The road from idea to on-the-shelf product is a long and winding one with countless crossroads, t junctions. Dead- ends etc etc.
Been there, done that, got the t-shirt! Even then, there is no guarantee of success. If I remember rightly, something like 99.2% of all product ideas, inventions and filed patents either never make the cut or fail in the market place for one reason or another. Believe me when I idea is not say that I could probably name 1000.
Remember, an protectable in terms of IP and therefore of very little value. However, the disclosure of a patentable invention must not be disclosed anywhere/any how prior to filling.
Now, back to the question in hand. Give people what they want. Yes, a good philosophy but you will automatically enter into a crowed market place.
Come up with something new, i.e no market place and develop a product or service from there. Think Phone, Car, Electricity, The Internet or even face book.
In the meantime, I would love to shop online (not having to go to the shops) and literally pick my products out of the screen. I think Willie Wonka was on the right lines with Mike TV. Whatever came of that invention??? K J
Self starters everywhere, myself included, are bogged down with trying to figure out the next face book, light bulb, ebay etc, trying to read in between the lines of markets and looking for that gap, the holy grail of business opportunities. We set out our stall and offer products and services to customers that we think they need, or think they should need because of market trends and shifts. The simple question that has kicked off this tread should be the first port of call for any start-up. "Yes madam, What do you need? should be the questions on companies lips as opposed "have you seen anything you would like on the menu?" 
