It seems straightforward: a great business starts with a great business idea.Tony and Olga Dutra certainly had one, and the company they started in a garage in Grand Valley, Ont., is now North America’s largest goat cheese maker.Oddly enough, however, their success stemmed directly from their ability to doubt their great idea. “I don’t box […] Read more
Stories by Glenn Cheater
Offer details, convenience on farm website to bring in bucks
Just about every farm that sells direct to the public has a website these days. But how many have good websites, and how does one define “good”?In the fast-moving web world, a pretty design and the standard farm fresh marketing pitch is oh-so last decade.“We’re past the point of convincing farmers that the web is […] Read more
Price not sole factor in beating the competition
If misery loves company, manufacturers and export-dependent Canadian farmers have lots to commiserate about because both have been hammered by the high loonie. That’s certainly true at Standen’s Ltd. The maker of leaf springs, trailer axles and tillage equipment not only has to compete head on with Chinese rivals in the tough steel fabrication business, […] Read more
Preparation better than luck when positioning for success
Being in the right place at the right time is important, but that alone is no guarantee of success. Consider Wildflower Farm, a wildflower nursery and natural landscaping business in Coldwater, Ont. Husband-and-wife owners Paul Jenkins and Miriam Goldberger have spent more than 20 years building up this business, which is poised to cash in […] Read more
Beating competition with fresh idea proves to be big winner
Can you imagine starting with an eight foot table in Vancouver’s Granville Island market and building a produce company with 27 stores and more than $60 million in annual sales? That’s what brothers Kin Wah and Kin Hun Leung have done in just 17 years. The most amazing thing about Kin’s Farm Market, owned and […] Read more
Consider whether business opportunities outweigh risks – The Bottom Line
People just couldn’t resist teasing Clément Roy about his decision to become a farmer. “A lot of people were surprised and a lot of them said I was crazy,” says the 29-year-old Quebecker. After all, it’s not often someone gives up a promising law career to go into farming, especially in a sector – land-based […] Read more
When profits dwindle, take stock of skills and take a leap – The Bottom Line
Matthew Hickman is fond of phrases such as “blowing up the organization” and “taking a few leaps off a few cliffs” when talking about his company’s recent history. He also uses a term familiar to most farmers: shrinking margins. Hickman’s business, pump and water systems equipment, is far removed from agriculture, but his willingness to […] Read more
Dairy co-op prepared for change and growth – The Bottom Line
If you think farmers in supply management are coddled in a socialist-styled cocoon and haven’t a clue about the real world of business, imagine being in Jim Burrows’ shoes at the start of this decade. “Back in 2000-01, we were a good company with a solid base trying to position ourselves to be flexible and […] Read more
Successful businesses build the sales book first – The Bottom Line
The list of failed processing plants in rural Canada is a long one. What starts with a rush of high hopes and community can-do spirit often ends with regrets, empty buildings and lighter wallets. The long odds are reason to savour the success of companies such as Mustard Capital Inc., a dry mustard miller born […] Read more
Students can be great employees – no, really – The Bottom Line
Has your ulcer finally settled down now that your summer help has returned to school? Students are a key part of the farm labour pool, but many make you want to tear your hair out. They’re no-shows on days you really need them, grind the gearbox out of expensive equipment or can’t find the enthusiasm […] Read more
