Question(s) Regarding Business and Tea-Making

[ModestMark90]

So I'm having a meeting today with a close friend whose mom owns a rental spot available in my town. The goal is to set up a botanical shop, as I feel it's an untapped market. Just being blunt, there is a bad heroin epidemic going around in my area - the Tri-State area of NC, GA and TN. I think now would be a great time to open an all-natural herbs/vitamins shop in the county - with a heavy emphasis on kratom, CBD, Delta-8, and all the other legal avenues we could explore for alternative lifestyles.

Anyways, I'm inquiring to see if any of you have any advice for a first time business owner and botanical shop partnership. It's just now in it's first stages (I literally typed the business model plan, and checklist last night). Don't want to get ahead of myself but I'm stoked to get this going. Maybe even develop a few partnerships on here as well.

Another question I have is, the building has a small bar section built in already, which is PERFECT for a kava/kratom hangout, right next to a small space for live music and podcast renting. Any tips on making kratom teas??? I'm researching machines and methods right now, but I figured I would hit up the gang to really get down to brass tacks here. I also want to do juices, which would basically consist of having room temp juice and a blender from what I can gather. But I know with tea, there's a whole "right" process of doing it.

[GrannyJ62]

I know nothing of this but I can refer you to MBC botanical they have a kratom kava bar and online business I have heard Cory Kilhenny help many vendors so he could probably be very helpful.Ive personally purchased teabags with each enough for surprisingly good and strong tea.He may be able to give you some helpful advice.

[GrannyJ62]

Oopsie

[BallzDeep9]

... the Tri-State area of NC, GA and TN. I think now would be a great time to open an all-natural herbs/vitamins shop

Do a detailed Market Research, . there must be other "competitors" around there somewhere & you'd need to check 'em out, IF I was doing that I'd plot them on a big Map. Also what are the head shops/ smoke shops/ even gas stations/ again Plot those on a map... Sounds like you're in a more rural area? What's the nearest big City?

Here on West Coast USA, we have huge Chinese communities from Seattle, Portland, S.F. and Los Angeles... each city has many Chinese herbal shops with a big variety. I can get real Panax Red Ginseng "Man Root" the expensive stuff... locally. I even asked, do you carry Lions Mane ? And sure enough the lady brings a large China package of fluffy Lions Mane shrooms... they also carry Cordyceps & other legal shrooms. Many Asian herbal products, you can order through Ebay & get decent prices, and quantity discounts. Good Luck!!

ALSO, if you're aware, or not... Some in the older "Herbal Community", around USA - are very Anti Kratom - yes!! They have a big stinkin' attitude about Kratom, will tell you: "Oh You can find That Stuff in the Gas Station" ~ You might want to test those waters ?? its like the Head Shop/ Smoke Shop crowd (Cigs, Bongs, etc.) do not mix with the sort-of New Age-y boutique shops, selling soaps, crystals, & expensive vitamins and herbs? I def notice that in my area.

[e_poison]

^ 100% what Ballz said. Market research is SUPER important when building a brick and mortar business. I don't know the area you live in, so can't give any detailed advice. But definitely snoop around, look at what similar businesses are doing, visit their shops and check out their pricing, etc. From there, you should be able to come up with some competitive pricing and product.

Next to market research and a solid business plan, advertising is going to be key. Before anyone makes a purchase these days, what do they do? They go to google and search for a place that sells what they're looking for. You want your business at the top of every search. Therefore, hire a reputable digital marketing firm. Don't skimp on the ad budget! I see a lot of businesses fail (I do dev contract work for an SEO & digital marketing firm) because they're scared to spend money on advertising. A good advertising campaign can literally be the difference between success and failure.

Sounds like a great idea if competition is low and there's a demand for it.

[DittonW]

someone was asking about buying kratom in Hollywood FL last week and I was curious and ran across this place that makes and delivers kratom tea . It looks nice. If I lived there I would go have a cup . or two I like Kava as well

https://www.twistedrootskava.com

I am a rank amateur , as far as what I know about running a business, but .
I am sure that Facebook is all uptight about kratom advertising . But I started a small business about 2 years ago and I spend about $50 a month on FB ads and I get a lot of responses. I also hired someone to help get my webpage hits on google and duck duck and that helps a lot too . A lot of the old timers in the business I am in ask me where I am getting my leads, because I get a shit ton (and the applicants for work , because it's super hard to find employees right now) when but when I tell them FB and SEO they go "oh I hate FB / internet I guess I won't do that ." And -
well , here are a couple of things I have been thinking about businesses lately . I read a Warren Buffet quote about how hard work by itself doesn't amount to anything. Just because you are working really hard at something there is no universal law that you will reap the rewards from it. He was talking about trying to run a textile company when textile companies were becoming a thing of the past .But the point he was making basically is that running a successful company depends on a lot more things than how hard you work on it , or how bad you want it, or even how good you are at running a business.There are a lot of other factors. And also , that running a business doesn't have to be an overtime soul suck obsession. . Another one , is this book I read about trades guys who are working 12 hours days and weekends but still just making ends meet. This book helped me out a lot in starting to look at what I was doing as a business , and not just as me being very good at something and wanting to make money from doing it . - systems. and delegation . I know that there are a ton of books about business out there , and I have no idea how to separate the wheat from the chaff , I am sure you could waste a lot of time reading other peoples opinions on how to run a good business too (write a business book bruh!)
https://www.amazon.com/The-E-Myth-Revis ... 066&sr=8-1

and , I have said this before in another post . I do think Texas Family Harvest is a really good model for the kind of businesses people these days are looking for . - I know it's a South Park joke but , when people come at what they are doing from a place of INTEGRITY - really doing what they advertise they are doing , it stands out from the crowd. There are all kinds of businesses in my line of work that look at every job as a way to get the most money they can from that particular customer or transaction . And thats just not going to work in the long run . Like - this is a bottom of the barrel and stupid example. but I had some guys who wanted to steal the fire extinguishers out of a place they were working , Setting aside the integrity part of it , my mind was blown by the shortsightedness of not thinking .: If I DONT steal these fire extinguishers and prove my trustworthyness, I could get 10's of thousands more $'s worth of work from these people . Even something like , I'm going to cut a corner because I am tired and its 5 and I want to get home - that extra hour to stay and NOT cut corners adds up over time to something that is tangible and valuable .

Ok , sorry , went on a tangent that I have no idea if it's helpful or not .