Ben Busby-Collins started his organic soap company six years ago in his kitchen. Now, his company may be forced to close its doors if they can't raise the needed funds.
Ballard Organics announced today that they're in trouble and need community support to stay open. In a message to the community, Ballard Organics thanked the community for helping them grow as a business and asked for continued support.
"Your support allowed us to update our Ballard Organics soap line to attract more customers; it allowed us to create Seattle Organics, an affordable certified organic brand that reaches a wider population; it has allowed us to give back to our community through donations to food banks, schools, environmental causes, and to various charities including the Urban Rest Stop. Despite these collective achievements, we find our business struggling for survival. We are now reaching out to you, our dedicated community, to help us save our company by buying our Common Stock, supporting our product line, and spreading the word."
In a phone interview, owner Ben Busby-Collins said that a few years ago, the economy was good and business booming for Ballard Organics. They got caught up in the excitement of growth potential and moved into a large warehouse.
"It made sense then to move to the warehouse in which we're in now," he said. "But now with slower sales and higher overboard we're in a bun."
Busby-Collins explained that overhead from the larger facility combined with slower growth and struggling business partners put them in the tough situation they're in now.
The company has raised $51,000, one-third of what is needed to meet their minimum requirement. If they do not raise an additional $99,000 by the end of February, they may be forced to deal with an unwanted decision to close their doors.
"We do have steady, reliable business just not enough to sustain the size we're at now," he said.
The company planning to move to a smaller, more economically and environmentally sustainable warehouse and to not repeat the mistakes they made.
"I'm definitely nervous. I started this company six years ago in my kitchen. I love my product and want the company to succeed," Busby-Collins said.
"I'm just hoping to get the community investment we need to continue to offer our products," he said.
For more information on our Common Stock Option please visit our website at: www.ballardorganics.com/investors
