Initially Mike sought the business of organic growers assuming they would be the primary users.
Starting out
It’s July of 2008 so we’re into our 15th year now. We’re going to hit 16 years next month. We were founded, quite by accident, in 1992. Based in Nottingham, New Hampshire, Mike Cherim, the founder, began The Green Spot as a greenhouse and nursery operation specializing in culinary herb plant sales. After all, he was quite good at it. Commercial sales, however, lead to a conundrum: What to spray for pests? Within a week Mike discovered “good bugs,” and the rest is history.
Learning the way
Let’s fast-forward; primarily because that’s what happened. All of this did happen within a year. Mike sourced and locally test-marketed some “beneficial insects” and was inundated with positive responses. The greenhouse and nursery was disbanded and converted into a test-bed. Mike re-sourced as was necessary and went national with his business with a definite business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-institution (B2I) focus. The term “Green Methods” was trademarked and our branding began. Our “Beast” was given to us at that time as well (do check out our Beast). It all fit nicely.
Moving forward
Initially Mike sought the business of organic growers assuming they would be the primary users. It was soon learned that everybody was using “biocontrols,” as he was calling them by that point and still does to this day. The focus was broadened to include all commercial aspects: greenhouse growers, interiorscapers, researchers, farmers and all others.
First Expansion
In 1994 we constructed offices, storage, even some controlled storage, a small lab and other essential areas. This was a huge expense, but it was necessary to the company’s growth. It was good to be able to stretch the legs a little too.
Steady Growth
By 1995 The Green Spot was getting big enough to warrant incorporation. This was conducted in the state of New Hampshire. A sub-chapter “S” election was submitted to the IRS and was later approved. It became a privately-held corporation with Mike Cherim being the sole stockholder and “Ltd” (for Limited) was added to the name — a legal way to signify the new structure. That structure remains intact to this day.
Meeting our needs
In 1997 The Green Spot, Ltd. established its Publishing Division in order to handle its own publishing needs. It was at this time that the now sort-of-famous “Green Methods Manual” (ISBN 0-9648682-0-2) was being produced by Mike. The Manual, which was published in 1998, is now out of circulation, but the files are around and have been updated. Much of this website is derived from those very files.
Branching out further
In June of 2004 The Green Spot, Ltd. formed another company division, Mike in partnership with Scott Hege of Charleston, South Carolina formed GBHXonline.com, a web hosting and web storage enterprise, as well as Mike’s part, a web design division, namely, Green-Beast.com. Mike learns more than he ever thought possible, and thus you have been brought current and are here, viewing the latest “instar” of a very long metamorphosis.
And then…?
This depends on whether the government continues to allow us to import the good guys, and if our customers continue to use our products (or services now as well). And we aim to stick to Our Mission. Do wish us luck, if you will. Thanks.
