Well its been about a month since we started producing logs for retail sale from our kiln, and effectively we are a complete startup business in that respect, we have no previous customers whatsoever. So, we have to find new customers, persuade them that our logs are worth trying and provide a service that is second to none so that people recommend us and they come back for more……

We have achieved all of the above in the first month, having sold 50+ bags, established 2 very good wholesaler accounts, where we supply bulk volume to the supplier who then sells then onto the end user. As you might imagine, for a wholesaler to take our product, they have to be convinced that the product is good, we can supply the product when they need it and that we can be consistent with the quality that we produce.

We also have 4 stove companies recommending our logs to their own customers. The same basics are required for them to recommend us. Iif they had any doubts about the quality of the product or our ability to provide the service they would expect to provide if they did it themselves, then they would not recommend us. We have an obligation to these companies to ensure that we meet the high standards that we have set ourselves.

The feedback from customers has been superb. Firstly, we have hit the nail squarely on the head with the barrow bags. The fact that we can get down the side of a house, stack the bags neatly in the garage/shed instead of dropping the load on the pavement or driveway outside, and leaving the householder to spend 3 hours shifting it by wheelbarrow!

We don’t charge a deposit for the bags. I was asked why. I said “I will pick them up when we deliver your next order. If my logs are no good and you don’t reorder, it will cost me the bags as well. I’m not worried. I know how good my logs are.”

In the space of just a month, five of our new customers have already reordered. They think our logs are “awesome” (and thats a quote from a customer!) The wholesalers have put in repeat orders and things are getting busier and busier. The only doubt I have on the horizon is whether we can keep up with the demand for the remainder of the winter as it takes a week to dry each load in the kiln, and we don’t have any volume of finished stock this year as we only started one month ago. Next year, we can can start to build up stock in the Autumn and service a greater demand, but we are already taking orders for the wood being dried in the kiln NOW which wont be ready until Monday/Tuesday!

Our aim is to be the premier supplier of logs to the local area. We have a fantastic product, guaranteed to be under 20% moisture content, so you can buy it now and burn it now. Heat, not smoke, comes from our logs. We are in this for the long haul, we have invested heavily in the kiln and the boimass boiler and the processing plant, so it is not a passing fad for us, we will be doing this long into the future. We want to gain lots of local customers and keep them. We want our customers to know they can rely on us to supply them when they need it, with a product that they can use straightaway at a competitive price.

Our logs sales are on fire!!