Trend Tracking: Monitor Category Movements and Rising Products
Hermes Trend Tracking shows what is picking up in categories across three marketplaces. Rather than monitoring competitors one by one, it looks at the category level: which product groups are seeing rising listing and price activity, which titles are climbing in search results, and when seasonal signals start to emerge. The goal is not to know the future, but to notice change early..
The difference between trend tracking and competitor tracking
Competitor Analytics is narrow and deep: it puts the specific listings you choose under the microscope. Trend Tracking is broad and shallow: it shows what has changed across an entire category. The two answer different questions. Competitor analysis feeds the question "how should I price this product," while trend tracking feeds the question "which product should I enter next."
In practice, the order is this: trend tracking tells you where to look, and competitor analysis details what is happening there. When you see movement in a category, you add the specific listings there to your watch list.
Trend Tracking, Hermesis one of Hermes' six features, and it draws on the same data as Opportunity Product Hunter and Category-Based Demand Forecasting. They look at the same category from three angles: movement, opportunity, and demand direction.
Reading category movement across three marketplaces
Trendyol, Hepsiburada, and Amazon Turkey do not always move in the same category at the same time. A product group may be saturated on one marketplace while still uncrowded on another. Because Hermes scans all three platforms together, it makes this timing gap visible; the Marketplace Comparison Dashboard places the status of the same category across three channels side by side.
Category movement is a combination of several signals: changes in listing count, widening or narrowing of the price band, how often the top ranks change, and campaign intensity. None of these alone constitutes a trend.
Seasonal signals and lead time
In seasonal categories, the costliest mistake is being late. By the time demand is visible, it is usually too late to prepare supply and listings. This is where the practical value of Trend Tracking shows up: catching the start of a movement before the peak everyone notices.
Seeing a seasonal signal is not the end of the work; it is the beginning. Preparing product descriptions and images takes time. On the description side, Descript Bot, on the visual side with 24-48 hour delivery RenderKit shortens this preparation time. For title optimization, read this guide is worth a look.
How to do it step by step?
1. Narrow down the categories you will watch
Tracking the entire marketplace makes no sense. Start with the categories you sell in and the adjacent categories you can realistically enter. A trend in a category you cannot source is not information; it is a distraction.
2. Learn normal fluctuation
Every category has its own rhythm. To avoid mistaking regular swings tied to weekdays and the campaign calendar for trends, you first need to understand this baseline.
3. Read the three marketplaces together
A category may be picking up on Trendyol while staying quiet on Hepsiburada. This difference shows which channel you can enter with less competition.
4. Test the signal against supply reality
A rising product group is an opportunity if you can source that product at a reasonable cost and on time. If your lead time is longer than the trend window, the signal does not apply to you.
5. Calculate profitability before entering
A trend is not a guarantee of profit. Commission and volumetric weight (desi) calculations to see upfront what the product leaves at the target price.
6. After entering, move on to competitor tracking
The moment you enter a category, your perspective changes. Broad trends no longer matter as much as the price and ranking behavior of specific competitors in that category.
Trend signals and how they should be interpreted
| Signal | What it shows | Points to watch |
|---|---|---|
| Increase in listing count | New sellers entering the category | Can indicate both rising demand and rising competition; cannot be read as positive on its own |
| Narrowing of the price band | Intensifying competition | Margin is being squeezed; a cost calculation is mandatory before entering |
| Increase in campaign intensity | Season or period effect | Campaign prices should not be mistaken for permanent prices; the band rises again when the period ends |
| New title patterns emerging in search | Changing language of demand | An early sign that you should update your titles and descriptions |
| Cross-channel difference within the same category | Saturation not evenly distributed | A less crowded channel may be a better entry point for the same product |
Common mistakes
1. Treating every uptick as a trend. Categories fluctuate regularly during campaign periods and on weekends. A seller who looks without knowing the baseline mistakes a recurring seasonal swing for a new opportunity.
2. Reading the trend independently of supply reality. For a product that takes eight weeks to bring in, a six-week trend window is useless. By the time the product reaches you, the category is saturated and the price has already dropped.
3. Entering a rising category without looking at profitability. A fast-moving category is often where competition is fiercest. A step taken without seeing what remains after commission, shipping, and advertising creates high revenue but zero profit.
4. Delaying listing preparation after seeing the signal. Preparing images and descriptions takes time. If the product sits in the warehouse and the listing is not ready, the most valuable part of the trend has been missed.
Limitations: what does it not cover?
Applying these with awareness lets you set realistic expectations:
Trend tracking does not predict the future. What is observed is past and present movement. How long a category's rise will last cannot be measured; only the early start of the movement can be noticed.
Category-level sales volume cannot be seen. Marketplaces do not disclose category revenue and unit data. Hermes derives movement from storefront data; it cannot measure actual sales volume.
Scanning is periodic, not real-time. Hourly or daily scanning is performed depending on your subscription. Very short-lived movements may fall between two scans and go unrecorded.
The signal does not know your supply and logistics reality. The opportunity the tool shows may not be actionable given your lead time, cash, and shipping costs. That assessment is yours to make.
Category classification varies by marketplace. The same product may sit in different category trees across three platforms. Keep this difference in mind when comparing channels.
Frequently asked questions
Which marketplaces does Trend Tracking cover?
Trendyol, Hepsiburada, and Amazon Turkey. The status of the same category across three channels can be read side by side via the Marketplace Comparison Dashboard.
Does it tell me which product to sell?
No. It shows movement at the category and listing level. It is an early-awareness tool, not a sales forecast; you make the decision based on your own supply and cost realities.
Can I see category sales volumes?
No. Marketplaces do not disclose sales volume and revenue data externally. What can be measured are storefront signals such as price, ranking, stock, and campaigns.
What is the difference between Trend Tracking and Opportunity Product Hunter?
Trend Tracking shows movement at the category level; Opportunity Product Hunter focuses on specific products. One tells you where to look, the other tells you what to look at there.
How often is the data updated?
With hourly or daily scanning, depending on your subscription. For seasonal categories, daily scanning is usually enough; for fast-moving categories, hourly scanning is more accurate.
Doing it with the tool
Trend tracking is a filter that narrows where to look for your next product. When you read category movement, the cross-channel difference, and seasonal signals together, product selection is based on observation rather than guesswork. What can be measured at the category level is demand forecasting and product analysis explained in detail on the pages.
Once you decide to enter a category, the work shifts to pricing and visibility. ProfitPulse to see what the target price leaves you, with SeoScope to track daily ranking trends; for specific competitors, competitor analysis feature. To try it, you can request a demo.
Last updated: September 18, 2026