Chopsticks
OK so I am staying with the Chinese cuisine theme, but come on if 1.25 billion people can eat with them then there must be something to it. In truth chopsticks are not only convenient (once you learn to use them) but they are easy to clean and the better quality ones can add a great decorative touch to a table setting.
Chopsticks also make great gifts, although in Chinese culture a set of matching chopsticks and rests can be given to newly weds to bring them luck in starting a family. So be careful who you give them to!
I would aim to source high quality, decorative chopsticks and rests. You can also source rush or bamboo table mats and provide a full table setting. Your stock will be cheap if imported from the Far East, and shipping will be cheap due to the light weight nature of this product line.
In terms of marketing I would look at the following: -
Ebay
Website
Advertise
Cookware/Table ware shops
Chinese takeaway restaurants
There are 643 items listed under “chopsticks” on Ebay but this can be narrowed to 70 items for “Japanese Chopsticks” and about 100 for “Chinese Chopsticks”. The Japanese ones are a little trickier and have a narrow point whilst Chinese style ones have the standard blunt ends, which most westerners find easier to use.
Google lists 2.6million results for a simple search on Chopsticks. This does not stop you building a site and promoting it offline and through other websites however. Search engines are not the only means for driving website traffic. Advertising the site offline, including the site in all your communications with customers and potential customers, as well as developing links to your site from other sites will all help to bring customers in. You can also build a more customer friendly site by adding information about different kinds of chopsticks, etiquette, instructions on use, etc. The richer your content is the more likely you are to get recommended by social networking sites. Be creative and you will soon be taking orders.
You can advertise in local newspapers, or even in cooking and home décor magazines. Anywhere that you think your chopsticks will appeal. Chopsticks make great gifts and if you can place them in a gift catalogue or similar publication you are likely to generate some orders for what makes an attractive and unusual gift. Include some basic instructions on how to use your chopsticks if you plan on pushing them as a gift item.
Cookware and table ware shops may be willing to carry some of your range particularly if you have colours or finishes that complement their existing stock. Chopsticks can be finished in bone, wood, metal, lacquer in fact a whole host of finishes and colours. You might want to plan ahead and take samples that you know would work well with your intended targets display stock.
Whilst most takeaway restaurants giveaway disposable chopsticks, there is no reason why sensibly priced chopsticks could not be sold with the meals. This could be trialled during festive seasons when impulse buys are more likely. Pay staff commissions on any items sold to encourage them to “suggest” chopstick sets to customers as a gift.
There are over 400 items listed on www.alibaba.com if you search for chopsticks. Given that Alibaba specialises in China manufacturers I cannot think of a better place to start. Email some suppliers and ask them about minimum order sizes, bulk discount thresholds, shipping and import procedures for your country. You will learn as you go and it does not take long to garner the information you need.
The most helpful suppliers will not necessarily be the cheapest but it is worth paying a little more for their expertise when you start. You can always trade off against price once you have some experience.
Because Chopsticks are cheap and easy to transport (even expensive ones are inexpensive) they make great impulse purchases
It doesn’t require much research to become an expert on chopsticks and provide cultural or historical information for your customers.