My favorite children clothes store https://www.maammekauppa.fi/ is shutting down (I'm not affiliated, but where will I buy those pretty and durable shirts now?), reason - people are not buying local, one of two local manufacturers who was their suppliers went down last fall for the same reason. This fanatically local and very personal shop just didn't make it. And as small local business owner, I see my reflection in their shutdown.
This is just sad.
And they are right. I'm (affiliated here) trying to sell local brewing yeast for a year now, and almost nobody buys it. I offered gardening chemicals to supermarket networks to be marketed as local - they say there is no demand, they end up with unsold surplus of this (and they know their numbers). I want to believe and praise "buy European" story, but right now the opposite is happening.
To be fair a lot of kids stores are doing bad in Finland because the birth rate keeps going down. With the current government also doing their best to restrict immigration further it will likely only fall more.
My family that has visited has commented on how few kids there are here, and come to think of it, it's true.
As for the brewing yeast, probably advertising? I've been looking for local brewing yeasts for awhile and have only found some in a Prisma in Jyvรคskylรค.
Yeah, I've been promoting stuff in Fediverse and through local brewers stores (which are not exactly doing well themselves). I can't just go ahead and advertise something related to alcohol, apparently it's one of the most popular downfalls of new hipster breweries - illegal advertising. And I do not want to promote stuff through Meta and X and Linkedin. Thus I expected some network effect - but so far clearly things are quite bad.
If you are still looking for yeast, please welcome to my webstore store.zymologia.fi or DM, I have more under the bench.
It's getting harder and harder to be found by search engines thanks to AI, but I suggest content marketing. Write articles on your website about brewing. Something for complete newbies, then tips for people who have brewed before, etc. Do this in both English and Finnish. Sell a complete starter kit for newbies that includes everything necessary to make the first batch down to the glassware, mention it casually in your posts. Etc. Make it possible to order the kit with different yeasts
Nice, even have mead stuff. Will definitely be ordering one of those.
That said, have you considered separating the horticulture side of the business from the alcohol one? Currently it seems hyper specialist on both ends, which is fine for someone like me, but there's probably not many customers like me. Seems like it might be better to separate them.
I definitely understand not wanting to advertise on those platforms. But you do need some way to get a foothold and build reputation. You could for example negotiate direct sponsorships with content creators or locations that do allow alcohol adjacent products to be advertised. Alternatively, you can self promote at least once or twice through something like TikTok and then see if a network effect takes hold.
In Finland tho, and especially if you want to avoid unethical social media, your best chances are actually setting up a physical store. It's more work and more cost, but it gives a very valuable advertising opportunity by people walking by. You could also get a liquor license and offer free samples of stuff you make. Nothing gets Finns attention more than free alcohol usually ๐
And if made in Finland, look into getting that little "made in Finland" flag label if you can afford so.
I know it's an uphill battle setting up a business here, especially with the current government and that VAT increase.
Yeah, I'm trying the store idea, looking into collab with a bar or a restoraunt, or a brewery. No luck so far, maybe I'll just open my own bar someday.
Thanks for suggestions!
Hey! Youโre engaging with the folks on the fediverse! Thatโs an advantage you have over the competition in my book.