9 Niche Accessories Brand Success Stories [2024]
Niche accessories make excellent small business ideas. The profit margins in these businesses are pretty significant because of the product markup. You could have a small Etsy store or sell them through marketplace sites such as Amazon, Facebook, and eBay.
The niche market for custom accessories is estimated to be nearly $473.46B by 2020 and it contains a variety of product categories ranging from jewelry, handbags, and small leather goods to house decorations and small fashion apparel accessories. Niche accessories are currently enjoying strong growth, projected to continue during this decade.
In this list, you'll find real-world niche accessories brand success stories and very profitable examples of starting a niche accessories brand that makes money.
1. Ekster ($18M/year)
Ekster was founded by Olivier Momma, Rick Scharnigg, and Richard Canneman, who were frustrated by the lack of innovation in everyday carry items like wallets. After validating their idea through market research and raising over $1 million on Kickstarter, they launched their flagship product, the Parliament wallet with a quick card access mechanism. They have since expanded their product line and become the world's "most successful smart wallet brand."
How much money it makes: $18M/year
How many people on the team: 18
Ekster founders discuss how they raised over $1M on Kickstarter, became the world’s “most successful smart wallet brand” according to Forbes, and offer advice for other entrepreneurs on using crowdfunding for market validation and early-stage funding.
2. BBQGrills.com ($6M/year)
relying on word-of-mouth would be our strategy. We focused on providing exceptional customer service and offering high-quality products that would stand the test of time. With just $600 in our bank account, we took a chance and worked tirelessly to build our business. And now, just 11 months later, we have achieved $2 million in overall sales without any advertising or remarketing ads.
How much money it makes: $6M/year
How much did it cost to start: $600
How many people on the team: 2
BBQGrills.com is an online retailer of outdoor kitchen equipment, BBQ grills, and patio heaters that earned $2 million in sales within its first year of business through a focus on quality, performance, and customer service.
3. NW Adventure Rentals ($3M/year)
John Higgins, the founder of NW Adventure Rentals, came up with the idea for his business during a family vacation when they decided to rent an RV but were met with hidden fees, poor quality, and bad customer service. After having a successful trip in their own purchased travel trailer, John put an ad on Craigslist to rent it out and was overwhelmed with the response, realizing there was a real need for high-quality RV rentals without hidden fees. This led him to start NW Adventure Rentals, which has now grown to three locations, 85+ rental units, and $3 million in annual sales.
How much money it makes: $3M/year
How much did it cost to start: $10K
How many people on the team: 19
NW Adventure Rentals is a thriving business with three locations, 85+ rental units, and $3M in annual sales over the last 10 years, offering clean, well-maintained luxury RVs for road trip adventures with a leaseback program that has proven to be a win-win for all.
4. AGood Company ($2.64M/year)
Founder Anders Ankarlid was inspired to start AGood Company after experiencing the cataclysmic environmental effects of the summer of 2018 in Sweden. Realizing the need to address the climate crisis, Ankarlid used his background in entrepreneurship and eCommerce to create a sustainable and social impact startup. AGood Company sells elegant, everyday products made from sustainable materials, with flagship products including mobile cases made from linseed waste and stone paper notebooks made from recycled industrial waste marble. In just over a year, AGood Company has gained a global customer base of 30,000 customers and achieves an average monthly revenue of $220,000.
How much money it makes: $2.64M/year
How many people on the team: 12
A sustainable and social impact startup founded in Stockholm, Sweden, Agood Company sells elegant, everyday products in sustainable materials, and has achieved a global customer base of about thirty thousand customers and average monthly revenue of $220,000 in just over a year, with a mission to inspire people to transform from mindless consumerism towards making more conscious decisions.
5. Braxley Bands ($1.2M/year)
Braxton Manley and his dorm-mate Grant Andrews started Braxley Bands as a class project at Texas Tech. With only a $20 investment and no prior business experience, they created an elastic Apple Watch band and scaled the business to $100K a month on Shopify within three years.
How much money it makes: $1.2M/year
How much did it cost to start: $20
How many people on the team: 3
Braxton Manley started Braxley Bands with only $20, creating an elastic Apple Watch band and scaling the business to an impressive $100K a month on Shopify, all without any other capital or investment.
6. Yes To Brand ($132K/year)
Veronica Baljak, the co-owner of Yes to Brand, started her online business journey by building dropshipping stores for herself, family, and friends. Through networking, sharing her knowledge in blogs and on social media, and becoming a motivational dropshipping influencer, Veronica gained a dedicated following and decided to create Yes to Brand, an agency that helps people start and improve their online businesses. With sales averaging $11,000 per month, Veronica's positive mindset and passion for manifesting success have led to rapid growth and opportunities for collaboration.
How much money it makes: $132K/year
How much did it cost to start: $7K
How many people on the team: 3
Dropshipping entrepreneur Veronica Baljak shares how her agency, Yes to Brand, helps people start and grow their online businesses, averaging $11,000 in monthly sales just three months after launching by focusing on positive mindset, collaboration, and transparency with customers.
7. Bighead Custom ($120K/year)
Chris D., the founder of Bighead Custom, came up with the idea for the business while experimenting with building and inventing things in his garage. After creating the first Bighead pendant and receiving mixed feedback, he fine-tuned the process and decided to launch the business using social media platforms. With time and perseverance, Chris was able to gain recognition by having celebrities like Chris Boykin and Scott Storch wear his pendants, helping Bighead gain popularity and success.
How much money it makes: $120K/year
How much did it cost to start: $100
How many people on the team: 3
Learn how Bighead Custom created wooden "BLING" pendants that now bring in enough revenue to take care of 4 full-time employees, without any real advertising, through their unique and one-of-a-kind product that doesn't exist anywhere else, capturing a large audience without paying for them, and the power of word-of-mouth marketing.
8. Bravery Co ($36K/year)
Emily, the founder of Bravery Co., came up with the idea for her business after going through three cancer diagnoses herself. Frustrated with the lack of stylish headwear options for cancer warriors, she started experimenting with scarves and found that they made her feel more like herself. She launched Bravery Co. in 2016 and has since attracted a loyal following by sharing her story and empowering other women going through similar experiences. With a successful crowdfunding campaign and recognition from various publications, Bravery Co. continues to grow and make a difference in the lives of cancer warriors.
How much money it makes: $36K/year
How much did it cost to start: $1K
How many people on the team: 1
Bravery Co. is a company that empowers women with cancer through designer headwear for cancer warriors, earning an average of 3-5K profit a month and celebrating numerous PR coverage and awards.
9. AR Catch22 ($7.2K/year)
Alex Corstorphine, the founder of AR Catch22, came up with the idea for his business while shooting at the range with his .22lr AR-15 rifle. He realized that converting the rifle caused the bolt catch to stop working, making it inconvenient to show that the rifle was clear. Determined to solve this problem, Alex created the AR Catch22 bolt catch to bring back the bolt-hold-open functionality to converted rifles. His initial prototype received a lot of interest and he went through a challenging process of designing, prototyping, and manufacturing the product before launching his business.
How much money it makes: $7.2K/year
How many people on the team: 1
AR Catch22 produces bolt catches for .22lr converted AR-15 rifles which restore bolt-hold-open functionality back to that of a standard (.223) AR-15, with sales averaging $600 per month and a total of 400 sales needed for break even.
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Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
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