Dropship Mysteries: What Is A Niche?

Since commerce first began it has been apparent that selling your products or services meant advertising them – not just anywhere, but in the most appropriate places.

This means knowing the lifestyles of the people who can benefit from your product or service and where you’re likely to find them. This is considered as a niche or niche market.

A niche merely means a small section within a market.

One example may be men’s running shoes which is a sector of the market for shoes.

A niche focuses on people with a particular hobby, those who live in a certain geographical area, or those of a specific culture.

Having a product that appeals to sector within a market enables a business to better serve its desires or needs.

Niches in ecommerce

Niches play a critical part in business, regardless of if they’re supplied by dropship suppliers or other more traditional forms of supply chain management.

Companies must advertise of their products or services in places as TV commercials, magazines, or newspapers where customers are likely to find them.

For example, beer commercials are aired during football games, toys or cereals for children are advertised when cartoons are shown, and ads for computer systems are placed in computer magazines.

Hence, advertising children’s cereal during a baseball game would be fruitless for the cereal producer.

Choosing a niche

The best kind of niche should relate to a personal hobby or work experience you have.

The more knowledge and interest you have in this area, the better equipped you will be in meeting customers’ needs.

Entrepreneurs are likely to choose a niche within a career field they’ve worked in.

For instance, a general practice lawyer may want to open his own firm serving those with divorce cases.

There are countless numbers of niches that serve our world’s marketplace today.

Computer software can be broken down into several niches as accounting, video games, music, educational, etc.

The shoe market includes niches as men’s, women’s, walking, running, therapeutic shoes, sandals, and so on.

Hygiene products can be categorized as cosmetics, perfumes, deodorants, shampoos, and soaps for both men and women.

Even things like cell phones can be broken down into cell phone watches, accessories, carrying cases, simple phones and smart phones amongst others.

Know your competitors

To be successful, you must have a cutting edge on your competition.

You must find out who sells what you want to sell, find out what area they serve, and sample the quality of their products or services by buying from them at least once.

Then think up ways you can make your goods better than theirs or even offer things they don’t.

So, if you want to repair bicycles, find out where other bicycle repair shops in your hometown are and see what services they offer.

You may offer services as repainting, adding accessories as lights or locks, or free delivery and pick up of bikes near your shop.

Credentials and references help service-oriented businesses.

If you have a license or certificate, make it known to customers. Have references of past customers a prospect can call to share the satisfaction of your service.

Now you understand how profitable niches can be discover a dropship supplier that knows everything your customers need and delivers. Visit Chinavasion.com or paste this link into your browser: chinavasion.com/wholesale-dropship.php

Information on The Go- QR Codes For Your Business And More

QR codes have been popular in Japan, where they were developed by Denso-Wave for many years. These simple bar codes can contain a wealth of information including URLs, contact information, coupons, map directions, store information or even a text message. Most smart phones can easily read them today, including iPhones, Blackberrys and Droids. Simply search for a “QR reader” app through your phone. Your phone will use its built in camera to collect an image of the code and process it, automatically displaying whatever information is imbedded into the code.

In today’s technology driven market there are always new and exciting ways to communicate with your customers and staying up to date with these methods can set you apart from your competition. QR codes can easily be placed into existing marketing campaigns and add a new element to your marketing strategy. The involvement that these codes also creates between you and your target market is a essential step in building a relationship with your clients. You can create your own QR at http://zxing.appspot.com/generator/

Download a mobile QR reader for your phone today and try it, you will be amazed at the impact it may have on the way you gather information. From having a QR that directs people to your website to buy your products to having a QR that will send people to a photo album to share, they serve as a new way for people to quickly access your information accurately. For more information and help on generating and integrating QR codes into your businesses marketing plan contact Coastal Business Strategies to help give your customers information on the go.

David Grigg
Owner – Coastal Business Strategies
http://www.CBSplans.com

The Powers of Joining Forces

I often say that ‘old school’ business strategy is to stake your claim and then spend the next 40 years going to war with anyone who looks like they might get near your ‘turf’. If you live in a community with a lot of business owners who’ve had their businesses for 15+ years, don’t be surprised if you feel they’re ready to attack you with a pitchfork. Sadly, too many people continue to feel that they need to be isolated and prepared for battle to build their business.

The better way of building your business is joining forces with other smart, like-minded entrepreneurs. Yes, they may be hard to find but keep your eyes open. Together you can find cheap and effective ways to build your businesses. By joining forces, you’ll gain leverage, momentum and frankly, is much more fun than fighting a war!

How can you cross-sell for another business? How can they cross-sell for you? Maybe you can hand out coupons for their pizza shop to everyone who comes into your dry cleaner and they do the same for you. If you have a large email list, maybe you offer one of their coupons to your customers and in return, they do the same for you. Maybe you get all the merchants in your area to support a ‘First Friday sidewalk sale’ or a ‘Super Saturday Sales Spectacular’. In doing this, you join forces because everyone is advertising to get folks into your area during the same block of time…maybe you even pass out coupons for each other during the day of the sale.

Where do you find these business owners? Where do business owners in your community network? Is it through the local Chamber of Commerce? Maybe through a networking group? You may have to try several meetings or groups to uncover the forward-thinking business owners you’re seeking.

When you meet them, have a plan. Some people think ‘networking’ is just another word for ‘professional socializing’. Be prepared to talk about more than a general review of what your business. Learn the skills of networking that will help you build you business without spending a fortune on marketing. I’ll tell you now, not every business owner is open-minded and will be willing to consider working together. Remember, those who have given up on their own dreams will discourage yours. Surround yourself with positive, encouraging and cooperative people who work WITH you to grow your business, your success and your wealth.

I invite your to learn more ideas and strategies for “Bootstrapping your Business” with marketing ideas and strategies that help smart business owners on a budget by visiting http://www.angelaphebus.com/freeoffer.html