"This More Expensive Solution To 
A Common Household Problem,
 Soon Turned Out To Be A Big Hit..."

any entrepreneurs set out by trying to find a cheaper way of doing things for their customers. They think by doing this, they can offer their customers a better value-for-money alternative.

Offering the Cheapest Solution, Isn't Always The Best Option...

This may work on many occasions but there is actually a very big market out there, where price is not really a problem. If you can come up with a unique service that will pamper the rich, you may well be on your way to earning a fortune. Melanie Charlton has done just that in New York.

As an ex fashion editor and self confessed shopping addict, Melanie was working with shop designers, helping them to display their stock. She obviously knew her stuff, but was a bit surprised when a magazine editor asked if she would help her with her wardrobe. A Great Example Of The True Power Of Word-Of Mouth Advertising

Her wardrobe organising skills went down very well and the power of word-of-mouth soon worked to her advantage. Not long after, she got a call from Vogue magazine completely out of the blue. They wanted to know all about her closet organising business and what services she offered.

Up until that point she hadn't even considered setting up her own business. However, she knew she must be on to something and arranged to give Vogue a call back.

She then quickly set about setting up her business and decided to call it 'Clos-ette' and has been very busy ever since.

How Clos-ette works...

There is a three step process in the service Clos-ette offers.

To begin with, Melanie goes to a clients home and does a complete inventory of their clothes.

She then performs what she calls an 'edit'. This involves deciding with the client what clothes are to be kept and what needs to be thrown out.

Finally, she then designs and builds the perfect wardrobe for the client, with the aid of an architect and a stylist.

There is a lot more to her service than just folding a few T-shirts and socks. She designs a clients wardrobe to suit their own particular requirements. If a client is someone that wears a lot of jumpers for example, the design of the wardrobe will reflect this and provide adequate space for them. She will also include dedicated space for socks, tights, knickers etc., as most wardrobes don't have this.

Her typical clients range from a 16yr old girl to young professionals and couples. She has also been flown in by clients from around the world, so her service is in high demand.

Website Link: http://www.clos-ette.com

What Can You Learn From
This Success Story?

This is obviously not a conventional type business and does focus on a very tight niche market. However, as with many niche markets, a business like this is very exclusive and can often charge a high price for its service.

You might already possess a certain skill or knowledge, but feel that you are working in an overcrowded marketplace. This is when you should seriously consider the opportunities at the top end of your market, not just the cheap end.

Companies, and affluent individuals are often prepared to pay a lot more for things, if you are able to offer them a much more personal and extensive service, tailored to their specific needs and requirements.

One way to test your marketplace is to offer an 'upsell' in addition to any low end product/service you are selling. Give your customer the opportunity of paying more, for a more detailed, or customized service.

You can offer this type of upsell without changing your whole business structure. If you start seeing a good enough percentage of people opting for the higher priced alternative, you'll then know that this is an area you should look to exploit more.

I hope you found this useful,

Jason Lewis
Editor - 'Business Brainwaves' Newsletter