Rayann Wilcox, owner of RC’s Bees LLC in West Michigan, shares her experiences managing over 280 beehives and producing raw local honey. Starting at age 14, she has grown her operation through personal interactions at markets. Despite the demanding schedule, she finds fulfillment in the work and customer loyalty.
Rayann Wilcox began her beekeeping journey at 14 as a summer job for a local beekeeper she met at a farmers market, where her father sold produce from their farm. This led to discussions about bees for pollination, sparking her interest. At 16 in 2017, she started with one hive, which quickly expanded to 50 and reached 280 last year across 27 locations. She plans to manage around 300 hives this spring.
Wilcox handles all aspects of RC’s Bees LLC, from hive maintenance to extraction, bottling, and sales. Her products include pure raw local honey, honeycomb, and beeswax, never pasteurized or mixed with sugar. Jars are labeled by season—spring, summer, or fall—to highlight distinct flavors from different nectar sources, aiding allergy sufferers. She also offers swarm removals and starter beehives for newcomers.
The busy season brings constant demands, with phone calls interrupting hive work and swarms requiring immediate attention. "Am I happy as a business owner? Most days I do say yes, but I get tired and wonder if it would be easier to work a regular job," Wilcox says. Small business owners like her juggle roles as boss, laborer, manager, and more, often sacrificing sleep. Yet, she persists because "I love what I do. All the hard work makes me happy."
Building her reputation since 2017 involved attending every market and craft show to meet customers face-to-face, explaining the process from hive to jar. Honesty and quick responses to inquiries foster trust. While online sales have been less successful, personal interactions, including samples, drive her clientele. Customers return for the quality, bringing her joy amid hardships.