Vegan Business Ideas

[gertvegan]

If you had the money, what kind of vegan business would you set up ? Where is there a hole in the market ? What gap could be filled ? What kind of business would you like to see that isn't available at the moment ?

This could be an online business or something local, a twist on an existing business or something completely original.

I ask because someone at work asked me the other day, not because I've just won the lotto.

Any ideas or thoughts ??

[feline01]

I'd open a vegan hotel in NYC. B&B's are okay but I hate having to be nice in the morning to strangers and sleeping in their houses. I like the anonymity of hotels and I bet lots more people do. It would be a smallish boutique hotel and have a vegan cafe as well as a vegan gift shop of course. There would be a room where functions could be held ie vegan weddings, lectures, expositions etc. And there would be a roof-top garden where organic produce would be grown.

This will happen once I win the lotto assuming I win at least 4 million dollars!!

[phillip888]

I would open a vegan fair that would travel around the country, like a circus but without the cruelty, and a team of vegan chefs and experts. There would be huge banquets and puppet shows, and free vegan books created to show the fun side of veganism, and of course a huge parade in every town we visit...

[Kelzie]

I would loovve to do a vegan line of food. I know there's some out there, but if there was a bigger one, it would be cheaper. The one's in my co-op (amy's, etc) are really expensive. I cook all the time, and I think it would be great if there were cheaper vegan frozen dinners, etc. I, ummm actually have thought a lot about this, I've even designed my first couple commercials (well in my head of course ). Kind of like those foods advertising low fat commercials:

Typical American guy eating food with his girlfriend, reporter rushes up to him

Reporter: Sir, I see your eating Kelzie's Vegan Cuisine. Are you an animal activist?

Dude: Umm no..

Reporter: I see, so you must be concerned with how animal production is destroying the environment?

Dude: Well, no...not really

Reporter: Then you must have health concerns about putting unatural animal products in your system?

Dude: Dude, it just tastes good. *rolls his eyes and walks away*

Girlfriend mouths "I'm sorry"

I'm such a dork.

[drummer]

I have already got the first ever soft serve soy ice cream. Yes, it's just like Mr Whippy but it's vegan. I've even got an ice cream truck dedicated to it. The problem is marketing the product. The vegan festival in Birmingham was interested in it, however how am I supposed to get all the way over to England to sell it?
Good things about the soft serve soy ice cream are:

It tastes great, it has no 'soy' aftertaste
I'ts white, white white! not the colour of soy beans
It's creamy and sweet
It is made from freshly squeezed whole orgainc soy beans, unlike dairy soft whip which is reconstituted powder - 'just add water'.
It's totally vegan
It has no added colours, preservatives and only minimum emulsifiers are used
It tastes like soft serve ice cream, not a cheap imitation
Another great thing is that you can order a cone with chocolate dip and nuts, double cones, sundaes with topping and nuts or fruit. i'm also thinking about selling thick shakes, soy protein shakes and fruit smoothies as well.

One of the problems is that Australia is too behind the times for this kind of product. It belongs in Britain, Europe and America. The Aussie people aren't very interested in it. It would do so much better overseas.

[feline01]

I'd fly to Australia just for one of those soft-serve cones , I had excellent "vegan" soft-serve from a place in Philadelphia, US but turned out they had lied and it wasn't vegan . And the vegan oat soft-serve they sell in NYC is sometimes good and sometimes awful

[tails4wagging]

I would, most definately, open a fund for animal rights here in the UK to have fair representation in the legal system if they get arrested. Employing the likes of Michael Mancer QC to represent them. Only the best barristers.

[Roxy]

I would open a vegan grocery store with a vegan cafe attached, in my local neighbourhood.

[Tigerlily]

I have a similar idea as Roxy.

A vegan and organic grocery with a vegan deli.

Actually, city council wants to bring a grocery store to the downtown area. I think it would be so cool if a vegan and organic one opened up! Oh I wish I had money and no school to be bothered with.

[Gorilla]

i think Brighton could really do with a totally vegan restaurant but i'm not sure how well it'd do, as so many restaurants keep closing down here, even the veggie ones

i wouldn't have a clue about running a successful restaurant anyway

[VeganMum]

Id like a vegan bakery/coffee shop where I could also sell cookies/dog treats and you could sit and drink coffee with your companion dogs and not have to leave them outside.
I do make vegan animal treats and donate them to the local animal charity shop and they go down a treat - would be nice to have the coffee shop to go with it though

[gertvegan]

I have already got the first ever soft serve soy ice cream. Yes, it's just like Mr Whippy but it's vegan.

Ain't that weird, I've also had this idea, but I promise not to call it Mr Hippy.

[Imapeach]

One of the problems is that Australia is too behind the times for this kind of product. It belongs in Britain, Europe and America. The Aussie people aren't very interested in it. It would do so much better overseas.

Heya wait a minute... I'd rally behind a product like that! I like the smoothies idea too. Are you selling it anywhere at the moment?

There is a cafe in Brisbane which is looking to franchise - "Veg Out" it's called. I would definitely consider this if I had the funds. However, I do wish there was a vegan grocery store, which sold exclusively vegan products. It would be so nice to just walk into a shop and have free choice of EVERYTHING on the shelves.

[feline01]

There is an all-vegan grocery store in Portland, Oregon US which I would love to visit but unfortunately, it's 3,000 miles away.

[Peas'nHominy]

It would be so nice to just walk into a shop and have free choice of EVERYTHING on the shelves.

Yes!!!

I try to get through a grocery store with four kids, having to read the ingredients (unless it's one of my regular items)...ugh! Not to mention that the younger ones of course beg for the pretty colorful items that are SO not healthy nor vegan, while some ding-dong-thinks-he-knows-it-all-omni that I've never met before in my life tries to give me some kind of lecture about "oh, but it is healthy, how could you not know that, blah blah blah"!!

Oh - and I would add a really cool babysitting area, so the kids could have a great time and the parent could shop more easily.

AAAAAND, I would NOT put the junk food and "questionable magazines" right there where you (and your kids!) have to look at them while waiting who-knows-how-long in the check-out! Arrrrgh! *pant*pant*pant*

...okay, I'm done now 'til next time

[Poison Ivy]

There is an all-vegan grocery store in Portland, Oregon US which I would love to visit but unfortunately, it's 3,000 miles away.

Have you seen these lip balms that they sell, they're so cool (and very funny)!!

[Geoff]

There is an all-vegan grocery store in Portland, Oregon US which I would love to visit but unfortunately, it's 3,000 miles away.

Whingeing again Feline?

[Evilfluffbunny]

I really wanted to open a vegan cafe-shop - either a cruelty-free shop with take-away/freshly made food section, or a cafe with a shop section. I actually looked into it, but the start up costs would be outrageous. Rent & rates in town are sky-high, but you might not get the customers somewhere cheaper and quieter. You can get grants and loans for things like that, but it's too risky if it were to fail

[Peas'nHominy]

I really wanted to open a vegan cafe-shop - either a cruelty-free shop with take-away/freshly made food section, or a cafe with a shop section. I actually looked into it, but the start up costs would be outrageous. Rent & rates in town are sky-high, but you might not get the customers somewhere cheaper and quieter. You can get grants and loans for things like that, but it's too risky if it were to fail

Maybe conduct a survey in the area to get an idea if the consumers would want it? This cafe-shop sounds GREAT to me. (I'd go, if I were in the area...well, obviously I'm not...)

[Seaside]

There used to be a nice vegan/animal rights TV show on the local county governement cable channel. It was only 1/2 hour long, but the first half would be an interview with a person active in some aspect of the animal rights movement, and the second half featured this sweet little lady cooking up a vegan dish and sharing the recipe. It isn't on anymore, and that is what I would like to produce if I had the money. I would like it to be an hour long, and give the chef a real kitchen, not just a hot plate, and get it on the public TV networks like Jacque Pepin or Martin Yan are. Even a vegetarian cooking show would be better than nothing.

[bulletproof]

yes! vegan whippy is needed! has anyone tried the toffutti cornettos and ice lollies though? those things are gorgeous!

infact as you were talking about that i was reminded of the smashing pumpkins video (i forget which song) where they drive round in the ice cream van and paint it all these crazy colours.

i would love to tour europe, selling world famous ice cream, in a crazy van. *contemplates*

and make obscure flavoured ice cream too.. like.. um.. nag champa flavour?! hm.. maybe not.. it works as a smell though doesn't it! *lights incense*

[Evilfluffbunny]

Maybe conduct a survey in the area to get an idea if the consumers would want it? This cafe-shop sounds GREAT to me. (I'd go, if I were in the area...well, obviously I'm not...)

Yeah, that's a good idea It's annoying as I'm sure it would work (especially in the town which is always full of students etc), but I still don't think I could ever afford the outlay

[adam antichrist]

One of the problems is that Australia is too behind the times for this kind of product. It belongs in Britain, Europe and America. The Aussie people aren't very interested in it. It would do so much better overseas.

FRanchise, VD! Franchise!

I myself would start a vegan national socialist party. I'd use the strength of my vegan stormtroopers to intimidate the media into running stories about how bad animal products are for you, and how unnecessarily expensive vegan products are because the evil meat industries try and squash us etc etc. Then I'd get elected fuhrer and put stupidly high taxes on everything not vegan and after a few years of brainwashing the general public we'd have a crystalnacht where every fkn non vegan fast food restaurant in the country gets their windows smashed.
I wouldn't invade poland but.

[Seaside]

Then I'd get elected fuhrer and put stupidly high taxes on everything not vegan and after a few years of brainwashing the general public we'd have a crystalnacht where every fkn non vegan fast food restaurant in the country gets their windows smashed.

[snaffler]

Alternative Clothing for vegans everything is to geared towards the main stream and all the vegans I know as a person are either punks, metal heads, rastas or goths they dont want to buy trev coats or loafers.

[spo]

I have already got the first ever soft serve soy ice cream. Yes, it's just like Mr Whippy but it's vegan. I've even got an ice cream truck dedicated to it. The problem is marketing the product. The vegan festival in Birmingham was interested in it, however how am I supposed to get all the way over to England to sell it?
Good things about the soft serve soy ice cream are:

It tastes great, it has no 'soy' aftertaste
I'ts white, white white! not the colour of soy beans
It's creamy and sweet
It is made from freshly squeezed whole orgainc soy beans, unlike dairy soft whip which is reconstituted powder - 'just add water'.
It's totally vegan
It has no added colours, preservatives and only minimum emulsifiers are used
It tastes like soft serve ice cream, not a cheap imitation
Another great thing is that you can order a cone with chocolate dip and nuts, double cones, sundaes with topping and nuts or fruit. i'm also thinking about selling thick shakes, soy protein shakes and fruit smoothies as well.

One of the problems is that Australia is too behind the times for this kind of product. It belongs in Britain, Europe and America. The Aussie people aren't very interested in it. It would do so much better overseas.

Dear Vegan Drummer:
You just made me soooo hungry!! I wish you were here on Long Island--I'd be at your truck every day
We need creative Vegans like you to help with the new food ideas!!
Good on ya, mate!
spo

[phillip888]

veganmart- Like Target/Kmart for vegans

I would shop there.

If it was big and carries vegan items that regular joe slob would use, then it would have a wide appeal and serve a specific market, while not being so scummy. There would also be a vegan playland!

[feline01]

veganmart- Like Target/Kmart for vegans

I would shop there.

If it was big and carries vegan items that regular joe slob would use, then it would have a wide appeal and serve a specific market, while not being so scummy. There would also be a vegan playland!

I'd be there in a second, as long as the business practices weren't like those other big chain stores, particularly evil Walmart. It would be heaven shopping for all vegan household goods, non-sweatshop clothes and housewares etc. And the vegan playland could do birthday parties for the kiddies!!

[Michelle]

Now...I was thinking along the lines of the TV show, too. Or, I would like to buy a video billboard and run "Meet Your Meat" (or some other video that show's how meat is "made" from baby animal to packaging) on it 24/7....put it right by Wal-Mart (which always has a McDonald's in or near it) so that it would get PLENTY of exposure. So...either people would have to notice it...or stop going to that Walmart and McDonald's...it's a win-win either way LOL Now...if I can just get enough money to buy and run the billboard and pay off the politicians and churches so they'll let me get away with it...Mwaaaa ha ha ha ha.

Off topic, but...Got any idea what kind of funny looks I get in small-town Alabama when I tell people that I haven't been to a Walmart in half a year? (I ran in there late one night to get one item back in October and I feel terrible for having to even admit that much...arrrgh!) I don't know one single person that doesn't go to Walmart besides myself. Most people I know go 3 or 4 times a week!!!!

[drummer]

Yes, I'm glad some of you are interested in the ice cream. I thought of doing a franchise with it, but I can't in Australia because Australia is stuck in the 12th century. Most people don't even know what soy milk is, and if they do they say they hate it even if they haven't even tried it. I think it would do well in Britain and America, where there are more vegans. I see you Americans already have a vegan jerky. Now that's technology that can be appreciated.
I have not made any of the ice cream recently, however my partner and I have developed a standard formula which tastes the same, it never varies - it always tastes great! We are also thinking about selling the mix to ice cream shops who already have soft serve machines. There was a shop in Chadstone, Victoria, who were very interested.
Anyway, I am not sure how I could get a lisence to sell ice cream overseas!!! How could I do that?! I have no idea. If I could get my ice cream to every vegan in Britain, America and Europe I'd be happy.

[clawsy]

New Zealand- vegan cat n Dog food. There is none i can find .........not at the organic health food shops and not locally online that i can see.
I would like to import this for myself and others but dont have the money.... It would be nice to make some locally, perhaps buy the vitamins etc and produce it here in NZ...sell it to NZers. I imagine it would require testing to ensure it is ok for the animals health requirements/vitamins etc..might be easier simply to import it all.

[cowpie]

Yes, I'm glad some of you are interested in the ice cream. I thought of doing a franchise with it, but I can't in Australia because Australia is stuck in the 12th century. Most people don't even know what soy milk is, and if they do they say they hate it even if they haven't even tried it. I think it would do well in Britain and America, where there are more vegans. I see you Americans already have a vegan jerky. Now that's technology that can be appreciated.
I have not made any of the ice cream recently, however my partner and I have developed a standard formula which tastes the same, it never varies - it always tastes great! We are also thinking about selling the mix to ice cream shops who already have soft serve machines. There was a shop in Chadstone, Victoria, who were very interested.
Anyway, I am not sure how I could get a lisence to sell ice cream overseas!!! How could I do that?! I have no idea. If I could get my ice cream to every vegan in Britain, America and Europe I'd be happy.

Vegandrummer.....your idea sounds very appealing. If I had the money, I'd back you. Why don't you consider selling the mix? Try writing to some pre-established vegan companies and see if they're interested. They just might fund you, you never know. If I saw a vegan ice cream mix sitting on the shelves of my health food store, I'd definitely buy it. Does it work in a regular ice cream machine or would you have to have special equipment for making it at home?

[vegancrusaders]

I would start 100% vegan nofat chesse cake bar made out of tofu on a ginger crust with a frozen mango toping, market it to the fat people.

[Imapeach]

Vegan Tim-Tams!!!!!!

[RockyRaccoon]

Vegan Tim-Tams!!!!!!

What are Tim-Tams???

[Imapeach]

What are Tim-Tams???

What are Tim-Tams?

Tim Tams are the sole item I actually miss from my ovo-lacto days
Well, actually, I should point out the Dick Smith rip-off are superior to the Arnott's brand, what with Arnotts being evil and selling out our australian icon!

Anyways, they're a chocolately kind of biscuit basically. However, they're designed in such a fashion that one may use them as a straw to suck up hot chocolate, coffee or tea. Thus the term "Tim Tam Slam".

They're also famous for having 11 in a packet. So when you share between two people, there's the inevitable argument about who gets to have the extra?

Giving them up is the one "sacrifice" I've made for the vegan cause.

How dramatic

[DoveInGreyClothing]

OOooh, I've had this idea for aaages, a fairtrade, organic, vegan department store with aforementioned food dept, cafes, lorica boutiques(oh! to try on shoes!), beauty salon & cosmetic dept... no copyright on that, just open up near Paisley thanx!

[TheFirstBus]

I hate to drag up this long dead thread but I have had this idea for a while. I was looking over levis website and they have like 60 different pairs of jean and I thought why can't vegans who want sweatshop free organic jeans have 60 variaties to choose from. If you go to most of the organic vegan sites you have "classic" or "regular fit". So I would just advertise and sell the jeans as high quality designer jeans but the difference is they are organic and sweatfree.

[cali02]

I've been told that there is a HUGE hole in the market with regards to saving money while eating healthy and running a household. I help others start their own businesses / franchise using a vendor that manufactures quality vegan whole food herbs called Sunrider International. As a pioneer in the health food industry, Sunrider continues to lead the way in manufacturing the finest herbal products. The compensation plan is phenomenal! You can take your business anywhere. Have a home based business even with kids! Wouldn't it be great get vegan products and non-toxic, safe household cleaners and get money back for using them? Sunrider allows this to be a reality! I love it!

Sunrider offers a lifestyle that few companies can match. Sunrider's business opportunity helps you reach your goals of financial freedom and success. Flexible work hours and a stable income become reality. Best of all, you can achieve a better life by enjoying and sharing the safest, most effective products for your health, family and home.

Sunrider® products have won prestigious awards for their quality and innovation. Unlike most companies that private-label, Sunrider owns and operates more than one million square feet of state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in California, Tianjin, Huang Pu, Singapore and Taiwan. In 2004, Sunrider purchased an additional 850,000 square feet of manufacturing space in Los Angeles.

In the health and beauty industry, owner expertise is especially important to evaluate the quality and effectiveness of herbs. Founder and Chairman of the Board Dr. Tei Fu Chen is a pharmacist and a world-renowned herbalist.

President Dr. Oi-Lin Chen is a licensed medical doctor in the United States.
Drs. Chen lead a team of scientists to research, formulate and manufacture all of Sunrider's innovative products. Drs. Chen and their family personally use the entire line of Sunrider® products.

Combining Chinese and western medicines, Dr. Tei Fu Chen developed the Philosophy of Regeneration, the basis for all Sunrider® products. The Philosophy of Regeneration is the belief that our bodies have the necessary tools to maintain and regenerate themselves. Sunrider® products are designed to nourish and cleanse the body-to keep a balance between yin and yang and the body's five systems.

That's my ideal life...to work from home, eat well and raise healthy children

[sylkan]

I would become a vegan chef and open up a vegan restaurant in my town (there aren't even any vegetarian places here and we're a capital city ). I would have regular lunch and dinner menus and on fridays we would have a medieval vegan feast (a bit of an oxy-moron ) and everyone would eat with their hands or with a big trencher. The whole place would be rearranged to look like a hall and we would have costumes for the servers and everything. It would be reservations only. Either that or the feast would happen only on the night before each sabbat.

[littleTigercub]

I would open a vegan grocery store with a vegan cafe attached, in my local neighbourhood.

I would do exactly the same - I would also have vegan and animal rights books and mags which people can read in the cafe and purchase.

And once a week, my friend who is a nutritionist could come in and give lessons in vegan nutrition.

littleTigercub

[sylkan]

New Zealand- vegan cat n Dog food. There is none i can find .........not at the organic health food shops and not locally online that i can see.
I would like to import this for myself and others but dont have the money.... It would be nice to make some locally, perhaps buy the vitamins etc and produce it here in NZ...sell it to NZers. I imagine it would require testing to ensure it is ok for the animals health requirements/vitamins etc..might be easier simply to import it all.

I'm not sure that I completely agree with the idea of vegan dog and cat food. Cats in particular are total carnivores. It really is their nature. I don't really think that we should alter their diets to appease our own personal ethics. In fact, I don't think it would be ethical especially considering the potential health damages inherent in introducing proteins that carnivores are not designed to eat. After all, isn't that why many of us are vegan in the first place? We're not carnivores so why should we eat meat?

That being said, I don't really agree with a food industry that markets the rejects of 'human' food to our pets. If we are really disturbed by the idea of feeding livestock to our animal friends (livestock that they wouldn't have a hope in hell of bringing down on their own), then we should either allow them to eat only what they can hunt for themselves or not invite them into our homes.

[littleTigercub]

I agree. I have noticed that there are already threads on vegan pets, and I never replied to them because I didn`t want to bother reading 10 pages of what was already said.

But I think respecting other species is also about respecting their nature, and (while I have read that dogs can easily sustain a vegan diet) cats are and remain carnivores. As I would not feed my kid junk that makes it ill, I feel we should not feed our beloved kitties stuff that may harm them, too.

littleTigercub

[rach71]

I recently quit my job trading (total capitalist, market driven, male dominated job-nothing against men, just the worst of men ) so I could stop getting to work at 6am and actually do something I want to with my life. My initial idea was to design and make my own clothes and sell them on consignment and online since I've been making my own clothes since high school 10+ years ago. But I'm torn because I would love to do something vegan.

I was thinking about vegan clothes or maybe pleather jackets/skirts/pants etc; I had even thought about vegan catering. Does anyone have any ideas on what may be a good vegan business? I would prefer not to have to lease a space since I am not sure how much longer I will be living in Victoria. As much as I love it here, I am a born and raised Torontonian, where I lived for 26 years and although I doubt I'll head back there, I really love and miss the city

Any ideas or imput would be greatly appreciated.

[Bodybuilder]

I'd also like to quit my regular job and I plan on it once I sell enough movies. I started a vegan company in 2002, Vegan Bodybuilding & Fitness. I got tired of regular jobs and I was just interested in starting my own business. It has taken a while to get it off the ground, especially since mine is such a specific target market, but we're finally making progress with our new movie Vegan Fitness Built Naturally.

For 5 years I sold vegan fitness clothing (and still do) but the movie really got out there with a product that was super unique. There are a bunch of vegan clothing companies out there, but hardly any vegan movies.

So maybe something to do with filmmaking would be good. Books and movies tend to do really well in the vegan community.

Clothing is also great and if you do something like that, I know a bunch of companies and individuals that might be able to help market your stuff. I would do the same, promoting it on my own website.

Vegan companies are really fun to run. It is a nice feeling knowing your "work" is making a difference for both animals, and humans...and of course the planet as a whole.

If I can assist in any way, please let me know.

Robert Cheeke
www.veganbodybuilding.com (robert@veganbodybuilding.com)

I'm also your new myspace friend

[rach71]

Hey Robert, thanks so much for the ideas and offer, you are awesome!
I'm sure I could use your help along the way and I'll let you know. I had actually thought about a book since people always say write what you know and being a vegan is something I know well so... we'll see. I've also got a bunch of clothing design ideas so I'll weigh all my options and see what the best one is.

[Bodybuilder]

Cool, best of luck. Feel free to get in touch anytime with questions or whatever. I hope everything works out well for you.

[veganbikerboy]

I am lucky enough to have my own company; although what we do isn't directly promoting the Vegan cause, it is vegan friendly and puts me in a position (financially) to support things that do promote the cause.

Additionally, the profile i find i have from running my own business does allow me to talk directly to non-vegans as a person they respect which i feel allows me to have influence (sorry don't mean to sound patronising but hopefully you know what i mean).

Although i have a non vegan business partner and non vegan employees i can push my influence on to them and the company. As we grow (more cash becomes available) i can enforce all vegan safety kit (boots etc) which i have not been in a position to do in the past.

I haven't found business easy as a person with such strong ethics; i have to make decesions for the good of the business, there is the old capitalist debate, which companies to accept work from, who to employ, the amount of fuel we use, the amount of paper we use, paying insurance premiums to non ethical financial companies - because of the specialist nature of what we do. The worst though is advising clients, most remediation decesions are money based and not necessarily the most environmentally friendly but to be fair to the clients we have to present all options.

sorry for the rant!

[veganbikerboy]

on the other hand if i could start any vegan business i would like an 'anti-ad' company. twisting and reversing popular tv and magazine ads and sending them out in primetime.

imagine images of distressed lab animals to the 'because your worth it' ad voice over / music

or open heart surgery images to the macdonalds ad voice over

what about sweatshops - 'just do it'

i'm sure something could be done with that purple cow in the milka ad

[feral]

Would have to be a vegan coffee shop, deli and clothing/footwear store in Belfast as eating out and getting decent vegan gear in Northern Ireland is really difficult.