Product Niches and Examples: Real Business Analysis
As is well known, making a profit in competitive markets requires substantial investments in inventory and advertising. Choosing niche products lowers market entry barriers. Today's article will explain niche products from the following key perspectives:
What is a niche product?
What are examples of niche products?
Specific niches versus selling a variety?
What are the advantages of selling in a niche market?
How to find the most profitable niche products?
What is a niche product?
A niche product is like a small, specialized subset of products. It allows you to precisely target consumers within a particular category, so you can focus on meeting those specific, unique needs.
For example, socks are consumer goods. Athletic socks are designed for people who practice various sports. Depending on the sport, they can be subdivided into yoga socks, running socks, basketball socks, ski socks, horseback riding socks, and so on.
In this example, you're catering to a narrower but more targeted customer base by offering specialized socks, rather than trying to appeal to the general public. This way, you address these consumers' problems and offer them what they truly want. As a result, they're more likely to visit your online store looking for the "right product." You're essentially establishing a position in a smaller market segment, known as a product niche, which enhances your competitive advantage.
What are some examples of niche products? (2 real-life business case studies)
For example, candles represent a mass market, while scented or aromatherapy candles fall into the niche market category. This can be more specific, such as aromatherapy glass candles.
Similar examples include organic pet food, specifically organic dog or cat food. Fishing rods constitute a niche within fishing gear, while Hanfu is a niche within women's clothing. Refillable fragrances are intended for car interiors, and cup holders are intended for sofas. Additionally, there are highly specialized niches that may involve selling one to three products and utilizing various marketing strategies within that specific segment.
Real Niche Business Case #1
Porkysplash.com is a Google e-commerce website established in April 2023 according to Whois , it only sells a single type of squeeze piggy toy in two sizes available and with specific discount offers as described below.
The company owner is already experiencing success. Why? Well, the specialized product incorporates a charming pig design and a stress-relieving function, meeting the growing needs of modern people facing high work pressure and a fast-paced lifestyle.
It's worth noting that this company has effectively utilized social media. On May 28, 2023, the first short video was posted on TikTok . The video updates every one or more days, showing the piggy toy being squeezed and thrown to emphasize its stress-relieving features and high quality. Furthermore, all videos are shot from a first-person perspective. This immerses viewers and resonates emotionally, generating a desire to purchase.
Along with trending hashtags like #satisfactory and #asmr, which also highlight product attributes, video views remain stable in the range of over 150,000 to over 300 million, accompanied by over 800,000 followers. All of this increases both their popularity and sales. This method is definitely worth considering for our own strategies.
The viral trend on TikTok also drove a sharp increase in global search interest for “Piggy Squeeze Toy” on Google Trends from June to July 2023, reaching a maximum score of 100.
Real Niche Business Case 2
Hall Madden is a Google-owned e-commerce website founded in 2010. The two founders have 25 years of experience in clothing design and menswear manufacturing. They specialize in custom suits, shirts, and tuxedos for a targeted audience.
In terms of marketing, 90% of traffic comes from Reddit , while a small portion comes from Instagram and LinkedIn, according to data from Similarweb .
Reddit has a wealth of useful and valuable information, as well as marketing content. It's like checking IMDb's ratings and reviews for the latest movies.
Hall Madden has been active in Reddit's menswear advice community, which is accurate and the largest menswear community, with 5.5 million members. Although they haven't posted many threads, they provide insightful and professional answers to others' inquiries, garnering over 70 upvotes and comments. Additionally, in May 2023, a customer left a detailed and complimentary review of Hall Madden's custom suits and wedding attire, receiving over 100 upvotes. Furthermore, the comments indicate a positive influence from the brand on Hall Madden.
Additionally, Hall Madden has also invested time and money in Google Shopping ads and SEO, primarily targeting the US market. Over the years, Hall Madden has solidified its unique brand identity.
Specific niches versus selling a variety?
In fact, many entrepreneurs start with trendy products to make a quick profit, but sustainability is often lacking.
This approach is common among general stores, which sell a dozen or even more types of products and use a dropshipping model at the beginning of their business. Considering the wide range of products, maintaining inventory for all these items is difficult and often drains their energy. This is because this business model relies heavily on paid advertising to generate traffic. Once the ads stop appearing, traffic declines, making it difficult to maintain and develop substantial brand influence.
Additionally, post-sale problems arise because products cannot be inspected and suppliers are completely dependent on them. Unstable supply chains generate complaints, which impact store performance and put the account at risk of being suspended. While there may be some gains, the effort required is significant, and profits can diminish over time, let alone foster customer loyalty and brand trust.
After gaining experience and capital by selling a variety, companies often shift to a niche strategy. Different product niches require different marketing approaches. If you're targeting American female consumers, consider Pinterest. It's like visual Twitter, so it's best to make sure your product images are eye-catching enough to encourage users to click.
Even within the same niche, people can take different approaches due to differences in available funds and experience. Some are Instagram influencers with large followings, while others excel at operating on Reddit, Facebook, and YouTube videos.
They leverage their resources and strengths, aligning them with the preferences and demands of their target consumer base to select appropriate marketing channels to promote and sell products, ultimately improving brand awareness.
Advantages of selling products in a niche market
1. Less competition
Compared to selling general items, offering niche items reduces competition, and you only have to compete with companies that offer similar items to yours.
2. Total concentration
Another great advantage of a niche product is that you can focus on satisfying a particular group of potential buyers rather than understanding different customer behaviors.
You can create customer-specific branding and pricing strategies to attract more potential customers to your e-commerce store.
3. Loyal customers
When you have a niche product to sell, you can focus on delivering on your brand promise. As a result, offering a high-quality niche product to buyers will help you convert potential customers into loyal ones.
4. High profit margins
If you can select a highly demanding niche product with less competition, you'll likely enjoy maximum profit margins on each unit sold. Furthermore, you need to find reliable suppliers for your niche products with guaranteed quality and affordable prices to achieve your profit goals.
How to find the best niche products?
1. Select a niche that you are passionate about.
For example, if you enjoy fishing, you'll likely know what types of lures or fishing rods sell well. If you love golf, you'll be familiar with golf bags and know which product description resonates with consumers to entice them to buy. When it comes to a market you're passionate about, you'll be well-versed in relevant communities and groups, making it easier for you to identify opportune moments to promote your products.
2. Get niche ideas through Google, Amazon, social media, and communities.
Search for a specific product category on Google, Amazon, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Reddit, Quora, etc. Then, analyze user behaviors and interests. This will give you the best idea for finding a niche product for your ecommerce business .
Let's take " pet supplies " as an example. You can also offer products for rabbits, turtles, parrots, and other pets, not just common dogs and cats. Additionally, within pet supplies, you can further segment into toys, accessories, clothing, food, and pet medications. You can also tailor your offerings to specific holidays, such as holiday-themed cat clothing, beds, and accessories. Keep in mind that niche products should be specific enough without limiting each market to a single item.
3. Read customer reviews
After finding a niche product, visit platforms like Amazon and AliExpress. Review customer ratings and reviews to generate creative ideas. Observe what works and what areas can be improved, and tailor your product to consumer needs.
4. Make sure your product can solve your potential customers' problems.
Ask yourself some questions: Can your product really solve a problem? What advantages do your potential competitors have? What are my strengths and weaknesses?
Remember that your niche product doesn't have to be complex or extensive. A simple but effective product can have a remarkable impact.
Case study: Decibullz
Kyle Kirkpatrick, a former USA Gymnastics coach, designed a pair of headphones in 2014 to ensure athletes wouldn't be distracted by listening to music during their workouts.
He launched his own brand, Decibullz , which offered earbuds that fit comfortably in the ears and wouldn't budge, whether running or doing flips on the trampoline. The product was previously available, but it was expensive and couldn't solve the problem.
However, Kirkpatrick solved a problem by initially offering a niche product for a specific audience. Now his company offers hearing protection devices, attracting potential buyers from other segments, such as public safety personnel.
This case study is one of the best examples of how working on a niche product can improve your business .
5. Research the status of the niche product market, trends, and profit margins.
Use keyword tools like Google Keyword Planner to see the monthly search volume for your product. Analyze product trends using Google Trends before selling it in a niche market.
Take "mushroom decor," for example: Google Trends reveals growing interest worldwide, peaking at 100 points in June 2023. The majority of interested audiences are from Europe and North America, especially the United States. This increases their confidence in the product's market.
In terms of profit, more expensive products typically yield higher profits. However, on a limited budget, you can look for low-cost products , which generate a high return on investment. However, affordability doesn't mean compromising on quality. If you have enough capital, you can choose slightly more expensive but profitable products , as they ensure high profit margins compared to budget-friendly items.
Monthly Product Report: We collect the most popular items from over 1,000 customer orders to help you find your winning product.
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