The bittersweet closure of a bespoke keyboard maker: When serving a niche audience is no longer viable

Summary

A reflection on the closure of MtnKBD, a bespoke mechanical keyboard designer based in Australia, highlighting the challenges of serving a niche global audience in a market that has become increasingly fragmented with hundreds of small makers. The article explores the economics of passion-driven micro-businesses, where creators serve audiences of dozens or hundreds rather than millions, and the bittersweet reality that such ventures are often not sustainable long-term despite the joy they bring to their dedicated communities.