I hear it at craft shows and trade shows all the time, “You’re so lucky you make X, because I make Y and so does everybody else.”
Regardless of whether you’re a jeweler, potter, or photographer, you probably feel the same way – like you’re in a very crowded product category.
{image via The Great Northern on Etsy}
The great thing about sites like Etsy is that the barrier to entry is so low that you can start a business really easily. But the bad thing is that so can anyone else.
With each passing day, more and more people throw their hat in the ring when it comes to running a craft business.
And as your category gets more and more crowded, it can be a struggle to get your products to stand out.
But getting your products to stand out in the sea of jewelry, soap, photography, or screen printed t-shirts is essential if you want your business to be a success.
So how do you stand out in a crowded product category?
By focusing your products on a niche.
Focusing on a niche means picking out a specialized corner of the market and diving in. It means making products for one special person, instead of making average products for average people.
Diving into a niche can be scary. It can mean alienating a lot of people. But it can also mean endearing yourself to a small, but passionate group of fans.
Making your products more niche doesn’t mean you have to completely abandon everything you’ve designed. Instead, you can make your products more niche by focusing on one of four areas – material, subject matter, aesthetic or style, and branding.
Niche by material
When you look at your product category, are you working with the same material as everyone else? Is there a dominant material in your product category?
While I understand that some categories (like pottery) are more limited in their material options, for others, like jewelry, the sky’s the limit.
And picking one signature, and unusual, material can be a great way to build a niche for your products.
Juliet Ames, who studied craft and jewelry in college, has a wide range of techniques in her repertoire. But she’s built a business working with one unusual material – broken plates.
By embracing an unusual material, Juliet has created plenty of buzz and recognition for her jewelry.
Niche by subject matter
Can you sum up the subject matter of your designs in one sentence? How about one word?
Or does your product line span a dictionary’s worth of topics?
A great way to create a niche product, regardless of the materials you work with, is to focus on one unique subject matter.
At the Etsy Success Symposium a few weeks ago, I was introduced to The Great Northern. After struggling to sell embroidery on Etsy, the designers decided to only create pieces that pertain to the cult classic TV show Twin Peaks.
Now, they have a clear focus for their marketing efforts, and a group of loyal fans.
Niche by aesthetic or style
Is there a dominant aesthetic in your product category? Does your work have a similar style to just about everything else on the market?
Another way to get your products to stand out is to find the dominant style in your niche, and do the opposite.
A quick browse through the photography listings on Etsy reveals soft, vintage-y images. It’s not surprising – the photographers who originiated that style saw a lot of early success, leading to a wave of copycats.
But if I was a photographer looking to stand out, I would focus on dark, hard-edged images.
Niche by branding
Even if you love everything about your products, and don’t want to change, there’s still a way to carve out a niche for yourself through your branding.
On the surface, the I Believe in Myself bracelets from Pincurl Girls are just simple beaded bracelets. But paired with fun characters and informational booklets, they become tools for empowering pre-teen girls. It’s not the product, but the message behind it, that gives the brand a definitive niche.
Standing out in your product category doesn’t mean you have to niche your products in every way I’ve just described. In fact, niche by all of them is probably overkill.
Instead, look at your current products and skill sets and ask yourself if there’s a way to dive deeper into a niche in one of these areas.
As makers, we have a seemingly infinite number of skills, techniques, and ideas at our disposal. But as business people, it’s critical that we focus our attention on something a little narrower in order to make our products stand out.
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Don’t forget that registration is now open for the next session of Marketing for Makers! If you’re interested in learning about finding your target market, promoting your products, and getting some individual feedback on all aspects of your biz from me and your makers, be sure to check it out!
Good information as per usual! Agree totally – just need to bed down and find that perfect niche!
Your article showed up at just the time I’ve been struggling with this issue in my own creative business. I originally picked the niche “dog lovers” but have since discovered that covers about 70% of the USA. Back to the drawing board armed with your great tips! Thanks for a thought-provoking article.
I’m currently working on this. I’m planning on opening my shop in April and am finding “my corner” – tweaking it a bit. Thanks for the great article!
Thank you. That’s good food for thought!
Being able to focus and ‘brand’ myself and my creations is a continuous work in progress. Sometimes fun, sometimes a bit painful!
I’ve found that being open to who my customers are and what they want helps to do some of the work for me. When I started my craft business I had an idea of what it would be like. Allowing myself to shift and change based on what people want and like in my shop and through custom orders has allowed the business to shape itself a bit. This is helpful for me because sometimes knowing what to do next can feel overwhelming.
I’m enjoying this perspective because while I have a certain vision and direction, there is a knowledge that I really don’t know exactly where I’ll end up. That’s exciting!
Megan, such a great post. There are so many great creative people out there that it is so important to find that niche. That and also the passion and inspiration within you that comes out in your art, website, blogging, etc. is what I believe attracts people too.
Ahhh, thank you so much Megan for sharing this information. This is exactly what I needed to read. Fresh ideas!
(got here via daniellexo tweet)
~Molly
Excellent advice, as usual! Thank-You.
Excellent advice, Megan. This really gives me something to think about…
Megan,
This post is so wonderful! Thanks for the shout-out. Discussing niche marketing with Lori during that symposium was kind of a lightbulb moment for us, and this post is a fabulous reminder/provoker of thought!
-Anna and Erin
The Great Northern
Great article as usual, Megan!
I just started doing shows this year with my work, which I believe to be quite niche (brightly colored ceramic barware and dinnerware). Though I am still working on building my client base, the most interesting thing I heard from a few buyers at this past weekend’s show was, “I’m not usually a pottery person, but…”
It really made me feel good that I could challenge some people’s perception of what pottery “is” and that they will want to bring my pieces home to use and enjoy.
I jumped out of my seat in excitement reading your article. I am photographer that continuely questions why everyone loves that soft vintage feel – I do sharp, urban stuff.
I keep waiting out the current trend to turn around, but how much of a trend can you really control? I just keep hoping my people will come…eventually.
I am in the process of defining my niche market and working on my introduction,tag line…
I now know I am on the right tract. Thank you Megan, for that thoughtful post.
Like everyone above, this article came in perfect time! I’ve just opened a photography shop to go along with my crafts shop. I’ve been thinking my crafts shop is such a hodge-podge of ideas and I really need to get a clear brand. I’ve been fighting with a way to continue working with both clay and felt/embroidery while still making it look like a cohesive shop. I don’t want to have to choose one over the other. So I’m at the drawing boars trying to figure it all out!
Excellent Megan! I am working on a new “statement” this week and this will help me define my product niche. Thanks.
Thanks for sharing! You are right, in an ever growing market finding that sweet spot become all the more difficult and important.
Have you thought about writing a post regarding artist’s reps? I have not been able to find very much good information about the pro’s and con’s and the topic has come up recently in my craft community. Your article about outsourcing touched on it, but it would be great to hear from other makers who have tried it both ways.
Thanks Megan!
I felt like I wasn’t playing enough to a niche, but looks like I’ve got two of your niche suggestions in effect 🙂 (materials: all natural, and subject matter: “authenticity”)
You’ve really helped me feel more empowered and unique, thank you thank you thank you! Real confidence booster 😀
Thank you Megan for an inspiring post. I’ve been working on making my jewelry fit into a more narrow to a niche for the Etsy audience. When I question my actions, it’s great to hear others in the Etsy sphere give my vague thoughts some solid wording!
Thank you for the great information. I found my niche, I handpaint with glitter creating sparking artwork and personalized keepsakes in a stained glass style. There’s not too many glitter artist who paints the way I do. My problem is finding the needed traffic to build my customer base.
ArtisticWill Studios
Finding your niche I think is the most important thing in business.
I have found mine after years of wondering what I was meant to do
We have found success on Etsy and we are moving our brick and mortar store to a location more suited for our business. We are making bowls, clocks, bookends and scrapbooks from vintage records in the town of Asbury Park……where music lives! Notice how I changed the I to we…..after 29 years of marriage we are starting a business together….and to have someone who is supportive of your niche…….makes it even better!
This is fantastic advise, because it puts into context the other good advice that constantly haunts me – “You (the artist) are not your own target market”
I have always mis-interpreted that advice to mean I need to think about ‘everyone’ or the ‘average’ customer… I never considered a niche market.
Thanks for pointing me in the right different direction.
~Leah
Great advice – and I’m working on it. But, how do we find people who buy in our niche? Ideas, please!
Thank you for writing this informative article – it certainly does give me a lot to think about with my shop!
Good advice and can be applied to any business, not just crafts.
Thanks!
I just started on Etsy and am (like everyone else it seems) making jewelry. I just found my niche and made my FIRST SALE! So exciting. I found an awesome Venn diagram that got me thinking. One circle was opportunity (Etsy) one was skills (insert your craft here) and one was interest (insert your interest here.) Where the three circles overlap is the sweet spot! http://tiny.cc/iij7a
Four very well thought-out ideas. I think many craftspeople start with a niche, but don’t get enough sales right away and actually drift from their initial focus towards “what sells”, only to find that they are no longer enjoying crafting as much, and that sales quickly drop off once other people also start making “what sells”.
Stick with making what you love; people want to buy something with the artist’s personality shining through, even if (or especially if) it’s a little off the wall!
Thanks for the post.
-Lisa
Great advise, thank you. I’m not sure if I’ve been lucky enough with my artwork. If you get the time, could you give me some feed back?
My blog page with etsy link; http://earthangelsart.com/.
Keep shining bright! XXXX
Thanks for your help. Your comment about the photographers of etsy struck home with me. I felt bad that my photography wasn’t the “soft, romantic ” stuff so many of the photographers have. My things are brightly colored and graphic looking, although I do like vintage looks. Now I feel a little better, because I have my own unique look.
This is so useful, thank you! Plus it’s really beneficial to buyers as we the creators are offering them more choice by being diverse and niche, rather than just more of the same. Great thoughts 🙂
Very awesome article and it could not have come at a better time. Thank you so much!
This material is very interesting and helpful.
I am a multi-media artist. My website, etsy stores, FB page and blog all carry the handle “wildbraidart.” I have 2 shops “wildbraidart” carries my handmade items and “wildbraidartvintage” carries vintage odds and ends I’m looking to sell but it is not a strong focus. However people have found it.
Aside from my jewelry with a strong original design focus, I produce a lot of original designs using vintage jewelry pieces that have had a former life. I also am open to doing commissions for people using their old pieces in a new creation. I have many of these for people but off Etsy.
At the moment I’m focusing my efforts on putting up the wealth of products I have. I’m photographing everything, writing detailed descriptions and putting them piece by piece up in my Etsy shops.
I’ve tried doing other shops as well like Artfire and Zibbet but not happy having to run more than one at once and haven’t received any feedback on those, so they are just stations.
My objective in using “wildbraidart” as a handle is to emphasize the many media I work in and how my designs are all connected into a wild braid. Besides doing the jewelry constructions, I also do complicated free form beading, fiber art which has been featured in many galleries and which was the subject of a one person museum show; and I do watercolor/collage and am a published poet so I make up broadsides with reproductions of my art with my poetry superimposed on them.
I have been doing all of these things for well over 40 years and have sold items in all the various arenas. I have found it impossible to concentrate on just one media to the exclusion of the others. Although concentration on my fiber is from one period of my life, watercolor/collage from another, beading from a third and constructive jewelry from another and poetry from a still another I still am active in all of these and go from one to another constantly.
Finding a niche for Etsy is VERY DIFFICULT. I think I have done best with the jewelry constructions but am not sure how to create that niche so that it gets noticed.
Any suggestions or feedback would be helpful. Please visit my shop http://wildbraidart.etsy.com to see my work. Thanks to all.
This is such valuable information. Now, if I can only figure out what my niche truly is … I make OOAK Jeweled Corsages from recycled items … Help!!
Thank you so much for sharing this! It is a great help!
I’ve been giving this a lot of thought lately, and then this article comes to me like a sign from the great beyond or something. Thanks for the insight!
Great ideas and even terrific comments! I too had a niche issue and am still refining mine.
When I started, I wanted to do teacher/student items such as things for a teacher at the end of school or holiday times. I could not find that group but still wish I could. As a parent, I remember wanting to thank my children’s teachers without something repetitive or silly.
Thanks for your information and I love how you separated the information into options. Broken plates as jewelry – that is one interesting idea.
Pat
Excellent advise. I never really thought I had a niche!! I guess I do and it seems to working for me!
This is so well timed for me. I was just looking at my shop and thinking, “There is nothing at all like this on Etsy. I must be doing something wrong.” I guess I’m really doing something right!
Thankyou for such amazing information. I stumbled across your page and have just spent an hour reading back posts and furiously making notes. We are just starting to develop our garden art from a hobby to hopefully something more so your information and links will be invaluable – I’ll be back regularly.
i think my problem is i have too many niches going…the thing is…i like all the things i make and don’t want to have to drop one when i find it versatile and unusual. i try to categorize my items into my sections as much as possible, but i think maybe newcomers to my site don’t readily see the sections and get overwhelmed by the diversity. if anyone could offer advice, i’d love it!
What exactly do you mean by ‘dark, hard-edged images’?
Is it just me, or do any other newbs have trouble trnsalating his right-handed fret work to your left hand? Or, should? I be working the guitar the same way, picking left, fingering right? So confused
I guess it’s like we need to be our own agent & mentor too, take advice from ourselves, sometimes it’s difficult to listen to that ‘marketing’ voice because I have the ‘teen’ voice that says , it’s your shop, if you want to list other stuff just do it’ you want do do it hopefully like other artists do it, for love not just sales? I think if an actor just played the same roles it’s predictable & a little dull but they would have a dedicated following from the diehard fans, but they wouldn’t stretch themselves as an artist or craftsman, in which case although they have found their niche they may end up… average?? I don’t know, loved your article, made me think (& debate with myself LOL) there’s definitely something too it, but ya gotta love diversity (can that be a niche too?)
As a result of reading a similar blog on this subject, I reluctantly decided to try to find a niche, and I now see it was the right thing to do. I’ve only sold a couple of items thus far, but I get a lot more “hearts” and views now. Most importantly I’m having a blast creating items now, and because my items are religious themed, I feel like I am working not just for myself but for a higher purpose as well. I think my main obstacles now are wording my descriptions effectively, and promoting my shop.
So do consider finding your own niche, and have fun! 🙂
Kathleen Bateman
http://www.etsy.com/shop/rockjesus
VERY useful information. I tend to want to be all things to all people, but when I think about it, my most loyal and enthusiastic customers are a very small niche. Thank you!! I’ll be subscribing to your newsletter.
Boy, I needed this article. Thank YOU!
Wow, what useful information. I definitely needed to read this today! Thank you!
♥Wow, what useful information. I definitely needed to read this today! Thank you!
Great information! Thank you for the wonderful post.
I was terrified thinking about having my Etsy shop be so niche-y. On the one hand, I had nothing to lose because I’d never tried to sell on Etsy before and just wanted to see where things went, no harm no foul either way. But on the other, I was really hoping people were going to like my stuff. That voice in my head was all, “what if nobody wants this?” “should I be doing more pictures of [insert other, more ‘popular’ animal here]?”
I had people repeatedly asking me, “why don’t you draw more cats?! if you made artwork with cats I would be your best customer! You have a guaranteed customer right here if you make art with cats!” (literally).
Things like that can be tempting. If someone tells you they’re going to throw money at you if you do [x], you start thinking maybe you should…
but then it hit me. I’m not inspired by cats. I’m inspired by guinea pigs. I love them. They make me giggle uncontrollably and while I have a cat and I’m obsessed with her, that’s just it. I’m obsessed with HER, not cats in general. So maybe I’ll make some artwork featuring her, but not just to appease what the general population tends to gravitate toward.
I absolutely love my ‘fans’. They’re all nutty guinea pig lovers like me. It’s opened up so many doors for making friendships, helping guinea pig rescues, and I wouldn’t ever trade that for giving up my niche for the sake of more sales.
I tried to branch out and make Christmas-themed things that didn’t have guinea pigs this year — they barely sold at all. Other than one print featuring otters (which is a niche all in its own, I’m finding!), my customers want nothing but more piggies! So I’m gonna keep going, scary as it can be sometimes.
Wow this comment was super long. I’m just really happy this blog post is out there because the niche thing is SO true. You have to do what you love and not be temped to succumb to making other things because you think they’re going to sell. A piece of your heart gets taken out of your work then, and I think customers can feel it.
Wow, love your insights too!. For me, its not making anything quite the same so everything I do is different and a bit organic. That’s what I love and I am going to stick with it. Thanks for sharing too!
I have known for a long time about niches, and still can’t figure out what my niche is. This article convinced me that I am still thinking too big! I need to Think Small! Novel concept, but so true. I am going to look at what I love to make, narrow it down to one material, theme, or something and make that. That should enable me to grow Big, my profit that is, heavens I don’t need to be any bigger! 🙂
Great food for thought, I’ve been struggling with this. I make fused glass pendants that don’t look like everyone elses, but I can’t quite figure out how to make them stand out when typing “fused glass pendant” gets thousands of results! pondering….
Now…stop shopping, think and find my niche market.
That might be tough in this geeky society :/
Hello from Thailand can you please tell me more about started new shop on etsy.com I’m new here I don’t know much,
thank you
Manustawee
Thanks for the food for thought.
WOW! You story couldn’t of come at a better time. My ceramics product is like no other on Etsy or anywhere else. Trust me, I’ve looked. I’m struggling to find my niche market. Thank you for that AMAZING story
Thanks Megan!
Like many others on here, I am in the process of creating my Etsy shop. It’s really tempting to listen to those who say to try everything and see what sells, but I don’t want to be a generic shop which churns out vanilla products. I love the idea of sticking with what I am passionate about and not trying to be all things to all people.
Thanks again for the insight!
This is a very good article on niches. I seem to have more than one niche though. I have people that buy my button jewelry, which seems to be my biggest seller, especially the rings. But I also have had a lot of personal requests for specialized family pieces like charm bracelets and pendants with photos of family members. I like to specialize in holiday pieces also. I’m afraid if I zero in on one thing, I am going to lose half of my customers. I have had my etsy shop for a couple of years and haven’t done as well as I hoped. It seems I do better at shows where people can actually pick up the pieces and see them for themselves. I also have a lot of sales of my jewelry at a high-end hair salon.
I’m not going to give up my etsy shop, but I’m not sure why I am stuck in a rut.
Thanks,
AnnieL2021
That advice is really good!
Before I started I was considering to make something special which I did and I still do…
On craft shows my knitted necklaces fly off the shelf, and I know I have something special, but on etsy….I seem not to be able to tell people why my necklaces are special and I do not have many sales….
If anybody could give me some advice…..since people can not touch and feel my jewelery it seems they can’t appreciate it….
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Timely advice. I know my product is a bit different than others in my category. Working on finding that niche. Thank you
love it! I am glad to finally read some advice about selling photography! thank you so much.
Great article with wonderful insight and information.
Thanks so much – great article!
Great article Megan, and very timely for me as well! I am in the midst of a small crisis re my online presence/business/es and feel that it’s time I stopped trying to be all things to all people, as Rebecca has said above. Thanks for these fab tips and info.
mmmm……now if i could only work out exactly where MY niche lies. 🙂
Hi Megan, I understand what you are saying and I am sure you are right but here is my problem. I don’t think I can focus all of my creative energy on one specialized corner and leave the rest behind.
My product is handmade jewelry and yes it is hard to stand out in a sea of jewelry. I have too many niches because I am in love with so many different materials. My materials are all from natural products like gemstones, metals, glass, wood, leather, pearls, shell and more. I find it expense (re-listing) in my category as it gets more and more crowded to stand out.
You said focusing on a niche means picking out a specialized corner of the market and diving in. It means making products for one special person, instead of making average products for average people.
I have a question if I have a creative need to work in several specialized corners of the jewelry market should I open a different Etsy shop for each product category say one shop that is only gemstone jewelry and one shop that is only metals (sterling silver, gold, brass), one shop that is only lockets and watches and a shop that is only fused glass, sea glass, altered art glass jewelry. I probably have enough supplies to do that but I don’t have enough time. Do you think I should bite the bullet and choose one specialized corner of the jewelry market (say my best seller) dive in and remove all other items? Thank you and I would love to hear your thoughts on this.
Camille – I wrote a post today which hopefully answers some of your questions – http://www.craftmba.com/2011/03/28/balancing-the-creative-brain-with-the-business-brain/
I would also add that I highly discourage multiple Etsy shops unless there is a very compelling reason for it. Double the shops means double the work, double the marketing, etc. I think it’s a lot to handle for a single maker.
My material is glass lampworking; my subject is specializing in flowers, tropical & ocean life; my style is sculptural glass beads; branding is colorful glass works. Is this what you mean?
Thank you, Megan. This was a great read full of valuable information.
I found my niche market almost by accident. When I opened my Etsy shop last December it was just to have a place to sell my jewelry during the cold weather months when there are no outdoor craft markets & shows. I found the forums a few weeks later and one day I happened to see a posting about dollhouse miniatures. I have a collection of such things that had been packed away for over 20 years, so I was intrigued enough to read their thread. This resulted in my joining my first team here on Etsy: Miniatures In Dollhouse Scales (MIDS).
This small but highly dedicated and talented team inspired me to unpack my collection and place much of it in my shop. It was a hugely successful venture, and shortly after that I started creating new pieces for the first time in many years. So, I now have my own niche within a niche market because most of my miniature creations have a medieval or renaissance theme (without being cutesy-poo). Such pieces are often difficult to find and now, to my delight, I even have several repeat customers.
I’ll still make jewelry because I love doing it, but I’ve found my niche market here on Etsy.
Linda
http://www.etsy.com/shop/CalicoJewels
Wonderful Article! So needed to be reminded & encouraged! Will bookmark this to read over & over for that much needed boost when in a slump! Thanks for your insight & time! Awesome!
When I opened my shop, I thought I had a niche, then I started watching what other people were selling and I got caught up and lost my way…..I’ve got to stay focused.
Thank you for another great article!!
Thank you!
Such a great advise!!!
Will embrace it!
Still trying to be noticed on Etsy by taking more interesting photos, blogging, and hearting shops I really like, but my jewelry is like a lot of others. I’ll have to give this niche idea some more thought.
Excellent article! It makes a very valid point.
-OneVOICE
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Great advise and ideas! Very helpful – Thanks!
I totally agree. I think that after searching quite a while I have finally found my niche- few months ago I started working with rough diamonds and I just love it! I’m far from giving up the other materials but focusing on that feels real good and right.
Thanks for an excellent post.
Perfect timing! I was just starting to re-evaluate what I would like to do with my shop. Maybe focusing on only cupcake products! That is what I enjoy most anyway.
I think focusing on the cupcake products is a good way to go, though I’d hate to see you give up the beer pieces. Maybe cupcakes and beer? (There’s actually a bar/bakery in NYC called Sweet Revenge that focuses on just that.)
Thank you for the advice. I am struggling a little with my new business but now I have a better focus and more idea what to aim for.
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Oh my gosh, there are so many comments here!
Anyway, as a jewelry maker, I definitely feel like it can be hard to do something unique and find a niche. But I did find that even if I can’t come up with a completely unique design that no one’s ever thought of before, I can introduce an aesthetic to a market that hasn’t seen it before.
For example, I found that I really like making variations of asymmetrical beaded necklaces with some sort of plant- or animal-related focal piece. This style of necklace absolutely abounds on Etsy. There, it’s not unique, it’s ubiquitous. But at local craft shows? Everyone thinks they’re just the coolest thing ever, no one else sells anything like them, and at one show last year they sold out completely and even though I was making more during the show, I eventually ran out of materials to make them! My pieces aren’t unique in and of themselves, but they seem to be unique in that particular market segment.
So maybe I’m not doing something groundbreaking, but I’m having fun coming up with variations on what’s become a relatively common style. And who knows, maybe as I gain more experience, I will come up with something that’s more unique and interesting as far as the jewelry world as a whole goes (as opposed to just the local Lehigh Valley craft show scene!). 🙂
Thank you so much for this post! It was something I really needed and something I have been thinking about for a long time. I originally started with a mix of my funky vintage redesigned jewelry, but have focused more on eco-friendly and all of my pieces are one of a kind. I try to push the one of a kind because that can be a real draw for some people and then eco-friendly is another big draw. Haven’t yet seen any results from the change yet (other than a focused etsy shop instead of a scatter-brained one), but looking forward to them! Thank you again!
Great advice, i think have found my niche, now it is a matter of marketing myself to get it out there. looking forward to reading other posts about marketing yourself as an artist. apprecitate the advice.
Megan’s got her finger on the pulse, she’s absolutely right about niche marketing. In addition to her e-course, the Professional Development Seminar is serendipitously tackling the same topic in Seattle. If you’re attending the conference or live in the Seattle area, don’t overlook it.
The Professional Development Seminar is open to anyone. You don’t need to attend the Conference.
$40. gets you in the door for one hour on Niche Marketing and two hours on Photography in Flux. The Discussion continues with a brown bag lunch discussion.
Here is the link for more information:
http://www.snagmetalsmith.org/Events/Professional_Development_Seminar/
Harriete
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Great information and inspiration on focusing on a niche. The key to discovering that niche is a lot of experimentation, so don’t give up before you figure out what your niche is, just keep creating.
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I think I know what my niche is. Now I have to get out there and plug it. I am learning that starting a business is no walk in the park. Getting people to love your product as much as you do and keep coming back for more is a real challenge. Thanks for the article.
Like many others, I have been struggling to find a niche that I would be comfortable in, that I can work at repeatedly, and that will sustain me. I have many areas that I like to work in and many different mediums that I am fond of. I have not yet found anything in particular that sells well. I keep thinking if I can just find one thing that people seem to like and that sells enough that I can make some money, I will stick with that. So what happens is that I make a few of a kind of item and then try to sell it. Maybe I will have one or two sales, if that much, but nothing like something being a popular, attractive item that sells out. So now I have lots of stock items of all different kinds, and my shop is now a mixed bag of watercolor paintings, baskets, jewelry, and fiber art. I have drawers and shelves full of stuff, but nothing is really a niche that I can market exclusively, mainly because none of it has sold. I keep thinking if I can just find that niche item, but so far I’m not getting anywhere. I’ll keep trying though, but I really must find a way to support myself and I feel like I waste time by trying out different things to find a niche when none of them seem to be successful.
Thanks, sometimes its hard to hold tight!
Thanks for your useful tips on promoting..
Why does it take hearing something from someone else, before you believe your own inclination? I’ve been floundering trying to find out what I want to be my niche, or even what direction I want to take my crafting & art. I know I shouldn’t be making what I think other will buy but what I want to make because I want to bring my passion to my art-enterprise. But in an effort to find out what people will buy, I’ve made/ marketed a smattering of stuff I’m not passionate about. I’m over it. thanks for the nudge in the right direction.
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Great post! I just linked you on a blog post about product differentiation. Keep up the great writing!
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Thankyou for this. I always wanted to know how to niche my creativie ideas and in reading your article I see that the niche idea has created itself for me. I also realise I don’t have to make or market to the masses to have a recognized product. It’s going to make my life so much more lighter.
Thankyou.
I just saw your Etsy Online Lab on pricing and found it very encouraging! Thanks for all your great ideas and for being witty and upbeat!
Just found your blog and love it. I’m currently working on this and thank you for great advice.
Ebay is not a good choice now..it’s mkraet died with the economy With your capital.. best way to study ebay categories, with some of resources you could depend on .. My Advice.. 1- ebay will kill your profit in nowadays mkraet recession.. Yet the real great sharks of business are who got there money’s and business up on those days .. Try to figure out resources for used merchandise (No specified category as it depend on your resources try to get some used items (in very good to excellent condition .. ) you will find a great deal on that in your area / friends/ relatives, etc . you can buy from them at a very good price .. then try to resell it at ebay .. your profit margin would be 100%-200% .. plus you will be way cheaper than the new items.. and affordable to most people now who have lower income and want this stuff.. Good luck and have a great day / .
YOU are a character, Megan…and thank you for you energy and willingness and ability to share … I saw you and Tara today on the Art of Pricing for Profit … still have a couple questions … stalked you on facebook … haha…
Regarding the niche … I began 5 yrs ago making what I refer to as random chaos bohemian boutique pieces (jewelry for independent free thinkers)… and let me tell you I had more $ than brains … but the landscape has changed. Now I have no $$ and no brains it seems. I floundered around, trying to appeal to most anyone … so your speaking about the *perceived value* was not lost on me.
I did open a second shop so that I can shove lower priced items there while back linking my main shop cooljewelrydesign … I want to return solely to my OOAK (yes, some items yielded raw materials cost of $40+ ….. no, I did not buy in bulk b/c it went against the whole notion of OOAK.
Thank you for all of your advice and acumen…it is so appreciated.
Warm regards,
Pam
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Thank you so much for this (for me) perfectly timed article. It’s taken me several years to understand my niche. I’m a photographer who has always printed on unique, textured paper — definitely a niche. What I didn’t understand until recently is that my images tend towards the highly textural as well. Ah ha! Combine that with the colors and subjects (rich and very grown up) that interest me and…oh my gosh…turns out I’ve got a pretty solid niche market. Thanks again, you’ve given me some great direction. All the best, E.
Great ideas..I need to find a niche…I thought I did as I am raising money for a very specific charity, but my items are not typical “charity” jewelry. I will work on this.
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