Tag Archives: market

Choosing a Niche Market

Not all of us have business that appeal to a wide market. In fact, I would argue that there are plenty of home business that actually appeal to a very small, niche market—individuals with specific needs who are looking for a specific product or service. It is not as if most of us sell candy or hamburgers which have a mass market appeal. Figuring out what our small, niche market is and how we can position our business within it can be a challenge and a mystery. By doing research and figuring out who needs and wants your product or … Continue reading →

Consumer-Driven Changes

In the business world, changes can come from myriad directions—in our small businesses, we may need to make adjustments because of a change in our schedule, shifts in our families, or even natural disasters can affect how we do business. One of the realities that we have to adjust to is when those changes to our business or industry come from the consumers. Our customers and clients can be strong forces in pushing us to do business differently. These are those consumer-driven changes that I wanted to write about. There are many factors that influence a market—even a small market … Continue reading →

Produce Brokers

I recently started going to The City Market in Kansas City. Once or twice a week, they do have a farmer’s market there, but every single day of every single week (year-round!), they have the “city market.” Now, I don’t know exactly how to describe it, but as I understand it, the vendors are produce brokers, meaning they buy wholesale and supply the grocery stores. I don’t know much about it; all I know is that the produce is DIRT CHEAP! Of course, when I first went, I had to keep reminding myself that most of the produce is conventional, … Continue reading →

Finding Newcomers

Newcomers—those who have just moved into a neighborhood or town, or those who have just joined an organization or group—can be a great opportunity for a small home business. Finding and attracting those newcomers as prospective customers and clients can be a bit of a challenge, however. So, how DO you tap into the newcomer market for your home business? In order to find the newcomers, you need to get yourself in the places where newcomers frequent or where others know about these new arrivals. That could mean your chamber of commerce, neighborhood association, church, neighborhood schools, etc. People with … Continue reading →

Expanding Your Market? Is it a Good “Fit”?

Recently I was working with a client who wanted to expand their existing market and reach out to what they saw as “compatible” markets. Other fields and areas of interest that they thought would be in the same “general interest area” as their existing market base. One of the things we needed to examine and consider was whether or not those new individuals were really a good and compatible fit with the existing ones? It may seem like a no-brainer—you might be thinking if our customers all like X, and there are other people over there who like Y and … Continue reading →

More Frugal Decorating With Flea Market Finds

Lately I have been obsessed with decorating my home. Partly because we are putting it on the market, and partly because I know we will be getting a new home and I am excited to get moving on the design and decorations. I began the series about Frugal Decorating with Decorating at the Dollar Store, which wound up as a two part article. I then began this one with Frugal Decorating at the Flea Market. Here’s more great money saving, cheap ideas to decorate your home while shopping at the local flea market. Unique and Beautiful Vases Browse any flea … Continue reading →

Frugal Decorating with Flea Market Finds

After my two part series on Decorating at the Dollar Store, I thought it would be nice to add some great and frugal decorating tips I have obtained from objects I’ve purchased at the flea market as well. The flea market decorating tips are far better than the dollar store tips, because the flea market has a lot more stuff available that can be transformed. See what I’ve done below. Tissue Box Covers These can be found at flea markets, garage sales and discount chain stores for just a couple of dollars each, sometimes even less. I purchased three used … Continue reading →

Do You Worry About How the State of the Economy Affects Your Home Business?

I read the business section fairly regularly in my local newspaper, and I occasionally read the New York Times—but I am not someone who reads a collection of business magazines or watches CNN or business reports on a regular basis. Not because I’m not interested, but because I just don’t have the time. I was chatting recently with a colleague, however, and she mentioned that she was worrying about the economy and how her field of business was going to be affected. It made me think of all of us home business owners and wondered if others of you are … Continue reading →

Seller’s Market Vs. Buyer’s Market—Understanding the Basics

Unless you’ve taken a business course or two, or read a shelf of business books, you might not know what all the “business terms” mean. Periodically, I try to provide little bits of basic information about the business world that might help you as you build your home business. This evening, I thought I’d cover the difference between a “buyer’s market” and a “seller’s market” and how it might affect your industry. In a “buyer’s market”—the purchaser, customer or “buyer” has the advantage. This usually means that there are plenty of goods or services available at a low or affordable … Continue reading →

Do You Know the Competitors’ Prices?

Pricing can be one of the big challenges in any business. For many of us who are just starting out with our home-based businesses, this can be one of the areas where we feel the most discomfort—have we set competitive prices? Are they reasonable? Will our prospective customers pay that much? AND, once we do set our prices, we may not remember that we do need to constantly re-evaluate and make sure that our prices stay effective and competitive. A good place to start is to keep an eye on what our competitors’ prices actually are. So, how can you … Continue reading →