to wonder if this product of mine is too niche for mass appeal?

[Timeforanamechangy]

I'm not sure if that's the right word I'm searching for here but I'm sure a helpful MNetter with correct me if not!

I make jewellery and I have a product which I personally really like but I don't know if its something that will appeal to a wide market and if I should bother trying to sell it or if its something that only appeals to me and others that work in a particular area.

Obviously I realise that I can't really expect you to comment without knowing what it is, and this may out me but here it is:

Its a 'DNA' bracelet. Well, it looks like a strand of DNA, using pairs of different coloured beads to simulate the A-T/G-C base pairs and either leather or hemp cord. I vary the patterns of the beads each time I make one to try and make each bracelet unique

Aibu to think this is this something people will be interested in? Or is it a bit too geeky to have mass appeal?

[RockinHippy]

Honestly, (sorry) buts it isn't really anything new, so your feeling that it's too "niche" etc really doesn't fit with lack of interest. I've seen other stuff that to me stands out far more as DNA inspired & it's seems popular, I sold something similar to the other photo as far back as the 80s & it sold quite well.

So I'm sorry to say, it's not that it's too geeky, or too niche, to me it just looks like quite an ordinary, though not un pretty beaded bracelet, something I've seen DD make when she was younger. If it's very cheap, or you have a name people recognise (or you can promote yourself in a way to make that happen) then it might well sell, but from experience they are going to take quite a bit of time to make & I just can't see it been cost effective - really sorry

[Furiosa]

Well you can always use the GATTACA sequence.

[Furiosa]

Don't worry about the negative responses OP. Yes it is very pretty albeit simple beaded jewellery however if you have an interest in jewellery making beads are a great place to start. You've got ideas above your means right now.

Remember the master has failed more times than the novice as even tried

[TheFormidableMrsC]

I think it's very beautiful and I would buy one...I rather like quirky and different types of jewellery. Etsy would definitely be a good place to start..

Good luck OP

[ShmooBooMoo]

It'd be amazing based on an individual's unique DNA! Do you do that? (I don't suppose many have their DNA to hand for you to replicate )!

[EastMidsMummy]

Beads on a string. Some will like it, some will not. Not very DNA.

[Timeforanamechangy]

That's ok furiosa I know they won't be to everyone's taste I was just trying to gather opinions. I'm still very new at this so I know my stuff is not as good as others that are around but I don't charge very much for them whereas some of the other ones I've seen are very expensive.

I also make horsehair bracelets, I'm guessing that sort of thing would only appeal to people who have a horse? I know that seems obvious but I don't know if there are any other kinds of people who would want one?

[Timeforanamechangy]

Thank you formidable

Shmoo I wish I could do that! Unfortunatly I don't have the equipment to do it

I love those DNA pictures though, that's so cool!

[steppemum]

They are pretty, but not really different enough to stand out from the crowd.

The DNA aspect doesn't stand out enough.

Sorry, but you asked for feedback!

[steppemum]

They are pretty, but not really different enough to stand out from the crowd.

The DNA aspect doesn't stand out enough.

Sorry, but you asked for feedback!

[TheFormidableMrsC]

Well OP, I can tell you that horsey people love that sort of thing. There are loads of FB pages selling that sort of stuff...it might be worth looking at for research I guess? Let's face it, its an odd world we live in, people might want "hair" things for all sorts of reasons. I do think that offering quirky jewellery with a "difference", however odd it is, will appeal to many. Toenail pendants anybody?!

[Furiosa]

The horse hair ones sound unique.

I remember being a horse mad little girl and trying to fix this sort of thing to my pony's tail. There is a market out there...

[CantChoose]

It's not my taste in jewellery personally but I'm sure it is for plenty of others and I love the idea :)

[Timeforanamechangy]

I too was horse mad as a kid furiosa, I probably would have loved a horse hair bracelet but then I was a slightly strange child

Not sure toenails will catch on Formidable :/

This is the horsehair bracelet:

[musicposy]

I really like it and I can see it's DNA - I think your last picture shows it off best as you can see the double helix better. DD2 would love it - she's doing all 3 science A levels. I like the muted colours - makes it far more wearable than bright primaries. Let me know when you're selling!

[Furiosa]

OH! a bracelet made of horse hair! I thought you meant hair accessories for horses to wear in their hair

There might be a market for that too? Never mind me

[Timeforanamechangy]

I actually thought that the first time too!

I didn't even know you could get bracelets made of hair until someone asked me if I could do one and voila. Apparently some people get them done as memorial bracelets but I haven't done one of those yet.

[CheeseToastie123]

A quick google shows a lot of different dna bracelets, some of them beaded. Guessing they all have a market.

[JamesetjeeBomanjee]

I think the DNA idea is good but the bracelet isn't. It doesn't look like anything and looks like a kids bracelet. Sorry.

[ShmooBooMoo]

I really like the horse hair one - I like the DNA one too but I think there's more mileage in the horse hair one!

[ShmooBooMoo]

You could get those who want to buy to send in their own horse's hair (where applicable) and make to order (so, personalizing, so to speak)...

[RockinHippy]

I think your horse hair bracelets would be much more marketable than the DNA ones. It's just a case of getting them seen by the right people, which is a whole lot easier these days with the Internet. The look of the bracelets fit the more likely style of someone into horses.

They are more unisex too - you could also add a few letters, either of horse or wearer to personalise them too. Plus a lot less work involved if they do sell well - you won't end up tearing your hair out, when you physically just can't make the amount of orders you have taken & can't afford to pay someone to help & not lose money ( all of this profit & loss stuff needs to be taken into account if you are serious about this)


& to those saying ignore - some of us nay Sayers actually have a lot of experience in this sort of thing & are not just spouting negativity, but answering a question honestly from a business & design POV - & I bet that's true for a several others on this thread

[Timeforanamechangy]

Thank you Rockin, I appriciate the advise! I did think about adding a charm to it that can be engraved with the horse's name which I think would be particularly nice if it was a memorial bracelet.

I can definately do all sorts of styles, including unisex styles with the horsehair, even make things that aren't jewellery like keyrings but the person I made that one for wanted the fishtail plait as it's what they do on horse's tails for competitions and stuff apparently!

[RockinHippy]

Np,

I think the memorial charms are a lovely idea. If you could widen that to include other pets such as cats & dogs too, maybe a name charm with added tooth, hair, or or even nails as a memorial token would work too. (That modelling silver clay is nice to work with)

[RockinHippy]

Oops, hit send by accident

I think something like that could sell well - but make sure you cost it all up properly, including the cost of having it made & invisible cost such as power use etc - that way you won't regret under pricing ut at a later date

Good luck