The peak season at the end of 2019 is getting closer. Smart sellers have begun to analyze the market, select products, prepare goods, enter the warehouse, report deals, etc., all of which require orderly and active preparation. If you want to achieve big sales goals, selecting products is the first step to success. Data has always been the best basis for product selection. Which categories will develop better in the fourth quarter?What's the difference between countries or regions?Based on Amazon's big data analysis, we recommend unmissable products in the home improvement and tool categories.

Maybe you don't know much about the global market for home improvement and tools, but you must remember the episodes in American dramas and movies. It doesn't seem unusual at all for the protagonists to DIY a toolbox and repair the house themselves. Actually, these are all real.

In 2019, online sales of clothing and tool products in the US are expected to reach US$413.3 billion and have been growing. By 2022, sales are expected to reach US$464.5 billion¹.

In 2017, Amazon's online sales of home improvement and tool products reached 1.4 billion euros in Europe. Moreover, the annual growth rate of online sales is more than 15 times the growth rate of offline physical stores².

In 2018, the size of the Japanese home furnishing market reached 35.3 trillion yen, equivalent to about 2.4 trillion yuan ².

In such a rapidly developing market, do you just want to wait and see from afar?This article will take you up close to the most popular products and characteristics of the home improvement and tools categories on various sites.

The categories of home furnishings and tools are complex and numerous. Although Amazon's best-selling products in the US, Europe, and Japan are all different, there are still some products that consumers in the US, Europe, and Japan share the same preferences. Through the shopping performance of global consumers, the following four categories are selling well at the three major sites in the US, Europe, and Japan: power tools, hardware accessories, hand tools, and kitchen and bathroom accessories. They have a high growth rate and a moderate share of sales. For Chinese sellers, there is simply not much room for Chinese sellers to explore their potential and develop.

Note: A high growth rate indicates a high annual growth rate. A high percentage of sales means high sales. The categories on this recommended list indicate that they have high sales potential, and seller friends can consider whether to increase such selections based on their own actual situation and understanding of the target market.

In the category of home furnishings and tools, power tools with extremely practical value are at the top of the list. Among them, drill sets, battery replacements, electric cutters, and sanding paper are particularly popular!It is recommended that sellers of power tools also pay attention to the sale of consumables such as battery packs, power tool accessories, various drill sets, vacuum accessories, etc.

Product selection tips
● Drill set: size, groove length and material, such as titanium alloy, S2 steel, etc. are what users focus on when choosing. At the same time, durability, and easy installation and replacement are also a plus.
● Battery replacement: The focus is on its voltage and capacity. Safety and durability are also important. Note: This type of product is generally required to meet local market entry compliance requirements, so remind seller friends to understand the relevant compliance certification requirements of the target market when going online.
● Electric cutting machine: It is particularly convenient when cutting materials such as wood, stone, and hard objects. However, since the blade is sharp, easy to operate, safe and stable is important. At the same time, the fact that the accessories can provide different types of serrations is definitely a plus.
● Sanding sandpaper: A practical helper for polishing furniture or wall edges. Consumer concerns that polishing materials can be applied and can be effectively waterproof. At the same time, it is ideal if different mesh numbers (thickness and granularity of sandpaper) can be provided.

Popular items in the hardware accessories category are mainly magnet hooks, password key boxes, anti-collision corners, and door handles.

Product selection tips
● Magnetic hooks: Very convenient for hanging small, lightweight items, such as keys, towels, paring knives, etc. The applicable surface, load size, and whether the hook is rotatable are the main factors overseas consumers consider when selecting this type of magnet hook. The material mainly depends on whether it is stainless steel, and whether it is anticorrosive and durable.
● Password key box: With the continuous improvement of people's security awareness, the widespread use of password locks has also provided a large market for password lock key boxes. A common characteristic of password key boxes is that the backup key is placed in the password key case and can be removed through a four-digit password lock. The material requirements are metal and be strong and durable. Also, it is best to provide a certain amount of storage space inside the box.
● Anti-collision angle: The main focus is on its material and effective cushioning effect. Environmentally friendly materials and strong bonding are important.
● Doorknobs: Silver metal and clear crystal are two popular styles of doorknobs.

Popular products in the hand tool category mainly focus on screwdriver sets, wrenches, kit tools, and multi-purpose tools.

Product selection tips
● Screwdriver set: Consumers want a variety of accessories in the kit, as well as small accessories that can repair mobile phones.
● Wrenches: Various sizes, provision of supporting storage bags, and adjustable application range are three aspects that overseas users pay attention to when purchasing wrenches.
● Tool kit: Easy to store and easy to carry are two major factors for consumers to buy tool kits. Also, it is best to provide common accessories in the kit, such as screwdrivers, wrenches, sockets, tape measures, vises, etc.
● Multi-purpose tools: Portable and multi-functional hand tools are products that buyers love. The concept is actually very easy to understand. Swiss Army Knives are very classic. Using the Swiss Army Knife idea, various combinations are developed, suitable for camping, mountaineering, fishing, hunting, and outdoor adventures.

Bathroom accessories mainly include showers, towel racks, coat racks, toilet paper sticks, toilet brushes, soap dispensers, corner bars, etc. These are all just needed products that are indispensable for bathrooms and toilets, and the style and design are very important. The most popular choices are mainly rain showers and bathroom shelves.

Product selection tips
● Showers: Showers are just what you need for every bathroom. According to the installation method and function, they can also be subdivided into surface-mounted showers, concealed showers, massage showers, smart showers, etc. Among them, European and American consumers are very fond of large sprinklers. Therefore, not only for ordinary household use, but many buyers from decoration companies, hotels and apartments are also very willing to purchase this product. Characteristics such as high pressure, support for different water outlet modes, and the ability to use anticorrosive materials are particularly important.
● Bathroom shelf: It is important for consumers that it does not accumulate water and is easy to install. Common fixing methods for this type of product include suction cups, sticking, and self-adjusting height.

Due to differences in consumption habits and household concepts, consumers in the US, Europe, and Japan also have differences in purchasing products in the home improvement and tool categories.

For American households that focus on home quality and outdoor sports, lamps, LED lamps, and table lamps used for outdoor lighting all play an important role in life.

Product selection tips
● Outdoor lights: including outdoor street lights, lighting lamps, lawn lights, solar lights, portable lights, etc. Americans love nature and outdoor sports, and they often drive them to travel long distances by car. Camping, mountaineering, fishing, hunting, and outdoor adventures are popular leisure activities among Americans. Solar lamps suitable for these outdoor scenes highlight their advantages, so they are very popular in the local area. For such lamps, while considering their waterproof, heat-resistant, and sensing features, Americans will also focus on their battery life.
● LED lamps: divided into LED light sources, LED bulbs, LED light strips, simple lighting, ceiling lamps, chandeliers, intelligent lighting and decorative lights. Every Halloween, Christmas, and New Year's Eve is the peak season for decorative lights. In these major festivals, decorative lights serve as the icing on the cake, so they are widely loved by Americans. It can simulate flame burning, set the atmosphere, and support remote operation, which can basically meet the expectations of overseas consumers for decorative lights. LED light sources are the most frequently replaced lighting, and many decorative lights only sell the decorative part, and LED light sources also need to be purchased twice. What does this mean?A business opportunity!！！
● Desk lamps: mainly LED desk lamps, reading lamps, interior decoration lamps, desk lamps, aromatherapy lamps, bedside lamps, floor lamps, etc. The LED desk lamp for everyday use is also a product that is frequently repurchased by American consumers. Among them, simple design, eye protection, adjustable brightness, and power saving are the main characteristics that consumers are concerned about.

*Remind seller friends to note that lamps need FCC certification when exporting to the US. It is also possible to voluntarily choose whether to carry out UL certification.

In recent years, terrorist incidents have occurred frequently abroad, safety hazards have increased, and European people are becoming more and more aware of safety. In Europe, the selection of home decoration and tools mainly focuses on safety protective equipment, such as door locks, protective tools, security kits, etc.

Product selection tips
● Door lock: The door lock that every household uses is needless to say just what you need. While suitable for the type of door, the material should be durable.
● Protective equipment: Do you remember that some of the actors in “The Big Bang Theory” wear eye, hearing, and hand protection before starting work, whether at work or at home, whether they are doing experiments, or installing furniture or decorating the house at home. Protective equipment mainly includes gloves, earplugs, noise-canceling earmuffs, flashlights, safety ropes, etc. Europeans pay more attention to whether protective equipment, similar to disposable gloves, is environmentally friendly and durable. Among them, the most common colors are black and white.
● Security kit: mainly includes indoor surveillance, cameras, smoke detection and other products. Among them, indoor monitoring is best equipped with large storage space, night vision function, and sound and motion detection function. With the development of technology, many surveillance devices have been stored in the cloud, and users can view them anywhere via mobile phones. In the future, it may also be combined with face recognition technology to automatically identify visitors.

As we all know, Japan is a country with frequent earthquakes. However, in recent years, in recent earthquakes of magnitude 6-7, there have been relatively few human casualties. It can be said that this has largely benefited from the Japanese people's sense of anticipation of emergency. The selection of home improvement and tool products also reflects the characteristics of Japanese people.

Product selection tips
● ●Mainly concentrated as emergency power supplies. In Japan, a practical emergency power supply is necessary for dealing with sudden natural disasters or other emergencies. The ability to provide electricity in an emergency situation and the voltage and capacity it can output are the two main factors consumers consider when purchasing emergency batteries.
*Sellers should be reminded that emergency power supplies need to meet local compliance certification in Japan before they can be launched. Please ensure product compliance in advance before selling them to the Japanese market.
● Bathroom accessories: Mainly including towel racks/coat holders/paper holders, toilet brushes, shelves, exhaust filters, and bathtub accessories, etc., and they are all essential products for every household. Among them, bathroom exhaust filters are an item that Japanese consumers often buy. Being foldable and insulated are two major features that attract Japanese people to buy.

Editor's summary

Finally, we need to remind sellers that home furnishings and tools are not only necessities of life for overseas consumers, but are also categories that companies and other corporate and institutional buyers buy all year round. The sales situation is not particularly seasonal, so there is no need to consider too much seasonality. Whether it's the off-season or the peak season, users' needs will always exist, and the real business opportunities are limitless. In addition, sellers can refer to the promotion activities of this category on various sites and use these activities to further increase sales. For example, Back to Business at the beginning of the year on the North American site, Father's Day and Prime Day in the middle of the year, and the peak season at the end of the year are all sales growth points for this category, so they need to prepare products in advance. Of course, some seasonal products: such as snow shovels, snow plows, winter gloves, etc., still need to be stocked according to the seasonal cycle.

At the product selection stage, safety standards in various markets also need to be considered. For example, selling hand tools in Europe requires compliance with ISO2351 standards and REACH regulations, and power tools require WEEE registration with the relevant agency in the destination country. These are basic rules, and sellers are advised to consult a professional agency for specific details.

After reading the above introduction to the categories of home furnishings and tools, have you added another sense of confidence to get started with this ever-rising category?Add these hot products to your store now, start preparing for the peak season, and play “Earn” globally!