Tazia making sure the shelves are
stocked and looking good.
Matt Thrasher, owner of Box of Rain, hard at work.
What makes your store unique?
We decided to focus on organics and giving 10 per cent off
for customers using cash. Other stores in our area offered
basic products but nothing organic. We also provided
hearty organic veggie starts in the spring, all started from
seed by our staff. Most of the businesses in the valley had
starts brought in from other sources.
What did you have to learn to succeed?
Marketing strategies, networking with distributors—
basically the business side of running a retail store. We had
the growing part down.
What were some of your struggles as you
started the business?
Getting the name out there and people finding us. Things
are a lot slower paced here in northwest Montana.
What did you do to market your store?
How did you gain market share and recognition?
Print ads, radio ads, and talking to anyone and everyone
that would listen to us. We found the best way was to ask
our loyal customers to tell their fellow growers because, as
we all know, word of mouth is huge.
Tell us one story from when you first
opened the shop.
Not having a sale for three days. That was the longest first
week of our lives.
What are your company’s strengths?
In-house lighting repairs, knowledgeable staff, we’re
open seven days a week, and special orders are offered
every Tuesday.
What are some of your successes?
An honorable mention for best green business in 2016.
Being asked to speak at community gardens, garden clubs,
and events for more successful harvests. Being able to
sponsor at least 10 community events every year; we love
being able to put money back into our local community and
help other organizations that are doing amazing things in
the Flathead Valley. Getting new customers every day.
What have you learned
about starting and
growing a company?
It takes patience and
perseverance. Be honest and
share knowledge not for sales,
but for what the customers’
actual needs are.
What significant things
have you learned so far
about the industry?
It’s a fast-paced industry
with ever-changing
products and needs.
WHEN THE
RECESSION CAME
AND THE HOUSING
MARKET CRASHED,
WE KNEW WE HAD
TO OPEN A RETAIL
STORE SO WE
COULD SHARE OUR
KNOWLEDGE WITH
FELLOW GROWERS
IN OUR AREA.”
Can you share any words of wisdom about the
industry and its future?
Continually be reading and researching the industry. Attend
as many conferences and expos as you can. As far as the
future, it is important for the consumer to trust and respect
the business that they are buying from. Buy from businesses
that really live and breathe it rather than someone who just
wants a piece of the pie. From a small business perspective,
remember there will always be the hobby gardener.
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