Fungi - how to profit off this trend.

Fungi - how to profit off this trend.

While mushroom decor has been trending since 2020, Pinterest data says it's set to grow even more in the coming year. But no need to forage for inspiration–we've done the research for key business ideas you can grow this year. Whether you're a mushroom farmer, foodie, or fashionista, there's a place for you in the mushroom business. 

There are several ways you can monetize the mushroom trend:
  1. Mushroom decor: Offer decorative items such as mushroom-shaped candles, mushroom-inspired pottery, or dried mushrooms as ornaments, or even grow edible or medicinal mushrooms in your own home for display.

  2. Mushroom-based fashion and beauty: These little guys aren't just good for your insides, they're also good for the planet. Mushrooms can be used to make a sustainable alternative to leather and their extracts can be found in skincare products for their anti-aging properties. Develop and sell clothing, shoes, and accessories made from mushroom-based materials like Mycelium and mushroom leather.

  3. Mushroom cultivation and sales: This can include growing edible mushrooms like shiitake, oyster, and cremini, as well as medicinal mushrooms like Chaga, reishi, and lion's mane.

  4. Mushroom-based food products: Meatless Mondays just got a whole lot tastier with mushroom-based burgers and sausages. Not only are they delicious, but they're also low in fat and high in protein - talk about a win-win! Plus, mushrooms can add a burst of flavour to any dish, from soups to pizzas and pasta.

  5. Mushroom supplements and products: This can include powder, capsules, teas, and extracts made from different types of mushrooms, as well as skincare and beauty products made with mushroom extracts.

  6. Mushroom foraging and guided tours: Offer guided foraging tours to help people find and identify wild mushrooms, and sell the mushrooms that are collected on the tour.

  7. Mushroom cooking classes and workshops: Teach people how to cook with mushrooms, and offer workshops on the health benefits of different types of mushrooms.
  8. Mushroom-based food products: Develop and sell mushroom-based food products such as mushroom-based meat alternatives, mushroom jerky, mushroom seasoning, and dried mushrooms.

  9. Blogging and social media: If you're a mushroom fanatic, share your passion with the world through a blog or social media account. Share your knowledge, recipes and foraging tips and monetize through affiliate marketing and sponsored content.
 Top-ranking keywords for mushroom searches right now

Edible mushrooms -Mushroom growing kit -Mushroom spores -Mushroom supplement -Mushroom coffee -Mushroom cultivation -Mushroom identification -Wild mushroom -Mushroom hunting -Mushroom foraging -Medicinal mushrooms -Mushroom tea -Mushroom extracts -Mushroom skincare -Mushroom jerky -Mushroom seasoning -Dried mushrooms -Mycelium fashion -Mushroom leather -Mushroom textile -Mushroom decor -Mushroom candle -Mushroom pottery -Mushroom home cultivation

Note that the ranking of these keywords might change over time, and it's always a good idea to do your own keyword research to find the most relevant keywords for your business.

GROWING THE IDEAS


1. Urban mushroom farms:

Infarm, the vertical farming company that has built a network of urban farms to grow fresh food closer to consumers, has raised $170 million in new investment in a “first close” of a Series C.  While they’ve enjoyed soaring success with its mini urban greens farms; why not do the same with mushrooms? You could provide retailers (and even restaurants) with a self-harvest option for customers.

You don’t need to invest in hydroponics: Mushrooms can also be cultivated using soil, wood chips, etc.

Self-growing mushroom kits are trending, We love the aesthetics of this Oyster Mushroom Log Kit (currently only available in the US, opportunity to create a local version). We also couldn’t get past these pink mushroom grow kits from Spread the Spore.
Mushroom Farm Business Idea

Mushroom Farm Business Idea

2. Mushroom supplements


Mushroom Coffee: check out inspiration from Four Sigmatic. With over 200k+ visits per month. 

Mushroom Blend Drink - the Matcha and green phase is being overtaken by mushroom blends. Mudwtr mushroom drink blends have over 25,000 reviews - helping their clients with balance and energy throughout the day.

Brain Boosting Mushroom Gummies from Mojo promise an increased focus and a heightened Flow-work state. Mojo has sold 500,000 gummies in the U.S. since its launch in 2021.

Mushroom Fashion: Recently Stella McCartney partnered with Mylo, a mycelium material produced by Bolt Threads - launching the world's first mushroom leather bag. Bolt Threads founder and CEO Dan Widmaier says, “Creating the first-ever luxury bag made from mushroom leather is a massive milestone for conscientious consumers, the biomaterials industry, and the future of luxury fashion,”. As mycelium textiles become more widely available, there are opportunities to establish specialized brands that focus on these types of products (similar to how Allbirds focuses on wool), offering a wide range of items such as "unleather" watches, furniture, and phone cases.


3. Mushroom Decor

The "mushroom decor" trend is really starting to take off, and it's not just a passing fad. According to Swasti Sarna, global director of data insights at Pinterest, searches for "mushroom decor" first started popping up in 2020, and they've been on the rise ever since. And it's not just mushroom decor, searches for "weird-core bedroom" and "funky house decor" have risen by as much as 540% and 695% respectively on the platform. Pinterest even predicts that this trend is going to be "huge" in 2023, so get ready to embrace the fungus among us!

Searching for mushroom inspiration is a little bit like how we imagine actually foraging for mushrooms in the forest might be—you have to keep your eyes and your heart open in unexpected places. We’ve found a few simple products you can incorporate into your store.

Pinterest Search changes for Mushroom Decor

  • Fantasy mushroom art+170%
  • Vintage mushroom decor+35%
  • Funky house decor+695%
  • Weirdcore bedroom+540%
  • DIY mushroom decor+77%

 BusinessIdeas-MushroomDecor

IdeaLab-MushroomDecor


GETTING STARTED:

Here are some tips to get started on a mushroom-based business:

  1. Start small, like a button mushroom. Don't go shiitake crazy and over-invest before you test the market.

  2. Research your market: Understand your target customers, their needs and preferences, and what your competition is offering.

  3. If you plan on growing mushrooms, learn the ins and outs of mushroom cultivation, or you'll be left feeling like a mushroom in the dark. It is important to understand the different types of mushrooms and the best methods for cultivating them. You can take classes, read books, or find online resources to learn more about mushroom cultivation.

  4. Get the right licenses and permits, or else you'll be up shiitake creek without a paddle. Make sure you are aware of any food, fashion or other regulations and laws that apply to your business, and ensure you have the necessary licenses and permits to operate legally.

  5. Network with other mushroom growers or mushroom-inspired business owners, they'll be your fungi-ends. Join local and online groups, attend conferences and trade shows, and connect with other mushroom growers and business owners. This can provide valuable resources and support as you grow your business.

  6. Have a good marketing strategy: Develop a marketing strategy that will help you reach your target customers and promote your products. Consider building a website, creating social media accounts, and utilizing search engine optimization (SEO) to increase the visibility of your business.

  7. Be creative and diversify your product offerings: Offer a range of products and services that appeal to different segments of your market. This will help you to generate multiple streams of revenue and increase the chances of success of your business.

  8. Continuously test, learn and improve your product and service, or you'll be left behind with the rest of the mouldy mushrooms.

Just remember, starting or pivoting a business is not a piece of cake, but with the right approach and mindset, it can be real fun-gi!