Maximum Yield USA June/July 2019 | Page 56

CREATING THE SCIENCE to mimic mother nature Cyco manufactures and distributes the Cyco Platinum Series brand — a cutting- edge range of hydroponic plant nutrients, additives, and mediums. The company utilizes the latest technologies and sources only the best ingredients for its pharmaceutical-grade plant products, which are available in 40 countries. Cyco owner and director Shaun Jones answers our questions. cycoflower.com | [email protected] 56 Maximum Yield @cyco_nutrients Prior to starting Cyco, I owned and operated a chain of hydroponic stores in Australia. At the time they were industry leading stores; it was in these stores that I saw an opening for an analytical, pharmaceutical-grade, and food grade product in the market. HOW DID YOU GET INTO THIS INDUSTRY? 7 O’Çonnor Ct., Gepps Cross, South Australia 5094 +011-61-1-8359-8732 • 10 years in business cyconutrients WHAT DID YOU AND YOUR PARTNERS DO BEFORE STARTING CYCO PLATINUM? MrCycoflower I recall it vividly. I was 21 years old and freshly married, driving to my day job, and when I put gas in, I noticed I had $7 in my bank account. That day I drove past the local hydroponic store and saw people gath- ering to get in (back in the 1990s, Australia had huge growth with hydroponic stores and demand). I drove straight to the bank and borrowed $20,000 with which I opened my first hydroponic store. It was a huge success for me — 18-hour days, seven days a week for 10 years and we had a thriving hydroponic chain. WHEN AND WHERE DID CYCO BEGIN? Cyco Nutrients started in 2008. WHAT WERE THE START-UP YEARS LIKE? They were very difficult times. Being based in Australia, it meant wherever in the world I traveled promoting Cyco, I knew it was going to be a long, time consuming, and expensive journey. For a young man with an equally young family, I was often away from home for weeks and months at a time living out of hotel rooms and suitcases. The travel sounds glamorous at first but after hundreds of flights you really do get very tired of it all, but it is something you have to do. I still fly out to quite a few expo/trade shows per year and don’t look forward to the long flights, but its great reconnecting with friends I have met along the journey.