How
to Build a Bulk Buying Business on Quality, then Price
By George Brozowski
If youíre
looking for herbs and spices, spice blends, teas, baking items,
nuts, seeds, dehydrated veggies, essential oils, botanicals
or potpourri, thereís only one place on the planet that
has the highest quality and lowest prices anywhere. With over
565 SKUís made available through almost 100 grower/suppliers
from around the world, that place is San Francisco Herb and
its East Coast sister company, Atlantic Spice Company. And their
high quality and low pricing isnít just available to
the trade in bulk. Itís yours in quantities that make
sense for your particular needs and your kitchen.
It
all began back in 1973 when Neil Hanscomb, a lean, tan, grey
haired sailboard enthusiast, bought into the business and, twenty
years later, became sole proprietor. Neilís a left brained,
CPA kind of guy with a penchant for computers. He brings those
traits to full bear on his business as he buys his products
internationally directly from the sources, at the height of
the harvest in quantities that not only fill container loads
needed for optimum pricing, but with an understanding of how
to move those quantities throughout the year in order to have
space for the upcoming yearís crop. The customer is always
getting the highest quality spices no matter what time of year
it is. He is the master of the vertically integrated system
known as the supply chain.
Seasons and harvests
vary across the globe. Neil has visited his suppliers around
the world and makes it a point to keep track of every aspect
of his supply chain. If itís July, there is probably
a container of chamomile, basil and hibiscus arriving from Egypt.
If itís September, it could be a shipment of garlic coming
from China. Yes, China. Now Gilroy, California is still the
ìGarlic Capital of the Worldî but urban sprawl
has taken its toll on the growing fields of San Jose, and China
has taken up the slack by producing a quality product. Neil
and his company are fluid enough to take advantage of shifting
international markets. In 1986 when the nuclear power plant
in Chernobyl Russia melted down, it dramatically affected the
production of oregano in the Mediterranean. Mexico stepped up
to the plate and started producing oregano for the international
market. Neal followed the market to consistently bring the best
oregano in the world into the USA for his customers.
Unlike
a broadline distributor whose primary concern is price, San
Francisco Herb is a specialty house whose main concern is quality
and then price. Neil obtains the finest herbs and spices and
buys them in large enough quantity that his products are always
the freshest available at prices much lower than his competition.
Neilís operations are also as green as they can be. He
insists on his vendors supplying him product that is natural,
chemical residue free and whenever possible organic or as close
to organic as different countries of origin designate.
Combined sales
for both locations tops over $4 million and the combined customer
data base includes more than 30,000 names. You can get your
herbs and spices directly from Neil on his website at www.sfherb.com
or give him a call to order directly at 800-227-4530
