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In this special episode of Winning With Shopify, host Nick welcomes Nahar from Zik Analytics - a powerhouse in data-driven product research and a true e-commerce veteran. Whether you're a dropshipper, a brand owner, or somewhere in between, this episode dives deep into the vital role that product research and analytics play in the success of any online business.
From Selling on eBay to Building Zik Analytics
Nahar's journey began in 2015 when he moved to Germany and turned to eBay dropshipping as a way to make a living. With no background in e-commerce but a strong grasp of real-world business logic, he quickly realised that success came down to one thing: data. Product demand, pricing, competition - these elements were critical, yet not easily available.
Seeing a gap in the market, Nahar began manually calculating product potential. As his own sales skyrocketed, he saw the opportunity to build a tool that would automate this process for other sellers. Enter Zik Analytics: a powerful product research platform that pulls marketplace data from eBay and Shopify to help sellers make smarter decisions.
What Makes Zik Analytics Different?
Unlike many product research tools that rely solely on supplier data, Zik Analytics focuses on real marketplace activity - giving you the full picture on demand, competition, average selling prices, and more.
Nick notes that while his team focuses on SEO and PPC to bring traffic to websites, what Zik offers is a layer of insight he can't see - what's actually selling and why. That kind of data is gold.
Detectives of E-commerce: What the Data Reveals
According to Nahar, great product researchers are like detectives. It's not just about sales volume, but identifying small clues that point to big opportunities. For example, a product that sells 10,000 units in three weeks by a new seller might be ripe for bundling, branding, or improved SEO.
It's not about guesswork. As Nick points out, too many brands rely on gut feelings like, "Let's make a red one!" without any data to support that decision. The outcome? Poor sales and wasted resources.
AI, Automation, and Smarter Scaling
Zik Analytics includes AI-driven tools like Autopilot, Turbo Scanner, and Bulk Scanner. These allow dropshippers to automate product discovery based on filters like sales history, category, and price.
Nahar also highlights the power of integrating AI more broadly. He recommends setting up ChatGPT projects for everything from analytics to copywriting, and using tools like image editors to create marketing visuals on the fly.
Data Beyond the Product
On Shopify, Zik Analytics can help you analyse your competitors' tech stacks - from the apps they use to the ads they run. On eBay, it’s all about keyword optimisation. Nahar reminds us: "You're not selling products on eBay - you're selling keywords."
Nick shares an example of how combining this marketplace insight with live product feeds from Shopify can help identify stock shortages, giving you a prime opportunity to raise prices or double down on marketing while competitors are out of stock.
Profit Margins and the Power of Research
Nahar makes it clear: profit margins matter most. When you're running ads, buying stock, or scaling up, high margins give you breathing room. He encourages brands to avoid the trap of competing solely on price, and instead find opportunities through data to offer more value.
He also shares a brilliant case of a seller who dominated a niche just by using the phrase "world's smallest smartphone." No big brand, no big investment - just smart keyword targeting and zero competition.
Starting Your Dropshipping Journey the Right Way
So, how should you start dropshipping today?
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Spend 20 hours on research. Go in with no assumptions. Use Zik Analytics, Google, TikTok, and Facebook to find opportunities.
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Create a shortlist of 5 products with proper data-backed reasoning.
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Commit to a minimum 6-month test window to give your chosen product(s) the best chance to succeed.
And the final step? Build a brand. The most successful dropshippers don’t stay dropshippers forever - they use their findings to build long-term, scalable brands.
Check out the full podcast here.
This episode was brought to you by Nick Trueman, Director of PPC & SEO Agency, Spec Digital