Identify market niches

Analyse the composition of the markets, segment these into groups, and highlight the opportunities that each one of these niches represent in terms of new products.

diagnose market niches
analyse market niches
classify market niches
establish market niches
identify a market niche

skill/competence

cross-sector

Identify market niches is an essential skill of the following occupations:

Metallurgical manager: Metallurgical managers coordinate and implement short and medium term metallurgical or steel-making production schedules, and coordinate the development, support and improvement of steel-making processes, and the reliability efforts of the maintenance and engineering departments. They also partner with ongoing remediation initiatives.
Marketeer: Marketing consultants advise companies in the development of marketing strategies for specific purposes. They can advise and develop strategies for the entry of a brand in the market, for the re-launch of a product, for the introduction of a new product, or for the positioning of a commercial image. They perform previous studies of the position of the company and perception of customers in order to define the marketing approach.
Market research analyst: Market research analysts collect the information gathered in the market research and study it to draw conclusions. They define the potential customers of a product, the target group and the way they can be reached. Market research analysts analyse the position of products in the market from different perspectives such as features, prices and competitors. They analyse cross selling and interdependencies between different products and their placement. Market research analysts prepare information helpful for the development of marketing strategies.
Product manager: Product development managers are responsible for managing the lifecycle of a product. They research and develop new products in addition to managing existing ones through market research and strategic planning. Product managers perform marketing and planning activities to increase profits.

Identify market niches is optional for these occupations. This means knowing this skill may be an asset for career advancement if you are in one of these occupations.

Metal production manager: Metal production managers organise and manage the day-to-day and long-term project work in a metal fabrication factory, to process basic metals into fabricated metals. They create and schedule production plans, recruit new staff, enforce safety and company policies, and strive for customer satisfaction through guaranteeing the product’s quality.

Foundry manager: Foundry managers coordinate and implement short and medium term casting production schedules, and coordinate the development, support and improvement of casting processes, and the reliability efforts of the maintenance and engineering departments. They also partner with ongoing remediation initiatives.
Industrial cook: Industrial cooks create new food designs and recipes. They prepare, measure and mix ingredients to prepare foodstuff products. They control and regulate temperatures, monitor cooking process, assign specific baking tasks, and direct workers in task performance.
Product development manager: Product development managers coordinate the development of new products from beginning to end. They receive briefings and start envisioning the new product considering design, technical and cost criteria. They conduct research on market needs and create prototypes of new products for untapped market opportunities. Product development managers also improve and boost technological quality.
Cigar brander: Cigar branders tend machines that stamp brands on cigar wrappers. They keep machines supplied with all the required input material and observe that processes do not jam. They clean ink rollers preventively.

Baker: Bakers make a wide range of breads, pastries, and other baked goods. They follow all the processes from receipt and storage of raw materials, preparation of raw materials for bread-making, measurement and mixing of ingredients into dough and proof. They tend ovens to bake products to an adequate temperature and time.

Chocolatier: Chocolatiers make confectionery products with chocolate. They perform activities such as examination, feeling, and tasting of ground chocolate paste. Such analysis leads them to ascertain if colour, texture, and taste of the chocolate paste meets specifications.

Oenologist: Oenologists track the wine manufacturing process in its entirety and supervise the workers in wineries. They supervise and coordinate production to ensure the quality of the wine and also give advice by determining the value and classification of wines being produced.
Manufacturing manager: Manufacturing managers plan, oversee and direct the manufacturing process in an organisation. They ensure products and services are efficiently produced within the timeframe and budget given.
Marketing manager: Marketing managers carry out the implementation of efforts related to the marketing operations in a company. They develop marketing strategies and plans by detailing cost and resources needed. They analyse the profitability of these plans, develop pricing strategies, and strive to raise awareness on products and companies among targeted customers.
Brewmaster: Brewmasters ensure brewing quality of current products and create mixtures for the development of new products. For current products, they oversee the whole brewing process following one of many brewing processes. For new products, they develop new brewing formulas and processing techniques or modify existing ones as to come up with potential new products.
Master coffee roaster: Master coffee roasters design new coffee styles and ensure the quality of blends and recipes pragmatically. They write blending formulas to guide workers who prepare coffee blends for commercial purposes.
Timber trader: Timber traders assess the quality, quantity and market value of timber and timber products for trade. They organise the selling process of new timber and purchase stocks of timber.
Food regulatory advisor: Food regulatory advisors are extra-judicial or judiciary technical experts. They ensure food industry practices comply with the regulatory norms. They perform audits, make diagnosis and monitor activities of inspection. These experts have expertise in food processing, food analysis, quality, safety, certification, traceability. They update, review, and approve labelling designs, develop nutrition facts panels, and ensure that products and labels meet appropriate standards and regulations.
Malt master: Malt masters evaluate and grade different malts on a sensory basis for brewing purposes. They assess the look, the smell, and the taste of raw materials and unfinished products in order to maintain the consistency of products. They use their knowledge to prepare mixtures as part of product development.
Confectioner: Confectioners make a varied range of cakes, candies and other confectionery items for industrial purposes or for direct selling.

References

1. Identify market niches – ESCO