Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Justin Maness, owner of Buddha Bee Apiary, located in Durham, NC, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
We are Buddha Bee Apiary, and we bring the "buzz" to your backyard. Our passion is pollinators, and we aim to share this with our local community. We install and maintain honey bee hives right in your backyard. Each month we come out to inspect, we invite the host to come out and join in a living laboratory setting where we teach the fascinating world of honeybees. Our hosts are located all over Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Many of them are interested in supporting our pollinators and how they can help turn their yard into a more eco-friendly space. Many of our hosts also want an introduction to bees and beekeeping in a safe and fun environment, and that's where we come in; we bring the knowledge and experience and extend that to our bees and our hosts.
Tell us about yourself
When I graduated college, I joined a research team studying the links between pesticide use and how that impacted our honeybees. I got to see firsthand some of the negative impacts our actions were taking on our pollinators, and that gave me the drive to build the program we have today. Getting to share the magic and importance of honeybees to folks each and every day, I hope, will, in turn, create more educated pollinator advocates.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
There are so many, but just to name a few:
- Having hosts that believe in us and what we are doing.
- Being surrounded by a team with a passion for what they are doing and supporting our mission.
- Always be willing to learn from successes and failures and continue growing each and every year.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Well, I think of being a business owner as a juggler in a circus. You are constantly juggling a variety of different objects; in our case, how can we improve our beekeeping program, how can we bring more value to our hosts, and how can we grow our team and create a company culture. Your mind races each and every day with a number of challenges you are currently facing, and they are always evolving. This is one of the most challenging aspects of the job, but at the same time, it's one of the reasons I wake up in the morning excited to tackle whatever is thrown at me.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Get started today!
- Don't be afraid to make mistakes.
- Don't forget to stay open-minded, ask for help when it's needed, and continue growing//challenging yourself.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
Really appreciate the opportunity.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.buddhabeeapiary.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Buddhabeeapiary
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buddhabeeapiary/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/buddha-bee-apiary/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
Feel inspired to start, run or grow your own subscription business? Check out subkit.com and learn how you can turn "one day" into day one.
