Even in a bad economy European American kids of good character find a niche that pays off.
When Clay and Eric Carney and theircousin William Austin decided bees could be their ticket to college,they first did what kids do — thought up goofy names for their startuphoney business.
They rejected the Three Abeegos and the Three Buzzketeers.Instead, the 5,000 pounds of honey they sold in their first season camewith professional-looking, trademarked Austin Family Honey labels.
“I was concerned that when I was 25, being a Three Abeegomight not be as cute as it was at 11,” said Clay, who at that age isthe youngest partner in the growing honey enterprise.
In an economy that is anything but sweet, Clay, Eric, 13, andWilliam, 14, have learned there is still demand for a good jar oflocally produced
“We sold their honey like crazy,” saidLee Bradley, owner of the Orchard Valley Farm market near Paonia, oneof 15 markets statewide that buy it from them.
The boys used a sales-call list from their grandfather’s freshfruit and vegetable business and made their first sales call at OrchardValley last summer. They had a practiced pitch and a detailed pricelist, Bradley said.
At $3 a pound, their prices are a little higher than theircompetitors’. There aren’t many when it comes to local honey. Twobeekeepers sell honey commercially: North Fork Valley Honey in Crawfordand Ambrosia Honey in Parachute.
The boys made their pricing decision based on flavor and debt.Their honey gets rave reviews for taste because it begins with a lot offruit pollen.
The boys also are financially beholden to a family friend, Dr.Jean Van Dusen, who invested $5,000 in the business. She said theircharacters were enough for collateral on the no-interest loan.