Beech's Apiaries & Honey Producers uses Compensating Balance Loan to Seed Start-Up. Next Step, Kickstarter?

Raymond Beech, owner of Beech's Apiaries & Honey Producers, meets with LaDonna Hardman, a loan officer with  CWV TEL Federal Credit Union, to wrap up loan paperwork. Raymond, in partnership with CWV TEL and Job Squad, secured a small Compensating Balance Loan to aid his start-up by making possible the purchase of an additional 10 bee hive frames and associated tools and supplies (queen bees, smokers, suits, etc.).

This is Job Squad's 3rd Compensating Balance Loan. Information about the first two loans can be found here: Loan #1 and Loan #2.

Raymond has kept bees for the last 6 years as a hobby, in addition to working full-time. He is now exploring the varying ways artisanal apiaries generate revenue, which include--in addition to honey production--the sale of pollen, wax, propolis, royal jelly, bee extraction, pollination, and services related to processing honey for others. Raymond has met with the area's Business Coach with the Small Business Development Center and is seeking support from the West Virginia Division of Rehabilitation.

Raymond, a technophile, is also researching other way to share his passion and skills. He looking into securing start-up funding through the crowdfunding site Kickstarter to create a web series to showing the creation of a honey bee house (check out Creativebug for inspiration). Raymond tells his own story best and, after the pictures of Raymond in gear, you can read a draft version of his Kickstarter idea.

Who am I:

Hi, my name is Raymond, father of six, veteran and beekeeper. I love keeping honey-bees and my children love to help dad with the honeybees; but my wife is furious and I’m running out of room (and time according to her.) For the past six years I have been keeping honeybees as a hobby. I really enjoy my honeybees, even when they sting me. But my wife has finally put her foot down; and I can’t say that I blame her.

What is the issue?

You see my bee gear and equipment take up lots and lots of space – a good portion of my Master Bedroom/Bathroom, a large portion of my Living room, a small portion of the kitchen, a little bit of here and there throughout the rest of the house, and of course scattered out in the yard. When I only had two or three hives it wasn’t a big deal – now that I have a quadrupled my hives – it’s definitely an issue. Eventually I would like to have a few hundred hives – but that’s another story.

What is the Project?

To create a website explaining who we are, what we do and will do, our team, and much more. Our primary goal is to create a web series that shows the planning, designing, and construction of a building or the purchasing, moving and setting up of modular or trailer – to use as a honeybee house; and of course the moving of my honeybee gear, equipment, and hives (which should be an extremely fun-filled day) into this honeybee house. 

As stated previously some of my children show a real interest in my bees and actually help me with my honeybees (imagine that – they can move away from the computers, consoles and phones for more than twenty minutes.) Unfortunately a lot of the work can’t be done on my living room floor (we’ve tried and failed miserably.) With a new building to house my gear, equipment and bees; it could also be designed to with a designated area to work in – which would offer a place where my family’s passion can grow. While working together building our bee boxes, frames, or splitting hives; all while growing a family bond.