INTERVIEW
LOCALS ONLY: BIRMINGHAM’S B-S-B GENETICS ONE SMALL SEED BANK MAKING ONE BIG IMPRESSION Lee Mallet is the extremely dedicated founder of BSB Genetics, a Birmingham seed bank. We caught up with him following his debut at the March Hemp & CBD Expo, here’s what he had to say... “So Lee, tell me about yourself and how
Fast forward a few years and I had
creation of my own brand which of course
BSB Genetics began?”
hundreds of packets of seeds from all of the
couldn’t be sold elsewhere as competition.
well known brands in stock and business Hi, I’m Lee Mallett, owner of Birmingham
was booming, people were travelling from
“What are your plans for 2019; do you
Seeds Bank and my in-house brand of
far and wide to purchase.
have any upcoming product
seeds ‘BSB Genetics’.
I built up a website in 2009/2010 which I
launches/releases or ideas you’re
I was born and have lived my entire life
named Birmingham Seeds Bank, the city
working on that we should know
here in Birmingham, a true Brummie as the
name included so people would know
about?”
locals would say, with a fantastic family and
where I was based and be able to find me
network of friends behind me. I’m a
more easily in searches.
Each year since the formation of BSB
dedicated father and it’s my children who I
The demand continued to soar and and I
Genetics I have looked to implement a new
have drawn my strength from to always
was beginning to get noticed within the
change, a new idea to help progress the
strive to become more successful, they are
seeds trade.
brand. 2019 is still early but there have
the driving force behind the current success
Then in 2013 I was contacted by a breeding
already been many exciting changes and
of BSB Genetics.
organisation wanting me to be their official
this year is set to be by far the most exciting
I studied art after finishing school in 96
UK based distributor, but as the
yet.
through the late 90’s but ended up working
relationship with them grew over the
Firstly an additional 8 new strains have
for a car manufacturer until a works injury
following few months the business had
been added throughout the collection and
forced me to change career paths in 2001.
became destined to venture in a new
the ever popular ‘The Cali Collection’ line of
So wanting to work for myself I opened up
direction as I now had my first contact for
seeds, under BSB Genetics, has just had a
a small indoor market retail business
buying in bulk seed.
massive overhaul with the introduction of 5
initially selling fancy dress costumes, jokes
I quickly thought up my own brand name
new strains and 2 new pack sizes to choose
and novelty goods. The business ticked
which was simple, the initials of the
from.
along and I continually ventured into new
website name ‘BSB’ and added genetics
lines of trade over the following years,
which really seemed to work.
always looking for something different, as I
And so in January 2014 BSB Genetics was
strived to grow the business.
born initially carrying a range of 7
In the early summer of 2006, I admit initially
feminised strains including the still popular
as a joke, I brought in my first packet of
Amnesia Haze.
cannabis seeds, Cheese by Big Buddha
At that time I had 8 years first hand
Seeds, and put it on sale alongside the
experience and a vast knowledge of the
smoking accessories which by that time I
seeds trade which was to prove vital for the
had begun to trade in.
ongoing success of my new brand.
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I also knew the long term future of the
HEMP&CBDMAG
business was better secured with the
it’s my children who I have drawn my strength from to always strive to become more successful, they are the driving force behind the current success of BSB Genetics.
