Growing Kitchen Herbs as a Lucrative Business
Posted: Friday, October 16, 2009
by George Faulkner
In recent years, many people have started growing kitchen herbs , for their own personal consumption. My aunt has taken pride in growing her own basil, mint, parsley and other herbs for her cooking, as well as infusions and teas. But did you think that an herb garden can also be a good money-making venture? You need not have a big lot to turn your herb garden into a cash cow. Think big but start with what you have.
Packaging is also a key factor in marketing your products, so get creative. There are many ways to package your herbs. Little brown paper packages for dry herbs are attractive. Make sure you label them, and place the date the herbs were harvested. Your contact information must also be on every package. If you have fresh herbs, you can sell them as plants in little flower pots or something similar. People will usually buy what is attractive, on top of being functional, so a good eye for packaging is very important. It is also important to advertise. Let people know that you have products to sell. Start with the persons in your circle, for example, your colleagues in the office, the people you go to the gym with, the members of your church group. This way works well when you are starting small. Also, make sure that people are satisfied with your products. If they are, then they will talk about it to their own circles, and before you know it, you will be getting orders. Make yourself available through the phone or the internet for your customers' queries. Let them know about your ways of growing kitchen herbs.
Also, it helps if you can set up a website for your products, or at least make an account in a networking site such as Friendster, Multiply or Facebook, so that people who do not live in your area can still know more about your products and see pictures. Sites like the ones I mentioned can also allow for free transmission of information. Make sure that payment and transport methods are secure so that both you and your customers are satisfied with transactions. Price your herbs correctly. Although growing kitchen herbs does not cost much, some herbs fetch higher prices than others. Also, your customers may not be willing to pay too much, so do your research on this aspect as well. If your herbs are underpriced, you will not reap the full benefits of this business, and if you're overpricing, you may lose your customers' interest.
Lastly, join the local fairs, flea markets, and craft shows. This is a good way for local people to know what you have to offer. Let them try your samples. Pretty soon, growing kitchen herbs will no longer be just for your food and perfumes, but will also provide you with an alternative source of income.
George Faulkner owns and maintains http://www.eherbsite.com
George is a keen gardener and loves herb gardening. The website is a resource for tips and ideas on creating a fabulous herb garden either indoors or outdoors.
You can get information, tips and ideas for beautiful Herb Gardens for no charge all on one site.
You can even sign up for a free mini course too.
Visit :http://www.eherbsite.com When you have read this page click on additional articles at the foot of the page and take a good look around the site. There is something for everyone here.
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