More extensive talks with individual vendors gave us a better feel for the Kettle Corn business and we made a decision to put the plan into action.
When we arrived back in Australia we contacted a manufacturer of the equipment in the USA and proceeded to put our business plan into action by ordering a full package to begin our first outlet..
Hours of searching found suppliers of the consumables within Australia. With the drought, getting the correct corn was nearly impossible but we will run with a lesser corn until the correct corn becomes available. The right corn to do maximum benefit to the product is only available at the right price in pallet loads, around 1,500kg so, as much as we didn't like to have that much corn on hand, we ordered.
To cart our entire business we needed a trailer, and the one we found one that's just about perfect. It's aluminium, lightweight, about 50cm longer than needed but the extra space wont hurt, and its profile will makes it easy and economical to tow.
Our entire package is as per the illustration with a different sign on the front of the counter.
11th January 2008:- Received a call from the customs agent today and all the import procedures have been completed and the package is ready to be picked up at their warehouse in Adelaide. Have to finish the final touches on the trailer by padding the inside frame to protect the equipment from being scratched while transporting between shows and installing tie down point. The cart note tells me that the equipment weighs 386kgs, a lot more than I thought but at least it explains the air freight charges.
Spent 2 days sending emails and making calls to start booking a series of venues for the next 12 months. Being brave by picking major events and Julie & I hopefully have enough of what it takes to work the hours and days required to do a good job. I reckon in the longer term we will need a couple of partners to do justice to the business and grow it to its full potential.
15th January 2007:- We had to drive to the other side of Adelaide to get 2 large pallets and we questioned if the contents would ever fit in our trailer. Not a seriously hot day but in the mid 30's (90's F) and after 2 ½ hours on the tarmac we had everything packed. IT FITTED...and were we really hot...
Like kids with a new toy we got home, anxiously waited till the cool of the late afternoon and put the entire assembly together. It all happened as on the web site and it was great. The whole package was larger than I was thinking, it stands very obvious in our back yard. In a couple off days we pick up the last of our first consignment of consumables and try cooking our first batch of kettle corn
18th of January, 2008, we cooked our first batch of kettle corn. The previous night was a bad sleep night. Would it work, or would we stuff it up.Well, it worked. The whole system worked just as in the book. I tipped a bit early so there were a few more unpopped kernels than I would have liked but the result was tasty kettle corn. Did a run around town to give a few bags away and the reception was excellent.
Had a bit of a family, friends neighbour get together, sausages in bread with onion and sauce, lovely fresh peaches and cream for desert, and cooked up two batches of kettle corn. It was a brilliant night and I think everyone had a lot of fun.
Our next step is to see how our kettle corn goes in the market place. We are setting up next week at the Tour Down Under cycle race as our very first venue. I do understand that just because it works in the USA doesn't mean it's going to work in Australia. I'll see the results after 3 or 4 months and then claim the business will be a success or failure. Gut feeling tells me it's going to be brilliant, but I've been wrong before.
25th of January, 2008, Australia Day:- First day and we survived. Only had about 3 hours of trading but if we perform as well at full day events we will be very happy. The temperature was up into the mid 30's and cooking was a bit warm. But we're underway. The only thing that really hurt on the day was packing up afterwards. We have booked a few multi day events and this is where it will be a serious test of the viability of the business and the ability of the old farts to keep up the pace.30th January. Had brakes and new springs fitted to the trailer. Only after we purchased the trailer and worked out just how much it would need to carry we thought it would be a good idea to add the extra items.
31st January, 2008:- Finally we have the finished Kettle Corn trailer. Really happy with the result, very simple and hopefully very eye catching. February 2008:- Two more markets (Willunga Quarry Market and Victor Harbor Market) done and learning a lot more about the Kettle Corn business. At small country markets Julie and I can handle the work quite easily. The hard part is setting up and packing up. The two markets were on consecutive days so by the time we got home from the Quarry Market on Saturday, unloaded the trailer, cleaned the equipment, reloaded the trailer, went out till midnight that night, set up again the following morning at Victor harbor, worked all day and packed up again we were fairly well stuffed. But we learned some tricks that made the job easier and more efficient. It's obvious that the apprenticeship is not complete yet.
Till yesterday every market had been reasonable. Then a small town, hot day, strong wind and we took $150 for the day. Works out to an hourly rate of about $5.00 after expenses. I think this is part of the apprenticeship.
February 24th:- Victor Harbor Market was a very quiet day. With the Clipsal 500, football, Fringe Festival and a rainy/windy day it was probably as good as we could expect. It will be better next month. Julie's Sister, Anne and her husband Allan joined us for the day. They are looking at working with us in the Kettle Corn business. They've seen the worst sort of day, we now have to show them the best. The damp weather really caused problems with the popped corn, the sugar and salt immediately attracted moisture and we had to dump product that stayed in the tray too long (just a few minutes). Another apprenticeship lesson for winter.
Trying to get into venues is the hardest part of this business. The shows we should be going too will take 12 months as they are either full for this year or locked up with a 'closed shop' situation. Our 1.2 tonnes of corn arrives this week. Just hope it is the right move. Will have to be stored in the house, the shed will be too hot for a couple of months, heat apparently can present a weevil problem so by storing in air conditioning the problem should be alleviated. Even if we have to throw some away the better price by buying bulk will (should) balanced out any problems.