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If you’ve ever walked into a room filled with custom apparel decorators passionately discussing their craft, you’ve probably heard them use the word ‘’niche’’ a lot.
But maybe… you’ve never really known (or fully understood) what they mean by that.
No judgment here.
Truth be told, the term ‘’niche’’ can be casually thrown around (among professionals), leaving those listening confused or out of the loop.
If you’ve ever been one of them, let us fill you in.
Let’s once and for all answer the question: what is a niche?
To do that, let’s put you in the shoes of a budding entrepreneur with dreams of starting your own apparel decorating business.
You have a brilliant idea (at least in your own mind), a product line that changes the way people see and wear clothes. But here’s the problem: the market is vast and crowded… and you’re just a small fish in a big pond.
This is where the concept of a ‘’niche’’ comes into play.
In simple English, it means you need to carve out a space of your own in the market. Or… tap into a space that’s underserved or overlooked by the larger players.
By doing so, you’ll position yourself to be in a place far away from ‘’them’’. This, in turn, gives you the opportunity to stand out like no other. It means you’re in full control of your vision, product development, and delivery. You get to call the shots and create something truly remarkable.
Okay, now that we have the niche basics down, how do you actually go about picking one?
If you thought you could get a quick answer from us, we’re sorry to disappoint you, but picking a niche requires some self-reflection and work on your part.
This is the perfect time to take a moment to think about what you really want for yourself, and for others. So, go ahead and dream…
… explore and reconnect back to your old hobbies and interests! Jot down the activities, hobbies, and interests that have brought you joy and fulfillment in the past.
Take note of what you like (or dislike) as it can potentially form a foundation for your niche.
But it goes even deeper than that…
Let’s zoom out and see the big picture here. At its core, business is an exchange of value between a seller and a customer.
Would you agree? Come to think about it, both parties in a business transaction have specific needs and desires. The seller wants to generate revenue and grow their business, while the customer seeks a solution to their problems.
So the question now is… what sort of problems do YOU solve for YOUR customers?
The list can be long, and even ongoing, but to give you an idea… you could be decorating flip flops for people with foot conditions or special needs.
The key here is to think about practical needs, challenges or struggles your target audience faces.
Here are a few more to inspire your thinking: you could be creating humorous and quirky aprons that make the perfect gift for family members to gift their moms.
Or… you could specialize in decorating custom athletic apparel for sports teams and athletes.
We could go on and on, but you get the idea — your job is to identify the problem you have the knowledge to solve, then go and solve it.
This may sound rather bold, but… you should know your customers inside-out, from where they live to their shopping preferences, their styles, and behaviors.
Let us elaborate on this for a moment here.
When you have a deep and intimate understanding of your target audience, you can tailor your products to meet their specific needs and desires.
But, how do you get to know your customers inside-out? Well, we need to do some detective work.
Start by asking yourself a few simple questions. Who are they? What age group do they belong to? Where do they live? What are their interests and hobbies? What are their pain points and desires?
Of course, we know you can’t answer all of these questions.
That’s why the rest of the answers can be found by going to places where they hang out. They themselves will answer the rest of the questions.
These days, with the power of social media and online communities, it’s easier than ever to connect with your target audience.
Join relevant groups, platforms, forums, and chats where these people hang around. Talk to them, and get to know them on a personal level. Engage in conversations, ask questions, and take note of their preferences and feedback.
If you spend time in these online places, you’ll learn important things about what your customers need, want, and dream about. But knowing your target audience is just the beginning. The next important thing is to sell what you have!
No one’s going to market (or sell) for you. You need to take charge and spread the word about your business yourself!
How do you go about doing it?
Luckily for you, we’ve thrown together a list of ways how you can reach your audience and promote your products — for free.
Social media – Use social media platforms where people hang out and connect all day, like Facebook, TikTok, Snapchat, Twitter, and Youtube. Create and share useful content to educate and entertain your audience about your business or product.
SEO – Optimize your content for search engines like Google. To do it, use keywords or phrases that your target audience is likely to search for.
Forums – Join online communities and forums where creative people like you hang out. Join in on the discussions… offer your help, and discreetly promote your business when appropriate.
Events/Trade shows – Online is not the only place where people meet and talk with each other. In-person events and tradeshows are a great way to showcase your products and talk with potential clients face-to-face.
Word-of-mouth – Put customers first and provide exceptional service to them. A happy customer is virtually guaranteed to spread the word about your business, bring along their friends, and then come back themselves for more.
Joint Ventures/Partnering – Collaborate with other businesses or influencers in your industry. Work together on events, promotions, or content to reach (and leverage) each other’s network.
For one-on-one help simply call 800-891-1094 or live chat with one of our pros!
