Happy New Year Hustlers! I don’t know about you, but I’m not keen on major holidays falling on Wednesday, but I suppose there’s nothing we can do about that beyond complaining to no one in particular. At least school is back in session.
I’ve been deliberating about how to make this blog more interesting, so I thought it might be fun to begin in earnest (at least somewhat) embarking on one or more of my own side hustles as time permits and chronicle my progress here on this blog. I figure I might even be able to get some suggestions from you all, so feel free to weigh in. By the way, my intention is to abandon projects that don’t seem to make economic sense, so be prepared for that, and don’t hesitate to ridicule whatever decision I might make along the way if you know it full well to be illogical.
My first venture will involve pickles. That’s right, pickles. Why? Because I think I can make really good ones based on years of informal beta testing (i.e., people I know and love telling me they are better than this or that ten-dollar gourmet jar they bought last summer).
I don’t know much about scaling a pickle-making operation, but I know I’ve got some legwork to do before this venture sees the light of day. For example, I started making pickles years ago because I just happened to be rotating cucumbers through a plot on which I grew tomatoes during the previous year. That got me maybe half of a dozen jars, which of course, won’t do.
More importantly, I recognize my own ignorance regarding the varieties of cucumbers available for pickling, and which varieties are optimal for this use and why. I don’t know where they grow and how far from me, the largest growing regions are located. I’m very interested in understanding this.
I also don’t know my market. I’m going to stick to Maryland for the moment, but I don’t know much about how to get my pickles introduced to the local market. I’d like to think small for the moment. I fancy my pickles being featured in specialty stores or craft sandwich shops. I think I must make a batch of a certain size before I go around door to door trying to get business owners to agree to resell my pickles, which I think will be my initial approach just because it will be fun.
I don’t know how to break into farmers’ markets, which might be another avenue for introduction of my products. I don’t know who might be willing to produce batches or where those folks are located. I do, however, know enough about food safety regulation and supply contracts to select a reliable supplier and insist on certain minimum contractual obligations.
First things first though: I think I’ll begin by trying to understand the market for craft pickles within my home state. If anyone has any ideas, feel free to email!
ABOUT SCOTT LLOYD
slloyd@offitkurman.com | 301.575.0357
Scott Lloyd is a registered patent attorney who specializes in intellectual property counseling and commercialization work. He has served as a technology commercialization specialist and advisor to companies in a diverse array of markets, including biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, food and beverage, specialty chemicals, technology, and engineering. In addition, Mr. Lloyd spent ten years as in-house general counsel to small and mid-sized companies, where he managed corporate matters and resolved commercial disputes in addition to intellectual property strategy, and now serves in the same capacity for entrepreneurial clients. He serves as counsel to small and mid-sized business owners seeking to implement growth strategies and succession plans.
While in house, Mr. Lloyd has also contributed to the successful formation of international affiliates of domestic businesses as well as a $400,000,000 business acquisition.
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