I thought I had to "Do it All" right from the start of business

I have always loved nature and have always been fascinated with honeybees. Growing up as a child, I would go with my father to a local old fashioned 1800^th century working farm. My father volunteered as the master blacksmith. While he was working in the blacksmith shop, I got to run around, explore, and play with the farm animals and other volunteers. The beekeeper in the garden area was fascinating to me. I found myself drawn to the gardens and the honeybees that took up residence in the garden. The hum was intoxicating and I found I enjoyed spending most of my time in the garden learning about plants, weeds, herbs, and bees. The gentleman who volunteered in the apiary would talk to me about the honeybees and my father always knew where he could find me at the end of his shift: in the gardens with the bees. 

Fast forward twenty-five years later, my husband and I outgrew our little house in the city so we found a cute farmhouse in the country with a wrap-around porch. I knew the first time I saw the house that it was meant for our family. Shortly after moving to the farm, I started making plans for honeybees; we had the space. I talked constantly about it and why we needed bees and after years of constantly talking my husband’s ears off, he said one night, “Why are you still talking about honeybees? Would you just get some honeybees?” So the next Spring I purchased my first colony and all the equipment I needed.

If I wasn’t taking care of my daughter, tending to farm chores, or taking care of the gardens, you could find me in the bee yard inspecting the hives or sitting near the hives drinking my morning coffee with my small companions. Over the years, my apiary that started with one hive turned into twenty. I had an abundance of honey and by-products from beekeeping and honey extraction so I started sharing my honey, beeswax candles, beeswax crafts, and herbal handmade items with family and friends. Over time, they started asking for more honey and honey products. I enjoyed making things for my family and friends. It all came from my heart, passion, love, and respect for nature. 

With family and friends encouraging me to share my knowledge and passion for honeybees, along with the products from the hive, Happy Honey Bee Co was finally born. I had the passion, love, and drive, to get started, but I did not have a business degree, nor did I know anything about selling food. 

Your first business plan + launching the business

When I started my business, I wrote out a business plan. I even made a dream board of what I wanted my business to look like and what I wanted for my business. I had amazing ideas that I knew people would love. Unfortunately, I had a few massive obstacles; I lacked the capital to fund my business ideas (I was a stay-at-home-mom), as well as real customers besides my family, friends, and friends of friends.

I had the necessary passion and I wanted anyone and everyone to see my enthusiasm and what I had to offer. I knew deep down in my gut that I was on the right path. I was meant to share my knowledge; I just needed to find my customers. So I decided I needed to be everywhere. I thought that if I put myself out there (and I mean everywhere) and sell everything; people would fall in love with my honeybees and honey products. I signed up for as many farmer markets, craft shows, and vendor shows as I could. I opened an Etsy, Shopify, and eBay store. I signed up with Wix.com for a website before I had a clear understanding of what my exact approach/plan really was, and how to properly implement my business plan/dream board successfully.

I also thought that I needed to compete with the bigger honey shops/farmers in my area and in my state. I thought that if I had lots of products, like various types of artisan honey from my apiaries, that I would be looked at as “legit” and like I “made it.” This thought process couldn't be further from the truth!  Two years after starting my business and continuing on the same path of growing as fast as I could, offering my customers numerous choices of honey, bee pollen, candles, home products, and even a beauty skincare line (soaps, lotions, and lip balms), I was in debt and becoming burnt out! I was trying to expand the farm side of the business as well as the product line side. I was spending more than what I was bringing in to come up with more products to offer. I was slowly being swallowed up by a business that I loved because I was trying desperately to appease anyone and everyone, to make them a customer and a repeat customer. I thought everyone was my customer, and I wanted a product for everyone. 

Slowing down to grow organically and fall more in love with your business

A year ago I was at a bee conference listening to a gentleman speak who owned one of the biggest beekeeping operations in North America and I felt like he was talking just to me. He said something that resonated with me; "LET YOUR BUSINESS GROW ORGANICALLY." The light bulb went off in my head and I realized then and there that my whole approach of growing as fast as I could so that the customer would think that I am a legit honey company was a lie. I finally got it. I cannot compete with a bigger honey company and I can’t spread my business out to every platform. When I got home from the conference, I evaluated all my online presence areas (Wix website, online shopping platforms, and social media platforms). Which of these was working for my business and which ones were not? I looked at each and every product I sold. I spent weeks going over all my business records and finances. I reevaluated everything. I cried a lot... I wanted to throw in the towel and go back to just being a beekeeper at times. 

This new plan I wrote out is extensive with contingencies, goals, what happens when I reach certain goals at different intervals: month, year, five years, and ten-year goals. It even lays out who my actual customers are. I broke down my customers’ demographics and how to market to them. My business plan is still not complete, it’s just a blueprint or a road map. If I need to make a detour or I want to branch off a little bit, I can. My business plan has plans for that, too. The one thing through this whole process of rewriting my business plan was realizing that I have a lot to offer and giving up on my business was not an option!

Summing it up

Since taking to heart the phrase, "Let your business grow organically;" everything has changed. Don't force your business to grow faster than it needs to, and can withstand naturally. Make sure you can support and sustain your business in a healthy way. A year later, I am more in love with my honey business than when I started! I had to make some really tough business decisions, which made my business stronger. I stopped chasing the customer and what I thought the customer wanted. Listen to the customers who are already buying from you. They will tell you what they want.

  I will say to anyone who is starting a business, start small, grow organically, don't force your business to grow faster than you and your business can handle. There are plenty of customers to grow around. When you stop trying and start being authentic to yourself and your business, your customers will present themselves to you and they will love what you have to offer! 

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