Dick and Pat Turanski created GloryBee in 1975. After selling locally made honey out of their garage, and with a vision of providing quality ingredients to everyone, Dick and Pat expanded their company to more than just honey. By partnering with healthy, natural companies, the business has received awards and recognition from major manufacturers that use GloryBee as the middleman to sell their products. Dick and Pat started their company with a strong mission of remaining “not a cost competitor, but a quality competitor.” Today, GloryBee has 27 flavors of infused honey, has over 3,000 products available, and reaches 17 countries worldwide.
Bonnie Larson spoke on behalf of GloryBee, describing their strategy and subdivisions of operation. By breaking their sales down to four main forms of distribution, GloryBee is able to reach countless customers and provide excellent products around the world. Retail is set up with an online catalog. Wholesale products can be bought directly from their store, located on the outskirts of Eugene. Bulk products, such as trail mix, oats and granola, are sold to local stores such as Market of Choice. Finally, distributor means that companies sell to GloryBee and will in turn be sold by GloryBee. Bonnie describes this strategy “like Whack-A-Mole, (where) GloryBee can play the game between all forms.”
By sticking to key aspects such as quality and locality, GloryBee represents a true Oregon brand. The products and businesses that GloryBee chooses to associate themselves with are all natural, earthy companies. With “no intention of selling out to large corporations,” and now making an effort to rebrand themselves, it appears that GloryBee will be around to provide healthy living for a long, prosperous time.
