Selling Different Types of Nutritional Supplements Online

Nutritional supplements offer a multitude of ways to improve physical and mental health. There's a wide variety of supplements out there and each one is made to meet a specific need. Basic nutrition is covered by vitamins or meal replacements, which save tons of time and money for people who want to eat healthier but can't fit the change into their current schedule. Other supplements help with mood, digestion, sleep, memory, energy levels, and even sex drive. Often, these types of supplements work by providing the body with certain nutrients that are hard to get in sufficient levels through diet. Others use plant- or animal-based substances that have been shown to have a positive effect on the human body, like ginger (for sensitive stomachs) or fish oil (for mental clarity and other benefits).

Workout supplements are another market with vast potential, and there are tons of different types for use in all stages of exercise, from pre-workout to workout recovery. Weight gainers and protein are popular among people trying to pack on more muscle than diet alone would allow. Muscle builders like creatine are useful for strength training. While you might think only serious bodybuilders would be interested in these products, that simply isn't true — anyone with an interest in exercise, from the office worker to the triathlon competitor, can decide to use supplements to get the most from their workouts.

You have a lot of choice as to the types of supplements you sell, so it's important to research the industry in the early stages of planning your business. Not only do you have to understand the needs of your target market, you must also be familiar with the laws and regulations that apply (which we'll summarize later). You'll also need to stay up-to-date on the illegal or otherwise banned substances that occasionally show up in the ingredients of certain supplement brands, so you'll know to avoid them. A well-known example is ephedra. Supplements containing ephedra are illegal because it's been proven to be dangerous. Other substances are not outright illegal but are banned from usage in sports because they've been determined to provide an unfair advantage — and you certainly wouldn't want an angry customer who had been kicked off a team for using one of your products. Since it would be impossible for us to list all illegal or banned substances on this page, make sure you exercise due diligence when selecting supplements to sell, and always disclose all the ingredients contained in your products.

Following laws and best practices doesn't mean you're limiting the number of supplements you can sell on your online store — far from it. Instead of trying to sell every type of nutritional supplement you can think of, it's better to find a niche you can focus on intently. Finding a niche doesn't mean you can only sell a single type of supplement, as many types are meant to be used together, such as the various workout supplements. Customers interested in general health benefits may also want to buy a selection of complementary supplements that you can easily sell together. It's up to you to judge which supplement types can work well together in your online store, but first you need to understand your options.