Dive Into a New Product Category

Most importantly, check the margin factor. Tabletop products can have a low margin, Revello notes, while textiles as a category, may have a higher margin. “If you add a higher-margin product to your line, you can sell less in volume and still have it do well,” she says.

While it’s all right to stray a little from your core offerings, Revello says the new product category has to be related to what you already offer. “It’s a big leap to go from bedding to food — but not such a big leap to go from partyware to food,” she explains.