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Maybe
the best idea is a combination of Jim's point #2 while keeping in mind Dan's
very realistic scenario below. Supply and demand has a huge role in the
economics of your decision, but by either method, you will probably only get two
or possibly three years of decent return on the investment you have made over
the years. Narda also has a point in flooding the market, but then you have
pretty much taken in the majority of royalties in one year.
Your
other option is of course to never release the plant except to those people you
trust on a personal level to not sell or share it with anyone else. All joking
aside, (and as much as I pester you every time I see you) I personally would
think it a shame to never have a chance at utilizing this plant in hybridizing
programs all over the world since it is absolutely spectacular! Don't take
this the wrong way, I know you have a family to feed (as I do), but would'nt it
be some payment to you that you have promoted your own hybridizing goals of
FLOWERS & BLOOMS and increase your own stature in the world of "The Hosta
People".... (you know, those people that other just want to sit and listen to
for one tidbit of knowledge, advise etc.)? I'm rambling... what ever you decide,
I hope that you come up with a solution that meets your financial goals and GETS
ONE IN MY GARDEN!!! :0)
Lori
Ran,
While I was putting ideas to paper, Dan beat me to a lot of what I
wanted to suggest. But let me add some suggestions anyway..
1. By requiring a signed form, this appears to be too one-sided to protect
the seller, you. Buyers might insist upon paying by check , requiring that
they be released from your agreement once you indorse their check
or share with anyone else any part of the money they give you for the hosta.
This carries negotiations too far to absurd limits of complexities
and becomes non-workable. I say forget such a signed form.
2.A sales agreement by you to limit sales in any one season to a
specific number (say 100) at a specific price (say 100 dollars for a two year
old plant) would provide a gross income of 10,000 dollars for the new plant
the first year.Is this not satisfactory for a new, outstanding plant? It seems
better than most outright single sales of such plants for the tissue
culture market. If you feel you can not sell 100 plants at this price, then
demand is not matched with supply and price., requiring that you modify
your sales agreement perhaps to a limit of 75 plants at 100 dollars(=
7500dollars gross) or 50 plants at 90 dollars ( =4,500 dollars gross) . The
plan for sales at a given price should be determined by you in order to allow
supply and demand come into play. This flexibility and gradual price changes
over time allows for simplicity without enforcement of one-sided ,
complex sales agreements to protect the seller.
3.It seems that a different sales plan will be needed each year to respond
to supply and demend which also changes each year.As a tc lab may become
involved with your plant in the future, this is to be expected and accepted by
both the seller and all buyers during the early years.
4. The above is what probably actually happens to some extent in the open,
changing hosta market. We have no control over this except in the
earliest years. Even then, control is not complete. We must accept these
economic and financial facts of life. And of course, we all know what has been
discussed herein.
I have just tried to put it into words on paper.
Jim
Hawes
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
Dan Nelson wrote:
Ran,How much money do you feel you should make on 'Oh My
Heart'. If you sold forty
at $150. each......that would bring in $6,000. Are you thinking maybe
$60,000.? The history of
hosta sales seem to reflect that no one gets rich selling
hostas....... And it's
hard for me to imagine thousands of people paying $150. each when such a
plant can be produced for just a few dollars. If you mention $150. for a hosta to people on the
street....you are going to get strange looks.......I'm not so sure these
strange looks aren't justified.. If you mention a $150. hosta to a hosta collector.........that
strange look will already be in their eye......before you open your
mouth...... I think most
hosta serious collectors are already into trading with other
collectors......and cutting the cost of their collections
drastically. It's all
about marketing anyway.....the hosta does not have to be that good.....it's
the marketing that counts.......look at Tattoo for instance......I got mine
as a bud cutting for free.........and 'Little Sun Spot' that I got for ten
dollars looks better. Then I got some 'Little Sun Spot' liners for $3.75
ea. Is getting rich on a
hosta cultivar just a pipe dream? I think it is. I
wish there was a way for Ran to make lots of money on 'Oh My Heart' and get
tens of thousands into peoples gardens......and even for sale at
Wal-Mart........I'm not sure there is....but I still hope he
does. I would like to see
great hostas.....at every mobil home in
America......great....inexpensive.....hostas.....everywhere.... It's going to happen to. One day. Hostas are just
too easy to propagate for it to happen any other
way. Dan
Nelson
----- Original Message -----
From: r*@netsync.net To: hosta-open@mallorn.com Sent:
Wednesday, July 11, 2001 8:19 AM Subject: Re: Oh My Heart
hosta
----- Original Message -----
From:
A*@nd.edu
To: hosta-open@mallorn.com
Sent: Tuesday, July 10, 2001 5:35
PM
Subject: Re: Oh My Heart
hosta S*@aol.com
wrote:
>
> Does it really flower that. Picture in
Hosta Library/ Thanks Chris
Wow! Is this one that is available or one that's still be nutured
along?
That is spectacular!
--
Anne
A*@nd.edu
229 DeBartolo
University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, IN 46556
219-631-8679
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