The Founderz Lounge Episode #75 with Nikki Boxler.

In this episode, Don Varady and Steve Bon sit down with Nikki Boxler, founder of The Maple Farmer, to talk about the truth behind maple syrup, farm entrepreneurship, and what most people don’t realize about how real maple products are made.

Nikki shares her journey growing up on a dairy and maple farm in Western New York, leaving for corporate work, and eventually returning home to build her own maple syrup business. The conversation dives into how the maple industry actually works, why most “maple syrup” on store shelves isn’t what people think, and what it takes to turn an agricultural passion into a real business.

Along the way, they discuss farming life, branding local products, and the realities of producing something natural in a world driven by mass production.

Timestamps:

[00:00] Trailer

[00:58] Nikki Boxler’s Origin Story

[04:19] Why Launch a Maple Spin-Off Brand

[06:11] How Maple Tapping Actually Works

[12:57] Growth Plans for The Maple Farmer

[17:45] How Nikki Sets Pricing

[20:08] Saying No to Growth Opportunities

[26:15] Getting Into the Outdoors

[31:29] Plans for Agritourism

[34:16] Managing Tree Health and Sustainability

[39:01] Where to Find Nikki

Key Takeaways:  

• “Most of what’s labeled maple syrup in stores isn’t actually maple syrup.” ~Nikki Boxler

• Standardizing your product and process early can make shipping, packaging, and scaling far simpler. ~Nikki Boxler

• “It means more to me to keep it this size than to grow it just to make money off of it.” ~Nikki Boxler

• Selling direct to consumers allows a level of connection and trust that disappears when you hand distribution to someone else. ~Nikki Boxler

• “I literally am every single touch point… from tapping the tree to packaging.” ~Nikki Boxler

• Nature, craftsmanship, and story are what make small brands memorable in a world of mass-produced products. ~Don Varady

• People connect more deeply with products when they know who made them and where they came from. ~Steve Bon

Connect with Nikki Boxler:

Website: https://themaplefarmer.com/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themaplefarmer/ 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@maplefarmer 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikki-boxler/ 

Connect with Don and Steve…

Don Varady:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/don.varady/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/donvarady/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/don-varady-450896145 

Steve Bon:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenbon 

Instagram: https://instagram.com/stevebon8 

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