EP74: The best and worst ecommerce niches of 2025

In this episode of the ASOM Pod, hosts Jimmy Kim (CEO of eCom Email Marketer, formally Founder of Sendlane), John Roman (CEO of BattlBox), Amer Grozdanic (CEO of Praella), and Bryan MacDonald (Director of eCommerce at Oma’s Pride) break down one of the most debated questions in entrepreneurship: should you build a business based on passion or on skillset? From there, the crew dives into a no-BS analysis of the best and worst eCommerce business models to start in 2025, looking at the real factors that make or break a brand like margins, returns, customer support demands, marketplace competition, paid advertising performance, and evolving consumer spending trends.

What you’ll learn:

• The difference between building from passion vs. building from your actual skillset
• The best and worst eCommerce businesses to start in 2025
• Which categories have the strongest margins and repeat potential
• Why some “trendy” product types are a financial and logistical nightmare
• How returns, support, and ad costs are quietly killing certain industries
• Why the founder’s mindset, adaptability, and execution matter more than the idea itself

If you’re thinking about launching a brand, pivoting your current business, or just want a behind-the-scenes look at the real economics of eCom, this episode is your reality check.

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Big shoutout to our sponsors who make this podcast possible!

Omnisend — With 125,000+ eCommerce merchants, Omnisend is the all-in-one email & SMS marketing platform built to deliver seamless, personalized experiences via email and sms with ease. Learn more at https://www.omnisend.com/

Kintsugi — AI that monitors, files, and optimizes sales tax for you. Eliminate your tax headaches forever. Mention ASOM for 3 months free at https://www.TryKintsugi.com

Particl — the competitive intelligence platform built for eCommerce brands. Track real sales, inventory, and pricing across thousands of products to see what’s selling, who’s winning, and where to move next. Get started at https://www.particl.com/

Subscribe at https://asompod.com
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00:00 Teaser Trailer

00:30 Welcome to the ASOM Pod

01:08 Meet the Hosts

02:08 Game Time: Best and Worst eCommerce Businesses to Start

03:52 High Margin eCommerce Categories

05:45 Low Margin eCommerce Categories

11:59 Marketplace Competition: Best and Worst Businesses

21:45 Paid Advertising: Best and Worst Categories

24:50 The Challenge of Selling Tumblers

25:16 Returns and Customer Support Insights

29:26 Trends in Consumer Spending

33:09 Best and Worst eCommerce Business Models

39:23 The Importance of the Founder in Business Success

41:05 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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