What's Your Niche?

If you frequent maker spaces or online forums, I'm sure you've heard plenty of people recommending to "niche down" and offer products as part of a specific target audience. 

I decided to compile a list of laser products that you can use for a variety of niches as a resource for if you're feeling stuck! This is in NO way an exhaustive list, but it's a good place to start if you plan to launch a laser-based business but aren't sure what you want to offer. These are a more general idea and you can get even more specific from there - pick a theme and see what you enjoy making.

Nursery/Children

• Name signs are HUGE for this market. You can do free-standing name cut outs, simple names on backers, detailed character name designs... etc. 

• Wall art - consider offering "suites" of projects that can go together, such as a name sign and additional wall art pieces that are complementary

• Sibling sets - offer themes for name signs that would look nice in a shared bedroom or for kids who want something similar but not exact. Think: similar florals, jungle animals, woodland animals, space, sports, rainbows, etc. 

• Closet size dividers (consider doing matching themes with the other items!) 

• Book ends for bookshelves

• Hair bow holders

• Earring holders

• Name puzzles

• Tic tac toe sets

• Class gifts - pencils, play dough tags, Valentines, pop-it’s/fidget toy tags, pocket hugs 

• "___ Stop Here!" signs - Easter Bunny, Santa Claus, Tooth Fairy...

• Teacher gifts
  

More specifically - New Baby

• Baby shower signs

• Baby shower decorations (table centerpieces, photo station, etc.)

• "Diaper Fund" QR code for showers

• Gifts for nurses in L&D - badge reels, tumblers, etc.

• Closet dividers

• Guest books or guest book alternatives for baby shower

• Milestone sets

• Birth announcement hospital signs

• Engraved feet/handprint ornaments

• "Your germs are too big for me" signs
  

Weddings

• Welcome signs

• Guest books

• Alternative guest books (containers with small pieces they can sign and place inside, Jenga block sets, photo albums, line art portrait of the couple that you sign around, etc.)

• Bar menu signs

• Table numbers 

• Place holder cards (consider name cut outs out of mirror acrylic, clear acrylic with engraved names, etc.) 

• Photo booth props or signs

• Last name signs out of LED for a faux neon look

• Appetizer/cocktail menu or labels

• Favors or favor tags

• Wedding shower items (signage, table information, food labels, games, etc.)

• Bridal party gifts - consider bridesmaids, groomsmen, father of bride, mother of bride, flower girls, ring bearers, etc. Engraved sunglasses, flasks, champagne flutes, shot glasses, necklaces, bracelets, watches, cigar trimmers, bottle openers, hangers, wallets, etc. 

• Cake toppers or cupcake charms 

• Drink stirrers or cup accessories

• Reserved signs for tables or seats at the ceremony

Novelty Accessories

• Earrings

• Keychains

• Necklaces

• Brooches

• Car charms

• Bookbag tags

• Purse charms

• Shoe charms

• Stickers from wood veneer 

• Bookmarks 

• Cup toppers or straw charms

• Hair clips (use veneer on the claw clips)
  

Home Decor

• Wall art pieces in a variety of themes

• Welcome door signs

• Seasonal door signs

• "Welcome to our home" signs

• Last name signs

• Kitchen decor

• Bathroom signs

• Key holders

• Pet leash holders

• Book ends

• Bar/workshop/man cave/babe cave signs 

• Layered maps (topographical/lakes)

Personalized Gifts

• Custom portrait ornaments (check out my course here!) 

• Our love map signs (portion of the map for your first date, engagement, and wedding)

• Star chart signs (portion of the star chart from the first date, engagement, and wedding)

• Custom family key chains

• Custom family door hangers

• LED night lights

• Personalized stockings, Easter baskets, etc.

• Engraved wallets, keychains, bracelets, necklaces, etc. - custom handwriting pieces are always going to be in style

• Custom hat patches 

• Serving trays/cutting boards with family recipes 

• Graduation gifts - featuring grad year, sublimated photo, school colors, etc.

• Engraved jewelry dishes

• Engraved journals or bibles
  

Holiday 

• Seasonal door signs

• Stocking Tags

• Stocking patches

• Holiday ornaments

• Christmas Eve Crates 

• Countdowns - X days until holiday 

• Shelf sitters

• Banners for mantels

• Gift tags

• Wine bottle tags

• Wine glass charms

• Small stocking stuffer items - earrings, keychains, bottle openers, etc. 

• Tumblers and glassware

• Flasks

• Custom portrait ornaments (check out my course here!) 

• Current height string/ribbon ornaments - “this string is as tall as me!”

• Shaker snow globe ornaments 

• "_____ Stop Here!" signs - Easter Bunny, Santa Claus, Tooth Fairy

Corporate Marketing Items/ Business to Business 

• Tumblers or Glassware with Logo

• Trophies and awards

• Christmas gifts for employees (usually involving engraved logos) 

• Logo Keychains

• Engraved pens 

• Hat patches

• Logo signs

• Marketing materials - displays for vendor events, etc.
  

DIY kits/Paint parties 

• DIY paint kits for kids for each holiday

• Door signs

• Subscription boxes

• Interchangeable signs

• Color your own ornament kits

• Paint a puzzle

• Paint by numbers style - score a picture and they can paint it - you could even do custom ones like pets or family portraits
  

Party Rentals 

• Neon signage for weddings, showers, parties

• Photo booth backdrops

• Welcome wedding signs

• Seating chart signs

• Large phrase cut outs for weddings, showers, parties

• Centerpieces / table numbers  

• Photo Booth props

• Lawn decorations
  

Book lovers

• Bookmarks

•  Leather book covers

•  Licensed merch - research with authors will grant these licenses to small businesses!

• Book ends

• Book "nooks"

• Reading trackers (a take on reward jars - add to it each time you complete a book)
  

This is in no way all of the possibilities, but rather a place to start for those needing some inspiration. I recommend finding something you enjoy making, and then using that to find your target audience and build your brand geared towards what they would be drawn to. You want to make sure you enjoy your work, otherwise its going to get boring quickly. Happy making!