Kitsch is a funny thing. Some people absolutely adore it; some people absolutely loathe it. It’s goofy, cheesy, campy, and fun all at the same time. But it can also be ugly and excessive.
People who love kitsch don’t care about the excessive nature of it because kitsch is all about enjoying silliness. These are the folks that refuse to take life too seriously. If you’re an ecommerce vendor trying to break into the kitsch market, there are a few ways to get started.
The first items people think of when kitsch gets mentioned are usually memorabilia. Imagine all those plates with Elvis airbrushed onto them or the salt shakers shaped like Elvis or… Well, pretty much anything with Elvis on it is going to be firmly in the kitsch camp.
Sports memorabilia can also be considered kitschy, especially if it’s something that doesn’t serve a purpose like a Mickey Mantle bobble-head doll. The essence of kitsch are decorative pieces that are primarily put on display so if you want to stock up on kitschy items you think will sell then keep your eyes open for things that are whimsical rather than practical.
If you can find products that use current trends to make trinkets and doodads, then you are on your way to making money off kitsch. For kitsch, it’s more about the thought than the quality so the trick is finding something unique; something that people will get a kick out of. It might not be something you personally find appealing, but if you have reason to believe that there’s a market for it then there’s no reason not to go ahead and find out.
Of course, as with most things, you don’t want to put all your eggs in one basket. Don’t order two-thousand Justin Bieber snap bracelets to try to corner the teenager market… Or the nineties nostalgia market. Isn’t that the last time snap bracelets were a thing?
With the light-hearted quality of kitsch, you want something that people don’t need but will buy. Finding out what that is can be tricky so don’t go overboard with any of your products. Get a few, see if they sell, get more. This can be a funny dynamic to pin down since it’s not always clear what is going to sell and what isn’t. That can be said of a lot of products and services but with kitschy things, if they don’t land then they flop hard and you’re the one eating the extras.
Having a great site for people to buy through can also be helpful. People on the lookout for funny, silly trinkets are probably going to respond well to a similarly goofy site. Don’t make it too cluttered or crazy but have a little levity. If you’re just starting up your own business or site, it’s a good idea to check out some of the platforms available to you. There are a lot of ecommerce platforms where you can build and run your own online store with everything all bundled together for you. Before you make any purchase, do your own enterprise ecommerce platform comparisons to be positive that you’re getting what you want and what you need. Then you can add the aforementioned levity.
In general, kitsch is either embraced or ignored but there’s a lot of people out there, especially around the holidays. Some folks love to grab a bunch of those little trinkets or collector’s plates or salt shaker to pass out as gifts. If you’re thinking of capitalizing on kitsch then find something unique and get it out there. And, of course, don’t forget to have fun. What good is kitsch without fun?
