Money making idea - what do you think?

[donsgal]

About 25 miles from where I live is a very exclusive RV resort. The people who go to this resort are very wealthy. Ask me how I know? Because they all drive very expensive RVs ($250,000+) and each RV pad costs about $40,000. So I think it is safe to say that these people are not hurting for money.

The resort is on the lake and is very secluded. There is a manned, gated entrance, and eventually there is going to be a golf course, marina, and the whole whoop-te-do kind of thing.

The deal is, this resort is kind of out in the middle of nowhere. It is about 7 miles from the nearest town which is a total "hicksville" kind of place. Certainly there are no nice restaurants there. We're talking McDonalds, Subway, etc. that kind of thing.

I was thinking that obviously, these folks must prepare a lot of their own meals because it is just impractical to go out every night for dinner. So I got this notion that if I were to grow some "upscale, gourmet, organic" type veggies and herbs that I might just have a pretty good market there.

Now, I am going to have to find someplace to set up, which could be a problem because the resort is a LONG, LONG way off the main road on a private road. But, there are a lot of farms on either side leading up to that road in both directions so maybe someone will let me park near by. Oh, and as far as I could tell from my drive through, NOBODY has anything even remotely resembling a garden on/near their pad.

Now I am thinking I would grow some shallots/chives, arugula, radiccio, mesculin mix as well as good old tomatoes and cucumbers. I'm looking last years seed catalogs for "upscale" things like lemon balm, French tarragon, gourmet garlic (?), etc. which would appeal to these folks.

Do you guys have any other suggestions or ideas? What about other types of items to carry such as soap or other crafts items? Do you think this is a good idea even?????

The resort has about 100 pads of which 40 -50 are occupied at any given moment. I wonder if there would be enough volume to justify the time/travel to be there on a regular basis. Would it be better, you think to take orders and make regular deliveries? Hand out fliers (if permitted), and try to build up business rather than taking the chance that nobody will buy anything and it will all be a big bust.

I value your opinions. Please share your thoughts with me. Thanks.

Donsgal

[sewtlm]

Don't forget Different varieties of Basil, Thyme, and peppers.

I wish that I had this opportunity.

I would have a booth in my own drive and try and set up some interesting burma shave type signs too get their attention.

[Jerngen]

Just don't get too fancy. I would stick with the fancier lettuce's (Romaine, Red leaf, etc.), a couple tomatoes, spinach, various peppers, some eggplant, onions/shallots, garlic, red skin potato's, and some herbs to cook with. Some squash and sweet potatoes when appropriate too.
I can cook several dishes with the above. Man, I just made myself hungry!

(make sure it's all stuff you and hubby like to eat too in case it doesn't sell)

[daytrader]

Fire wood bundled and delivered. My self I would try to get a contract witht he resort owner as the wood supplier.

I would also offer site delivery with the owners OK. You could deliver your wares to the site. Even offer a courior type service.

Offer delivery of your veggies, fire wood and anything else they may want. Have your number handy.

Flat tire. No problem. Call this person they will come get the tire get it fixed and bring it back.

[hotzcatz]

Make a list of what you are planning on growing and have them sign up for weekly deliveries. Of course, you will have to plant a lot more than they are expecting in case of crop failures or windstorms, etc. The extra stuff can be sold at the side of the road or added in to their orders or you can eat it, too. Ask them what they want to have grown and see if you can accommodate them.

You could make a web page where they would sign up for the available vegetables and have two or three deliveries each week. They could pay through paypal or some monthly set fee (refunded in case of crop failures). There's all sorts of different ways you could work it, but they will want food and that will be something you can provide.

I think there are already some folks starting to set up this sort of thing where the farmers are growing what the customer asks for and selling it directly to the customers. I'm not sure what the whole process is called - farm shares or some such - but it is starting to become a bit more common.

[daytrader]

Originally Posted by hotzcatz

Make a list of what you are planning on growing and have them sign up for weekly deliveries. Of course, you will have to plant a lot more than they are expecting in case of crop failures or windstorms, etc. The extra stuff can be sold at the side of the road or added in to their orders or you can eat it, too. Ask them what they want to have grown and see if you can accommodate them.

You could make a web page where they would sign up for the available vegetables and have two or three deliveries each week. They could pay through paypal or some monthly set fee (refunded in case of crop failures). There's all sorts of different ways you could work it, but they will want food and that will be something you can provide.

I think there are already some folks starting to set up this sort of thing where the farmers are growing what the customer asks for and selling it directly to the customers. I'm not sure what the whole process is called - farm shares or some such - but it is starting to become a bit more common.

About a year ago in Money mag. There was a artical of a small family farm that is now big time growing for the customer. They grow for chefs. I will see if I can dig up a free veiw copy off searching..........

[daytrader]

http://www.chefs-garden.com/about.htm

[MorrisonCorner]

In my neck of the woods the RV owner you are describing is retired (or semi-retired) and the RV is their "summer second home." As in it gets parked for the most part on a pad over the summer and they either live there as their "summer place" or they visit it on weekends or vacations.

The point is, the demographic is front end baby boomer to older generation. So I might not go overboard with the gourmet vegetables. You might find the market is for something more traditional: fresh tomatoes, beans, corn, etc.

You've got two things going on here: 50% of the pads have been sold, and 50% have not. I would approach management as a value added proposition. I would first ask for the mailing list of the sold 50%, saying you'd like to offer fresh vegetables in season and you'd like to survey their current population to see what they'd be interested in. Then you mail a survey to the current owners. If you are me you have them check off what they might be interested in on the vegi end. Then you ask if they'd be interested in fresh baked goods. Then you ask for their email address and tell them what your website address is. If they visit your website they get coupons and recipes.

The other side of the equation is the 50% not sold.. I would ask to be included in the selling packet as an example of the local services available, making this particular park more attractive than another park elsewhere. This time I would not ask for input (you want to look established for the new buyer, like you know what they want without being told) but I would include my website and on that site ask for their email address.

Now you can send out newsletters and build excitement as summer approaches... so when they do get to their RVs they're already familiar with you, and watching for you.

[daytrader]

On what morrison said.

The managment has a key interest in providing for the park.

Having delivery available or a set ware is important.

If you have time, you may find your self at the park alot! Why not take on the janitorial contract as well? Picking up the park. Checking the trash bins and such.

It sounds like alot. IT IS. We got a call to provide fire wood for a trap range in Sparta Illinois. It soon took over everything. I had no idea the small time deal would be so big. I sold out to HSM. Nice thing HSM still buys my wood.

Get your foot in there then service it. NO MATTER how you get it in there. Ypou can build your brand(unless you already have one) latter.

SERVICE. That is what you want to offer. You can grow the best home grown carrots anyone has ever had. UNLESS YOU CAN SERVICE the account. You have NOTHING. Offer service.Then service the service you offer.

ALSO DO NOT SELL YOUR SELF SHORT. Your time is not FREE. You may think you have this extra time(there is no free time). NO TIME IS BILLED. Figure your time into your rate. Pay your self in the bid for goods or time(service).

[charliesbugs]

Get some chickens and also sell farm fresh eggs.EVERYBODY likes fresh eggs- they're not at all like the store ones.Also, stick to the good old basic vegetables we all love and use.Forget the fancy.Good luck!

[seedspreader]

I think you ought to buy a big RV and become a MOBILE 5 star restaurant, maybe two of them, one can be the kitchen the other can be the dining room.

As crazy as it sound I can almost believe that this would succeed... LOL!

[Songbird]

I thought you were traveling with your DH for his new job and weren't going to be around to maintain a garden much less a business?

[LvDemWings]

There is probably a camp store. You might be able to work out a deal where you sell to the store, eliminating the need to be available to customers durring the day and evenings. I would think twice before investing in firewood. Many campgrounds don't allow wood to be brought in anymore.

[wy_white_wolf]

I think you might want to research the park a little more.

Many of them might be parked there but only occupied 1 or 2 weekends a month. They would tend to bring everything they need as they wouldn't want to spend their holiday time shopping. Much easier to leave the motorhome there and drive the car back and forth.

Some may be snowbirds that are there seasonal. They could be on fixed income. I now many that sold there house and used it to buy a Motorhome. A spot to park for 6 months a year for $40,000 isn't to bad. My grandparents had 3 of them, one in Florida, one in California, and one in Montana. They sold their house and it paid for the motorhome and all 3 spots.

Since it sounds like they are still building I would like to see all the future plans. They may have a store or restarunt in the plans. With a golf course they will at least have a clubhouse.

[Bonnie L]

Years ago Mother Earth had an article about some people who did this. They would drive thru the campground & sell. I can't remember if they had a particular spot or went camper to camper, but it worked for them.

[Jen H]

If the RV park has a store with cooler space, aproach them about selling your veggies, eggs, whatever in their store. People love to buy local items - be it eggs, produce, or crafts. Attatched to every craft item, tucked into every carton of eggs or every bag of carrots is your business card listing your phone number, website, and the items you have to offer.

You'll make more money for yourself selling directly to the customers than you will selling to the camp store, but the camp store will be a more reliable income stream. Once you're established in the camp store and people know your brand, they'll start calling for your carrots, eggs, tomatoes, or whatever it is you're offering. Just make sure you don't undercut the camp store and you're officially in business.

As long as you run this as a business - predictable hours, competitive prices, amazing customer service (within reason - customer service does not equal putting up with getting yelled at because you don't offer the right phone card...) - you'll be making money. Don't discount the word of mouth part of this equation. Make one person really happy and they'll tell a couple of people. Make those people happy, and they'll tell a couple more folks in turn. If you play this right, it could work really, really well.

Oh, on the veggies --- I wouldn't go too gourmet. People really just want fresh things that taste good and they can recognize. So grow good sweet corn, good grean beans, good tomatoes (truly vine ripened tomatoes are like gold where I live, you can sell them for a king's ransom and folks will happily fork out the money), lettuce when and if you can where you live, basic onions and garlic. Fresh herbs if you have the room - these aren't huge sellers where I am but they might be for you.

[chickenmommy]

Seedspreader has a valid idea. If you could offer meals, even made in your own kitchen and delivered, from a set menu or brochure, along with the fixins for meals (maybe packages of put together cook it yourself meals) like the veggies you mentioned and herbs maybe some homemade soaps, oils and flavored sugars and salts, you could clean up. Yes there is a possibility that some are only weekend warriors. They eat, too. And when just there for the weekend, may not want to cook.
Just thoughts.

[albionjessica]

I've usually found the opposite to be true. We know a lot of richie rich folk who own those kinds of RV's, and I honestly can't think of any one of the lot that actually likes cooking meals themselves. They all like convenience foods, restaurants, fast food, delivery, and the occasional bbq or potluck at another person's RV.

I think a better bet would be to provide meal service. Come up with a varied weekly menu plan, and charge either by the meal or by the week. If you grow some of your own produce for use in the meals, advertise that tidbit.

I just don't want you inundated with all these veggies and whatnot that won't sell because it turns out that no one actually cooks.

You could try going door to door some day to see if your idea is viable.

[woodsrunner]

For many years my parents had a catering service that catered to well to do yaght owners. Often delivering inside expensive, private, gated, yaght clubs. They never cooked for more than ten people and it was very lucrative. Do that with food you're grown fresh and you've carried "value added" to it's extreme.

[donsgal]

Originally Posted by Songbird

I thought you were traveling with your DH for his new job and weren't going to be around to maintain a garden much less a business?

The dh job isn't 100 percent definite yet. I am just keeping my eyes and my options open in case it doesn't work out. The guy was all hot to trot about hiring him until dh gave him his price. I don't know if that cooled the guy's jets or if he hasn't gotten back to us yet because of the holiday. I'm just thinking about "what if" scenarios. I'd really love to stay around the homestead and grow veggies for these folks, if I had my druthers.

Great ideas and input everybody. I'm taking notes. THanks.

Donsgal