Weekend business Idea!

[VAHomegrown]

My home state and current residence just legalized home grow last July. There is definitely a lack of stores providing organic soils and ammendments tailored to cannabis. You can find most of what you need by hitting a couple hardware stores and farmers Co-Ops but requires some searching & driving to compile a good organic soil mix and even then you still have to order a few things off Amazon. The most important thing is knowing what to buy.
-Proposed Plan
•Sell soil & ammendments at farmer's markets out of the back of my truck. If I was successful I would move to a semi-permanent site to sell on weekends. There are lots of little weekend shops in my area that the DC area folks flock to & spend lots of money.
•Would be sold by weight or as a bundled package for different needs.

I need your opinions! I would be elated If someone wanted to join me to sell the soil (and get insanely stoned of course) Not looking
My biggest issue is going to be finding a solid

 

[Gentlemancorpse]

These are my initial thoughts.

Have you already decided what brands you will be carrying? If so, you should try reaching out to them directly and seeing if you can get a better price buying direct. You need a minimum of 20% margins usually to turn any profit. Will you be making any of the products yourself?

Do you have a good storage solution for the items when your not selling them? You need to be sure your not moving pests or contaminates around.

Have you already researched any licensing/insurance/certification requirements in your state? May not be any, but it's always best to be sure. Even some auto insurance policies won't pay out if your vehicle is damaged while being used for commercial purposes and they weren't aware.

 

[PlumberSoCal]

I'm not into retail but the only way ymto see if works is to try. At worst you'll end up with extra soil and can write it off as a loss.

Too many people are afraid to try their own business and work for someone else their whole lives.

 

[18B]

I'm not into retail but the only way ymto see if works is to try. At worst you'll end up with extra soil and can write it off as a loss.

Too many people are afraid to try their own business and work for someone else their whole lives.

If I was union or worked for someone else...I would still be working 40+ hrs for someone else...instead now I work 2-3 days a week 2-4 hrs a day...because I want to.

 

[VAHomegrown]

Have you already decided what brands you will be carrying? If so, you should try reaching out to them directly and seeing if you can get a better price buying direct. You need a minimum of 20% margins usually to turn any profit. Will you be making any of the products yourself?

Do you have a good storage solution for the items when your not selling them? You need to be sure your not moving pests or contaminates around.

Have you already researched any licensing/insurance/certification requirements in your state? May not be any, but it's always best to be sure. Even some auto insurance policies won't pay out if your vehicle is damaged while being used for commercial purposes and they weren't aware.

Thanks @Gentlemancorpse
Your questions provoked some serious thought, thank you!

-My idea was to start of selling a simple base like Strawberry Fields, BX or Coast of Maine offerings. I have several sources for bagged soil & basic ammendments from the local farmer's co-op in bulk. The hard part will finding sources for the the harder to find ammendments like rock dust in bulk. I will be talking to a local commercial hemp farmer later this week to see where he get his supplies from.
- I have indoor, climate controlled storage. I would have IPM protocols in place to ensure I'm not selling pest problems.
- I own my own business & this would just be a fun side venture to meet other growers, chuckers & gardening enthusiasts. I have insurance, tax ID'and all the licensing needed for my county/state. If I made a few bucks I would be happy. Doing the math I was looking at closer to a 50% return, even buying some of the harder to find ammendments, in bulk at retail costs.
-The area I would set up in is in a town near the entrance to a National Park. The area is known to historically have a "hippy vibe" due to all the folks who set up here in the early 70's (and grew some exceptional cuts). I think a weekend soil dealer would fit right in next the produce farmers and cbd/hemp growers who sell their products at the market. The soccer mom in the Land Rover would be more than happy to plop down $100 on soil for her house plants coming from a boutique seller in this area. The amount of money that passes through the area is insane, combine that with peoples urge to eat and grow organically and you have a winning combo as I see it.
-Cannabis is still very taboo in certain areas of the state, even though we are now legal. I wouldn't expect to do well in a state like Cali or Colorado or even Maine but Virginia is a huge new market with lots of new & established growers who would love to buy in person just to support a local cannabis/agricultural business.

 

[VAHomegrown]

I'm not into retail but the only way ymto see if works is to try. At worst you'll end up with extra soil and can write it off as a loss.

Too many people are afraid to try their own business and work for someone else their whole lives.

You are exactly right my friend. For too long I lined others pockets, did work they were not willing or able to do & worked holidays so they would be able to spend time with their familys. I spent my life savings last year to open my own business & it was the best decision of my life. I'm not brining in loads of money right now but enough to cover bills. Even though running a business is extremely stressful, knowing you are in control of your destiny helps ease that stress somewhat.

 

[18B]

We have a place that is about 50 70 miles from me...50 miles to something is nothing where I live...it's up the valley from me...it's called Pot Town Organics in Strasburg...they sell everything to grow anything except seeds or starts. Soils, amendments, liquid and powder feet lines is....fox farms...tents, lights.
I ve been there once, it was pretty cool...I went because they sell bee keeping supplies ( before I gave the bees to my neighbor to put with his colonies).

 

[VAHomegrown]

We have a place that is about 50 70 miles from me...50 miles to something is nothing where I live...it's up the valley from me...it's called Pot Town Organics in Strasburg...they sell everything to grow anything except seeds or starts. Soils, amendments, liquid and powder feet lines is....fox farms...tents, lights.
I ve been there once, it was pretty cool...I went because they sell bee keeping supplies ( before I gave the bees to my neighbor to put with his colonies).

I have been meaning to go to Pot Town!! I work over in FT valley & that area quite often but haven't made it in there. I would love to eventually get bees, good to know they stock that. What do you put in a bee smoker??

 

[18B]

I have been meaning to go to Pot Town!! I work over in FT valley & that area quite often but haven't made it in there. I would love to eventually get bees, good to know they stock that. What do you put in a bee smoker??

Lol ...I could put some old schwag in there and smoke them out ...they make some prerolls etc....but you can use hay, wood chips....cotton is the best type thing...anything that isn't going to send out a spark or hot smoke etc...it's probably been 2 yes since I was there, but know they are still open as I drove past recently while out there and saw it open. Kinda a bunch of weird old people working there.

 

[Polyuro]

My home state and current residence just legalized home grow last July. There is definitely a lack of stores providing organic soils and ammendments tailored to cannabis. You can find most of what you need by hitting a couple hardware stores and farmers Co-Ops but requires some searching & driving to compile a good organic soil mix and even then you still have to order a few things off Amazon. The most important thing is knowing what to buy.
-Proposed Plan
•Sell soil & ammendments at farmer's markets out of the back of my truck. If I was successful I would move to a semi-permanent site to sell on weekends. There are lots of little weekend shops in my area that the DC area folks flock to & spend lots of money.
•Would be sold by weight or as a bundled package for different needs.

I need your opinions! I would be elated If someone wanted to join me to sell the soil (and get insanely stoned of course) Not looking
My biggest issue is going to be finding a solid

People will need pots/bags too. If u go small why not just take it to the next consumer level and sell cooked/cover cropped/in pots or bags already to go super soil. Young lazy people would love it and pay more.

 

[VAHomegrown]

Lol ...I could put some old schwag in there and smoke them out ...they make some prerolls etc....but you can use hay, wood chips....cotton is the best type thing...anything that isn't going to send out a spark or hot smoke etc...it's probably been 2 yes since I was there, but know they are still open as I drove past recently while out there and saw it open. Kinda a bunch of weird old people working there.

It's the only place that comes up on Google selling soils and such within 40 miles of here. I will make a trip within the next few days, I'm in need of new pots. The other place that listed just carries Lotus nutes, Kind lights and ratchet hangers even though they are listed as an organic soil supplier. I wasn't interested in his 13 bottle system & I inquired about dolomite and he was kind of lost after that.

People will need pots/bags too. If u go small why not just take it to the next consumer level and sell cooked/cover cropped/in pots or bags already to go super soil. Young lazy people would love it and pay more.

That would be a great idea. It would take me a while to get that blend dialed in but I think that would be a money maker. I can always buy bulk grow bags in various and sell them individually or include them with the soil.

 

[18B]

It's the only place that comes up on Google selling soils and such within 40 miles of here. I will make a trip within the next few days, I'm in need of new pots. The other place that listed just carries Lotus nutes, Kind lights and ratchet hangers even though they are listed as an organic soil supplier. I wasn't interested in his 13 bottle system & I inquired about dolomite and he was kind of lost after that.

That would be a great idea. It would take me a while to get that blend dialed in but I think that would be a money maker. I can always buy bulk grow bags in various and sell them individually or include them with the soil.

Oh I remember they had foxfarms ocean forest, happy frog, Coco, coast of Maine, ewc's, foxfarm dry and liquid, lots of other amendment...yeah calcium and dolemite, azo, they were pretty knowledgeable, just weird...but then again...I'm sure people think I'm weird.

 

[916DanFan]

If u go small why not just take it to the next consumer level and sell cooked/cover cropped/in pots or bags already to go super soil. Young lazy people would love it and pay more.

I agree here. I've wondered about doing that myself. grassrootsfabricpots is local to me and I even talked to them about it. Storage space is the issue. You need volume to make money and volume requires space.

 

[Hawkman]

My home state and current residence just legalized home grow last July. There is definitely a lack of stores providing organic soils and ammendments tailored to cannabis. You can find most of what you need by hitting a couple hardware stores and farmers Co-Ops but requires some searching & driving to compile a good organic soil mix and even then you still have to order a few things off Amazon. The most important thing is knowing what to buy.
-Proposed Plan
•Sell soil & ammendments at farmer's markets out of the back of my truck. If I was successful I would move to a semi-permanent site to sell on weekends. There are lots of little weekend shops in my area that the DC area folks flock to & spend lots of money.
•Would be sold by weight or as a bundled package for different needs.

I need your opinions! I would be elated If someone wanted to join me to sell the soil (and get insanely stoned of course) Not looking
My biggest issue is going to be finding a solid

I use "Build-a-Soil.com" for all admendents + more

 

[Rozgreenburn]

Thanks @Gentlemancorpse
Your questions provoked some serious thought, thank you!

-My idea was to start of selling a simple base like Strawberry Fields, BX or Coast of Maine offerings. I have several sources for bagged soil & basic ammendments from the local farmer's co-op in bulk. The hard part will finding sources for the the harder to find ammendments like rock dust in bulk. I will be talking to a local commercial hemp farmer later this week to see where he get his supplies from.
- I have indoor, climate controlled storage. I would have IPM protocols in place to ensure I'm not selling pest problems.
- I own my own business & this would just be a fun side venture to meet other growers, chuckers & gardening enthusiasts. I have insurance, tax ID'and all the licensing needed for my county/state. If I made a few bucks I would be happy. Doing the math I was looking at closer to a 50% return, even buying some of the harder to find ammendments, in bulk at retail costs.
-The area I would set up in is in a town near the entrance to a National Park. The area is known to historically have a "hippy vibe" due to all the folks who set up here in the early 70's (and grew some exceptional cuts). I think a weekend soil dealer would fit right in next the produce farmers and cbd/hemp growers who sell their products at the market. The soccer mom in the Land Rover would be more than happy to plop down $100 on soil for her house plants coming from a boutique seller in this area. The amount of money that passes through the area is insane, combine that with peoples urge to eat and grow organically and you have a winning combo as I see it.
-Cannabis is still very taboo in certain areas of the state, even though we are now legal. I wouldn't expect to do well in a state like Cali or Colorado or even Maine but Virginia is a huge new market with lots of new & established growers who would love to buy in person just to support a local cannabis/agricultural business.

Good luck brother! This sounds like a potential big win! As you are well aware, us growers will spend the money if your goods fit that niche, so, Give it a chance. I would also make certain to educate potential custies to the value of what you have to offer them.
I have a similar idea that I hope to start this spring. I went organic living soil more than a year ago and, it's the best move I've ever made [for growing]. Gonna start fabricating a large scale composter in which I will make living soil to offer local growers and farmers markets. This stuff should sell itself and also open up the opportunity to sell organic amendments, mulches, my fresh EWC, dry teas and whatever I find makes my life easier, it should please my clientele as well, enough to gain a strong returning client base.
My biggest detraction would be my lack of patience with morons! But, when you deal with the public, they are part of the equation. I do believe that as you grow a client base, part of the appeal will be, having the ability to communicate to them what they need to know without talking down to them. Another plus will be having all the supplies on hand, because nobody wants to wait for anything anymore, my personal supply will just come from the business!
I love your idea, I'll be watching!

 

[jpockets420]

We could sure use something like that in my county in illinois. Legal cannabis, legal to grow with a med card and the nearest hydro shop is 38 miles away. Everytime it's brought up in town meetings our local catholic college pretty much vetoes it. Build anything that caters to cannabis users, growers and they threaten to pull funding they supply to our town. We still only have miracle grow in our stores for soil. In order to get promix at menards you have to get it right when it's put out in the spring. This state is not nice to grow in unless you live around chicago.

 

[Rozgreenburn]

We could sure use something like that in my county in illinois. Legal cannabis, legal to grow with a med card and the nearest hydro shop is 38 miles away. Everytime it's brought up in town meetings our local catholic college pretty much vetoes it. Build anything that caters to cannabis users, growers and they threaten to pull funding they supply to our town. We still only have miracle grow in our stores for soil. In order to get promix at menards you have to get it right when it's put out in the spring. This state is not nice to grow in unless you live around chicago.

Again? So it's not bad enough that the state taxes the living shit outta you, you also have to pacify churches? I wanna start a "MIND YER OWN Damn BUSSINESS" movement. Seems everybody's worried about everything, except themselves. Forget about pedophile priests, reefer is the real problem??? Hang in there bro., things are changing.

 

[MtRainDog]

We could sure use something like that in my county in illinois. Legal cannabis, legal to grow with a med card and the nearest hydro shop is 38 miles away. Everytime it's brought up in town meetings our local catholic college pretty much vetoes it. Build anything that caters to cannabis users, growers and they threaten to pull funding they supply to our town. We still only have miracle grow in our stores for soil. In order to get promix at menards you have to get it right when it's put out in the spring. This state is not nice to grow in unless you live around chicago.

Again? So it's not bad enough that the state taxes the living shit outta you, you also have to pacify churches? I wanna start a "MIND YER OWN Damn BUSSINESS" movement. Seems everybody's worried about everything, except themselves. Forget about pedophile priests, reefer is the real problem??? Hang in there bro., things are changing.

The midwest is N O T O R I O U S for letting Churches run rough shod over towns like that. An even bigger scandal are these judges in the Midwest taking kids away from their parents over small amounts of weed and putting them into Christian-ran foster systems. Talk about scary...

 

[jpockets420]

The midwest is N O T O R I O U S for letting Churches run rough shod over towns like that. An even bigger scandal are these judges in the Midwest taking kids away from their parents over small amounts of weed and putting them into Christian-ran foster systems. Talk about scary...

Both times we got busted we came really close to losing our 2 kids. We won the cases though and got a state supreme court verdict that changed our "founded " child abuse case to unfounded. It was great to get that pink letter of apology from the state of illinois. The abuse they claimed was from the leaves of the plants and from one container of veg+bloom in a locked room. The leaves they claimed cause brain damage in children, you know... that skunky smell? That's what got us a count of child abuse. The other count for the toxic nutrients was laughable at best. It sucked, and going through drug court for cannabis sucked too. I got through it thankfully with our kids and it's a whole different world now with legalization. I guess I'm cool driving 38 miles to get supplies when I look back at what we've been through in our journey with this plant.

 

[VAHomegrown]

We have a place that is about 50 70 miles from me...50 miles to something is nothing where I live...it's up the valley from me...it's called Pot Town Organics in Strasburg...they sell everything to grow anything except seeds or starts. Soils, amendments, liquid and powder feet lines is....fox farms...tents, lights.
I ve been there once, it was pretty cool...I went because they sell bee keeping supplies ( before I gave the bees to my neighbor to put with his colonies).

Took the trip up to Pot Town Organics today. I was blown away to say the least. Some of the nicest folks I've ever dealt with & the store is stocked with only quality supplies & gear. For a speciality gardening shop the prices were very good. Not low enough to buy for resale but definitely low enough that I won't be using Amazon or the Co Op except on an emergency basis. They stock the full line of Coast of Maine Soils- I picked up the Stonington Blend living soil to try it out as well as 5-2-4 fertilzer & seed starter. I could have spent 3 hours in there looking at everything.