How to create links between beekeepers and consumers and promote the sale of French honey in short circuits? This is the question asked by Sophie Garre, a young Morbihan from Ploeren, before launching La Plateforme du Miel last year.
Manager of an exotic fruit export company and a communications consulting firm, Sophie Garre is an entrepreneur at heart. After studies in marketing and a master’s degree in agro-food, she trained to become an amateur beekeeper, at the Kerplouz high school in Auray (56) between 2018 and 2019. “During the first confinement, I discussed with friends beekeepers who told me expressed their difficulties in disposing of their stock. At the same time, I noticed that my friends bought their honey in supermarkets, which very often comes from abroad, or in organic stores, where it is very expensive, ”explains Sophie Garre. The young woman therefore had the idea of creating La Plateforme du Miel, designed as a connecting tool between the beekeeper and the consumer. Initially, the project started with 25 partners, approached by telephone. After a little over a year, 120 bee breeders are listed. “All the regions are represented, there are even two beekeepers in Corsica! », Specifies the Morbihanaise.
Simple operation
Each beekeeper with a Siret number can be referenced. He then submits an advertisement, corresponding to a type of honey, specifying certain indications such as the capacity of the jar, the possible mention of the product (PDO, IGP, AB, etc.), the texture or the method of sending and / or of withdrawal. “The first ad is free, but if the person wants to post another, I charge € 15,” explains Sophie Garre. Sellers are also free to choose the price of their products. In general, 1 kg jars of honey are sold between 12 and 15 €.
A marketing department available
The platform also offers a label creation service, especially intended for amateur beekeepers wishing a more professional and more attractive packaging for the consumer. “I established a partnership with an independent graphic designer. We offer 6 label models which are then personalized with information from the producer, for 150 euros ”. In addition, for around 1,200 euros, a professional bee breeder will be able to stand out with a unique visual identity, that is to say with a logo, a color palette and consistent typography.
A long-term project
Managing the platform requires Sophie Garre about 2 hours of daily work. Its objective is, for the moment, to develop the number of referenced beekeepers. The young entrepreneur also wants to continue to create partnerships with French companies, as she was able to do with Apiprotec, which offers beekeepers’ outfits with 100% French textiles. “I am also working on the site’s SEO to increase its visibility. It’s a long-term job. ”
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