Mail Order Business Ideas

A good idea is to start with something you are interested in or know something about. It could be based on a hobby of yours, an ethnic heritage, your educational background, etc. Check the classified sections of popular magazines to see what other mail order businesses are offering already. When you get an idea, try ordering some catalogs from related businesses to see what they have - and what they don't have.

If you have an idea, but need to find a manufacturer, try Thomas' Register of American Manufacturers or Macrae's Blue Book.

Here are some ideas to get you started:

Informational Booklet: People want to improve themselves and will spend a lot to do it. Booklets on How to Date, Lose Weight, Learn Yoga, Invest, etc. are all likely to find a market. If you can write an informational booklet about some area of expertise, you have a product to sell.

Ethnic Product catalog: People generally like their heritage and the feeling of belonging to a group larger than themselves. Consider a catalog of Irish, Polish, Vietnamese, Jamaican, etc. products and you're sure to find a natural market.

Unique Products: Look for one or two unusual products that have appeal but can't be found just anywhere. This is how Sharper Image got started. Other mail order businesses have started with simpler toys than you generally find today.

Next: Why People Shop Mail Order-->

Resources:

All About ROI: Retail, Online, Integration (formerly Catalog Success)
(www.allaboutroimag.com) - a variety of articles on catalog merchandising and marketing.