1. K-Beauty, J-Beauty and other Asian beauty products
Korean and Japanese beauty trends have exploded in popularity across the U.S. in the past decade. In 2024, Korean cosmetics claimed the top spot in the U.S. import cosmetics market, surpassing France’s Chanel and Lancome for the first time. With a market share of 22%, valued at $1.4 billion, it’s clear that consumers are eager for innovative skincare solutions.
Shoppers are always on the lookout for the next big thing — gentle ingredients, effective formulations and eye-catching packaging — and Korea and Japan are leading the charge. Retail beauty entrepreneurs can seize this opportunity by offering curated collections of Asian beauty products, whether in subscription boxes, online marketplaces or pop-up shops.
Another exciting avenue for entrepreneurs is starting a beauty concierge service, offering personal shopping assistance and tailored product recommendations. Partnerships with popular brands or distributors to deliver direct-to-consumer products are also promising.
If you’re knowledgeable about what these cosmetics can do, you could also organize workshops and create classes to educate consumers about trends, techniques and hands-on product demos.
To note, the current volatility of tariffs and trade regulations can present challenges when importing these cosmetics. Recent tariff shifts may increase costs for businesses relying on overseas suppliers. Entrepreneurs should stay informed about tariff changes and consider various sourcing strategies to maintain competitive pricing and profit margins.
2. Secondhand and vintage goods resellers
The global secondhand apparel market is projected to reach $350 billion by 2028, driven by sustainability concerns, economic challenges and a love for unique items. Online platforms like ThredUp, Depop, and Poshmark are booming for secondhand apparel resale.
Our desire to find cool forgotten treasures and keep gently used products out of the landfill does not stop with clothing. Niche vintage and secondhand resellers exist for vintage furniture (like Chairish), used sporting goods (like SidelineSwap), and musical instruments (Elderly.com) are also growing. This greater marketplace beyond clothing could be worth $64 billion by 2032.
3. Social commerce-based businesses
If you’ve ever been looking at a silly gadget on Instagram — and then clicked to buy it on the spot — you’re well aware of what it means to be swayed to purchase on social media.
Online shopping within your favorite social media platform is expected to exceed the $100 billion mark in 2025 (a 22% growth from last year).
This trend opens up opportunities for businesses to reach customers through engaging social content, shoppable posts and partnerships with influencers. Plus, with the low cost of entry, any small business can dive into social ads or collaborate with micro-influencers to boost their presence and sales.
Business owners can use social commerce to build a more direct relationship with their audience and drive highly interactive and visually engaging sales. It’s all about creating an effortless and fun shopping experience right where your customers are already spending their time.
4. Live shopping and interactive commerce
Live shopping isn’t new; consumers have been shopping via television since the 1980s. But it’s gaining a second wind thanks to TikTok and modern livestreams on e-commerce platforms.
While live shopping hasn’t caught on in the U.S. at the same pace as Alibaba’s Taobao in China, it’s gaining momentum with TikTok Shop sales rising 26% in 2024 to almost $72 billion.
If you want to move your goods in a new (old) way, add live shopping events to your retail strategy. Make a big splash to launch new products, host exclusive meet-n-greet and Q&A events, and showcase products through interactive demonstrations. And remember that limited-time offers during livestreams can help encourage sales.
5. The expanding pet industry
Got a pampered pet at home? You’re not alone. Americans spent over $147 billion on pets in 2023, and that number is still going up. This is because more people can’t help but humanize their pals, and are willing to pay more for them.
The shift in shopping habits for pets, particularly with Millennials and Gen Z, has led to increased spending on big ticket pet goods and services, as well as health and wellness products.
For pet-focused entrepreneurs, this is a golden (retriever?) opportunity. Capitalize on the growing demand for premium pet food and treats, particularly if it has the value-add of organic, grain-free or specialty diet. And there’s still a huge appetite for unique pet apparel, toys and grooming items.
6. More gig work for more gig workers
With inflation and job insecurity pushing 38% of workers to seek freelance employment, small businesses can benefit from this ample and educated workforce by outsourcing specialized tasks like marketing, customer service and web development to freelance workers.
Offer flexible roles within your business — such as remote customer support or project-based work — to appeal to gig workers who value autonomy.
Be sure to comply with your local state and federal employment laws around payroll and business insurance. And consult with a legal professional on limitations, as some large retailers have faced employee rights claims related to gig work classifications.
7. Personalized nutrition and functional foods
Products like gut-healthy kombucha, probiotic snacks and nutrient-packed smoothie kits have grown in popularity for people who want good food that they feel supports their health. And small business owners are growing the functional food market city by city, and neighborhood by neighborhood.
A subset of this trend is personalized nutrition (also called precision nutrition), which tailors a diet to a customer’s unique health goals. This could mean customized meal plans, tailored nutrition supplements, or products for specific conditions like diabetes or low energy.
Customized meals like build-your-own bowls or salads let diners tailor their breakfast, lunch or dinner to their specific dietary need, be it high-protein, low-glycemic, etc. Other opportunities for food businesses include customizable snacks, AI-powered nutrition apps and new foods and flavors with targeted health benefits.
