If truth be told, I’ve been saving this one up for St Patrick’s Day as it’s not only a cracking Irish start-up but it also has more than the requisite dose of Irish cheek to make any Paddy’s Day a success.
The Auld Sod Export Company is selling ‘official Irish dirt’ to Irish ex-pats and sentimental Irish-Americans. The dirt sells for around $10 a pound and the ‘many and varied’ potential uses include growing shamrocks (seeds are extra), planting trees or as part of Irish weddings and funerals.
Despite the inevitable references to the ‘Gift o’ the Gab’ and Irish Blarney that the idea elicits from everyone who hears about it (this site included), it turns out that selling dirt (Irish or otherwise) is a bit more complicated than you might first expect.
The company uses a patented system to ‘manufacture’ and package Tipperary’s finest sod and has gone to great lengths to ensure USDA approval. At present they have raised some €750,000 in funding and are targeting sales of €1.5M (around $2M) over the next 18 months.
Apparently the old saying is right – “where there’s muck, there’s brass”.
Happy St Patrick’s Day.
Site: www.officialirishdirt.com
Figures via The Sunday Times, 15/03/09
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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
What a brilliant business idea.
Do you know if the company happens to operate from home?!
Emma
Oh no. Have just checked their site. The address is a Business Park. How can a company selling soil & dirt be on a Business Park? They should be in a good old-fashioned farmhouse, plying their trade
You’d think so wouldn’t you – apparently dirt is much more high-tech than we might have thought.
What is the alcohol content of the dirt?