Where To Start? How To Start Producing And Selling Your Product!

Where To Start? How To Start Producing And Selling Your Product

Where to start? So you have an incredible product that you want to produce and sell. We would love to help–but before we do, here are some steps to streamline the process:

  1. Know your product–understand the measurements and ingredients needed to make your product. The food products we work often have a natural, generally organic ingredients. Understand what your options are for wholesale ingredients and what the most cost-effective way to store and purchase them. If possible, come prepared with a scheduled process. If you are not able to create one, the OFI provides services to create one for your product.
  2. What equipment will you need? While the Organic Food Incubator has equipment for several needs, you potentially need something we do not currently have. For information about the equipment, we have available check here.
  3. How will you package your product? Depending on the product needs packaging may differ. When picking the packaging to think about maintaining flavor, freshness, product shape, and if production will affect the package (i.e. heat or freezing product).
  4. Have a timeline of your production expectations. Is this the first time you are producing this product–do you want to run a trial run? Do you expect to produce monthly, weekly, etc? Have an idea of where you see your business going.
  5. Make sure you have the licensing and insurance to produce your product. There are accredited programs that offer training and licensing.

If you do not know this information and your still not sure where to start, OFI provides consulting services to help you make your product. For consulting services, reach out here.

Continue Reading: 3 Reasons Why Getting A Scheduled Process Is Important

Business Tip: Pretend You Are Bigger Than You Are

Business Tip: Pretend You Are Bigger Than You Are

Business Tip: Pretend You Are Bigger Than You Are

Just like meeting a person for the first time, businesses often make judgments on first impressions.

Other businesses are hesitant to give out information to consumers, so it helps if you can seem like your are a larger established businesses, even if you are just starting out.

Have your business formation information ready. EIN number, LLC documents, prepared W9, website and business email addresses prior to contacting vendors, suppliers, potential clients or distributors.

Product producers will often ask for this information prior to giving out bulk pricing for packaging and ingredients. They prefer that the small guy goes through a distributor. However, it is essential for your business planning to know what the bulk direct from distributor pricing will be…even if you will most likely not order from them for 6 months to 3 years.

Supply the necessary information and maybe even create an account. Get the information you need. Price per pallet, price per truckload, and lastly ask what the minimum order is.

This research will help you greatly in determining if your great hobby will also make a great business.




Visit from Children’s Village

The Children’s Village mission is to work in partnership with families to help society’s most vulnerable children so that they become educationally proficient, economically productive, and socially responsible members of their communities.

We hosted a small group last night. They took a tour of the OFI facility and met with some of the community members. Everyone was very interested and had great questions. Each person had the opportunity to ‘work’ in the BAO kitchen and pack  and label a jar of Raw Slaw to take home.

Thanks to Karen from Free Bread, Jim from the OFI and Giuseppe from Alchemy Creamery for taking time to speak with the group. Thanks also to Chloe’s Soft Serve Fruit Co. for providing samples.

 

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Commercial Kitchen Rental For Daily And Monthly Use

Commercial Kitchen Rental For Daily And Monthly Use

There is a new food economy emerging today where it isn’t just about the products we consume; it is also about the culture and community we are creating.  We welcome mindful food and drink entrepreneurs to come to the Organic Food Incubator to bring your dream to life.  Our commercial kitchen rental has everytthing you need to get you started. Join forces with other entrepreneurs that are working to change the way our food system works.