CORBIN, KY – What do you do when your husband sells his business, putting you out of a job and giving you too much time on your hands? Why, you develop your own successful, small-scale flower farm and put him to work.
That is how Bent Pine Farm was born, and Jenny and Bill Storms wouldn’t have it any other way.
The Corbin couple ran Johnny Wheels, a 50-year-old tire business, for decades before they decided to retire to their 50-acre farm two years ago. Jenny had worked in the bookkeeping department for the last ten years.
Today, the Storms spend their days cultivating flowers, planning growth periods and meeting the demands of their fresh-flower clientele.
“Our little flower farm began after my husband sold his business, and I was left with too much idle time,” Jenny explained. “I happened upon a video online that introduced me to ‘flower farming’ and was hooked. In our first year, we sold at farmer’s markets. We were fairly successful, and I really enjoyed the farming process.”
While the flower farm is only one acre of their property, it consumes most of their time these days, and that is precisely how they want it.
Jenny says small business ownership has had its challenges.
“The biggest challenge for me has been deciding which direction to go with a business model,” she explained. “We got a decent feel for what our market would be during the last couple of years and have a clearer vision going forward.”
But entrepreneurship has its perks, too.
“From the beginning, I wanted less stress, so of course, having the freedom to set my own schedule and enjoy the whole process has been wonderful,” Jenny added.
The Storms are committed to environmental stewardship. They work to enhance the health of their soil naturally through sustainable growing practices.
“Before our flowers become bouquets for your home or event, they are a food source and home to the bees, butterflies, and countless other beneficial insects, Jenny explained. “This balanced approach rewards us with gorgeous, healthy, long-lasting blooms.”
Selling their flowers and other farm-based products at farmer’s markets got their business attention. Bill and Jenny love the face-to-face experience with customers, but they needed to explore different markets to see the business grow.
Bent Pine Farm offers a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) flower subscription service through the summer months. Subscriptions include freshly cut, in-season blooms, carefully selected for color and fragrance to each customer.
From May through September, clients receive a handcrafted bouquet each month or bi-monthly, which may be delivered (if local) or picked up. The first delivery includes a glass vase the customers keep, along with a plastic bucket for future deliveries.
However, the Storms needed an internet presence to showcase their business to the wider public and enable customers to make purchases online. A fellow grower told Jenny about the Southeast Kentucky Economic Development Corporation (SKED) and its proven mission of helping small businesses succeed.
Within a week, the Storms met with SKED’s small business training team, received the nonprofit’s free business coaching services, and began experiencing a new level of growth in their company.
“I gave Amanda (Kelly) a call, we had a meeting. She is awesome to work with and makes the whole process painless,” Jenny said.
Soon, Kelly and small business training specialist Kyle Smith began working to develop a website that would tell the Storms’ story and facilitate online sales. The couple could not be happier with the results.
“I think professionalism is the most valuable attribute SKED offered our business. Amanda and Kyle gave us very pertinent and timely advice. They listened to and implemented our ideas by helping us create a very nice website.”
Jenny Storms
Bent Pine Farm owner
Kelly says working to help the Storms develop their business website was a joy.
“Working with Jenny and Bill has been a true pleasure. From the very beginning, Jenny embraced our advice and recommendations, putting in great effort to learn how to manage and update her website and social media,” Kelly said. “She has also been an incredible help by sharing our services with other entrepreneurs.”
Today, the Storms maintain their website, have increased sales, and market their business through social media.
While the ability to make online sales has been a benefit and the website has led to other business ventures, meeting people and making friends at the farmer’s market remains their biggest pleasure, Jenny added.
“Hopefully, we will continue to find success with our current customers, and we truly love our farmers’ markets,” she said. “We also look forward to exploring some wholesale avenues which will allow us to extend our season.”
Learn more about Bent Pine Farm at https://www.bentpinefarm.com/ and follow the business on Facebook.
To learn how SKED helps small business owners do business better, visit www.skedcorp.com
or call (606) 677-6100.
