Something just reminded me of this story.
When I was temporarily living in Shropshire, I had a friend who was a Potato Farmer; he grew potatoes for Walker's Crisps.
One year after he had sent off his hundreds of tons of Potatoes, he received a phone call from Walker's saying that they weren't up to standard, and they were returning them. That night in the pub' he was beside himself; this had never happened to him before, and his entire year's income was at peril.
His farm entrance was on a reasonably busy road, so I suggested to him that he put the spuds into 25 kg bags and sell them roadside. He was receiving X per pound from Walker's, so I also suggested he double that for selling them retail (still very cheap).
The next time I passed the farm gate I saw his huge sign 'POTATOES 25 kg Bag £Y'. There were several cars in the lay-by, and trade was obviously good. His farm-hand apparently spent the next few months doing nothing but bag-up spuds.
I met him in the pub' some time later and he asked Fred (the publican) to put £10 on a slate for me. Beer was 50p a pint in those days, so in gratitude for my simple, and rather obvious, suggestion I received 20 pints of beer. His misfortune had changed into profit, not only for him but also for me.
Long live Beer.
Payment in beer sounds like a good plan!
ReplyDeleteI was amazed. It wasn't even an original idea.
DeleteThere is a lot to be learnd from your story, not only about potatoes.
ReplyDeleteI had another friend at the time who was a dairy farmer. He was constantly moaning about the price he was getting for his milk, so I suggested he make yoghurt or cheese. He said I was nuts!
DeleteHe was lucky there wasnt something in the small print of his contract preventing this. Or perhaps there was..
ReplyDeleteHe was a 'hard nut' and wouldn't have taken any notice.
DeleteCro, you write above that it wasn't an original idea.... But it was to him.... An altruistic move on your part paid off for your friend....and I'll bet he continued to sell direct, too.
ReplyDeleteIt was a similar rejection of stock that got Tyrells started....he's now sold out to someone else and is concentrating on the vodka side of the business.... And has diversified into gin!!
Your other friend was unfortunately deaf.... More fool him.
You and I are ideas people... Comes with the territory.... I've never had enough cash to develope any of my ideas....but am happy to fire them off scatter gun...and I spent the better part of my working life saying in meetings "It may seem obvious but...."....quite often it had, but everyone else had thought that every other person had thought of it and discounted it. If you have an idea and carntbearsed....oravntenuffcash....to develop the idea....scatter it to the four winds....let some other entrepreneur pick it up and run with it....more beer may flow!!
What you say is so true. I've always been an 'ideas person', and have sprinkled them generously; and still do!
DeleteIn those days 'diversification' was still in its infancy, and blinkers were very much part of farmers official uniforms.
What a lovely story to bear (beer) in mind. Sometimes important decisions are made around a pint - maybe some of our politics should frequent pubs more often. Greetings Maria x
ReplyDeleteSeveral UK politicians are known to spend more time in the pub', than at Westminster.
DeleteOn the subject of beer, rather than ideas, we have had a proliferation of micros opening up around here.... Ten now within easy reach, three of whom have made the supermarkets.
ReplyDeleteAll Bio...all brew a blonde and an ambre but with more flavour than the main crowd....and a majority brew other styles....there are three good stouts, a porter and an IPA available locally.
What's the situation down your way?
My oldest son was here recently and bought himself a few 'interesting' looking beers. One was made quite nearby by an Englishman.... His verdict was that it was foul; he threw it away. I don't think the micro-brewery concept has caught-on here yet.
DeleteFortune favoured the prepared mind once again Cro. Ny favourite saying.
ReplyDeleteThat's a better saying than the original!
DeleteBeer (or cider) is indeed the answer Cro, now if only I could remember the question.
ReplyDeleteI haven't had a decent pint of bitter since it was 50p a pint. I don't think I could afford it now.
DeleteI am sure many others were thankful to you for giving that idea to your friend.
ReplyDeleteI think we bought some ourselves.
DeleteWhat a wonderful post today.
ReplyDeletecheers, parsnip
It was certainly 'wonderful' having 20 free pints.
DeleteThanks for sharing Cro- really enjoyed today's post!
ReplyDeleteArilx
Not as much as I enjoyed my beer, I bet!
DeleteI think that being 200 yards from a pub that's won awards from CAMRA is God's way of saying he loves me!!! x
ReplyDeleteThat sounds idyllic. The last time I was in England I went to my 'local' and ordered a pint of Guinness; I thought the barmaid was joking when she told me the price.
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