---
title: Doodla Farms Inventory Liquidation Project
type: article
created: '2025-11-24'
updated: '2025-11-24'
source_docs:
- raw/2025-11-24-weekly-call-w-karly-103855138.md
tags:
- doodla-farms
- inventory
- sales-strategy
- grant-funding
- ecommerce-strategy
layer: 2
client_source: null
industry_context: null
transferable: true
---

# Doodla Farms Inventory Liquidation Project

## Overview

Doodla Farms is facing a building project financing gap after a bank loan shortfall left them short of funds needed to complete a new facility they've already committed to. To avoid selling family land (held for three generations, ~800 acres), they are pursuing a sales-first approach: liquidating approximately **1 million pounds of white popcorn** from existing inventory to generate the cash needed to close the gap.

This is primarily a **sales project** with marketing support components — the goal is to identify and reach buyers for a commodity product at scale, not to build long-term brand awareness.

## Financial Context

| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Inventory available | ~1,000,000 lbs white popcorn |
| Target price | $0.50+/lb |
| Potential revenue | ~$500,000+ |
| Grant available | ~$250,000 (popcorn-specific grant) |
| Grant use | Fund project work (agency fees, packaging, production) |

The ~$250k popcorn-specific grant is a new funding source Doodla Farms did not previously have. It can be used for project work, packaging, bags, and production runs — not exclusively for agency fees. The liquidation project will be scoped and priced to draw from this grant rather than from the client's existing retainer.

## Strategic Rationale

- Selling land is emotionally untenable for the family (land held 3+ generations) and is a last resort
- Inventory liquidation is a faster, lower-friction path to generating cash
- The popcorn grant provides a funding mechanism that doesn't require the client to pay out of pocket for the project
- Selling commodity inventory at volume ($0.50/lb or better) can meaningfully close the financing gap

> **Note from discussion:** Mark flagged that the building project itself may be a distraction from getting the core business cash-flow positive, but acknowledged the decision is already made and the focus now is on helping them execute.

## Project Scope (Proposed)

The project is a **sales engagement**, not a traditional marketing retainer. Key components will likely include:

- Identifying target buyers (distributors, wholesalers, food manufacturers, co-packers, etc.)
- Developing outreach materials: who Doodla Farms is, what they have, why buyers should purchase
- Executing outreach and managing the sales pipeline
- Coordinating with Doodla Farms on logistics and fulfillment

Karly's involvement is expected to be limited until marketing documents or support materials are needed.

## Relationship to Old World Brand

Old World is a separate brand under the Doodla Farms umbrella. The popcorn grant and liquidation project are specific to the Doodla Farms white popcorn inventory and are distinct from Old World's retail/ecommerce operations. However, both share infrastructure (e.g., potentially the same Google Merchant Center account). See [[wiki/clients/old-world/_index]] for Old World-specific work.

## Status & Next Steps

- **Owner:** Mark Hope
- **Status:** Proposal in drafting (as of 2025-11-24)
- **Timeline:** Proposal to be completed this week or next (week of 2025-11-24 or 2025-12-01)

### Open Actions

- [ ] **Mark** — Draft and deliver the inventory liquidation project proposal to Doodla Farms
- [ ] **Mark** — Confirm grant budget allocation available for agency project fees
- [ ] **Mark** — Determine pricing/scope for the engagement (to be funded via popcorn grant)

## Related Meetings

- [[wiki/meetings/2025-11-24-weekly-call-karly]] — Initial discussion of the project concept and financial context

## Related Articles

- [[wiki/clients/doodla-farms/_index]]
- [[wiki/clients/old-world/_index]]
- [[wiki/knowledge/ecommerce-strategy/google-merchant-center-setup]]