by Nightwatch on 08 Jan 2009 23:56
If you're gonna enter the componant business, then the range is the sky, I'm afraid. I personally look for everything when I check an online shop, from mouse mats to CPUs. I think most of the customers would prefer a wide range, as wide as possible, but catering this wide range is difficult, financially I mean.
But maybe you want to specialize on some specific components, then it's hard to guess IMO, particularly in this economic environment. As far as it seems, all sales numbers are going down the drain.
Theer is one option like going for cables, fans, lights, case modding stuff. Cheaper to accommodate the business, yet if you find catchy items it'll have a better chance of selling. That, of course, if you're not intending to dive into CPU, GPU type business. Very expensive to cater. And I, as a regular customer like all, search for the best price for such rather expensive items and in such a market, can you expect taht you can cut the prices even below the big businesses. For example, check the scan.co.uk, my usual shop, they sell quite chaper than the market prices, so it means you need to offer those items even cheaper. Can you do that? Because many people go theer and the others, so you'll need to attract those customers away from the already established companies.
I'd say, if I were in your shoes, I'd go for the cables, fans, modding, etc, type of stuff, a range in which uniqueness does count and people can part with their cash more easily when buying such not-so-expensive items. Well, may not be the best opinion, but as you asked, I'm just trying to think.