NICHE MARKET

The word “niche” comes from a French word that means to nest. Niche marketing is targeting a product or service to a small portion of a market that is not being readily served by the mainstream product or service marketers. Nearly every business—fast food chains, convenience stores, even Wal-Mart—was begun to fill perceived voids in the market place. However, niche marketing usually refers to small or moderate size businesses or farms that produce a speciality product or service for a limited segment of the market. Market niches can be geographic areas, a specialty industry, ethnic or age groups, or any other particular group of people. Sometimes a niche product can be a variation of a common product that is not produced and marketed by the main marketing firms.

Niche marketing is marketing a product or service in a small portion of a market that is not being readily served by the main stream product or service markets.

There is often little difference between recognizing a potential business opportunity and recognizing a niche marketing opportunity. Sometimes people find themselves in a niche market without planning it. Perhaps there is a product or service you need but that is difficult to obtain in your area, so you begin providing the service for yourself. You might soon find that others are asking you to provide it for them also. Examples are custom welding and hoof trimming. So, one way to recognize the potent is tial for a niche market is to think about those goods and services you need.

Perhaps others in your community come to you for advice, help or a certain kind of service. Do you seem to be recognized as the expert at something everyone needs? Is this service or product something you could do for a fee?

Pre Fabricated House...........

Manufactured houses often get a bad rep. There's nothing like getting stuck behind a truck hauling half a house to get the jokes rolling. And "trailer-trash" is part of the modern vocabulary. However, just as Starbucks redefined coffee and "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" redefined game shows, "prefab" modules are redefining assembly-line houses. Those who favor them tout benefits like smaller price tags, better construction, increased environmental benefits and quicker move-in times. Prefabs are growing in size, too. They're no longer two-room cottages without indoor plumbing; modular houses can grow to thousands of square feet with multiple stories and basements. The prefab industry is expected to top $10 billion in 2007, according to money-zine.com. Plus, since Hurricane Katrina, prefab houses have gotten a boost as more attractive and sturdier alternatives to FEMA trailers.

The assembly of a prefab house is based on the same concept as that of a car. Just as Henry T. Ford's production method for the Model T made cars affordable for the average consumer, assembly-line production and bulk buying drive down the cost and construction time for prefabricated homes. Prefabricated homes have evolved over the years and now come in many varieties and with lots of extras. Just as you can add a satellite radio or heated seats to your car, you can add hot tubs and crown molding to your modular home. Welcome to the world of prefab.­