Name of your website?Weber Farms Country Store
Your name?
Patrick & Marilyn Weber
Your Location (city, etc)
Verona - Northern Kentucky
What is the webstie about?
This is our store website - there is a blog about our farm and the cosmetic and food industry. We also have a farm site at http://www.weber-farms.com - you can take a "virtual tour", ask for information, read out blogs about the farm, regulations, health and nutrition, sign up for a newsletter, etc.,.
What inspired you to launch your own website?
We are a small family-run farm. Neither Marilyn or I grew up on a farm, but, after adopting 2 little guys (both from fostering them), with the littlest one having sever allergies, we decided to move and start our own farm. We now grow pretty much all of our own food, make our own cheese, soaps, lotions, skin balms, lip balms and other things. We started giving the stuff we made to friends and their skin conditions were getting better! So, we started researching the cosmetic industry and food industry and have become consumer advocates (with personal, vested interests a.k.a. our own kids!). What we found is appalling! So, we started doing craft shows in the greater Cincinnati, OH area so we could talk to people about what is in the skin care and "natural" skin care products sold in the market place. We found that by having people use our products, which do not have the chemicals in them that are in the store-bought products, their "skin conditions" were going away!
So, I put up the websites (I do web-applications for a BIG newspaper chain) to inform and educate the consumer. Our monthly newsletters and blogs have information on the FDA, USDA and what they allow in the foods we eat and the products we put on our skin and in our hair.
It feels good to know that we may not get a sale from someone at a craft show, but they will learn why we do what we do, and perhaps - just perhaps they will be wiser shoppers.
Our motto is "read the labels! If you can't pronounce it, it shouldn't eaten or put on your body!"
When did you launch your first website, and what was it?
MY first site, the farm site, was launched in 2005
How did you decide on a name for your website?
Well, we thought Weber Farms was the name of our farm, so we called our website that -
What makes your website different from other, similar offerings?
Well, I gues the biggest difference is we don't just sell... We care - We educate - right now, we hve a FREE class on making Raised garden beds - that's right, FREE. Why?? Because we feel that in this economy, people have the right to know how to grow their own safe, chemical free, nutrient-rich, healthful food. And we can help them do that - even if they only have a 4ft x 4ft plot of ground. We inform - And we invite people to come visit
What is your eventual goal? (To sell it, keep it for income, secure a book or other mainstream media deal?)
To help as many people as we can to get healthy and stay out of doctor offices, hospitals, drug stores and, potentially, to live a full, healthy life!
How does your investment of time and money balance against your success?
Right now? Well, we broke even this last year (2008). But I am still employed outside the farm. Marilyn stays home and makes her products, researches, and home schools our 2 boys. is success measured by $$$? I don't think so - we have new friends that we've never met (from Alaska to Texas, and from Turkey to Ireland) that are thankful for the things we make. That's success.
If you had an unlimited development budget for development, how would you change your site?
I would pay for web advertising to get people to my site so we could teach people. And I would probably start doing conferences to teach people what we have seen and learned.
If your site got really big, really quickly, would you be able to keep up with the demand?
I think so - I'd have to quit my day job, but it would take less time to make that decision than it would to blink an eye!
What unexpected costs and headaches have you had to deal with?
Regulations - Kentucky now regulates the cosmetic industry as under the Food processing guidelines. The FDA doesn't require a commercial kitchen for us to make skin care products, but the state of KY does. And we are the ONLY home-based cosmetic manufacturer in the state of KY. So if people out in our state are making this stuff in their kitchens and selling it online, or locally in shops, stores, or whereever - they are making and selling it illegally!
We wanted to make goat milk cheeses and sell them here in the state, but we can't, because we aren't a USDA grade dairy - and ewquipment is extremely expensive. So we use the milk for lotions and soaps and make our own cheeses, butter have our own milk to drink. It's really nice to know exactly where your food comes from!
What has been your biggest challenge?
SEO - I've been in the technology industry for over 20 years, and without a big budget, it's really tough to get the high ranks!
What method has been most successful for promoting your website?
Craft shows, free listings like this one (Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!) that get exposure.
How has running your website differed from your expectations?
Well, outside of SEO, it was pretty much what I expected - since I do it for work anyway - I enjoy it. it's fun...
How long have you run the site already, and how long will you continue to keep it up if you don't enjoy big gains in traffic, income or popularity?
We started the www.weber-farms.com site in 2005 - I had a family site before that - since about 2001. I added the online store website in 2007 when we started selling products. I will keep the 2 current sites up as long as there is a need to educate, inspire and provide important information about the food and cosmetic industry to the consumers in our country.
If you could suggest "reading material", what books would you recommend?
I would suggest that people read "The Omnivore's Dilemma" by Michael Pollock and "The Maker's Diet" by Jordan Rubin
What is your website address?
Weber Farms Country Store
