Your Niche May Be Right Under Your Nose
Many people possess an undying entrepreneurial spirit, even if they aren’t officially in business. The night before trash day, I encountered a man surveying my trash–specifically an old sliding screen door we discarded. “Do you mind?” he asked.
Of course I didn’t, but I was curious about when he planned to do with it. “Scrap aluminum,” he said. And he added that he roams the streets most nights after the kids are in bed. He knows who has trash day when. It’s extra money and he enjoys the mostly quiet ride through suburbia.
My cousin is unbelievably organized. She organizes people’s closets for fun. About a year ago I told her she should start a business. And this week she told me she has her first customer. She thanked me because it didn’t occur to her to make a living as an organizer, but I am betting she will be a great success.
Another friend hates clutter. She sells whatever she doesn’t want on EBay. She also makes jewelry as a hobby, and has begun selling it online too. Last week she took an old pair of skates out of my garage and said she’ll see what she can get for them. One day, I am sure she will find her niche and start it up.
Your niche may be right in your own back yard, around your wrist, or in your closet. Give it some thought and you may be in business in no time.
August 20th, 2005 at 1:30 pm
Nice post. I always find it interesting that most people spend their lives working jobs they hate, instead of doing what they love.
Recognizing opportunities within the things we love to do is often a challenge, but the potential reward is high. Is success at something you hate truly rewarding? Personally, I think it’s far more rewarding to be successful at what you love.
August 23rd, 2005 at 8:26 pm
My First post, For what its worth, my comment is to your article. Your niche may be under your noes. My niche was right under my noes. I couldn’t see ,the forest for the trees. Auto collision repair was my profession for twenty seven years. Insurance c.o. Had finally got it by the throat, and squeezing the life out of it. The last real job I had cut benefits, pay, vacation, etc 30 % cut in income We were barley making it to start, witch adds up to a cardboard box for a home in the CAlf bay area. After leaving there I hopped from job to job for a little while. Finally realizing it was not the shop but the hole industry that was my problem. Lucky for me I had been working on a start up. That had been under my nose the hole time.
VENTURES PERSONAL HOBBY & GARAGE, INC is what came out of once a problem. But now is the answer. I guess you could say sometimes you need a few trees to fall, before you can see the forest. well that my two cents. We are still a ways off from opening. So wish us luck, on our grant and venture cap funding. Thanks for your advice and support. Ill keep reading.
August 28th, 2005 at 11:16 am
I agree - I spent 7 years at a job that I started out very much enjoying. Our office atmosphere and morale had changed a lot in the final two years, but I suppose like most people it happened so gradually that we just went with it. I was so unhappy earlier this year, and finally made the decision to leave.
The intent alone was enough to change my outlook. I quit in June and started a web design business - I don’t know where I will go with it, but I love doing it, and the personal satisfaction of doing something that I enjoy for a change is worth the uncertainty.
So many people at my former employer are unsatisfied (and stressed) and seeking a way out. I’m grateful that I found one sooner rather than later.
September 6th, 2005 at 1:02 am
Do you have a website or way to contact you?
September 6th, 2005 at 8:44 pm
I just started my own website and I have banners and buttons from others on my website, the only thing is I do not have much traffic COMING to my store to see what I have to offer. The things I am finding on the net is usually very high priced and I am leary of so many of the "scams" out there to waste time and money to bring people to my site. Any inexpensive ways to let the millions know you are out ther and want the buiness?
Any help would be appreciated!!!!
Thanks,
Kim
September 9th, 2005 at 4:08 pm
"Niche"
Well, my husband Andy Boyle and I started our import wholesale business….on crafts and decors. We carried a lot of items that customers were confused what we were selling.
Then we finally decided to focus on just "Packaging" for gift sets, wraps etc. BUT only with materials made of "Natural and Organic" fibers like Sinamay, Abaca, Buri, Pandan, Burlap.
We have now a "niche" market - The companies that deal with organic and natural products.
Visit our website: http://www.virwanti.com
Any suggestions and comments will be appreciated.
Aimee Boyle
Virwanti International Corporation
"The Natural and Organic Packaging Company"
September 14th, 2005 at 12:27 pm
Interesting stuff, especially from Mitchell.
My story is that I had the best job in the world. I was a newspaper editor, always in the thick of the exciting news.
On the job interview for my last job, I promised the boss I would quit when I got tired of it.
Eventually that happened, not because I was tiring of the news but because of the newspaper’s move towards gutter journalism.
So I took early retirement, with a pension, and am now using my lifetime skills in a small business as an editor. I concentrate in two fields, Christian editing and assisting other small business with their sales and promotional literature.
I edit a small monthly magazine and have had a role in editing three books. I haven’t made much money but the other rewards have been great. And I will be able to continue to do work that I enjoy well past the retirement age of 65.
Phil Thatcher
Write With God
winniephil@sympatico.ca
What’s my advice? Be honest. Integrity brings much greater rewards, including financial ones, than dishonesty.
October 3rd, 2005 at 9:26 pm
Hi Phil,
We need smeone like you to promote our sales and do write-ups regarding our products.
Please contact us via email or telephone.
Virwanti International Corporation
"The Natural and Organic Packaging Company"
email address: sales@virwanti.com
website: http://www.virwanti.com
Telephone (951) 245-3579
We look forward to hear from you.
Aimee Boyle
Marketing and Product Devt.
November 17th, 2005 at 8:09 pm
Finding a niche…
I think of four factors when I talk with people about how I found mine (junk removal and disposal).
1.Profit: the most important rea$on for your pursuit. I am sorry to say that a "fun" business that makes little or no profit (eventually) is no business at all.
2.Need: is there a genuine need for what you are offering? Or, can you create a need or desire for it? Is there an overwhelming amount of competition already offering exactly what you are thinking of? When I talk with people about this idea of need, I tell them to find something that people cannot do for themselves (too laborious or technical) or do not want to do for themselves (too undesirable). Setting up a website or removing old furniture may be too technical or laborious. Cleaning up the dog poop may be too undesirable.
3.Feesability: Can you do this? I even encourage some of my friends to pick the business idea that will be easiest for them to make happen. Then, they can take on the more difficult business idea later on…after they get the more basic one mastered. I, for example, had a lot of experience loading and hauling debris. Therefore, junk removal was an easy option for me. And, I knew that I could easily pay someone to do the work without having to babysit them…there’s not a lot of skill required.
4.Enjoyability: Can you imagine yourself enjoying it? Maybe not loving it. But, will you be able to enjoy the field that you choose. Of course, you’ll enjoy the business side of things. But, what about the nature of your idea itself? And, I should add, many business gurus are quite leary about people starting a business around a personal hobby. It normally is a recipe for failure.
Junk removal is not always fun. But, the business side of it definately is. And, there is a definate need for it in my area (SE Michigan). As long as people live, there will be more than enough junk to be removed. And, that being the case, there is definately money to be made in the process.
My advice? Find something that is profitable, necessary, feesable, and enjoyable!
December 3rd, 2005 at 11:51 am
Hello Everyone:
I have a niche of my own. I am a workplace safety and environmental consultant. I have had my own business since 1990. Although I have many clients that provide me with consistent work, what has always been a mystery to me is why I do not have more, much more business. Adfterall, everyone must comply with OSHA and the EPA and the Fire Dept along with numerous local agencies in NY. Yet, my success with marketing has alwayd been very limited. In fact, 95% of my busienss comes from referrals.
I have been considering the idea of creating a web site but if telemarketing and mail marketing doesn’t even get a nibble, why would a web saite get a bite?
I have tried scare tactic mailings informational mailings, statistical mailings, postcards and telemarketing which is the worst.
Is there any one out there who has a similar type business that has had success with a web site?
Perry