SE Grand Rapids News

Hasting Mutual Insurance Co. issued the following announcement on June 3

There’s more to the gardening business than just the plants in the ground.

It is the busy season for greenhouses — especially this year, as people start shopping for plants and seeds to get in the soil after two months of waiting. But it’s a business that comes with a lot of risk: you have to keep living things alive while making sure your shelves are stocked at the same time. And the weather has to cooperate.

Owning and operating a greenhouse can be very rewarding, though it does have some significant startup costs. It’s also perfect environment for a Hastings Mutual Greenhouse Plus policy. Here are just a few of the benefits it offers.

The Policy That Grows With You

Your policy covers your company, supplies, and materials, like many of our business policies. We take special care to cover you when you need it most, like when there’s a change in the weather or when you’re seeing the most activity. That’s our coverage for peak season days (like Valentine’s Day or Mother’s Day). We’ll increase the limit on your business personal property by 25%. At those times, you’ve got more supplies that need protection because there’s more business coming your way.

You might take your plants on the road with you, to a farmers market, an exhibition, or even a grocery store. While it’s off your property, we’ll still protect what you have, up to $25,000. If your employees or salespersons are using materials for a demonstration, your coverage limit is $5,000, with a $250 deductible.

Conditions have to be right for your plants to grow. If it’s too hot, too cold, or too humid and your materials are damaged as a result, we’ll cover your costs up to $5,000.

Green And Unique

Once you have your Hastings Mutual Greenhouse Plus coverage, you can take the next step to owning your own business. Sure, you’ll need computers to manage your accounts and a building to store your plants, but what makes your greenhouse business unique? As you know, there’s more to running a business than enthusiasm. A love of plants is a place to start, but consider this for your new greenhouse:

1. Find a niche. Are there types of products you can offer that your competitors don’t (Flowers? Vegetables and fruit? Trees instead of small plants?). An alternate approach is to highlight the knowledge and skills your employees have that other businesses won’t.
2. Design your location. You’re familiar with what you need to raise crops, but what about welcoming customers? You can lay out the floor plan of your new greenhouse, but don’t forget about managing staff, balancing the accounts, and developing a marketing strategy that gets your name out to the public.
3. Marketing is another part of the process for a greenhouse. An online presence is essential — doing a web search for greenhouses in your area is probably how you started your own research, and it’s going to be the same for your prospective customers. It doesn’t have to be a detailed, complex website; simply list your location, hours, and how to get in contact with you.

Unlike some other kinds of business, your website will have an advantage: beautiful things to look at. Include pictures of your plants in full bloom and feature short videos of you and your staff setting up the greenhouse, so customers can see what they’re coming to buy and how friendly and knowledgeable you are.

It’s the time of year to create the garden you want and enjoy what’s growing. That could include your own greenhouse business, with some preparation and a Hastings Mutual Greenhouse Plus policy.

Original source can be found here.

Source: Hasting Mutual Insurance Co.