I had a hospital appointment today and where I went to is the largest hospital in the area. Inside the hospital foyer, it sounded and felt like a market place: famous coffee bars, restaurants, newsagents, different kinds of stores selling a variety of products. It was vibrant and you would not believe it’s a hospital.

What struck me though was when I was approaching the entrance of the hospital from the car park. A new niche had set up for the first time just outside the hospital entrance – fruit stalls. They were heaving with people and business was indeed very good.

What came to me was that the proprietors had identified a need and capitalised on it hence the fruiterer niche. At least here in the south of the UK, fresh flowers had been banned from hospitals. So what would you bring a patient, especially on a scorching summer day? Variety of fruits!

The penny dropped about researching and finding a need for your niche. It could be the most innocuous niche, but if there’s a need for it and you position yourself well for it, ka-ching; the money register of success will keep ringing :))