What are end-user and vertical-level specialists?
Answer: The key idea in successful nichemanship is specialization. A firm that specializes in one type of end-use customer is an end-user specialist. For example, a value-added reseller (VAR)customizes computer hardware and software for specific customer segments and earns a price premium in the process.
A firm that specializes at some vertical level of the production-distribution value chain is a vertical-level specialist. A copper firm may concentrate on producing raw copper, copper components, or finished copper products.