Does anyone have any sources for ordering foods in bulk? I'm going to open a bulk food store on my farm in the near future and need some information. Also will be building a "home-made" greenhouse to sell plants and vegetables. Any ideas appreciated! Thank you.

-- kathy baker (kbaker@duo-county.com), August 15, 2000

Answers

Try bulkfoods.com and see if that is the kind of bulk ordering you need.

-- Hannah Maria Holly (hannahholly@hotmail.com), August 15, 2000.

Kathy, I'm a member of a bulk food buying coop here in Missouri that orders from Blooming Prairie Warehouse with outlets in Iowa and Minnesota. If you are near either state, there is probably a group within easy distance from you. Their website is www.bpco-op.com. They also have a WATS number 800-323-2131. If they aren't available to you, possibly they could tell you of a warehouse in your area.

-- marilyn (rainbow@ktis.net), August 15, 2000.

Have you thoroughly researched your market? Is the demand even there? I suspect you would need to live off of a well traveled highway. Getting people to drive down a couple of gravel roads, then up a dirt driveway may be difficult. I wouldn't recommend starting any enterprise without thoroughly researching it for a year first.

-- Ken S. in TN (scharabo@aol.com), August 16, 2000.

Kathy, have you also considered bulk herbs? I have friends that sell herbs--they buy in bulk & then sell in their own labeled containers. They also grow herbs around their property & in their greenhouse. People seem to think they grow all the herbs they sell--when people ask they tell them they don't grow all of their own herbs but most people assume they do! People come from miles around to look at her herb garden & to buy herbs/ & produce! If you promote right/ people will come if you live in the middle of a pasture! Get your local paper to do an article on your operation when you are ready for the crowds--if that is what you want! I always wanted a strong business/ if I was going to the work of being open to the public! Let area resturants/ B & B's know you have fresh produce & herbs to sell--if that is your interest! Newspapers all over love a unique story---I have had my businesses written about in news papers as far as a 1,000 miles away! And had people come just to visit our business. So, if you believe in your self & believe it is of God! Go for it girl---you are only limited by your own imagination/& work/ if there is not enough local trade/ do something unique to bring in outside trade! Best wishes from a business owner of over 35 years! Make for sure your family is supportive & able to help in your business venture! I pray your local area will support you & not try to run you out of business! Many people who have not been successful in business do not want anyone else to be successful/ & if you are successful will work to bring you down! It takes about five years to get a good business off to a great future/ then decide to grow or sell!( P.S. make all plans for your business of promotions at least 6 months in advance so you have promotions going all the time or your will have dead times in your business!) Sonda in Ks.

-- Sonda (sgbruce@birch.net), August 16, 2000.

I agree with Sonda... but more with Ken.

Optimism and a bright outlook are fine, and even essential. But if someone is going to open a bulk food store and is asking on THIS forum if anyone has sources for buying foods in bulk... Sorry, Kathy, but it doesn't sound like youve done enough homework yet.

This certainly doesnt mean you couldnt become a smashing success. But I have seen many hundreds of people (through Countryside mag) start small businesses with no idea of what they were getting into. Most failed---which is okay---but some got really hurt, which is not.

I think the best advice is to go slow... learn as you go... and dont get in over your head. When you order bulk foods (or anything else) try to eliminate as many middlemen as possible to keep your costs down. (We used to get one item we wanted to get the address of the primary source. Contacting them often got us a better deal than working through multiple brokers and resellers etc.) But this entails a lot more work, in terms of ordering, etc.)

I have many, many stories about our years in business, with Countryside mag, The Countryside General Store, The Countryside Print Shop and a few others. But perhaps the most pertinent one here concerns a fellow who asked for my advice on an idea he had for a magazine. I told him how tough that business is, and that the business plan he showed me probably wouldnt work.

His name was Eric Utne. His magazine, of course, is Utne Reader, which is about 10X as big, famous, and rich as Countryside. (Well, maybe not any more, but.)

The point is, dont let anyone spoil your dreams. Go for it! But learn as much as you can beforehand, and be real, real careful. Good luck!

---Jd

-- Jd (belanger@tds.net), August 20, 2000.

Kathy, I also agree with Jd & Ken---I have owned/ operated my own businesses for so long you forget everyone doesn't know what I have learned the hard way for over 30 years! I totally agree you really must research what you are going to do before you start--Also talk to others in other areas that have the same business you are palnning on operateing!!!! A little hint/ years a go before we bought a motel, gift shop business--I talked to another woman who had been in the business for years---she told me, I would never eat another meal sitting down as long as I owned & managed the business-& I would never sleep in a night gown, again--I would never get another night's sleep, & good, reliable, dependable help fell off the face of the earth! And anything I wanted done--I would not be able to rely on anyone else to do it for me--& I would have people be rude, mean to me & probably have my life threatened & have someone attempt to rape me & rob me/ if I worked the lobby by my self! I DID NOT THINK ANY OF THIS ADVICE PRETAINED TO ME---IT WOULD NOT HAPPEN TO ME----WELL I SHOULD HAVE LISTENED!!!!!!! It all happened to me in the years we owned that business! So know what you are getting your self into before you start! If you don't have a good accountant to help you to start out--for tax reasons as well as bookkeeping & etc. I would reccommend you talk to a good one to get you started also. Don't reinvent the wheel!!! Learn as much as possible--& like Ken said, at least a year is a good start to find out all you can before you jump in with both feet! As owning your own business is twice as many hours a day longier than you ever thought it would be! So you also have to remember self & family also! Sonda in Ks.

-- Sonda (sgbruce@birch.net), August 22, 2000.