I need your help for a new idea of mine....

[creative-keyrings]

Hi,

I would like to start up a small smoothie making business. My idea is to sell them to local shops as "local produce".

I just need some help on where to find emty plastic bottles, label prints for the bottles and also any information on how i can say "it lasts for" etc.

Also do i have to send my product to a testing place before i can sell it in a local shop?

Regards,

Callum Slade.

[buzz-promotions]

What sized bottles are you looking for Callum?

Matt

[DuaneJackson]

I sort of know the guys at http://www.sejuiced.co.uk/ through another site. I could put you in touch if you think they might be of any help. Just let me know.

d

[creative-keyrings]

Thanks,

i think im going to have to put a lot more thought into this idea as it looks more complexed than i orginally thought!

Callum

[Jayne]

You will need a separate kitchen from your one at home, the health and hygiene people at the council will have to inspect it too! The health and hygiene officers will help you with information on sell by dates etc and the trading standards will give you info on how to label them.

It's not as easy as you may think and it can be quite a hassle!

Jayne :D

[cqueen]

Smoothies sound like a good idea, if you're gonna get a stall or something, make sure you let people know how good for you they are, 5 a day and all that. maybe use organic stuff too.

[puravida]

sounds good - that's the same way as the "Innocent" guys started out a few years back and look where they are now.

I would talk to an insurance broker too as public liability insurance is important in your sort of business. Say you accidentally give someone food poisoning.

Good luck

[puravida]

just to add to my last comment - I would invest in a stand at a few local farmers markets and really understand your product and make sure you have a winning mix / flavour / range before you try and sell to shops.

You won't even need to buy bottles and labels at this point either - you can just get yourself a cheap sign made up and serve in plastic cups.

You'll be in a much stronger position with some proper customer feedback and sales data to hand.

Also - how are you going to differentiate yourself from the existing well recognised brands (innocent, PJ's, etc) on the shelves already? I'm sure there is room for another brand but think hard what your unique selling point is?

[creative-keyrings]

Puravida,

These are great words of advice, (Mark also metioned the same sort of things on msn so thanks to him to)!

I would be one up on PJ's Smoothies as they use concentrate from fruit and not 100% pure fruit.

I think that if i did a stall it would be a lot easier as i could make it to the customers flavour there and then and i wouldnt have to worry about if i dont sell any i will loose out as the fruit will still be in its pure form.

Thanks for all your advice, anymore advice is greatly appprichated!

Regards,

Callum Slade.