When Starting Your Scrapbooking Business, Researching Your Niche Will Give You A Definite Competitive Edge!

by J. J.
(Denver)

When starting a scrapbooking business, it is essential to research your niche.

So as you are starting out, you will need to focus on the area of business at which you excel.

There are some incredible opportunities in starting a scrapbooking business - the key is to keep an open mind.

Some people will want to hire you for the whole process.

Others will want to learn.

Still other applications might suggest a commercial or corporate approach.

Select that area of starting-a-scrapbooking-business speciality feels best to you, then spend time researching the marketplace.

Also, when starting a scrapbooking business, it is imperative that you become a trend spotter.

Begin to look around you for hot trends that might spill over into your scrapbooking business.

1. You will find great sources of information by watching product displays at your local supplier.
   
   
2. Colors that are popular will be highlighted.
   
   
3. New products suggest needs for the general public.
   
   
4. Classes listed at the store indicate areas of interest.
   
   
5. New entries into the supplier arena -- perhaps by a celebrity will offer another avenue and still more information.
   
   
6. Reading trade publications and special interest publications are more sources of direction and trends in your chosen area.
   
   
   • Are you seeing a technique highlighted?
     
     
   • Is it new?
     
     
   • Could it lead to a new class offering that you could add to your services.
     
     
   • If, so, get up to speed and add it to your syllabus.
   
   
   
7. Are you seeing a trend in a local business?
   
   
   • Perhaps, for a flower shop you might suggest a scrapbook approach for their catalog.
   
   
   
8. What about Alumni gatherings?
   
   
   • There might be a scrapper in the group - or not - but here is an opportunity to offer to create a Book of Memories for the Group - or lecture the group on this new interest.

Trendspotting and starting a scrapbooking business can go hand in hand in giving you a competitive advantage.

Trend spotters read 20 or more magazines a month - shopping the new products section to see what's coming out.


• Then they carefully spot the articles for repetition of themes.
  
  
• A quick perusal of print ads will give you a spot on feel for current color preferences.



• Trend spotters also look at websites for the same sort of thing.
  
  
• They shop in catalogs and in stores - eyes sweeping the presentations for similarities - or for the new cutting edge.

All of this may seem like it's too easy.

Trends are what people are doing or planning to do.

This need not be overly complex.

The more you look over and the more you try to take your own personal preferences out of it - the more you will see.

• You may love pastels - and that is a choice..
  
  
  • But if everything you see is clear bright color...that is a trend.
    
    
  • You may want to include more of it in your offerings.
  
  
  
• You may equally see a clear cut design trend - lots of printed words perhaps.
  
  
  • So you will surely want to add that...popularity is not accidental.

The Bottom-Line.

When starting a scrapbooking business, be a trendspotter so that you can be aware of a variety of style choices that may appeal to you specialty market.

People are drawn to what they see and appreciate.

What speaks to them.

The most important lesson is to do what you love with an eye on what the public wants.

When starting a scrapbooking business, don't get so overly wrapped up in your own preference that you miss out on a great opportunity.

Your success depends on it.