|
Fuku-Bonsai
was once a leader in Hawaii's export nursery industry. We assisted in
writing the protocol that created the Hawaii State Burrowing Nematode
Nursery Certification Program in 1972 and was the first nursery
specifically built under that program in 1973. From the very
beginning, Fuku-Bonsai was different as we never produced plant
commodities sold through plant brokers.
We produced only branded value-added products and became committed to highest quality, personalized service, and customer success. We shipped through the US Postal system and air freighted large international shipments. We sold by retail mail-order, through a widely scattered team of point-of-sale authorized retailers and representatives and became one of the first in the industry to switch to Federal Express. We incorporated in 1985 to build the Kona Fuku-Bonsai Center and faced exciting challenges. But disaster struck in 1989 and 1990 when nursery plants began to die or became stunted. In time, we came to understand that the cause of our problems was defective Benlate fungicide that had been contaminated with high-tech pesticides that are banned for use in the United States but made in the same DuPont facility for sale in Europe. There were over 5,000 lawsuits. Fuku-Bonsai cooperated with the scientists at the University of Hawaii who were able to discover the cause of the problems and their publication provided evidence that played a part of most of the other plaintiffs earning settlements. But it came too late for Fuku-Bonsai who was already in Chapter 11 Bankruptcy. Eventually we paid off all creditors 100% + interest and the bankruptcy was canceled. Fuku-Bonsai continues to seek fraud damages from DuPont in Federal Court. More information is widely available by going to the search engines and inserting the keywords: "DuPont Benlate Fraud."
|
| FUKU-BONSAI RECOVERS!
With limited funds and contamination residue throughout the nursery, we successfully switched production to Dwarf Schefflera. Over several years we learned to grow it as a specialty crop that is ideal for True Indoor Bonsai. This required a new type of niche marketing program and we were successful in building www.fukubonsai.com into the largest bonsai resource on the Internet. The shear volume of content information created solid credibility. Dwarf Schefflera is ideal for learning bonsai as it is a proven durable houseplant that will grow indoors, is more trainable with faster growth and ideal for creating tropical banyan tree stylings. We created "SUMO!" (short and stout), "ROOTS!" (innovative elegant banyans), "HAWAIIAN DRAGON!" (twisty-twirly fun bonsai), to add to our root-over-rock "KEIKI BONSAI." These were offered in smaller Living Lovable sizes that with a #8 Conversion Kit is an ideal intermediate workshop that is proving popular with bonsai clubs and educational institutions. We have begun to mature the new styles in larger #8LS Living Sculpture" and have begun prototypes of a still larger #17LS Living Sculpture. These compliment our Custom Collection and oldest Premium Private Collection. Although the creative quality is outstanding, the costs to produce Dwarf Schefflera is too high and the profit margin too small to provide the needed resources to become a multi-generational community-oriented Hawaiian corporation. Fortunately, our second major specialty THE AMAZING HAWAIIAN MICRO-LOBSTERS! is producing exciting results! With careful test-marketing with our mail order and Internet customers, we've identified areas that needed improvements. We continue to emphasize not to over feed. We incorporate pipipi snails for crystal clear tanks and include larger Micro-Lobster populations. The 3rd edition Micro-Lobster Breeder Tank Handbook has a lot more information. In keeping faith with our customers, at a modest cost, we provide personalized service including even rehabilitating and restoring tanks that have crashed due to over feeding. We are committed to customer success! With the confidence that our Micro-Lobster units are now the finest on the market, we formally introduced them at the MidPac Horticultural Expo!
|
|
|
PARTICIPATING IN THE
INDUSTRY AGAIN!
Rebuilding and reinventing Fuku-Bonsai took all of our energy, focus and resources and we greatly reduced our industry participation. But as we completed our recovery, it was time to participate again in HENA's 10th Anniversary 2005 MIDPAC Horticultural Expo held in Hilo October 24 to 28, 2005. Sugar was once the king and the sole major industry in our district. Since 1973 the certified nursery industry has grown and now produces a significantly larger annual gross sales than Puna Sugar Company which began closing in the 1970's and 1980's. Federal Express has played a significant role in the industry's success and the special group rate given members of the Hawaii Shippers Association allows us to ship unique Fuku-Bonsai True Indoor Bonsai and Micro-Lobsters to individual retail customers or direct to area-exclusive Authorized Retailers or Fuku-Bonsai representatives. There's a greater amount of interaction with the University of Hawaii and academia in general as the various industry leaders partner with researchers to create new products (such as our Micro-Lobsters) for the market. Based upon the inquires received, it is likely that we have sold the bulk of our new production. We will again reinstate the Fuku-Bonsai Authorized Retailer Program and give priority to those accounts committing to a long-term repeat business relationship. Those who qualify for wholesale pricing but not meeting the frequency standards will be supplied on an "as available" basis. Wholesale inquires are invited. The minimum wholesale order is just 12 units of any mix of sizes of True Indoor Bonsai and/or Micro-Lobsters. To receive wholesale information, account must verify business status and provide full name, title or position, name of store or business, address, phone, FAX, URL, and type of business. Please contact me personally at david@fukubonsai.com Fuku-Bonsai was able to survive, rebuild and reinvent itself due to the solid support and assistance from all facets of the industry and Big Island community. As we complete our recovery and start our expansion, we thank everyone for their support, encouragement, and assistance! MAHALO! ~~~David W. Fukumoto, president & founder
|
