Niche or General Store, Part III

Advantages of Having a General Store (rather than opening a niche shop)

 

I started my Etsy adventure by opening a general store instead of a niche shop.  I love creating as a photographer and digital artist, so I decided to begin with a shop that allows me to learn and explore my creative range and interests as I develop my product line and learn to manage and promote my shop. As time passes, I plan to open multiple shops (separating photography from digital designs). For now, I am focusing on product creation and building an audience for my online presence. Sprinkled throughout this post are a few samples of the types of products I love to create. I love (for now, at least) being able to play and explore while I figure out where to niche down, if and when it makes sense.

Here are some advantages of having a general store on Etsy compared to a niche shop:

• Broader Audience Appeal: A general store can attract a more comprehensive range of customers by offering a diverse selection of products, increasing your potential customer base.
  • Sample 1: Puzzle 
    

    Ice Queen with White Lion (Puzzle)

     

• Flexibility in Product Offerings: You can easily adapt to market trends and customer preferences by adding or removing products, allowing for greater experimentation and innovation.
  • Sample 2: Journal 

 

 

Note: One of the things I love about my little general shop is that, depending on the original image, I can create a photograph or digital image and use it to create multiple products—stickers, journals, t-shirts, mugs, wall art, greeting cards, invitations, and more!

• Cross-Selling Opportunities: With various product categories, you can encourage customers to explore multiple items, increasing the likelihood of additional sales through cross-selling and upselling (yep!).
• Reduced Risk of Market Saturation: If one product category becomes saturated, you can pivot to another area, minimizing the risk associated with relying solely on a specific niche.
• Seasonal Adaptability: A general store can quickly respond to seasonal trends, holidays, or special events by offering relevant products and maximizing sales during peak times. (I market my holiday and special occasion products, then run a sale just on those items to encourage sales.)

• • Sample 3: Halloween Arts-Crafts Design Elements

 

 

• 6. Potential for Continuous Growth: By introducing new product lines, you can continually expand your offerings and explore different markets, providing opportunities for long-term growth.

• • Sample 4 & 5: Watercolor-style arts-crafts design elements. Commercial and POD licenses are included. Create stickers, t-shirts, mugs, greeting cards, invitations, wall art, and more!

 

 

• Diversification of Income Streams: Relying on multiple product categories can help stabilize your income, as some items may sell better than others at different times.
  • Sample 6: Museum Quality, Canvas Wrap Print

 

       

        8. Easier Entry into the Marketplace: Launching a general store may feel less restrictive for new sellers than committing to a niche, allowing for a broader exploration of interests and products (Absolutely! I have varied skills and interests, and I love the idea of exploring all as I feel compelled to).

• • Sample 7: Mouse Pad

       

        9. Opportunity to Test Market Demand: By offering various products, you can quickly gauge which items resonate with customers, allowing you to refine your offerings based on actual demand.

       10. Simplified Marketing Efforts: While marketing can be challenging, a general store allows various promotional strategies to appeal to diverse customer segments, potentially increasing brand visibility.

These advantages highlight how a general store can provide flexibility, adaptability, and a broader market reach, making it an appealing option for many Etsy sellers.

Given my diverse interests, this is how I will be going for now.