“Fostering Meaningful Employment and Personal Success for Individuals

with Autism”

Social Enterprise “A small business with a big mission”

• Social Mission

– Employ five individuals who are on the Autism Spectrum in a variety of jobs within

the greenhouse, packing room, retail store, and IT department.

– Support transitioning students and other young adults with gaining the necessary

work experience and career training required to obtain meaningful employment in

careers of their choice.

– Establish a practical and emotional foundation for a lifetime of personal

independence

– Resource to Families, Schools and Employers - Uniting the community through

education, collaboration, career training, and advocacy

Discover Learn Work

Horticultural Business

• Horticultural Business

– We grow, cut, and package Roses, Lilies, and Gerberas within our historic greenhouse.

– We market our flowers primarily through wholesale, retail, website and special events channels.

– Proceeds from flower sales cultivate our mission. We are also able to serve individuals who have no

funding obtain career training services.

– Established as a non-profit entity.

• History

– Established in 2009 in Guilford, CT as a partnership between Ability Beyond and Pinchbeck Rose

Farm.

– A Family owned Rose business for over 80 years, embedded in CT agricultural tradition.

– Pinchbeck Rose Farm went out of business in 2008 succumbing to a changing industry and foreign

competition.

– $2+ Million Invested to Revitalize the Farm / Greenhouses.

• Funding

– Flower Sales

– State of CT Agricultural Grants

– Private Foundation Funding

– Employment Services and School Funding

Journey of the Start Up

• Challenges Faced

– Revitalizing the horticultural business, product is perishable with a growing cycle dependent on

sunlight.

– The demand for flowers is occasional with peaks around holidays and Valentine’s day; think about

how to generate income during the down time when flowers are still growing.

– High overhead in this business, due to labor costs and heating in the winter. Our competition can

sell cheaper because they don’t have those same costs.

– Embracing two simultaneous business activities; growing and selling of flowers and employment/

career training. Sometimes the right business decision is contradictory to the social mission.

– Creating a succinct and powerful message to generate awareness and sales.

• Lessons Learned

– The start up process is a journey, you must be adaptable and willing to shift your vision.

– Your products must have equal or superior quality, and be competitively priced in your market.

Be sure a market exists for your product. You cannot sell at a premium based upon cause.

– A solid business plan with defined operations, marketing, financials, etc…Be prepared to lose

money in the beginning.

– Create partnerships where ever possible, ask for help.

– Tell your compelling story and market, market, market.

Thank You!

www.RosesForAutism.com

Questions?