Struggling orchid businesses

[Bolero]

Well how about moving to Northern Australia and growing there...........the environment is pristine (generally) and they same climate as Hawaii........plus you have access to all us friendly people.......lol

[justatypn]

Road trip to Australia ... all of you have great words of wisdom and analogy of the stressing of small businesses. I for one make it a point to keep my spending to the small business owner (ma and pop places). I have been in business off and on for 20yrs and find that it's merely a matter of good business management to keep the doors open. I would think if you know the winters are not as productive and the cost of operation is much higher...than on the moving of product months is when you pull in your reins, tighten the budget to get you through the higher expensed months. It's easier I know to put on paper verses working it, but some are just not meant to be a business owner. Do not think that I am bashing, not by any means, as we all do not know what is in the minds/on-the-books/daily events of our stressing orchid businesses but like any other it's all in managing your investment. Is the business struggling; lack of sales, products not as good as they should be, management problems, personnel problems, cash flow, and capital infusion are all problems that can be solved. A tremendous amount of questions as to WHY!!, so we will be forever on this one...

[dot]

Originally Posted by justatypn

... it's merely a matter of good business management to keep the doors open. I would think if you know the winters are not as productive and the cost of operation is much higher...than on the moving of product months is when you pull in your reins, tighten the budget to get you through the higher expensed months. It's easier I know to put on paper verses working it, but some are just not meant to be a business owner.

It may be true that some are just not meant to be a business owner, but it's also not quite so simple as that.

Up here in the north, the summer months are very slow in orchid sales because people are out gardening. Purchases tend to be for garden plants. So that's 4 months out of the year. Add to that the hight cost of heating for about 5 months of the year, and that doesn't leave a lot of leeway.

The business model for small orchid growers seems to have changed during the past few years. i'm interested in what folks might think of a viable business model for a smallish orchid retailer. Something that doesn't include the owners needing another business to support their orchid business. I know there are lots of those, and they should do well. But are there other options?