Hi Larry,
I,ve been getting $4.50 1lb PET and $12 1 qt milk jug.
I saw 1 lb glass last week at 2 farm stands for $5.25 and $7.99. Time to raise MY prices.

I'm thinking of selling some Gal jugs to a brew shop for mead making.ABJ retail price range for Gals is $15 to $25 in NE. YIKES!! Container and shipping cost me $4.25 each(small order). Thats less than $2 lb. after costs. And then delivery??

Anybody sell Gals.Wholesale or retail.

Jack

 

$10/lb raw strained in glass queenline 1lb. jars at a farmers market that is held at a farm where I keep bees

Whenever anyone approached my table I pointed out the honey was from bees whose hives were right in the field that I pointed to. Many people walked over to the fence to look at the hives and then came back to buy.

I think seeing the hives really helped. I guess you could say the bees did part of the selling. One or two bees even came to investigate the jars.

I also explained I used only organic treatments.

 

I benchmark my price to be $3.50/lb PLUS packaging.
That makes my glass 1 pounders $5.50 wholesale and $6.80 for the 1.3lb.
Retailing for $7.00 and $10.50 respectively. 3lb wholesales for $16 and retails for $20.99

Squeeze your retailers' margins - they'll agree to it just to have the real local honey. They don't need to make their 50 or 60% benchmark on every single item. You are THE most local thing they can possibly get and keep on hand year round. Having LOCAL honey is a big marketing tool for the store. Get right out in front of that and let your honey earn you some money! Then go out and buy some really good stuff for your bees!

You know how I feel about plastic honey packaging... dump it.

Your local glass supplier is the key to getting out of the shipping quandry. Here in Maine it is Quality Container in Yarmouth. In NH Gamber container sells through (gasp) McLures.
Jack - you are in Israel Andler territory, I think.

put your honey in glass and raise your prices. Your bees worked just as hard as mine did, don't undersell their efforts!

-E.

 

You know how I feel about plastic honey packaging... dump it.

Your local glass supplier is the key to getting out of the shipping quandry.
-E.

This is my first honey harvest, so sorry if this is obvious, but what is PET? And why is plastic so much worse? Where do you go about finding local glass suppliers?

 

Jack -
Quality Container in Yarmouth ME actually makes "milk jug" containers for cider, water, milk etc. I could bring some down to the CT conference if you need...
-E.

 

Erin
I do like your labels and containers.Different.Very classy.Expensive??
I have used glass queenline(?) in the past and can get them from AB Container 10 min from my house,but storing emptys was a hassle.Have to be kept in case lots,heavy and different size lids.
I get the PET in bulk from Better Bee and they'll deliver to SABA,SNEBA or EAS for free.
The same fliptop cap fits the 1 lbs,12 oz bears and 3 lb milk jug.Many people have commented on the convenience of a squeeze bottle.(Sorry Larry but I don't like the inverted).
Storage is a breeze,Erin can carry them up the cellar stairs easily.
I think the honey looks lighter in PET also and the display sparkles in the sun.
My cost for 1 lb jar,fliptop lid,printed front label and tamperproof label over cap is 49 cts. plus labor.Opaque qts a little cheaper.
Cost of case boxes is extra.I ussually deliver to wholesale accts. in empty Sam Adams boxes.That can add to the cost.

I think my last batch of qts might have come from Yarmouth but was billed thru AB.I'm trying wide mouth Gals from B BEE but they're opaque.Like to find PET.I don't like gal jars,no handle.

To each his (her) own.No one wants to leave money on the table.I do need to inprove my marketing efforts.

Jack

 

Erin

I think the honey looks lighter in PET also and the display sparkles in the sun.

Jack

I ran an experiment. filled a PET bear, opaqe bear and a glass jar and left them on my desk at work for three years, same batch of honey. the glass and opaqe looked the same as best I could remember after three years, the pet honey was as dark as buckwheat honey. I never knew what changed the color but figured it probably wasn't for the best reasons. never bought any again. try the experiment and let me hear from you in a few years or does anyone have any idea why??

mike

 

What do others discount for wholesale?

 

Hi Jack,

Good hearing from you. I'm not big on the inverted plastic either, but when I went to get bottles for another 200 lbs two years ago, that's about all there was left. As it turned out, the small, local clients that I have, loved them. So I carried them another season. I'm in the process of going to glass and getting into a larger market. It's interesting to hear what different sales people think sells best. Some still want the bears.

Larry

 

Hi Jack,

Good hearing from you. I'm not big on the inverted plastic either, but when I went to get bottles for another 200 lbs two years ago, that's about all there was left. As it turned out, the small, local clients that I have, loved them. So I carried them another season. I'm in the process of going to glass and getting into a larger market. It's interesting to hear what different sales people think sells best. Some still want the bears.

 

What's everyone using for glass? Classic... Queenline.... Or are you creative?

 

I store my honey in 5 gal pails and bottle as orders come in.I think any honey exposed to light will darken.Hopefully my customers are back for another lb before that happens.

Jack

Correction: My wife bottles. Credit given where due.

 

Yes,

I bottle enough for my local customers and then I store my honey in 5 gal buckets.

Larry

 

Jars of honey would NEVER make it 3 years at my office. Might not even make it 3 months.

Rod

 

I'm selling 1/2 lb glass for $3 and 1 lb glass for $5 here in Hollis, Maine.

 

Ron, it sounds like your donating your honey to a good cause. You might want to adjust your prices in the upward direction.
Larry

 

I wish I could get some the prices you guys are charging. Here I have three real problems with charging that much.

1. I have older beekeepers around this area that almost give it away.

2. The economy around this area is depressed, even when the economy was good in the 90's, this area was still laging far behind.

3. I can move a lot of product at the farmer's market, but everybody who goes to the farmer's market wants it at half of the price they would pay at the super market. I'm not just talking about honey, I'm talking about anything and everything.

I currently sell my 1 lb squeeze jars for $4, and my quarts for $10, and I'm still considered to be one the higher priced vendors. I use to sell my honey for a higher price, but had trouble moving it. The problem is that when you have 40 hives and your not moving the honey, your house quickly fills up with 5 gal buckets, and then the wife starts wondering if you have to many hives.

 

Prices around here vary a little and I did not get a surplus this year but I am selling to coworkers with honey from another club member.

Lavender 24oz glass jar $15
Maple 24oz glass jar $15
Blackberry 24oz glass jar $12

 

Indiana -
I can totally relate to the 40+- hive issue.
I'm bucking 80 right now and my husband wants to kill me because I'm going to pull honey starting this weekend.
And (thank goodness) the late summer/fall flow has been very good after a terrible June. I think he thought we were going to be out of the honey business for this year -
(heavy sigh)
I think the key to price point is the packaging. I've got two large scale (700-2000 hive) beekeepers literally in my same stores.
Not to be a snob but they are putting their honey in plastic bears and mason jars. I'm in paragon jars and refrigerator jars (very Euro).
My product sells as quickly as I can bottle and stock. Their stuff is half the price and sitting on the shelf.
You can see my 1lb and 3lb packaging on my website, I haven't updated it for the 1.3lbs yet. Marketing marketing - and this coming from an accountant!
-E.

 

ME, I have to disagree. $3 for 1/2 a pound, is about top price. And do you just want honey prices, or hive product prices, which would include wax and propylis (sp?).

 

Hi Chick,
Yes, it's good to see what everyone gets for their products. It does matter as to how it's presented... packaging, the quality of the product, And Location has even more to do with it. Here in the North East, we have had major weather problems that's bound to be affecting our pricing. This is one of the things that I was curious about. What will people charge because there's bound to be a shortage of local honey.

Thanks for your reply and pricing.
Larry

 

Chick -
Please share whatever info you've got if you are willing -
We need to work together to keep from undercutting.

At this point I collect both pollen and propolis for my own / special friend use - I do not sell these products of the hive yet.

-E.

 

I just started bee keeping after being out of it about 15 years, but, the man I had been buying from, was getting $4 a quart, the last few years. When Hurricane Rita and Ike hit us, it really wiped out some bee keepers. With that said, If a local beekeeper was charging more than $4 a pint this year, I would do without. Of course, there are many that feel different, I am sure. 8 oz for $3 would exceed that.

 

Haha,
I hear you. We have allot of healthy minded consumers that are aware of some of the apitherapy uses for honey. Farmers Markets, health food stores, grocery stores all want (when they can get it) local honey. A bottle of honey with a local address sells for a premium compared to something from out of state or out of the county.

Larry

 

People are willing to pay for clean pure honey from untreated hives from a local keeper. This "pure" Grade "A" superheated from Sue Bee, full of apiguard/apistan/fluvalinate etc. and shipped in from Argentina is going to be cheaper, sure, but there are plenty of people that do not want that. There is a big difference in taste, quality and purity between honeys, and people pay more for the better stuff. If you are on the same playfield (treated and heated) as the big packers, why should people pay more for your product?

 

I agree with you completely. This is what I've tried to explain. Our local honey, in a respectable package (bottle & label), is highly sort after. They don't want the heated, mixed crap that no longer has it's enzymes in mint condition. This is why a higher price is paid. You get what you pay for. Yes, our Shaw's and Hannaford's has a bargin price for those that cook with honey or don't care of quality. Then the specialty stores might also have some varieties that are worthy to purchase. Honey is like a fine wine, some can't tell the difference between it and apple vinegar. Isn't that right Jack? Jack makes award winning mead. Thanks again Jack.

I was wondering what beeks are getting for hive products and wanted to know how they are presented to the consumer?

 

Larry,

Sounds like you and Pam opened that bottle.I hope you enjoyed it.

I'm sure that the provenance of the honey helps in the sale.

Erin(G) and I decided to raise our prices 50c lb.Last increase was 2007.We'll see what happens

Jack

 

Yes, it was a winning bottle. Sorry they didn't have a contest this year. And yes, Pam enjoyed it as much as I did. opcorn: I'd say more, but better stop here.

I'm using the last of my plastic this year and will be going to all glass. I've gone up another 50¢ to $5.50 a lb in my plastic. Time will tell.

Larry

 

hello, all the real problem is quality of honey..i charge $10.00 for a 8oz quilted glass jar..full of pure honey,i extract it by pressing it out and just strain 12oz for $15..as far as store bought honey i have some laying around..give a taste test honey from store is heated no benifits.let them taste your honey then the store bought one. guarrentee they will not like it..bring your honey prices up leave more in hive for bees basic economics.all bee keepers need to do it government inflates money. inflat by causing a shortage and inform,educate them that honey from overseas is more syrup than honey.farmers do it as well by destroying there crop.we the bee keepers need to stand together for the bees leave honey in hives..opcorn:
how much will you pay for the real thing "HONEY"

 

hello, all the real problem is quality of honey..i charge $10.00 for a 8oz quilted glass jar..full of pure honey,i extract it by pressing it out and just strain 12oz for $15..as far as store bought honey i have some laying around..give a taste test honey from store is heated no benifits.let them taste your honey then the store bought one. guarrentee they will not like it..bring your honey prices up leave more in hive for bees basic economics.all bee keepers need to do it government inflates money. inflate by causing a shortage and inform,educate them that honey from overseas is more syrup than honey.farmers do it as well by destroying there crop.we the bee keepers need to stand together for the bees leave honey in hives..opcorn:

How much will you pay for the real thing "HONEY"

Good question!... Who's paying?

I agree, natural is the way to go. I think your crushing it is a bit of a gimmick though. I have the same results with a cold, serrated knife, for de-capping and cold extracting. I'm willing to bet, you have a nice label on your glassware explaining how your honey is all natural and how it became that way, or why? You have a nice price on your product. Where do you find your market for it and does it sell right away or does it sit on the shelf for a while? And, I've never sacrificed the winter stores of my bees for a few pounds of honey. I've heard of beeks that have though. Should be a law. :no: But... I think we're on the same wave-length with our marketing ideas. Quality packaging, with quality ingredients with a premium price. I guess the question is, once you have a quality product, what is your market willing to pay, giving you that premium price?

Larry

 

Hi Bill,

Yes, Honey is considered a non perishable and is also listed as agricultural. You could check out our application we fill out on:

http://www.mainebeekeepers.org/MSBA_Jadczak.shtml

Under the "Maine Fuel and Food Lic."

When the inspector comes in to inspect, I think they are looking for washable surfaces. I'm surprised to hear of rough plywood unless it had a good finish on it, at least at one time. Once the lic. has been issued, renewal is an easier process. Yes, food processing and honey processing are different here. I think they might be a bit more lenient with a backyard or sideliner working out of a kitchen then a commercial outfit in a honey house too.

Larry

Larry