Sorry for the short reply earlier, was heading out of work...
Schaez can answer far better than I, but I imagine the bulk of the work is the organization of setting the buy up, collecting funds, and then being available to distribute the order when it arrives. These are no small tasks, and take a considerable amount of time.
When this buy was initially getting started, the biggest hurdle that had to be overcome was to get established as a customer of Country Malt Group (aka NCM). What they needed, and please correct me if my recollection is wrong, was a business credit card with a tax ID number or something like that. We also thought that a loading dock was needed, but they've delivered straight to schaez's house, so I don't think that's any longer an issue. The newest hurdle is that
NCM no longer really wants to deal directly with homebrewers and is charging considerably more with new accounts. Schaez got grandfathered in so this last buy saw similar prices to the previous buys.
All that being said, if anyone else wants to step up and take the reins, fill in schaez's shoes, or some other cliche, I know fellow Houstonians will be delighted, myself included!
Again, if I'm wrong about any of the above, please correct me!