Upload
annaollinger
View
222
Download
1
Embed Size (px)
DESCRIPTION
Roses for Autism presentation at the Summit on Employing Adults on the Autism Spectrum: A Conference on Pioneering Small Business Models, January 27-29, 2014. Chapel Hill, NC.
Citation preview
“Fostering Meaningful Employment and Personal Success for Individuals
with Autism”
Social Enterprise “A small business with a big mission”
• Social Mission
– Employ five individuals who are on the Autism Spectrum in a variety of jobs within
the greenhouse, packing room, retail store, and IT department.
– Support transitioning students and other young adults with gaining the necessary
work experience and career training required to obtain meaningful employment in
careers of their choice.
– Establish a practical and emotional foundation for a lifetime of personal
independence
– Resource to Families, Schools and Employers - Uniting the community through
education, collaboration, career training, and advocacy
Discover Learn Work
Horticultural Business
• Horticultural Business
– We grow, cut, and package Roses, Lilies, and Gerberas within our historic greenhouse.
– We market our flowers primarily through wholesale, retail, website and special events channels.
– Proceeds from flower sales cultivate our mission. We are also able to serve individuals who have no
funding obtain career training services.
– Established as a non-profit entity.
• History
– Established in 2009 in Guilford, CT as a partnership between Ability Beyond and Pinchbeck Rose
Farm.
– A Family owned Rose business for over 80 years, embedded in CT agricultural tradition.
– Pinchbeck Rose Farm went out of business in 2008 succumbing to a changing industry and foreign
competition.
– $2+ Million Invested to Revitalize the Farm / Greenhouses.
• Funding
– Flower Sales
– State of CT Agricultural Grants
– Private Foundation Funding
– Employment Services and School Funding
Journey of the Start Up
• Challenges Faced
– Revitalizing the horticultural business, product is perishable with a growing cycle dependent on
sunlight.
– The demand for flowers is occasional with peaks around holidays and Valentine’s day; think about
how to generate income during the down time when flowers are still growing.
– High overhead in this business, due to labor costs and heating in the winter. Our competition can
sell cheaper because they don’t have those same costs.
– Embracing two simultaneous business activities; growing and selling of flowers and employment/
career training. Sometimes the right business decision is contradictory to the social mission.
– Creating a succinct and powerful message to generate awareness and sales.
• Lessons Learned
– The start up process is a journey, you must be adaptable and willing to shift your vision.
– Your products must have equal or superior quality, and be competitively priced in your market.
Be sure a market exists for your product. You cannot sell at a premium based upon cause.
– A solid business plan with defined operations, marketing, financials, etc…Be prepared to lose
money in the beginning.
– Create partnerships where ever possible, ask for help.
– Tell your compelling story and market, market, market.
Thank You!
www.RosesForAutism.com
Questions?