TL;DR
A web developer bought the expired VidaliaOnions.com domain on a whim and turned it into a direct-to-consumer Vidalia onion operation. Partnering with a local grower, he scaled orders far beyond initial expectations while learning hard lessons about packaging and logistics.
What happened
In 2014 a Georgia native and domain investor acquired the expired VidaliaOnions.com domain after placing an auction bid around $2,200. Though not a farmer, he let the domain idea guide development and in February 2015 used modest profits from other projects to launch an online, farm-to-door Vidalia onion business. He contacted the Vidalia Onion committee, was introduced to several growers and partnered with a third farmer he met, Aries Haygood, whose operation had an established packing shed and about 25 years in the business. The first season was unexpectedly large: the team had forecast roughly 50 orders but fulfilled more than 600. Marketing experiments ranged from a Savannah-area I‑95 billboard to sponsoring athletes and local school events; they also added a phone order hotline. The project survived setbacks including a costly $10,000 mistake on shipping boxes and developed a devoted customer base over multiple seasons.
Why it matters
- Shows how a single domain purchase can seed a viable direct-to-consumer niche business.
- Illustrates the importance of logistics and packaging in perishable e-commerce.
- Demonstrates strong consumer loyalty around specialty agricultural products.
- Highlights that non-farm entrepreneurs can play roles in food distribution with local partnerships.
Key facts
- The domain VidaliaOnions.com expired and was won at auction in 2014 for about $2,200.
- The founder describes himself as a web professional and domain investor, not a farmer.
- Development of the Vidalia onion business began in February 2015 using modest internal funds.
- The operator reached out to the Vidalia Onion committee and met several regional farmers.
- A partnership formed with farmer Aries Haygood; his farm had been operating roughly 25 years.
- First-season order forecast was about 50 orders; actual orders exceeded 600 in 2015.
- Marketing experiments included a billboard on I‑95 south of Savannah, sponsoring a cross‑country cyclist, and local school and team sponsorships.
- A phone-order hotline was added and sometimes outperformed online sales.
- Early on the business lost roughly $10,000 on unsuitable shipping boxes from a manufacturer.
What to watch next
- Whether the operation expanded its farming partnerships or scaled beyond the initial farm — not confirmed in the source.
- Improvements to packaging and shipping procedures after the costly box failure — partially indicated by past mistakes but future changes not confirmed in the source.
- Order volumes and customer growth in seasons following 2015; the author noted entering a fifth season but longer-term trends are not confirmed in the source.
Quick glossary
- Vidalia onion: A variety of sweet onion grown in the Vidalia region of Georgia, noted for mild flavor and often eaten raw.
- Domain name: A web address registered on the internet that can be used as the foundation for an online business or presence.
- Direct-to-consumer (DTC): A business model where producers or brands sell products straight to customers, bypassing traditional retail channels.
- Packing shed: A facility on or near a farm where harvested produce is processed, packed and prepared for shipment.
Reader FAQ
Is the founder a farmer?
No — the author identifies as a web professional and domain investor, not a farmer.
How did the founder acquire the domain?
He backordered and won the expired VidaliaOnions.com domain at auction for around $2,200 in 2014.
Who supplies the onions?
The business partnered with regional growers and specifically mentions farmer Aries Haygood as a partner; his farm had an established packing shed and about 25 years in operation.
Did the mail-order effort take off?
Yes; the initial season dramatically exceeded expectations, with over 600 orders against a conservative estimate of 50.
Is the business still operating now?
The author stated they were entering their fifth season at the time of writing, but longer-term status beyond that is not confirmed in the source.
I sell onions on the Internet April, 2019 | 🧅 🤠 🐂 | Peter Askew Vidalia Onions to be exact. They’re classified as a sweet onion, and because of their…
Sources
- I sell onions on the Internet (2019)
- How I Sold 64000 Pounds of Onions Online
- The Dot-Com Don: Meet the Domain Prospector Turning Stray …
- Peter Askew — Domain Expertise
Related posts
- Samsung begins internal One UI 8.5 testing across many Galaxy models
- From an Expired Domain to Mail-Order Vidalia Onions: One Web Guy’s Story
- Dutch hobbyists build low-cost next-gen Amiga mainboard for AmigaOS4, MorphOS