“By the end of 2026, Pakistan’s e-commerce market is expected to surpass PKR 500 billion (~USD 1.8 billion), growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 18–22%.” 

Imagine scrolling through Daraz or Amazon and coming across that one smart gadget you never thought you needed, but suddenly, you just do!

That’s the power of product hunting. This new trend in Pakistan is fast gaining popularity amongst e-commerce entrepreneurs, drop shippers, and online marketers. With more and more people giving up on conventional shopping in favor of online shopping, finding the right product at the right time may well be the difference between success and failure.

In this guide, we’re going to discuss handling the product hunting process in Pakistan. Starting from market research to competitor analysis, we’ll highlight practical tactics to help you identify winning products that sell. 

What is Product Hunting?

Product hunting is a method of identifying high-demand, low-competition products that can be profitably launched online in marketplaces or e-commerce stores. The aim is to identify trends before they become saturated, ensuring a sense of competitive advantage.

For an individual in Pakistan, being able to effectively hunt products means taking advantage of local and global markets, understanding the buyer behavior, and seeking means to validate their findings.

Why Is Product Hunting Important in Pakistan?

The e-commerce trade of Pakistan is growing fast due to a permanent increase in smartphone penetration and the availability of cheap internet, coupled with a young populace that is inclined to shop online. Platforms like Daraz, Shopify, and Amazon etc., as well as local Instagram shops, have opened endless opportunities for the e-commerce market.

However, with the ongoing competition, selling random products will not yield returns.

A data-driven strategy is what you need to achieve the following:

• Avoid dead stock in the line of losses.  
• Keep your focus on profitable products.  
• Change direction quickly into customer preference. 
• Assist in creating an online business that is sustainable. 

Step-By-Step Guide for Product Hunting in Pakistan

Here are the steps you must follow for your product hunting: 

Step 1: Understand Your Market

Begin by identifying which niche you would like to target. Is it fashion, electronics, health & beauty, kitchen tools, or tech accessories? Demand patterns for every niche are unique.  

For instance, health-conscious buyers are increasingly interested in home fitness equipment, while students and young professionals are more inclined to look for cheap gadgets and accessories. 

Step 2: Use Product Hunting Tools

Several tools used in social media marketing facilitate product hunting, such as: 

• Google Trends: Check search interest for individual products in Pakistan.
• Sellerdash: Products trending within local boundaries like Daraz.
• Amazon Best Sellers & Jungle Scout: Best suited for users targeting international customers.
• Social Media (TikTok/Instagram Reels): Products that go viral often find their way here.

Example: A TikTok trend brought sales of portable blenders to the millions around the globe, as well as within Pakistan.

Step 3: Observe Demand and Competition 

Not all trending items will get you cash. Some of the questions to ask yourself are: 

• Does this have consistent demand? 
• How many sellers are already offering it? 
• Can I offer any unique value: better price, faster delivery, or better quality? 

Assess competition levels with Daraz search results or Amazon reviews. Hundreds of sellers already selling the same product might not be worth it, unless you can differentiate. 

Step 4: Validate the Profit Margins

The product could be visually appealing but not a good one after analysing shipping, taxes, and marketing costs. 

For example:

• Buying Price: Rs. 400 
• Selling Price: Rs. 1000 
• Marketing + Delivery Costs: Rs. 300 
• Profit: Rs. 300 

So, target at least 25-40% profit margins to remain competitive. 

Step 5: Check Supplier Reliability

Having the best product doesn’t matter if you can’t provide quality. Use reliable suppliers to purchase your products, maybe local wholesalers or products sourced via AliExpress or directly from the manufacturer.  

If you are selling in Pakistan, you will commonly see different sourcing locations at wholesale markets in Lahore, Karachi, and Faisalabad.

Tip: One word to think about when sourcing is “samples.” Always collect samples of a product to try to evaluate its quality first, and before scaling. 

Step 6: Test Before You Scale

Don’t purchase large quantities right away. Keep it small for now. Try Facebook ads or TikTok ads or even promoting through Daraz to test the market. If the market is responsive, you can scale your orders. 

Example: A Lahore-based seller began testing LED ring lights in selling, say, 50 units to start. After consistently selling, he was eventually able to tack on an additional 100s of units time and time again monthly. 

Step 7: Follow Social Media Trends

In Pakistan, social media like TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook Marketplace use viral product selling like no one else. So, always look for hashtags that talk about #MadeInPakistan or #TrendingProducts to find products or items of interest that are trending.

For example, electric lunch boxes, mini projectors, and smart watches were some products that recently experienced major increases due to accelerated popularity via social media. 

 Step 8: Consider Seasonal Products

More than social media, Pakistan’s marketplace generally uses seasonal selling or festival selling. Here are just a few things to keep in mind: 

• Winter: Heaters, jackets, coffee mugs. 
• Summer: Air coolers, sunglasses, water bottles. 
• Ramadan/Eid: Prayer mats, Islamic books, kitchen utensils. 

By searching for seasonal products, you can course correct to appropriately sell products timely. 

Step 9: Focus on Customer Reviews & Feedback

Always monitor what others are saying about similar products. You may sell a lot of low-quality products quickly but damage your long-term credibility. “Successful product hunters” will take the time to go through negative reviews to discover the opportunities. 

For example, if a lot of people complain that a product breaks easily, you can find a better quality version and very likely take over that niche. 

Step 10: Keep Innovating

Product hunting is not a one-off thing. Things happen quickly in the marketplace, and what is trending today might not be selling tomorrow, so make sure you are in the know, do your experiments, and wipe your product list at least once a month. 

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Let’s discuss some common mistakes that you must avoid in the product hunting process: 

Looking for Cheap Products 

Many new product hunters assume that the cheapest product in its category sells the fastest. It goes without saying that people like to save money, but this is not an excuse to sell low-quality products that will ultimately ruin your brand, generate no returns, and affect your growth negatively. Always weigh price vs value. 

Chasing High Sales 

High sales are fun to think about, but if your margins are too thin, you will barely make any profit. Remember to calculate your costs (purchase price, delivery costs, marketing costs) before you lock in a product. 

Copying Competitors Blindly 

It is very easy for new sellers to get tempted to replicate a product they see others successfully doing. But unless you provide SOMETHING different (better quality, better packaging, faster shipping), you might just be another option in the crowd. 

Not Validating your Demand 

The worst thing you can do is not do research and solely rely on your guess/assumption. You should use tools like Google Trends, check what is for sale on Daraz Best Sellers, and use Amazon data to confirm demand is steady over time before you purchase stock. 

Scaling too Quickly 

Let’s suppose you have ordered a product in bulk, but you did not verify the market first. Consider that you might have excess stock that would need to be disposed of, and the amount of capital is also wasted. If you need to make it work, you should test the order with small amounts and run ads or get a promotion going. Then you can scale, but only once you see that you can consistently respond to increasing demand. 

Final Thoughts

Product hunting in Pakistan is not simply about identifying a random product; it is about research, validation, and smart execution. By utilizing this step-by-step guide, you give yourself the greatest opportunity to minimize risk, increase profits, and differentiate yourself from competitors.

Therefore, if you are serious about your survival in the e-commerce industry, you should start hunting now. You never know, your next product may well be the next big of online sensation in Pakistan.

Frequently Asked Questions