Winning product research with real signals, not hype
Most "winning product" lists are the same viral gadgets everyone already sells. This prompt has your agent look for products in your niche with rising interest, room for one more seller and healthy margins, then score each one so you can test the best two instead of guessing.
The prompt
- Do winning product research for me in the [NICHE] niche. My budget for the first test is [TEST BUDGET] and I sell on [SALES CHANNEL]. Find 10 product ideas with rising interest. For each one check: search and social trend direction, how many stores already sell it and at what price, typical supplier cost, estimated margin after shipping and fees, problem it solves, and risks (fragile, seasonal, patented, needs certification). Score each from 1 to 10 on demand, competition, margin and ease of shipping. Skip anything [PRODUCTS TO AVOID]. Give me an Excel file with the scores and source links, and a short summary of the top 3 with a test plan for each.
What to change
- [NICHE]: Your market, e.g. "home fitness", "pet grooming" or "camping".
- [TEST BUDGET]: What you can spend on stock and ads for a first test, e.g. "$500".
- [SALES CHANNEL]: Where you sell, e.g. "my Shopify store with TikTok ads" or "Amazon FBA".
- [PRODUCTS TO AVOID]: Exclusions, e.g. "electronics, anything over 2 kg, cosmetics".
Example result
- Top 3 for a $500 test (pet grooming niche)
- 1. Collapsible dog bath tub - score 34/40
- • Demand: search interest rising steadily for two years, peaks in spring
- • Competition: sold by about a dozen stores, few with good video content
- • Margin: illustrative supplier cost $14, typical retail $49-59, about 45% margin after shipping and fees
- • Risk: bulky box, so check dimensional shipping costs before ordering
- • Test: 20 units, three short videos showing a muddy dog before and after
- 2. Lick mat set with suction cups - score 31/40
- • Demand: steady all year, strong with anxious-dog content
- • Competition: crowded on marketplaces, less so as a bundle with a spatula and recipes card
- • Margin: low cost, light to ship, good for a free-shipping threshold
- • Risk: easy to copy, so win on the bundle and the content
- 3. Deshedding glove pair - score 29/40
- • Demand: seasonal peaks in spring and autumn shedding
- • Competition: high, but most listings have weak photos
- • Risk: quality varies a lot by supplier, so order samples from two
- Dropped after checking
- • LED dog collar: dozens of sellers and price war below $10
- • Pet hair vacuum attachment: fit problems with different vacuums, high return risk
- How the scores work
- • Demand (1-10): trend direction plus how many people search for it
- • Competition (1-10, higher is better): fewer strong sellers and weak listings score higher
- • Margin (1-10): above 40% after all costs scores 8 or more
- • Shipping (1-10): small, light, unbreakable scores highest
- All costs are illustrative estimates from public supplier listings. Confirm with samples and real quotes before buying stock.
How to do it with todo.is
- Replace the brackets with your niche, budget, channel and what to avoid.
- Paste the to-do into todo.is or message it to your agent on Telegram or WhatsApp.
- Your agent searches trends, marketplaces and supplier sites, then sends the scored Excel file with links.
- Ask follow-ups like "dig deeper into product 2" or "find 3 suppliers for the top pick".
Tips for a better result
- A winning product solves a visible problem you can show in a 10-second video. If you can't film the before and after, keep looking.
- Aim for a retail price at least 3 times your landed cost, so you can pay for ads and returns.
- Always order samples before scaling. Photos from suppliers often hide quality problems.
- Set a weekly to-do so your agent re-checks the trend direction of your shortlist every Monday.
winning product research: FAQ
- What makes a product a winning product? It solves a clear problem, has growing demand, isn't sold by hundreds of stores at rock-bottom prices, and leaves enough margin to pay for ads. It also ships cheaply without breaking.
- How many products should I test at once? With a small budget, test 2-3 products at most. Spreading a few hundred dollars across ten products gives you too little data on any of them.
- Are the sales numbers in the research exact? No. Public data only gives signals like trend direction, number of sellers and review counts. Treat all sales and cost figures as estimates and confirm with samples and small tests.
- Can my agent keep watching for new products? Yes. Make it a recurring to-do, for example every Monday, and your agent sends new ideas and changes in your shortlist by email or WhatsApp.
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