Building a Business from Nature: Kari W. Block’s Entrepreneurial Journey
| Case Code: LDEN092 Case Length: 08 Pages Period: 1990-2014 Pub Date: 2014 Teaching Note: Available |
Price: Rs.300 Organization : Earth-Kind Industry: Agriculture, Farm Equipment, Ware Housing Countries : USA Themes: Entrepreneurship |
Abstract Case Intro 1 Case Intro 2 Excerpts
Abstract
Earth-Kind, headquartered in Bismarck, North Dakota, in the USA, was founded in 1993 by Kari Warberg Block (Kari). Kari’s entrepreneurial journey started when she began selling potpourris and organic produce on her farm. She then went into manufacturing, selling a totally agriculture-based rodent repellant – Fresh Cab – that provided a non-messy, environmentally friendly solution to the rodent menace that plagues farms and homes the world over. In the process she also invested in the community by employing handicapped people and supporting family farms.
Kari began in a small way, working out of her home and involving her children and neighbors. But, by 2013, the business had grown tremendously and had a cumulative sale of US$40 million and annual revenue of US$ 5 million. In recognition of her achievement in running an environmentally and socially responsible business, Kari received awards and recognitions from several reputed organizations. Kari proved that a woman could be soft, caring, kind, and capable of helping humanity and still be a strong person.
Issues
The case is structured to achieve the following teaching objectives:
- How entrepreneurs go through an evolutionary process in their journey
- Why one model does not describe the framework of development of all entrepreneurial ventures; the uniqueness of each venture
- The capabilities entrepreneurs require at different phases of their journey
- How entrepreneurs build organizations using environmentally friendly solutions to common problems
- How leaders can create a super-ordinate goal for their people
Contents
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Introduction
Her Early Years
The First Brush with Entrepreneurship
Mice Under the Pant and an Opportunity
Tackling Challenges
Farmer in Charge
Expanding the Market and Business
Success
Looking Ahead
Exhibits
Keywords
Rodent ,Repellant, Agriculture-based, Sustainable, Lean, Green, Environmental–friendly, Community, E&Y Entrepreneurial Winning Women Program, Earth-Kind, Fresh Cab, Dayton Hudson, Environment Protection Agency, John Deere, Green America
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