As the crisp November air settles in, our seed shop takes a brief hiatus from its regular operations to embark on a journey of growth and enhancement. While our doors may be temporarily closed, our commitment to providing you with top-quality seeds and valuable resources remains unwavering. Here's a sneak peek into what's happening at our seed shop throughout the month of November:
**November 1st - November 10th:**- Hand Counting, Bagging, And Labeling Thousands of Pumpkin Seeds By Hand.
I'm working hard at counting, bagging, tagging, and meticulously labeling over 80,000 pumpkin seeds along with several other seed varieties. Some of you may or may not know, but we are still very small so we don't have any counting machines, labeling machines, etc. All our seed bags are handmade. The seed counters and labelers are very very expensive, we are hoping to grow large enough to where we can obtain a seed counter at the minimum. This would free a lot more time and resources for us to improve and work more efficiently on all other aspects of the business. Simultaneously, I'm implementing a comprehensive inventory system to enhance our bookkeeping to ensure we have adequate seeds in stock for everyone and we are notified accurately when we are low to ensure we get more stock in.
**Pre-Orders**
UPDATE: Preorders are being shipped out now
All pre-orders are being shipped out right now. You will receive your tracking number via email.
**More Pumpkin Seed Count Options**
We're excited to offer higher seed counts at a discounted rate for our customers. While we may not be able to compete with larger suppliers in terms of selling seeds by the thousands, we are taking steps to better accommodate your needs. As we continue to grow and expand, offering much higher seed counts will become one of our future goals.
I'm currently testing our seed counts of 5 seeds10 seeds, 50 seeds, and 100 seeds. These can change, but I wanted to provide for different demographics.
We've noticed that many larger companies have started to offer lower seed counts, and we want to ensure that we remain competitive and accessible to gardeners of all sizes.
In response to this trend, we are excited to announce that we will be introducing bags with a 5-seed count, and we have also made sure to price our seeds lower than our major competitors.
Our bags of 5 are aimed at those who are on a tight budget but enjoy a wide variety of seeds.
Our bags of 10 are aimed at hobby gardeners, home gardeners, backyard gardeners, etc.
The 50 is intended for those who grow commercially for pumpkin markets and pumpkin stands.
The 100 seed packs are intended for our larger pumpkin farms that have pick-your-own pumpkin patches or similar setups.
Our decision to offer smaller bags of 10 seeds is driven by our desire to make a wide variety of seeds accessible and cost-effective for those with smaller gardens or those who prefer to experiment with various varieties on a smaller scale. We understand that many larger seed companies often require a minimum order of 25 to 1000 seeds of many of our varieties, which can be impractical for smaller gardeners, like ourselves, and many others within our main demographic. We firmly believe that gardening should be an inclusive and enjoyable experience for everyone, regardless of the size of your growing space.
By continuing to provide these smaller seed bags, we aim to empower smaller gardeners, hobbyists, and home growers, like ourselves, with the opportunity to explore diverse plant varieties without breaking the bank. We remain committed to serving your unique gardening needs and ensuring that our offerings are tailored to your preferences.
**November 10th - November 20th: Expanding Our Offerings**
Update: We finished counting all of our new pumpkin seed varieties. There were 3 of us counting thousands of seeds, tagging and bagging them, but they are ready to go for the upcoming garden season. All germination tested at 95% or higher.
I'm also opening up some of the heirloom pumpkins we grew this season. We did experience a crop failure of our Yokohama and Thai Rai Kaw Tok pumpkins. We were able to grow the Crespo squash, as well as the Tonda Di Nepali. Seeds will be limited as we only grew 2 pumpkins. We are hoping for better weather next year.
We also grew some fun new heirloom varieties of tomatoes and chilis. We will add the new varieties to the shop before the new season starts.
**November 21st - November 26th: Website Revamp and Learning Resources**
Our website is getting a slight makeover, and we're introducing enhancements and updates to make your shopping experience even more enjoyable. Additionally, we're expanding our learning resources section, offering valuable tips and tricks to help you successfully germinate your seeds. I will also be adding some how-to-growing videos to our YouTube channel (no voice reveal). Our goal is to empower you with knowledge that ensures your gardening endeavors thrive. If you are interested, I've provided a YouTube link Below.
**Striving for Wholesale Integration**
We've heard your requests for a wholesale option, and while we encountered some hurdles with WIX, we're diligently working on integrating higher pumpkin seed counts for our larger growers. Rest assured, I'm committed to making these changes, even if it takes a bit of time. My seasonal help is gone, but I am hoping to have the majority of the pumpkin seeds completed by January 1st. Many options will be available as soon as I re-open. I know with the new season approaching, this is important to many of you.
**Artistic Touch**
In between these tasks, I'm hopefully going to start illustrating some of our seed packets. These unique artworks will add a personal and artistic touch to your gardening journey. I will share some work on IG and FB once we open for December. I will be responding and setting up projects for some of the watercolor artists who had reached out prior to our break. Stay tuned for updates on our progress!
**November 27th - December 5th: South American Adventure**
In late November, we'll embark on a brief adventure overseas in Lima, Peru, visiting family and seeking out exciting new seed varieties I'm hoping to bring some back (customs permitting.)
**Your Voice Matters**
We value your input and opinions. If there are specific seed varieties you'd like to see in our collection, changes to the website that would enhance your experience, or any other suggestions, please share your thoughts with us. Your feedback drives our growth, and we're always eager to hear from you.
We can't wait to re-open our doors and continue providing you with the best seeds and resources for your gardening journey. In the meantime, we're working diligently behind the scenes to ensure your experience with us is nothing short of extraordinary. Thank you for your continued support, and we look forward to serving you even better in the future. Happy gardening!
**A Quick Q&A On Some Questions We Received Prior To Closing For November**
-Why Aren't You Taking Orders While Your Closed?
Our decision not to accept orders during our brief closure was made with your best interests in mind. At that time, we didn't have a reliable inventory system in place, which raised concerns about our ability to accurately fulfill orders as they came in while we were on break. We wanted to avoid any potential issues that could have arisen, such as delays in processing and, more importantly, the possibility of issuing refunds due to inaccurately counted stock.
Our commitment to you is to ensure that every transaction is as smooth as possible. We understand the importance of getting exactly what you paid for and providing you with a seamless shopping experience. By temporarily suspending new orders during this period, we aimed to maintain the integrity of our services and guarantee that when we re-open, you can confidently place your orders knowing that we have a solid inventory system in place, ready to meet your gardening needs efficiently and accurately.
Thank you for your understanding and patience during this time. Your satisfaction is our top priority, and we look forward to providing you with the best possible service when we resume operations.
-When Will My Pre-Order Ship?
As detailed above, we were excited to receive all the new varieties as germination testing had been completed much earlier than stated. All pre-orders will be fulfilled as soon as I am done counting and labeling all the seeds. Orders will be shipped out on or around Nov. 11th.
Where Is My Order With The New Seed Varieties?
We want to address the concerns that some of our valued customers have raised regarding their missing preorders. Please rest assured that no preorders have gone missing; we have a system in place to ensure the smooth delivery of your seeds.
When our pre-orders became available, we presented a "now or later" question for your convenience. This allowed you to specify whether you wanted the items that were already available to be shipped immediately or if you preferred to have them shipped with the preordered items. For those who selected the "preorder" option, please know that all available items were planned to be bundled with the new varieties, ensuring a consolidated and efficient shipment.
In cases where we did not receive a specific response regarding your shipping preference, we took the default approach of shipping them along with the new seeds. This process has been successfully executed for everyone who indicated they would like currently available items to be shipped immediately. Rest assured, these orders have been fulfilled and delivered promptly.
As for the preorders, they are on track to be shipped out around November 10th, ensuring that your new varieties will arrive by mid-November or shortly thereafter. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in this matter, and we look forward to providing you with the best possible service as we continue to grow and enhance our offerings.
Am I required to have an EIN or TAX ID# for wholesale tax exemption to buy seeds?
It's essential to understand that when businesses engage in wholesale purchases, having a tax identification number (Tax ID) is a legal requirement. This number is issued by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) after verifying that your business qualifies for tax exemptions.
This verification process ensures that you are a legitimate business entity eligible for tax-exempt purchases. When you place an order with a wholesale manufacturer or distributor, they will request your tax ID number.
As part of their legal obligations, wholesalers (Ash Hollow Farm LLC / Blue Pumpkin Seed Co) are required by the IRS to maintain records of these tax ID numbers. This practice is essential to demonstrate that they have exclusively conducted transactions with certified exempt customers, aligning with the tax regulations and exemptions in place.
So, if your business is involved in wholesale transactions with us, having a valid tax ID is not only a legal requirement but also a means to benefit from tax exemptions and ensure compliance with the law. It's crucial for us to maintain the proper documentation and follow the necessary procedures to conduct our wholesale business in a legal and transparent manner.
