Should you sell action cameras online in 2020? See what the data says about this growing niche

Photography and videography used to be an expensive hobby not everyone could afford. If you wanted to shoot like a pro, you used to have to purchase bulky cameras, lenses and accessories. These days, you can now create professional-level images and videos using all-in-one action cameras.

Famous for their first-person point-of-view footage, action cameras are intended to be attached to a helmet, bike, or surfboard, and they're fitted with a lens that can record high quality videos and images. It's palm-sized design and high tech features make capturing adventures easy. Studies show that the market size for action cameras is anticipated to grow more than 22% by 2023. With this in mind, action cameras are potentially a hot niche for you to consider. But will selling action cameras online yield high profits?

Let's find out by studying what the market really wants and learning the different functions of each type, and the popular brands people are putting their money on.

Types of Action Cameras

There are different types of action cameras that may be more suited to specific uses. Below are the most common action cameras selling online at the moment:

Box-style: The simplest and most common of the action cameras, the box-style camera typically comes with external water and weather-proof casing. It's best for beginners and can used for documenting a wide range of activities.
360-degree: With the hype around virtual reality, 360-degree shooting has made it into action cameras. It's best used for capturing scenic views, or anything where you want the viewer to have a virtual-reality experience.
Bullet: Bullet-style is long and sleek in design, best to mount on bikes or drones as its weight is evenly distributed. Accessories may be a drawback for this one as it has different dimensions to other models.
Cube: This style is the most compact and can be mounted in small areas and tight corners. It's a versatile camera that can be used for capturing creative shots and often comes with waterproof casing.
Periscope: So far, only HTC is carrying this type, which has a specific function in terms of grip-level. Yes, you heard it – it has a grip sensor that allows users to turn the unit on/off based on the strength of your grip.

Why Sell Action Cameras?
Research is one key to making your business a success. We used SaleHoo Labs to look at the data on three different action cameras so that you can get an idea of how these products are performing in the market.

High Sell Rate

Action cameras have a good sell rate of 50% to 89%. That means that if you want to sell action cameras online, you'll have a high chance of making sales.

The three examples – box-type, cube, and 360-degree – are selling really well with brands such as Polaroid, and Insta360. The electronics industry is constantly updating so it’s always important to know what’s trending so you don't get stuck with stock that's outdated.

High Average Selling Price

Priced between $58 and $290, selling action cameras can earn you high profits if you implement our recommended 10% (at least) markup. If you sell Insta360 for example, you can be earning as much as $29 per sale. You can even maximize your profits if you purchase from suppliers in wholesale lots. That way, suppliers give you the best price based on the quantity of your orders.

Low Competition

The data examples from the Labs suggests that these specific types and brands have low competition online. This is good news because with only a few sellers online, there’s a higher chance for your listings to be seen and eventually be converted into sales.

Selling low competition products gives your listings a higher chance of standing out if you market them well, so make sure to keep up with the trend to find out which types, features, and brands are in demand.

General Demand

Keywords are important for bringing traffic to your listings. Using AffiloTools Keyword Research tool makes it easier for you to discover phrases that consumers use when they're looking for action cameras on Google.

*Note: The keyword search results will give you a long list, but below are 5 top examples.

Action cameras are indeed a hit online with local (search) volumes ranging from 1,600 to 673,000. The results even show other brands such as GoPro and Sony that the general market is looking into. Another thing to research are GoPro accessories as it has captivated the market’s interest at 40,500 searches. Even when ignoring the brands, this also means that selling other action camera accessories can potentially earn you extra sales.

With AffiloTools Keyword Research, also try using keywords of specific products related to action cameras as it’ll show you results of other trending extras before you commit to anything.

Tips for Selling Action Cameras

Selling electronic gadgets can be tricky when customers report defects, require technical assistance, or inquire about the warranty. With action cameras, you have to make sure that what you're selling is in perfect condition (provide enough photos or evidence) prior to packing and shipping it to your buyer. I’ve heard horror stories of sellers having a genuine sold item returned by a buyer with a fake returned item. So it’s best to take extra precaution to avoid this risk. Also, you can refer your buyer to the manufacturer's contact information for technical assistance so make sure you have that info handy.

Another thing you can try to increase your sales is to search online for local photography clubs. You can also try joining adventure/sports clubs (mountain biking, hiking, canoeing, diving, water sports, etc.) and join community forums to advertise and market your action cameras. You can arrange for meet-ups, and offer group discounts as part of your marketing strategy.

Over to You!

We have action camera suppliers that all ship globally and that we have verified as safe and legitimate. You can access them instantly here in our directory.

Let us know if you're selling action cameras online and share your success story with us! Also, please feel free to leave your comments below and let us know if we've missed something.

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Disclaimer: The information published here is strictly for informational purposes. All above product items are only suggestions for possible products which will sell favorably, and should be used as a guide only. At the time of writing, all above products were researched using methods recommend by SaleHoo and found to be potentially profitable for sellers. All sellers are encouraged to conduct their own market and product research.