Locals Only

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 BSB Genetics began?”

Hi, I’m Lee Mallett, owner of Birmingham Seeds Bank and my in-house brand of seeds ‘BSB Genetics’. I was born and have lived my entire life here in Birmingham, a true Brummie as the locals would say, with a fantastic family and network of friends behind me. I’m a dedicated father and 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. I studied art after finishing school in 96 through the late 90’s but ended up working for a car manufacturer until a works injury forced me to change career paths in 2001. So wanting to work for myself I opened up a small indoor market retail business initially selling fancy dress costumes, jokes and novelty goods. The business ticked along and I continually ventured into new lines of trade over the following years, always looking for something different, as I strived to grow the business. In the early summer of 2006, I admit initially as a joke, I brought in my first packet of cannabis seeds, Cheese by Big Buddha Seeds, and put it on sale alongside the smoking accessories which by that time I had begun to trade in.

Fast forward a few years and I had hundreds of packets of seeds from all of the well known brands in stock and business was booming, people were travelling from far and wide to purchase. I built up a website in 2009/2010 which I named Birmingham Seeds Bank, the city name included so people would know where I was based and be able to find me more easily in searches. The demand continued to soar and and I was beginning to get noticed within the seeds trade. Then in 2013 I was contacted by a breeding organisation wanting me to be their official UK based distributor, but as the relationship with them grew over the following few months the business had became destined to venture in a new direction as I now had my first contact for buying in bulk seed. I quickly thought up my own brand name which was simple, the initials of the website name ‘BSB’ and added genetics which really seemed to work. And so in January 2014 BSB Genetics was born initially carrying a range of 7 feminised strains including the still popular Amnesia Haze. At that time I had 8 years first hand experience and a vast knowledge of the seeds trade which was to prove vital for the ongoing success of my new brand. I also knew the long term future of the business was better secured with the

creation of my own brand which of coursecouldn’t be sold elsewhere as competition.

“What are your plans for 2019; do youhave any upcoming productlaunches/releases or ideas you’reworking on that we should knowabout?”

Each year since the formation of BSBGenetics I have looked to implement a newchange, a new idea to help progress thebrand. 2019 is still early but there havealready been many exciting changes andthis year is set to be by far the most excitingyet.Firstly an additional 8 new strains havebeen added throughout the collection andthe ever popular ‘The Cali Collection’ line ofseeds, under BSB Genetics, has just had amassive overhaul with the introduction of 5new strains and 2 new pack sizes to choosefrom.

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.

I have already booked my spot and can now start to look at building up using the experience from the first expo for an even more successful event.

I am currently entering into negotiations with Britain’s leading wholesale distribution company so the entire range of seeds from BSB Genetics and The Cali Collection will be available to most if not all retail outlets across the UK. A brand new website is currently being built and for the first time online sales will be possible due to meeting up with a new banking partner at the Hemp and CBD Expo in March and I’m super excited for this. I’ll also be advertising in the soon to be released UKCSC magazine with 1 of 4 prime advertising spots which will really help to

get the word out about BSB Genetics and will be the first large scale advertisement of the brand. What happens after all of this I don’t know yet, but it’s a very exciting time for the business and I’m going to enjoy and make the most of every opportunity that comes my way.

“ Following your trade show debut at our March event, are you planning on attending any more shows this year?”

massive success for my brand and so I would be foolish to miss out on the opportunity to exhibit again at the September expo. I have already booked my spot and can now start to look at building up using the experience from the first expo for an even more successful event. I have also put my name down for a spot at Product Earth in August which will differ significantly due to that show being more consumer based making it also an exciting prospect which will help the brand growcommercially.

“ In your opinion, what would you say sets BSB genetics apart from other seed banks?”

For the first 5 years, and still continuing, BSB Genetics is run solely by myself, from packaging designs and strain information research, to the packing of seeds and the end sales and customer service and care, I oversee the entire process myself, so I know everything about every single packet of seeds ever produced carrying the BSB Genetics or The Cali Collection name. Every single seed is hand counted and seen by my own eye before it is packaged for sale, attention to detail for me, based on my previous arts interest and education, is everything, I’m guilty of being a perfectionist, so every single packet of

seeds made is exactly the same, as good as if they were done by a robot I like to believe. Social media, again is run solely by myself, so customers have that piece of mind that if they send a message its me who reads it and responds ensuring them the very best service and support as well as honest information, I’ll also answer messages that arrive at unsociable hours when I get the chance, I never really leave work. I believe my attention to detail and absolute commitment to my brand and the customer really sets me apart from the other brands we all know of.

As I stood there watching the 3rd placed award and the second placed award being taken I was pretty certain my chances had already passed, after all how does a business so tiny in comparison compete with the likes of Dinafem and Humboldt Seeds, not to mention Blimburn Seeds, Growers Choice and others present, all overseas giants in our trade. So when my name appeared on the screen and I was called out as the winner it was all a bit overwhelming, a real shock to the system, but at the same time an absolutely amazing moment and is the culmination of an immense amount of effort behind the scenes that doesn't get seen or appreciated. For me personally this success is down to the fight inside of me to be as successful as I can be for my children. It is that drive which 18 months ago after the toughest 6 months of my life where my business was put completely on the side and ignored while I fought for myself and my family to see my children again, has lead me to being here right now with not only a business that has kept going and pulled through, but a business that is now

award winning and thriving with many new roads having opened up before me. Picking up the award was one of the single greatest moments of my life and one I will forever remember and be proud of, especially when explaining it to my children as they grow older and have a better understand of the significance. Other stand out moments from the show were getting to meet and chat with Callie Blackwell who is such an amazing and inspirational lady who like myself does not stand down in the face of fear when it comes to helping point others in the right direction and giving them vital life changing advice and support. I also met the man behind Freeman Hemp who has been the most positive character I have ever had the pleasure of chatting with, just from standing besides him my spirits were raised. There were so many great people I met with at the show and I can't wait to do it all again in September.

“ The show was primarily put together to provide a strong B2B attendance for an industry in need. What are your thoughts on the ‘professional feel’ of the show, and how do you think this could benefit a local business such as your own?”

I found around 90+% of the people I spoke with at the show were from other businesses, mostly wanting to carry my brand within their own stores,

even businesses operating in different trades such as vape stores and CBD oil businesses wanting to start trading in cannabis seeds, so for the reach and branching out of my business the show has been a major success. The show was put together in a very professional way, it had a great feel about it and the businesses there have clearly put a lot of time and effort into the show to give it such a professional look with state of the art displays. I'll be investing more into the layout of my own unit at the September event over the coming months as I get my creative side going to really help give BSB Genetics a sharp look and feel.

“ The media were very curious about having Hemp & CBD products at the NEC and our industry has experienced a lot of attention over the past year or so. Are you experiencing the current spotlight on the cannabis industry as a positive step, or do you have concerns about the coverage you’ve seen?”

I think it's absolutely fantastic that so much attention is being paid towards our industry and all the sectors within, its helping the general public to get a better understanding of the plant we all are associated through which is at the heart of everything we do. I feel the old school 'anti-cannabis' media spotlight is really fading now, we are seeing so many positives stories of hope, encouragement and change on an almost daily basis now

has for 90 years been labelled by the mainstream media to be.I welcome more and more coverage of ourindustry and have been contacted by oneof the main Four terrestrial televisionchannels to soon take part in a series theyare running shining the light yet further onour industry with the promise of filmingwithin my Birmingham based shop and aninterview for the program.

Picking up the award was one of the single greatest moments of my life and one I will forever remember and be proud of,

“ Any final thoughts, Lee?”

I am absolutely thrilled that you are running a spread on myself and my brand in your upcoming July magazine and can't explain how grateful I am for what the March expo has already done for me in both a business and a personal way, I really do feel I'm now on a new path and it's very exciting to say the least. Something very important to me is always

involving my children as they grow into adults with my business, my eldest son who's 15 works for me in the shop on Saturday's and as my younger Two children grow older I want them to learn from my business and trade also. What I would like to see is the age limit for the next expo to be reduced slightly, unfortunately my son turns 16 on October 3rd which I think would be an ideal age limit as it will help better educate our youngsters if they can have involvement and input into the show. So one thing I would be very grateful of is if a pass could be given to my son to attend as an exhibitor with me at the next expo, it's something he dearly wants to be a part of and he already has a reasonable knowledge of my trade from near 12 months working within my shop.

LEE MALLETTFounder of b-s-b genetics

Interviewed by Rhiannon Smith