From Honey Hobby to Honey Business
Posted on 4/2/2024
Honey Hobby Sees Sweet Transformation to Honey Business
With Custom Packaging that Provides a Sweet Boost
“It started as a hobby, but we wanted to see what we could do with it, and now we have a flourishing business.”
Tanya and Jerry Sumerel were invited by a friend to attend a meeting about bees, “My husband didn’t even
like bees, but he liked what he heard at the meeting about starting a bee farm. So, we decided to jump in and try
it.”
So, they bought some bees, learned about the craft, and then bought some more—a lot more. Now, they have
hundreds of thousands of bees in three locations in their area.
What started as a little hobby has turned into a growing business: Honeysuckle Hill Bee Farm. The owners are
semi-retired, so it wasn’t even about the money; it was about the personal challenge and seeing what they
could do with this hobby.
In addition to honey, they also make candles, lip balm, and honey spreads. Most of the sales they generate are from
the farmer’s market, but they also sell from their home and through their online business.
Tanya said, “When we started selling our products, I was buying packaging at Hobby Lobby, and that was
expensive. That’s when a customer suggested Boxes by Design. We loved that we could create honeybee-themed
packaging in small quantities. The online designer was fun to play with, and even when I got stuck once,
customer service made it easy for me to get unstuck.”
The Sumerels started out using custom-printed boxes for gift packaging but saw an opportunity to have holiday-themed
boxes, such as those for Christmas and Valentine’s Day. Tanya added, “The quality of the boxes and the
great service—I love that Boxes by Design is local to me, so I could even pick them up! I am definitely
ordering again!”
Tanya Sumerel started packaging products with the e-comm
mailer box and loved it so much that she ordered them again “as is”! She chose a custom size for
her packaging to ensure a perfect, snug fit for the honey-based products. Since she is using her custom-printed
boxes for gift sets, the beautiful unveiling characteristics of the packaging ensure an elegant unboxing experience
for the gift recipient.
Are you ready to turn your burgeoning hobby into a growing business? Custom printed packaging offers instant credibility and the functionality of sturdy, beautiful packaging. Get started today with a FREE SAMPLE of your custom design to see how it works for you.
Jerry & Tanya Sumerel Beekeepers
Honeysuckle Hill Bees
honeysucklehillbees@gmail.com