Today we’d like to introduce you to Christine Faltynowski.
Hi Christine, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
The bee business started in 2016. Nine years ago, there weren’t any bee sellers taking orders online, or posting educational content on social media. This lack of online sources is why I started a website and a Facebook page and both really changed the trajectory of this business. The first year of bee sales, we sold almost 300 hives. It was frightening and awesome at the same time! Since then, we’ve cultivated a business that not only sells bees, equipment, suits and tools, but also teaches people how to become beekeepers. It’s been an amazing 9 years, for sure!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I could write a book about the struggles I’ve faced in this industry. I could share all the stories about cut throat competition or customers being unreasonable at times, but what good does that do? I had a preacher/beekeeper tell me once, “if you only focus on the negative, you erase all the positive.” Have there been struggles? Absolutely. But, the good outweighs the bad for sure. My goal has never been to run thousands of hives, but to help thousands of people become beekeepers!
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
We are a one-stop-shop for all things beekeeping. We sell bees, equipment, tools, suits and teach beekeeping. We take bee orders in October, for a pickup the following Spring. What sets us apart is, we are with our customers from start to finish. Every year I start a new Facebook group, just for our customers. This is an opportunity to share knowledge over several months. The more you learn, the better your first year will be.
We also have a great reputation for our focus on beginner beekeepers. In March of each year, we have hands-on Introduction to Beekeeping workshops at our bee farm in Belton, Missouri. These workshops give beginners a real life view into what beekeeping looks like. It also provides confidence to someone who has never been around bees. The workshops are well received each year. So many people tell us that they learned more with us in 4 hours than they did in a 6 week course, or at an all day inside class, at a bee club. If you are too far to attend, we have the following online classes available: Introduction to Beekeeping, First Year Beekeeping and Second year Beekeeping.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
Personally, the biggest lesson we’ve learned is that clear communication and boundaries earn more respect then bending over backwards ever will. We know that we can’t please everyone, and that’s okay. We will still focus on doing the best we can and treating every customer with the utmost respect.
Beekeeping lessons have been plentiful. In beekeeping, losses are lessons. People will learn a lot in the first year, but since it is brand new, the learning curve is steep. I encourage everyone to give it one more try, if their first year didn’t go as well as planned. With anything new, it takes time to learn. Our second year was significantly better than our first. I read an article recently that said, if you can make it 3 years, you are a beekeeper for life. I absolutely believe that. If I closed the business today, I’d still be a beekeeper. I can’t imagine not being able to go out in the bee yard and see my bees.
Pricing:
- It’s shocking to hear how expensive beekeeping is. The average cost to start is around $1,000.00. One hive needs up to 4 boxes, as bees grow over the season. Our Deluxe Beehive Kit is $950.00 and it comes with everything you need to start, including a full hive of bees!
- We have other options as well, on our website.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.kcbeelady.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kcbeelady/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cfaltynowski
