How Did Shopping Trends Compare in August 2019 and August 2020?

The DealNews Seller's Guide

We look at the items that resonated with DealNews readers in both August 2020 and August 2019, giving you a big-picture view of the best items to sell online this August. Plus, we go over two sales opportunities to take advantage of during the month.

We can all agree that the coronavirus pandemic made 2020 an atypical year, including for shopping. So we looked at which products were most popular with DealNews readers in August 2019, and compared those with the trending items from August 2020. That way you can get a big-picture view of the best items to sell this August. We also go over the opportunities surrounding back-to-school and Labor Day sales this month.

Let's begin by seeing how August 2019 and August 2020 compared.

Items that trended with our readers in August 2019 included household products like toilet paper, 20-packs of triple-A batteries, glass cleaner, dishwasher cleaner tablets, lime and rust removers, brooms, and bathroom scrubber refills.

You also had home improvement items like silicone sealant, super glue, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, soap dispenser extension tube kits, and air and water filters.

Then there were groceries like meat snack sticks, vegetable juice, instant ramen noodles, wasabi and soy sauce-flavored almonds, and Starbucks Mocha Frappuccino drinks.

Another popular category in August 2019 was plant- and lawn-care products like Baby Groot planters, grass seed, tree wraps, and backyard bug control spray.

Automotive items resonated with readers, too. These included razor blade scrapers, tread depth gauges, valve tools, microfiber towels, parking mats, and wash mops with telescoping poles.

Charging items like wireless earbuds with a portable charging case, 10,000 and 20,000 milli-amp-hour power banks, USB-C charging cables, and seven-point-five-watt wireless charging stands were also popular.

Office and school supplies trended, as well, and among those were eight-tab binder dividers, 12-packs of gel pens, reusable notebooks, scissors for kids, backpacks, and divider sticky notes.

Then there were popular tools like bit holders, cut-off wheels, screw extractor and bolt extractor sets, pocket screwdrivers, and refurbished cordless portable power cleaners.

Our readers also gravitated toward home products in August 2019, like travel pillows, blankets that look like tortillas, and refurbished robot vacuum cleaners.

Our final trending category was personal care items like whitening toothpaste, mouthwash, travel grooming sets, two-in-one shampoo and conditioner, and scalp massagers.

So how did the popular items from August 2020 and August 2019 compare, exactly? Products that appeared to resonate more with readers last August included home audio products, computer and tablet accessories, and kitchen items. But in August 2019, readers seemed to gravitate toward automotive items, office and school supplies, and charging products more.

Household products were very popular during both months, as were home improvement supplies; the latter was the number-two most popular category during August 2019 and August 2020.

Before we end for today, let's talk about two promotional opportunities that pop up in August: back-to-school and Labor Day sales.

August is the heart of Back to School season, but what will that look like for sellers this year? In August 2020, the National Retail Federation's Katherine Cullen told NPR that "families who last year might have been looking at calculators or maybe a new smartphone... are now looking at bigger dollar items like laptops, tablets, desktops." She added that "they're also buying things that you might not expect as much — desks, lamps, headphones — a lot of new items that weren't traditionally on the school shopping list."

The prospect of long-term virtual schooling may have influenced Back to School buying last year, but this year could mark a return to traditional Back to School purchases. Consider the school supplies that were popular with readers in August 2019, such as gel pens, scissors, and backpacks. These types of items could trend once again as we look forward to a more "normal" school year in 2021.

Along with Back to School promotions, August brings the start of Labor Day sales. The holiday falls on September 6th in 2021, so you'll want to consider the discounts or coupons you might want to offer later this month or in early September. In 2019 and 2020, our readers leaned toward Labor Day sales offering items like computers, appliances, TVs, clothing, shoes, and home items.

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