customers and more time for you to focus on your business.
To find out more, simply contact us today.
