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Solid Niche Website Idea No Idea Where To Start

Idea threads

Olie Sins

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I'm not looking for any silver bullets here, just a really basic idea of where to start.

I'm going to keep this vague, but I think I have a killer idea.

I have an idea for a website. The website would sell certain things. People would pay a lot of money for these things. Let's just assume I know this for a fact. These things are completely legal by the way.

These things would only be valuable in bundles though.

Basically, I would need people to go out and collect these things, put them in a bundle (would be extremely simple for them to do this), and sell them on my website. This could be done in any city across the country. Could be accomplished easily within a few hours for the people collecting the "things."

Questions:
Where's a good place to go to LEARN how to build a website like that, one where I can sell bundles of these "things?"

I would also need to get the word out about this to people all across America. How would I get people to know that I want them to go out and collect these "things" and sell them on my website. An incentive for them would be that it's extremely easy money.

It's essentially a turn key website, but it would provide tremendous value to my target clientele, and is not a money-chasing scheme. I'm actually just curious to see how much my clientele would love such a service.

Again, not looking for any silver bullets, or "this + this = this," I just need a pointer in the right direction.

Thanks for any input.
 
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IGP

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You're not going to get anything but vague answers, when you start with a vague questions.

Craigslist?

Ideas are a dime a dozen... It's only execution that matters!
 

Olie Sins

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You're not going to get anything but vague answers, when you start with a vague questions.

Craigslist?

Ideas are a dime a dozen... It's only execution that matters!
Next
 

Olie Sins

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Wow you are so appreciative of advice. Craigslist is where I would start too.

It sounds like you are doing a combo or ebay and etsy.
Lol I'm appreciative of advice that doesn't start off criticizing me.

And not sure what you guys mean by using Craigslist. But it would essentially be a website like Ebay or Amazon, just for a very niche market.

And I would not want to use Ebay or Amazon, I would want to build my own website. Though perhaps I could use those channels to test if I have a real winner first. Just concerned if I did that, someone else in my industry would also see the potential in my idea.

Thanks for the input.
 
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Merging Left

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You're trying to build a website where other people list their items to sell? Or are you bundling and selling things yourself?

Based on your need for people running around collecting things, you're implying that each piece of the bundle is not available online already?
 

IGP

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Lol I'm appreciative of advice that doesn't start off criticizing me.

And not sure what you guys mean by using Craigslist. But it would essentially be a website like Ebay or Amazon, just for a very niche market.

And I would not want to use Ebay or Amazon, I would want to build my own website. Though perhaps I could use those channels to test if I have a real winner first. Just concerned if I did that, someone else in my industry would also see the potential in my idea.

Thanks for the input.

Telling you how to get more out of your post isn't criticism. That's called advice.

Now, on the other hand... telling you you won't get very far in life or business being an ungrateful turd would be considered criticism.

See the difference?
 

Olie Sins

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You're trying to build a website where other people list their items to sell? Or are you bundling and selling things yourself?

Based on your need for people running around collecting things, you're implying that each piece of the bundle is not available online already?
I am selling one specific thing that a select clientele wants very much, but I would be having other people going out to find these things, and selling them on my website. I would essentially just be making a commission on what these people are selling on my website.
 
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Olie Sins

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Telling you how to get more out of your post isn't criticism. That's called advice.

Now, on the other hand... telling you you won't get very far in life or business being an ungrateful turd would be considered criticism.

See the difference?
Yeah, maybe I just overreacted. Thanks.
 

Hyrum

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I know right now in my area, mushroom hunting is a big thing. This seems analogous to your example, at least as far as I can discern. To me, what you're proposing is an Etsy for wild mushroom lovers, where you don't control any inventory, just connect buyers to sellers. Here are a few things to keep in mind.

Customer Acquisition - you are going to have to attract both mushroom hunters and mushroom buyers. This equals twice the advertising costs to get started. What is your unique selling proposition? Do mushroom hunters need your website to sell their wares? What is it worth to them? If the average hunter is only selling a few hundred dollars worth of product, then they might not need an online marketplace.

Building the Platform - I don't think these are overly complicated. Use a web service as suggested above, or you can try your luck on Upwork. Just remember, you get what you pay for, so a $4/hr coder will produce $4/hr work (for the most part).

You mentioned that you are curious how your potential clientele would view such a service. Have you asked? I'm sure you can find in person mushroom hunting clubs or online forums. Or find out where they are currently selling their product and talk with them there. That's the only way to see for sure if this is an idea worth pursuing.

Best of luck to ya!
 

Olie Sins

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I know right now in my area, mushroom hunting is a big thing. This seems analogous to your example, at least as far as I can discern. To me, what you're proposing is an Etsy for wild mushroom lovers, where you don't control any inventory, just connect buyers to sellers. Here are a few things to keep in mind.

Customer Acquisition - you are going to have to attract both mushroom hunters and mushroom buyers. This equals twice the advertising costs to get started. What is your unique selling proposition? Do mushroom hunters need your website to sell their wares? What is it worth to them? If the average hunter is only selling a few hundred dollars worth of product, then they might not need an online marketplace.

Building the Platform - I don't think these are overly complicated. Use a web service as suggested above, or you can try your luck on Upwork. Just remember, you get what you pay for, so a $4/hr coder will produce $4/hr work (for the most part).

You mentioned that you are curious how your potential clientele would view such a service. Have you asked? I'm sure you can find in person mushroom hunting clubs or online forums. Or find out where they are currently selling their product and talk with them there. That's the only way to see for sure if this is an idea worth pursuing.

Best of luck to ya!
Hyrum,

You hit it right on the head. I'm simply looking to connect buyers and sellers. The mushroom thing is analogous to what I'm doing, the problem is --if you even want to call it a problem-- I know I'm the only game in town for this thing. That's why I'm a little apprehensive to ask. It's just a simple idea, I feel that it wouldn't be hard for most people to do, and therefore steal.

While I do want to get it set up fast, I do want to build it so that it is a high quality service, and can't be beat by just anyone who thinks it's a good idea.

I'm reading MJs book, and one of the things he talks about is selling shovels during the gold rush. He mentions a story about a guy trying to self publish a book, when the guy realizes there's a niche need in the market for cover design, he does that instead and becomes successful at it.

The problem is, the business I've been working on for the last 3 months is one I don't want to give up on, I've just started it and know I am getting closer to my first sale. But in truth, I'm digging for gold with it rather than selling shovels. And this idea I came up with will allow me to "sell shovels."

But it would mean giving up on the first idea, which is like shiny object syndrome. What happens when the NEXT good idea comes along, am I just going to abort the website idea, and jump on that one instead?

Again, I would like to sell these things on ETSY or Ebay, but that violates the commandment of Control. So I would need my own simple platform so that I'm in control of it.

And I would not mind shelling out cash to get a good web designer to build the website, either. But I do want this thing to be my baby, something I understand inside and out.
 
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Merging Left

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In general, your clientele have their own business to deal with. They don't have the time or interest in stealing your idea - they're not your competitors; they're your customers!

If you want to validate the idea, maybe you can just be a middleman/liaison without a website for the first few deals. Find a supplier, then tell your clientele you've found this deal and then act as the liaison between both parties. If your personal service, which is essentially doing what the website could do, is perceived well, then you might have validated your idea enough to pursue the website.
 

biophase

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And not sure what you guys mean by using Craigslist. But it would essentially be a website like Ebay or Amazon, just for a very niche market.

This is what happens when you are vague. See I thought you meant that you would be hiring people to go out and collect these things for you. That's what craigslist would have been great for.

But you are saying that these people are collecting the stuff on their own time and that they list it for sale themselves.

In that case, you basically need software like autotrader or similar. You just get paid for the listing.

If you are thinking like Etsy where you take a payment, then you plan on taking a commission and/or a listing fee. This type of website is not going to be easy. You are going to have to police shipments, mediate disputes on quality, provide guarantees and refunds... all for a measly 5-10%.
 

rollerskates

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Again, I would like to sell these things on ETSY or Ebay, but that violates the commandment of Control. So I would need my own simple platform so that I'm in control of it.

If you know where to find these things you could collect some yourself and try selling them on an established online marketplace. You can always start your own website. Be aware though, Etsy is for handmade items you either made or designed, vintage (over 20 years old), and craft supplies. But my point is, you could start it in an established marketplace before going through all the difficulties @biophase mentioned above. You'd basically be an administrator and even though it seems fast lane, you would be a referee for not much pay.

But you know what you could do though, that would really be fast lane? Is write and sell a little booklet on what this thing is, and have people buy that and sell the niche thing themselves on an established marketplace.
 
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NickC

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Why not buy it from others yourself and resell for a profit so you dont have to create platform. Youre taking the control thing way too far imo
 

Roli

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Questions:
Where's a good place to go to LEARN how to build a website like that, one where I can sell bundles of these "things?"

Udemy, however if it is a complex site, I would just pay somebody to make it for you, good web design and build is not easy. You can go the template route, however it is better to just outsource and spend your time marketing.


I would also need to get the word out about this to people all across America. How would I get people to know that I want them to go out and collect these "things" and sell them on my website. An incentive for them would be that it's extremely easy money.

This one is easy, go and read pretty much everything @andyblack has written on this forum.

It's essentially a turn key website, but it would provide tremendous value to my target clientele, and is not a money-chasing scheme. I'm actually just curious to see how much my clientele would love such a service.

Once you start implementing what you learn from @andyblack, you will be able to verify this statement.

Again, not looking for any silver bullets, or "this + this = this," I just need a pointer in the right direction.

Sometimes you'll get silver bullets asking questions on this site, I almost didn't reply because of your 'next' comment, however I saw you apologised. Just remember, there are people on here who could end up giving you advice that helps you to become what you want to be, don't piss 'em off before they get a chance to help.

Good luck!
 

Ashish Kulkarni

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Before you spend a dime, I would recommend the following:

1. Do market research. Ask 10 strangers whether they would use a website or buy from it or something like that. Find how many people would. Be brutally honest with yourself.
2. Find profit margin.
3. Either involve a web agency or learn to code yourself.
4. Get it done.
5. Get it beta tested on a small cross-section.
6. Take on board any feedback.
7. Improve positives, reduce/remove negatives.
8. Repeat 5, 6, 7 until you get to a reasonable amount of positives and low negatives.
9. Plan for going live - servers, staff, marketing, budget, payments handling, refunds handling, complaints process, shipping, etc. need to be in place.
10. Keep repeating the feedback and improvement loop all the time.

Hire someone who has done it many times before. Not your nephew or someone who will cut their teeth on your project.

I would recommend reading "The Lean Startup".

Good luck!
 
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LittleWolfie

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This is what happens when you are vague. See I thought you meant that you would be hiring people to go out and collect these things for you. That's what craigslist would have been great for.
.

That's what I thought a craigslist and an eBay shop with a basic landing page to redirect buyers to ebay shop and selelrsnto craigslist would have done nicely. That's probably what the $4 per hour coded would think and quote on.


Then oh it becomes messy and complex. Good to see 8. So few projects budget for servers.
 

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