I received a comment from Spike Zelenka in southern Iowa. Here is the comment, “My girlfriend and I are looking seriously at 5 acres in Southern Iowa. With minimal bills, our monthly ‘nut’ is going to be a lot easier to crack. Our idea is lillys in the spring, periennials spring and summer, and pumpkins in the fall. we have also considered trees…and a friend almost had me talked into selling orgainic herbs to resturaunts. Between farmers markets, festivals, and hopefully building up relationships with small stores who could possibly buy seedlings from us, I think it’s a viable future for us. Keep in mind, we’re not looking at getting rich, but again, with minimal money going out in bills, are looking at doing something together, and enjoying life.
any thoughts, ideas, suggestions?
I have read alot of your blogs….and although you are much larger than we plan to get, feel you would have some great insight for us.”
Our nursery is a lot smaller than you think. My wife and I get along with a seasonal helper(s) to help run the place. We have just under two acres of land but the business is still small and we have a long way to go to reach our goals.
It sound like you are planning to be more than just a nursery as you want to sell pumpkins in season, herbs to restaurants, etc. This is a good way to look at the potential business as something more than just a nursery. Being new to the business with a fresh perspective is a good thing. Sure its nice to have experience going in but sometimes that can put blinders on that prevent you from seeing the possibilities. That may be a problem for me, who has been doing this so long its hard to know whether I am doing things just because thats how we did them in the past.
The other neat thing is you want to do something with your girlfriend that allows you to enjoy life. A business venture will certainly test your relationship. I have been fortunate that Monica and I are on the same page and work well together. I think its a rarity for mates to run the same business together, but it does happen.
The most important thing I read in your comment is you want to spend time together enjoying life. With my kids now out of the house that is the one thing I keep telling my Monica. I want to enjoy life which includes the occupation we have chosen. There are of course plenty of opportunities to get stressed out, and there are certainly times when I wonder why I stick with this business. You have to remind yourself each and every day to see the big picture and not get overwhelmed by the details. Yes, the details pay the bills, but the overall theme of having fun is what I think life is about. When you stop having fun its a clue to change strategies. I know plenty of stressed out nursery people and just people in general who have stopped having fun.
It great to hear people wanting to start small garden centers. It is a hopeful sign that this type of business will not go the way of the buggy whip factory. It means there is something that is still inspiring about working with plants and the people who like them. The one thing I have never done, but should or should have is come up with a written business plan. Run the potential figures and see if the business makes sense beyond just “I want to start a nursery”. Sometimes all the good intentions in the world won’t make a profit in a poor location or a market that wont support you. Never the less keep the dream alive and remember the journey, not some mythical “I have arrived” is the most important thing.
Some good advice. Perhaps if they could work for a nursery for a few months together to pick up bit of busniess knowledge and see if they like it.
Comment by Correy — December 4, 2007 @ 4:03 pm
Do either of you have spouses who have incomes enough to support you if you do not make any money? It would be good if you didn’t have to rely on your income for a few years while you are trying out the business and location. I have ran a Garden Center with low overhead for 7 years. Every year, I think, “this will be the year”, but it is very hard to make much profit in this business. A realistic business plan would be a good idea,too. Realize that net profit is usually less than 45 %, and that expenses will be more than you can even imagine. Also, you will not sell everything you buy, so you will have carry over inventory going into your 2nd year.
My SBA business plan was to sell thru 100 % at 50% net margin. How great would that have been! it is a shame my banker didn’t know any better and gave me a loan based on those projections!
Best of luck to you, and if I can help with anything at all, feel free to e-mail me at:
jodeefyfe@aol.com….I can help with what not to do…the learning curve has been long!
Comment by Jodee — December 5, 2007 @ 11:53 pm
Correy, that is very good of advice!
Jodee, Banks do not understand nurseries. They look at our inventory and see little value to the plants since they are living things. Bankers have a hard time valuing a garden center, especially with the seasonal fluctuations in cash flow.
Comment by Trey Pitsenberger — December 6, 2007 @ 7:26 am
I have a long term approach to my business. I’m very small, very part-time and very specialized (bamboo only). Long term, I am looking to open a full-time, full service nursery, but even on a very limited basis, my slow introduction to the plant business has helped gain a feel and appreciation for the challenges that full-time, full service nurseries face.
I think Spike is headed in the right direction, tapping into the local market is the most sustanable model if you look at where the world is headed. With oil prices rising and the cost of globalization becoming less sustainable, I think local markets are where the future is.
Comment by Sean — December 7, 2007 @ 9:28 am
I am hoping to get some really needed advice from all you experts. I am in the process of purchasing a nursery/floral/garden & home gift store here in my home town. It is located on a highway through our city, which is the second largest city in our state. The purchase price for the property/store/greenhouses is 7 figures. We would have to come in with $1.2 million in cash and assests to purchase. We have no experience in this industry but do own another business totally unrelated to this. My question to all of you out there: If you were able to purchase this nursery and knew you would be spending and collateralizing everything you owned for it would you do it knowing what you know now? It is a 40 year old business, makes $500,000 in profit yearly (salaries to owners are in that profit), has alot of marketing potential since that is underutilized. My sister and I would work this business. Eventually, so would my daughters. It has full time employees and part time employees. We have been customers of this business for 20 years. We love the place and think it would be alot of fun, less stressful than our current occupations, an RN and a UPS worker. I need to make my decision in two days. Please help with an advice you have.
Comment by Ginger — December 18, 2007 @ 12:25 pm
By the way, this business is located in Oregon.
Comment by Ginger — December 18, 2007 @ 12:50 pm
As luck would have it, I will not be purchasing this business after all. The owners decided to back out. After learning of the offer, their son has decided he wants to buy it. Thank you anyway.
Comment by Ginger — December 18, 2007 @ 8:14 pm
my close friend sandra and me own 11.4 acres oon the st. johns river in Mims,FL and 10 acres is zoned farmland. i been wanting to start a nursery on it for quite some time but i keep getting negative feedback on sales from nursery business’.
should i make that leap and “just do it” or sell the farm in a bad real estate market?
thank you for any input,
Joe
Comment by joe — December 23, 2007 @ 8:49 am
I have been to a lot of nursery businesses going out of business sales. One in particular who was bankrupt made a wise comment. Do not get into the business unless you have a market. So the question for Joe and Sandra is…Who is your market? How is your nursery different than your competition? Is it wholesale or retail? Why is your only option the nursery business or sell? The list of questions can continue but this is some food for thought. Myself I would do it…but there is so much more to it than “just do it”.
Comment by John — December 24, 2007 @ 7:54 am
[…] know a lot of people end up here at my blog because they would like to start a nursery and are looking for advice. Most recently Joe in Florida wants to know if starting a nursery is the […]
Pingback by The Blogging Nurseryman - The Art of Running a Small Garden Center or Nursery » Vacation! — December 24, 2007 @ 11:28 am
I hope I’m not intruding on your blog… just thought someone on here might be interested. As luck would have it I am a realtor in Minnesota and have a nursery for sale in Park Rapids, Mn. I believe that word of mouth is the best way to advertise. I am willing to bet that you will be interested in this great opportunity, or if not, that you know someone who might be. If you or someone you know would like further information… please contact me, (www.bestmidwestrealtor.com) this opportunity will not be around for long.
Comment by James — January 4, 2008 @ 4:29 pm
After 7 wonderful years of realizing my dream, I have decided to sell my Dream and stay home and care for my Grandbabies who are currently in daycare.
Anyone interesting in running a Nursery in beautiful, North Idaho, click below to view listing…
http://spokane.craigslist.org/bfs/529570861.html
Happy Dreaming!
Comment by Jodee — January 5, 2008 @ 3:11 pm
I’m wondering if there is any hope for a nurseryman’s daughter to take over his family-owned retail buisness. I’ve grown up living beside my family’s 100 year old nursery my entire life. Recently, my dad has decided that it’s time to get out. He’s not making any money, and competition is getting all the business due to a better location. I feel that my dad is losing business due to his lack of motivation, but he blames it on the location. He’s let the nursery lose its charm that it once had. His heart hasn’t been in the nursery for a while. I, on the other hand, can’t stand to let the nursery go, and would do anything to keep it around. We have great wholesale contacts. My dad’s been a loyal customer to some for more than 30 years. My cousin lives down the road and sells wholesale. Our annuals come from the very best in the country. We are also very competitive in pricing. Why is it so hard to make this business thrive? Is this a completely a lost cause, or is there something I can do? Any advice is appreciated.
Comment by Allison — March 29, 2008 @ 2:10 pm
[…] all the time from people thinking of starting a small nursery or garden center. My latest was from Allison who wrote “I’m wondering if there is any hope for a nurseryman’s daughter to take over his […]
Pingback by The Blogging Nurseryman - The Art of Running a Small Garden Center or Nursery » Hope for a nurseryman’s daughter — April 1, 2008 @ 6:30 am
[…] They want to start a nursery on eleven acres of land. They are looking for advice. I came across this post I did back in December of 2007 and this one from November 2007. I don’t think I would change […]
Pingback by The Blogging Nurseryman by Trey Pitsenberger » DIFM, and other trends. | — September 29, 2008 @ 7:32 am