What Businesses are needed on the Big Island (Hilo, Pahoa: homes, buying)

[hotzcatz]

Someone down the road just got a farm-to-table permit to sell prepared food to people. I'd expect that is much more profitable than selling vegetables wholesale? We've not been to their place yet, but we will probably go check it out pretty soon. There's also a new goat dairy going in near Honomu, although they will be making cheese, I think. There's room for all sorts of produce around here.

[nerdlette]

+1 to the below.

Your emphasis should be what type of business would be profitable and sustainable - enough to support two people. Just because something is a good idea doesn't mean that it will be profitable. Retail and anything that involves inventory (and rent) would be too costly for you.

Honestly, It'd be a better idea to find a job and not be self-employed. That way, you'll get a better feel for the island and have connections so when/if you do start your business, you will have clients. $30k sounds like a lot but, it's far easier to spend it than it was to save it.

Originally Posted by KaraBenNemsi

The existing businesses nearly all lack customers. Once they close, another mainlander comes along thinking there would be a need and opens it again. Till their credit line or savings run out.

In the meantime we islanders get everything from toilet paper to tools cheaper from AMAZON.

Originally Posted by Harpaint

People in Hilo shop online or at Walmart, just like everybody on the mainland. It is also a very low income level population where people lead quite simple lives in very small living quarters. Young people leave in droves because there are no jobs. The University students spend very little time in town. Kona obviously thrives on tourism which means low paying jobs and transient young people from the mainland.

[MakamaeNeNe]

Originally Posted by KaraBenNemsi

In the meantime we islanders get everything from toilet paper to tools cheaper from AMAZON.

What does Amazon shipping cost if you're a Prime member? I heard there was an extra cost. Also, I understand that they don't ship large things-- so am I right in assuming they wouldn't ship any furniture I may purchase?

Thanks!

[MakamaeNeNe]

Sorry BTW-- I know my above comment is off topic. (Also-- just for the record-- I wouldn't actually be buying furniture from Amazon, I was just using it as an example!)

[KaraBenNemsi]

AMAZON is a moving target-- things differ often from one week to the next in their policy. Also it is not just AMAZON, but many independent vendors selling through AMAZON. It is true, many items won't get shipped to Alaska or Hawai'i, but that doesn't mean they won't be shipped at an extra cost. Like furniture.

[Jane M]

Makamaenene it is my experience that if you are Amazon prime, you can get most things shipped at no cost. However, they do have size limitations. For example, we were able to ship a queen size foam mattress, but not a king size foam mattress. Some items on Amazon will not be available for shipping here no matter how big or small. Also, if you are a seller, there will be an extra cost to ship your items from HI.

[Jane M]

hotzcatz, where is that farm to table located? is their business online?

[hotzcatz]

I think they call themselves the Waipio Wayside or some such although there's a Waipio Wayside Inn and that's not them so maybe I have the name wrong. They're on the road between Honokaa and Waipio lookout and they shouldn't be too hard to find since there's not much along that road other than a few houses.

[terracore]

I can tell you what business would be profitable- another livestock feed and supply store on the East side of the island. There are basically two: Dels and Mirandas. They both have very helpful employees but they both have problems. The first of which, is that they are always out of everything. A few weeks ago Dels was completely out of every type of poultry feed and was recommending pig feed as a substitute. We had to buy our layer feed at Walmart which is not good feed nor a good deal. The second is that they are both located in Hilo. There are no farms in Hilo. Why are both feed stores located there? There needs to be a feed store in Puna. Nothing sucks more than driving 30 miles round trip and find out the store just sold their last bags of chicken feed and that they won't have any more in until the following week (and if you don't show up on the right day, they will be out that week as well). There is Pahoa feed, but it looks like they just buy their stuff from the other two feed stores and mark it up. So it's not really a "feed store" and more like a 7/11 livestock convenience (or desperation) store.

The fact that they are both always out of everything pretty much just hammers home the fact that there is plenty of room in the market for a third player. One that was located closer to the agriculture operations would be a huge bonus. And guess what, the land is a fraction of the price in Puna than it is in Hilo! I understand that both stores have a pretty sizeable labor cost because they load the feed for you, but frankly I would even pay the same $ per bag of feed and load it into my car or truck myself if it was in stock and I didn't have to spend $10 in gas to go fetch it (if they have it).

We know other farmers, some much bigger, some a little smaller than ourselves, and we all have the same frustration. Many people we know import their own food at crazy cost. In the last month we've been buying layer and flock raiser on Amazon. Its a few dollars more but the biggest problem is they are (also!) always out of stock and we know the free shipping on a 50# sack of feed isn't going to last long.

[hotzcatz]

Try setting up a co-op to bring in your feed. If you get enough to fill a pallet load, ocean freight isn't too bad. You want to load heavy dense stuff on ocean freight since they go by volume and not weight. If enough folks get together to order a twenty food container of feed, how much would that cost? Who has a barn and fork lift to unload it with? Anyone with a tractor trailer rig to bring the container from the docks or would that be an added fee?

Alfalfa Hay & Cubes in Pauuilo gets in a container of feed every week and they basically only sell Alfalfa Hay & Cubes, although they've now also branched out into some dog, cat, poultry, all stock, rabbit and other feeds. Seems to me, if you had a warehouse of some sort and a fork lift, you could be in business.