Choosing what products to sell in an online store boils down to two things – items that people want and items that people need.

You can, for example, sell rare and collectible books. These are things that specific buyers want. They can be considered luxuries, but to the avid collector and to museums, they are more.

On the other hand, you can sell textbooks used in schools. Clearly, these are items that students need. Whether brand new or second-hand, the textbooks will have ready buyers.

So, is it better to sell items people need or items people want? In the real world, neither is better than the other. Both have markets. The important thing is to attune your online store to those markets.

Luxury goods will always have buyers. The most expensive ones will have a small, but potent market of the super rich. These are the men and

women unaffected by the poor economy.

A car brand like Rolls Royce, for example, will never be wanting of buyers. And it can be argued that a car like the Rolls provides exceptional value for money because they generally last for decades. Sheiks, A-list movie stars, and million dollar athletes want this luxury vehicle, and will keep buying them for as long as the money continues to pour in.

The most inexpensive shoes, clothes, bags, and bicycles, among others, will likewise have buyers all the time. This is because people have to have them, no matter what.

If your online store has an established identity, you will have customers who want or need the products you sell, no matter what shape the economy is in.