Niche Markets

Competing with Internet behemoths such as Amazon and Overstock proves problematic when you're competing from your parent's basement. Maintaining sufficient levels of inventory as well as mass marketing your products imposes an imposing amount of overhead costs. Search out niche markets that may be overlooked by The Big Boys. Identifying current trends in shopping will keep you one step ahead of your local shopping centers. Herein we provide just a few narrow opportunities to make a buck before massive marketers swoop in to corner the market.

Start your niche market by cornering the market on DVDs of our favorite dysfunctional sales staff. The Office has emerged as one of the funniest and least reality-based episodic network comedies copied from British Television. Laugh and cringe along with all your favorite characters as they stumble through their workday, earning commissions on paper sales in a paperless society. No other regularly scheduled prime-time production offers as many overtly uncomfortable scenarios packed into 23 minutes. There are also outtakes.

Be sure to have a complete inventory of all the seasons, from Season 1 through the least season, which has not been produced yet. Your customers will thank you.

Leaves fall pretty much everywhere there are trees. Homeowners prefer their leaves in burning piles or tucked into recyclable plastic bags. Either way, recalcitrant leaves must be manually gathered into manageable heaps prior to processing. People need rakes.

Rakes make great wedding gifts for new homeowners or anniversary gifts for that special family who is being evicted because they defaulted on their loan but still need to rake up things in their yard. People simply do not take the time to shop for themselves: award a quality rake or three to your favorite lawn care aficionado.

We all love a little water with our oatmeal, but when we lose control of massive quantities of H₂O we'll be glad to break out that handy water pump that you gave us. An electric pump makes the perfect gift for that special someone who is experiencing a basement flood or living in a leaky boat down by the river.

Look for portable pumps to fill that narrow niche market and one-up the big pump stores. Wal Mart, K-Mart, Target, and Sears hardly carry any of these things at all. You'll be a big hit when your family goes down into the basement to feed the cat and their socks get wet when they step into the laundry room. The cat will also appreciate your consideration.

You can make modest bowls of popcorn in the microwave oven, sure. When the time comes to produce massive quantities of snacks to fill recyclable plastic trash bags and sneak into the movies, you'll be glad that you stocked up on industrial-strength popcorn machines. This niche market remains untapped by all but the most ardent carnie supply stores.

Hardly anyone enjoys forking over a full days pay to fund popcorn purchases at the theater. Even fewer people realize that these amazing devices can be purchased for less than the price of a medium box of Junior Mints at the cineplex snack counter. Always keep several models in stock to maintain your stranglehold on this niche market.

Before being bailed out by the federal government and handed on a silver platter to the UAW, General Motors designed, manufactured, and marketed an amazing automobile called the Chevrolet Corvair. If you haven't seen any of these vehicles on the road lately it's simply because they have become too valuable to drive to the store for lottery tickets.

The engine is in the back. There's no radiator. It's an engineering marvel that you can leverage to earn big bucks in your niche market. It's virtually guaranteed that Wal Mart is not selling any Corvairs these days. Step up and fill the automotive breech.

Tom Clark sure loved his gnomes and you can too. Stock up on Tom's crowning glory just in case the local Target store runs out. You never know when Oprah or Jerry Springer will do a Very Special Episode on these loveable creatures. Your customers will look to you to fulfill their thirst for tchotchkes.

Don't confuse these gnomes with hobbits, wood spirits, pixies, or fairies. Discerning buyers can discern the difference. You won't get away with substitutions. If you advertise Tom Clark gnomes, always follow through with Tom Clark gnomes.