Trouble cracking into my target market. Ideas?

Hi all,
I was referred here by a friend and spent most of last night reading these boards. I wasn`t 100% sure where to post this question. Since I do most of my business online, I thought here would be appropriate.
I have a very niche market, which I have begun to tap into. I have my target market narrowed down...actually it`s kind of a borad base, but I`m marketing kids and parents of horse loving girls. I`ve had mediocre success. I have ads all over the place, have written content, use Ebay with some success, etc. I will be passing my one year anniversary of being in business soon, and I had really thought I`d be a little farther ahead in terms of sales by now.
I`ve been only marketing online. Ebay has really been my bread and butter with my sales, but even there I feel like I am hitting a brick wall. I have many repeat customers, and in Sept I made more money in that month that I have ever on Ebay. My sales have drastically dropped from site and Ebay since then.
Do you think a trade show is the way to go for a niche market? I thought my ads in horse related areas would help, but nothing. I have contacted tack and horse related, and gift shops both in person and online with no contracts yet. My major goal was to be carried in 2 B&M stores by 2008 and I haven`t acheived that yet. I`m all lined up to have a couple people start sewing for me, but with out much growth in recent months here, I can`t do it yet.
Any ideas for getting into that niche market a little better? I was going to hold off on tradeshows, but I`m wondering if I need to consider it sooner?
Thanks for any thoughts.
Lisa
www.horse-itz.com
I was referred here by a friend and spent most of last night reading these boards. I wasn`t 100% sure where to post this question. Since I do most of my business online, I thought here would be appropriate.
I have a very niche market, which I have begun to tap into. I have my target market narrowed down...actually it`s kind of a borad base, but I`m marketing kids and parents of horse loving girls. I`ve had mediocre success. I have ads all over the place, have written content, use Ebay with some success, etc. I will be passing my one year anniversary of being in business soon, and I had really thought I`d be a little farther ahead in terms of sales by now.
I`ve been only marketing online. Ebay has really been my bread and butter with my sales, but even there I feel like I am hitting a brick wall. I have many repeat customers, and in Sept I made more money in that month that I have ever on Ebay. My sales have drastically dropped from site and Ebay since then.
Do you think a trade show is the way to go for a niche market? I thought my ads in horse related areas would help, but nothing. I have contacted tack and horse related, and gift shops both in person and online with no contracts yet. My major goal was to be carried in 2 B&M stores by 2008 and I haven`t acheived that yet. I`m all lined up to have a couple people start sewing for me, but with out much growth in recent months here, I can`t do it yet.
Any ideas for getting into that niche market a little better? I was going to hold off on tradeshows, but I`m wondering if I need to consider it sooner?
Thanks for any thoughts.
Lisa
www.horse-itz.com
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