Is there a market in the gap?

There are 8 key reasons for undertaking research activity:

To understand the current market.
To identify the criteria for success for a new entrant.
To quantify and identify the size of the target audience.
To develop routes to market.
To maximize the price potential.
To validate or challenge product or brand ideas.
To optimize the concept.
To help shape the marketing communication strategy.

21st century brandscape

The 21st century brandscape is hugely competitive with businesses in every sector leveraging their brand equities to the max.

Marketing in the form of online relationship building and data capture has seen an explosion of new, entrepreneurial brands who rather than rely on bricks and mortar sales through third party retailers are creating their own direct to consumer channel through dedicated websites and direct to home delivery services.