Finding your market

[Former_Member]

I'm trying to put together a business plan, but I'm stuck at step 1 - Who is your customer?

I've been struggling with knowing who my market/customer truly is, and I could use some help!

Who do you think my market is?


I'll gladly provide feedback to anyone else who is struggling with the same issue!

[AnneLondezGlass]

I agree that it is difficult to say. Do you already sell your paintings ? If so, is there a trend among who buys them ?
The first line in your shop description made me think that maybe you could try and target offices and businesses, I think your art would suit that but it's only my feeling.

[Former_Member]

Possibly 40 or under, married or single, newly married, urban

Many of us, myself included, struggle with that question: identifying and finding our target market. But here are a couple of suggestions:

1. If you have a facebook page, on the new style you can click on the 'big' like button and it will give you stats on the age group most often visiting your page, as well as demographic.
2. Image your ideal customer (male, female, both, household with children, age group, discretionary income, etc.) and write your business plan based on that. Once you have enough selling stats, you can adjust your plan or create more to that group.

Congrats on doing a business plan.\! I have yet to do it. Maybe that's what's missing in sales:):)

[Former_Member]

Thanks for the feedback!

@Annsliee I've been told my multiple creative business owners that their business "took off" once they wrote business plans. So I figured that it's worth a shot!

[Former_Member]

When someone favorites your shop or item, go look at their profile and what their other favorites are. I'm not sure their age or marital status are as important as the question "What kind of things do they like?"

[Former_Member]

That is a tough question with which I've been struggling as well and I don't think I've really gotten to the point where I know that. I think another important question is "Who can afford your work?". For me the most difficult is finding the common ground between who are the people that would like to buy my work, and who can afford to.

Personally, I think your art would appeal to a more younger audience. Perhaps young successful couples around 25-35, artsy and creative types.

Also, for me, it was a bit confusing to see iPhone cases next to paintings. Perhaps you should consider opening a separate shop for your iPhone cases. I think the target market for these two lines are also different.

[Former_Member]

Thanks for the feedback Hanna and Ellen!

[EarthborneArt]

You may have a diverse market. Definitely dog people. Have you ever donated to silent auctions for the Humane Society or SPCA? Do you do pet portraits? These types of donations are wonderful because they help a good cause while getting your work viewed by your target market.

[sherrytruitt]

Do you know Jason Fried from 37Signals? He also writes a column for Inc, Magazine ( I highly recommend the magazine for anyone who runs a small business.)

He says you can't really write a business plan or know who your customer is until you've been in business and made lots of sales.

Your target market will then surprise you. It's true for me. I learned my market is much larger than I ever imagined.

When you target your market and narrow your focus, you miss lots of people who would otherwise enjoy your products. I didn't think this way before, but it has brought me so many more sales and opportunies I would have not had otherwise.