Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Elizabeth Wahl, Founder of McKnight Bee Products, located in St. Louis, MO, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
McKnight Bee Products offers high-quality honey and beeswax products.
Tell us about yourself
Beekeeping has been an interest of mine for a long time. A colleague in Germany started to bring in sweets he made with honey from his hives, which piqued my interest. I connected with him, asking as many questions as I could, with him always reminding me that beekeeping is a local thing and not universal. This brought me to a local expert with whom I took several classes to ensure I started successfully and the bees were thriving.
While I have had a series of entrepreneurial efforts, this did not begin as one. It wasn't until much later, when we had such a great harvest in both the summer and fall, that we decided to create labels, make candles with the beeswax, and take a small corner of our children's sale table at a maker event. There was a phenomenal response where people were sending over others to check it out and asking questions about if we had a website and where they could find us to purchase more later. (The beeswax candles are made of pure wax with the sweet smell of honey and none of the additives - better experienced in person). In addition, we have been affectionately called the "bee people" by some locals as we have a hive you can easily see us tend to from the street. Our yard flourishes every year, as well as those that live near us.
Beekeeping is very relaxing and rewarding and has allowed me to grow and bring together many of my loves (DIY building, 3D printing, design, screenprinting) as we build the catalog with more items. It is great to give back to the world by taking care of the tiny pollinators while they take care of us, teaching our kids how it all works, and being creative while answering the call of honey lovers that want to support local small businesses.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
One of my favorite moments has been supporting a local non-profit that supports children and families impacted by abuse, neglect, and mental or behavioral health needs by supplying them with honey bear bottles for a fundraiser event. We added their logo to the bottles alongside ours as an added touch to make sure when the recipients use the honey; they recall the important work the non-profit does.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
In general, one of the hardest things about being a small business owner is having to cover all the bases and do it successfully, as there isn't a whole team at your back when you start. When it comes to McKnight Bee Products, the hardest thing is the uncertainty of the harvest. Some hives are more productive than others, and demand can outweigh the supply. We would never do anything to compromise the quality of our honey and the care of our bees, so in cases of high customer demand, it is just worth the wait.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Find what you are passionate about, as you will be spending a lot of time on your business, and if you do not enjoy it, it may not be worth it.
- Make sure there is a demand for what your business is creating. There won't be a business if there is no demand or interest in your offering.
- Learn to pivot. If things aren't going well, find out what is wrong and change direction. Failure is a chance to learn, but it is best to fail fast so you can adjust accordingly early.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.mcknightbeeproducts.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/McKnightBeeProducts
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mcknightbees/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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