working on a niche

heres my summer plot..
we have a pretty good niche going.... porches, patios and gardens....
this year im hoping to expand it quite a bit.....so far i have got fountains, gazing balls, outdoor clocks, added......its a good niche for us and we have the customers already for all things garden and outside......... you just never know when you order what walmart or lowes will have in the same line, for a different price...
but hey, we are a lot more fun than walmart.... i just dont want 38$ gazing balls if the same quality is all over the place for 20$...

in this economy going for a stronger niche seems better than spreading out into new territory.. my customers love garden and outside things....just wish i could get a plant person in...who would do all the work!!!
we had plants for 2 weeks last year at our garden party, they are waaaay too much work....
in my head , im hearing a fountain inside...i think that would be a great display...

good info

some good info on here . http://www.startupnation.com/index.asp ....lots of good insight on growing your business.... its mostly for start ups...but some good for established stores too...


i found this place thru a post on the country business retailer forum... http://www.sampler.com/ME2/Apps/DiscussionBoard/default.asp
you have to register to get on the retailer part...you cant see the good parts unless you register..

a good resource

my best business resource is this site http://www.sampler.com/ME2/Apps/DiscussionBoard/default.asp


its an active forum with mostly brick and mortar stores... you have to have a store or legitimate resale thing and register to get on, you cant blatently advertize, its active everyday ...and very user friendly......
there are all kinds of stores on there, prim, country, yes but also some other types too...some fancy, some tourist, some farmers market, some high end giftshops, just a nice cross section of independant stores on there sharing all kinds of good info.....what i like about it is the feedback you can get...just throw a question out and get advice and feedback from many view points.......nice long talks sometimes...

.. deep discussions on china, how to survive, ,events, big box inventory, show info, display discussions, dud discussions, field trip reports.... i have gotten so much out of it...and im on there a lot...

its nice but not like a tea party...
it has helped me build a country section in my store, helped me improve my displays , and ive used lots of ideas from there about christmas events etc...also i have gotten great product advice and welcome warnings about companies to stay away from....

the best part is getting to know the women on there...and a couple of men.....
you do have to register but i would sure recommend it for any store...
there is a public side and a side for retailers....
its connected to american sampler....and they also publish country business magazine....for stores....