Show Notes
Introduction
- Introduction of the episode and the topic of leveraging eCommerce to build a business.
- Introduction of speakers: Carrie Rollwagen (Host) and Adam Hickman (Guest).
Beekeeping and Bee Specialties
- Different types of bees have unique roles in pollination.
- Honeybees can be transported and work anywhere; bumblebees have specific foraging preferences.
Journey of Foxhound Bee Company
- Adam Hickman started the business in 2014 as a side hustle.
- The business began with a shelf in Adam’s garage and has grown to include a retail store.
- Plans to move to a larger location by next spring.
- The new facility will include a retail store, warehouse and outdoor education center.
Education and Community Building
- Importance of education in beekeeping and customer attraction.
- Current offerings include beekeeping classes; plans to add honey tasting classes.
- Foxhound’s outdoor space houses about 6000 beehives for educational purposes.
Content and Branding
- Emphasis on creating good, long-term content over immediate sales tactics.
- Negative impact of ads on user experience and brand perception.
- Importance of SEO and high-quality content in building the brand.
- Transitioned from Squarespace to a more robust website platform due to evolving needs.
Business Advice and Mistakes
- Importance of good advisory relationships (lawyer, accountant).
- Experiences with managing taxes and licenses.
- Cautionary tales about growing too quickly and taking on debt.
- Emphasis on saying no to non-essential products to manage space and focus.
E-commerce and Physical Presence
- Utilizes a combination of e-commerce and brick-and-mortar strategies.
- Strategies for shipping and customer loyalty.
- Success on Amazon selling high-margin products.
Final Thoughts and Resources
- Encouragement to join local beekeeping clubs.
- Mention of supportive communities like the ecom crew.
- Sharing of Foxhound Bee Company’s websites and social media handles.
Find full show notes, including links mentioned in this episode, at carrierollwagen.com.
Carrie Rollwagen