| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Thistlewoodmanor |
Posted - Aug 13 2005 : 4:42:52 PM
I've been selling vegetables and baked goods at Farmer's market and doing ok, but could be better. One thing I've noticed is that alot of our customers are senior citizens, and are looking for diabetic friendly baked goods, which no one sells. So, I want to start making them and am looking for good recipes.
The second thing I've noticed is that we only have about 100 people show up for Market, in a town of 4,500. Mostly older people. What can I do to encourage more people to come out? I did write a letter to the editor which all the vendors really liked, and a few people came that week prompted by my letter; but people tell me they forget, or don't have cash......so any suggestions?
Thanks!
Deb
http://www.home.earthlink.net/~annavon431/ |
| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| JennyWren |
Posted - Apr 03 2006 : 10:48:35 AM
Hi...
I thought I would share this link with you. It is our Public Market in downtown Milwaukee. www.milwaukeepublicmarket.org/ It is AWESOME.. Done very well! (Including a website for it) It has a lot of great ideas in it. If I were to make a suggestion that would be to make a website that you can advertise on a flyers, business cards that can be put in the bag with purchases.. Then have things that can be printed .. coupons, special Internet savings.. recipes etc.
Take care,
Carla...
If you treat an individual as what he is, he will stay that way, but if you
treat him as if he were what he could be, he will become what he could be.
-- Goethe
www.jennywrensurbanhomestead.blogspot.com/ |
| brightmeadow |
Posted - Mar 26 2006 : 5:55:52 PM
I am reading this topic with a great deal of interest because I intend to write a few articles for some of the local newspapers and also the "tourist" newsletters around here this year about our local farmer's market. I am also one of those people who would like to visit the farmer's market every week, but when it gets right down to it I have other things going on that mean I just don't think about the farmer's market until later in the day on Saturdays. Kind of like a habit that I want to keep but can't get started.
Really strange. I think back to when I was in college, I lived for a year in Spain as an exchange student. We couldn't WAIT until Thursday because that was the day of the open-air market. (My friend and I would buy a ziploc bag full of olives and pig out!) There was everything there from spice sellers (garlic, saffron, and paprika, for example) to jewelry to fabric - really a bazaar. The whole town turned out to visit the market, it was a social occasion. Right in the street off the main plaza in town. Kind of like the summer festivals here in Ohio, only without the concession stands and the rides for the kids..
Oh wait, what about asking the farmer's market management to put IN something for the kids? A straw bale maze, or even face-painting or a clown making balloon animals? Maybe even something educational like a portable petting zoo or pony rides? Then promote the heck out of it - doctor's, dentist, and veterinarian's offices, at the city swimming pool, at the park, for example.
If you can get people in the habit of coming it seems like it would be a good thing.
You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands - You shall be happy and it shall be well with you. -Psalm 128.2
Visit my web site store at http://www.watkinsonline.com/fish or my homepage at http://home.earthlink.net/~brightmeadow |
| garliclady |
Posted - Mar 26 2006 : 05:13:19 AM
I think both morning and afternoon markets can be sucessful. During the week the most sucessful markets are in the afternoon catching people on there way home from work. Most do not want to buy stuff and have to carry it to work. If your market is early AM during the week your customers will more likely be retired or stay at home moms.This can be sucessful if it is in the right location.
We had a down town market (at lunchtime) that bombed because only people who were working in the downtown area would shop there (noone else wanted to fight downtown traffic and find parking) They soon found that people did not want to buy perrisable produce and take it back to the office for the rest of the day. But a market in a shopping center parking lot during the same time of day did great plenty of parking for moms and seniors out doing shopping.another market afew miles away also did well in the late afternoon catching people coming home from work.
Most Saturday markets are more sucessful as morning /early afternoon because people want to spend there evening hours doing other things.
My saturday market is from 6-12 . The early shoppers are usually retired and the midmorning folks are families and the late comers are usually college students and folks who have driven far to get there.
The market is inside and is busy most of the year. There is a wide variety of homegrown /handmade stuff and all local. You can get meat eggs fruits and vegetables fresh baked breads pies etc fresh roasted coffee, biscuits, cheese cake, salsa, humms,jelly,dried herb seasonings, local stone ground grains,local fresh roasted peanuts as well as soaps lotions , hand knited and sewn clothing and more local crafts. This is also a place for friends to meet and people to discuss issues etc.
My Farm http://home.bellsouth.net/p/s/community.dll?ep=16&ext=1&groupid=140532&ck=
My Recipes http://recipecircus.com/recipes/garliclady/]
My blog http://www.epicourier.com/Garliclady/ |
| EverGreen Girl |
Posted - Mar 25 2006 : 1:40:15 PM
Hello,
I sell produce at a Farmers Market in Jackson Hole, WY. One thing that has made this market so successful is that they have turned it into a non-profit organization. As a type of booth fee, each vendor is required to donate 10% of their sales to the "charity of the day". There is a committe in charge of the entire market season and interested charities apply to the committee to become a sponsored charity. The good thing about this set up, is that the members of the charity organizations really go the extra mile in advertising the market throughout the community. The volunteer committee also does a lot of leg work, but they look at it as community service. The down side to this is that the vendors take home less money. 10% seems like a lot to me, but its Jackson Hole, so everything is expensive.
Also, my local extension office just forwarded me an email which may be of interest. The subject is: Farmer's Market Promotion Program - Invitation for Grant Application. It further reads "We urge agriculture cooperatives, local governments, non-profit corportaions, public benefit corporations, economic development corporations, regional farmer's market authorities, and Tribal governments to consider developing proposals for this grant program." I can forward a copy of the email to anyone who contacts me directly.
Good Luck. |
| sillyfoulks |
Posted - Mar 23 2006 : 06:59:43 AM
I have been to some Farmers Markets that were bombs, and others that were fun and bustling. I think the key is finding the right mix of vendors, products, and activities. The best one I have ever been to had a great mix. Not only did they have produce but also had vendors that sold flowers, plants, crafts, and food. They had musicians, and activities for kids. They held theirs on Main St. and all the stores & restuarants stayed open.
It could be a great place for service groups or childrens organizations to raise money. Maybe the High School band can serve lemonaide, or the local PTA can sell snow cones.
Just pick-up the phone and invite a few, let them know they are welcome to set up a table and sell what ever they have to sell. You might even consider creating an area for flea market type vendors. You could get those women that can somehow find the time to visit yardsales, but can't seem to get to the Farmers Market.
One great trick I learned during my years of working with PTA is to invite groups of kids to perform. If the kids are performing the parents will come to watch, and just might wander around and do some shopping.
We are a busy family. Most days from 5 to 7 in the evening are our busiest. I would love to be able to take the family downtown. Pick-up some produce, have lemonaide, listen to music, get fresh flowers for the table. Buy some fresh bread, maybe a couple bars of homemade soap, or a unique gift for that birthday coming up. And don't forget, I don't want to have to think about getting dinner on the table. Find some food vendors, pizza or someone grilling burgers. I want to run into a friend, and feel relaxed enough to stop in the shade a visit for a few minutes.
Elizabeth
Not how long, but how well you have lived is the main thing.
http://livingcountrystyle.blogspot.com/ |
| akcowgirl |
Posted - Mar 22 2006 : 9:42:25 PM
This is an old post but i wanted to add that if you have a public program like WIC or a Public Food assistance program you could check with them to see if there is any way that the people who get the coupons for food can use them at your farmers market also. That is what they can do here. The other thing for the diabetic recipes. I have a book called the " I Can't Believe There is No Suger in This" Cook book. It is great Pie's, Cookies, Bread, Muffines, and Drink recipes. Good luck with this summers markets
Valerie
Alaska Girl all the Way
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| potterygirl |
Posted - Nov 06 2005 : 11:51:12 AM
.....The garden season is over and this week I am going to try to get with the Extension Council to collect any information I can to get started on a Farmers Market for next year.
If any one has any ideas or facts that might help me, please, let me know.
Thank you! |
| potterygirl |
Posted - Sep 18 2005 : 4:34:08 PM
Hello Sara!
You are my first responce in the chat room! Thank you! This is quite exciting!
I would be interested in sharing recipe's for diabetics! Also, I am always very interested in getting new recipe's to add to mine and also in learning new tricks! Just lead the way and let me know how we get this going!
At this time, I am getting ready to serve my family my very first Bakeover...It smells great...
I look forward to hearing from you.
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| SDPogue |
Posted - Sep 18 2005 : 1:35:10 PM
We were vendors at our local farmer's market - it had problems too. I think that you have to give it time and let it build and don't get discouraged.
I wanted to go back to your diabetic recipes. We have a permit to do baked goods and quite often I make sure we have a diabetic friendly something every week. We have lots of recipes we use and some tricks if you are interested. I am just not sure this is the best topic to share them.
Sara
See what I have been up to in my community. www.geocities.com/sdpogue |
| potterygirl |
Posted - Sep 17 2005 : 07:22:41 AM
I realize that no one has been on this chat for a little bit, although, I have read through each and everyones concerns and ideas! Great thoughts!!! In our little town located in Missouri, we have never had a big market...this year and last there was nothing. All summer long I have thought about trying to get the Market up and going but, never seem to have the time. There is always next year to get things up and going and allow myself the winter to try and get more people involved and to get organized. After reading all of your messages I am very interested and hope to put this even top of my list for next year!! I do hope each of you keep writing how the last month has gone.
Tracy |
| mellaisbella |
Posted - Sep 05 2005 : 07:12:19 AM
Wow!! all of the ideas here are just fantastic. My question would be, are there any colleges/universities close by? Our farmers market is near both and "starving" students seem to be on the look out for healthy produce as they like to know where there food is coming from. And perhaps they could tell two friends and they'll tell two friends......
"I wanna touch the earth, I want to break it in my hands, I want to grow something wild and unruly" |
| cookinkaren |
Posted - Aug 24 2005 : 5:47:17 PM
I have a couple of ideas. My family has a produce stand(25 years).
* Have a sign: Special Today.
* Let customers taste a sample of....
*Use red anywhere you can. It drows the eye!!
*Instead of table lining the road make the table line a "u" where the customers have to walk into your space. That way they don't walk to fast passed you!!
*MAKE BIG DISPLAYS. If you have to put something in the bottom of the baskets to raise the the produce up.
*My family sends out a weekly e-mail to customers letting them know whats in this week.attach is a recipe!!!
*Have something that smells good. We pop popcorn, roast p-nuts, in the winter we spray orange scents to sell our citrus!!!
Hope this Helps,
Karen
www.pamperedchef.biz/karensaunders
Sept. 1 You can order from my site!!
10% off to ALL Farmgirls. E-mail for Details. Thanks EVERYONE!!!!!!!! |
| teresa |
Posted - Aug 21 2005 : 06:58:33 AM
No ideas here but I was surprised that so many of the states some of you are from aren't really popular for Farmers Markets. I'm from Washington state, Seattle area and Farmers Markets are soooo popular all over around here! Maybe because alot of people  don't grow their own fruits and veggies? Anyways, good luck!
The best is yet to come! |
| Thistlewoodmanor |
Posted - Aug 19 2005 : 1:20:18 PM
Thanks Kathleen! I started with sugar free peach and apple pies this week using Splenda. I also made sugar free orange rolls using splenda in the dough (1 tsp of sugar to feed the yeast) and sugar free orange marmalade. They are yummy!
http://www.home.earthlink.net/~annavon431/ |
| Kim |
Posted - Aug 19 2005 : 06:09:32 AM
What I wouldn't give for an evening Farmers Market! All the ones in my area are during the day and I work! 
farmgirl@heart
Be at peace with yourself and the rest will follow |
| TwoWildflowers |
Posted - Aug 18 2005 : 9:58:16 PM
Dear Deb,
I read with interest your quest for diabetic friendly baked goods. If I can help you let me know. Not only do I have a diabetic son who has had diabetes since he was 3 (Now 24) but I am also a Home Economist. This web site you might find helpful with your baking since it has excellent hints on reducing fat and sugar content of foods. One thing I have learned: when a diet is restricted out of health requirements, presentation of the food is extremely important!
http://www.fitnessandfreebies.com/food/articles/holidaybaking.html
Kathleen
Friends are my flowers in the garden of life |
| Thistlewoodmanor |
Posted - Aug 18 2005 : 8:31:43 PM
Yes, it's 5-7 pm, Tues and Friday. I don't know that I can do anything about the times, it's set by the Iowa Extension office that sponsors it. I might ask tho. Or I could ask if any of the vendors are interested in trying a Sat. morning at another location. Most of them go to Iowa Falls or Cedar Falls on Sat. morning to sell and say they do well at those.
Joy, thanks for the great ideas, I like the catnip mice one esp! I will have to think on the accordion divider one, our cars are parked 2 feet apart on each side, so there's not much space for more than a long table.
http://www.home.earthlink.net/~annavon431/ |
| kydeere40744 |
Posted - Aug 18 2005 : 6:58:22 PM
Deb,
I just realized something...am I correct, is your market at night? That may be one reason why it is slow. Families are usually going out doing night activities (movies, shopping, bowling, etc). The one here in Lexington starts bright and early in the morning (about 7 I think) and goes until about noon or so. Folks are already out looking for bargains yard selling, thus they would be willing to get stuff that early too. Plus, there is a huge advantage of getting that farm fresh product and cooking/eating today compared to tommorrow.
Ya'll have so many ideas indeed! We have such a creative group!! :-)
Jessica~Miss Wilma's Niece
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| JoyIowa |
Posted - Aug 18 2005 : 4:55:00 PM
Deb,
There is a booklet published each spring in Iowa regarding Farmer's Markets in the state. Check to see that Hampton is listed, ours wasn't for a couple of years. Also, if you make an acordian room divider and put either pegboard or nails on it, and use it to hang a banner (Neatly painted on a hemmed piece of fabric would do it)across the top and then hand some of your veggies on the pegs or nails, it might help you distance yourself from the others. A friend of mine started this about a month ago, and realized almost double sales since then. Go figure. Have you thought about making catnip mice? taking a triangle of cloth, sewing on long piece of yarn for a tail, folding it in half and sewing down the long side, add a painted eye and stuff it with dried catnip? Also catnip scratching boxes are really big here: a beverage flat packed with strips of cardboard laying so that the /\/\/\/\/\/\/ is up and sprinkled with catnip? These cost literally nothing to make and the young ladies that make sell them here get $10 each!!!! If you have a rotary cutter, ruler, and mat cutting the strips wouldn't be a big deal either.
Good Luck!
If it's not illegal, unsafe, or immoral, why not try anything once? Who knows? You may come back for a second helping! |
| Thistlewoodmanor |
Posted - Aug 17 2005 : 4:56:39 PM
Clare and Bramble, thanks for the marketing ideas. All the vendors have complained of it being slow this year, but nobody really does any displays, so I could shine there. Everybody sells out of the back of their truck or on card tables. Nothing fancy. We are in a grassy park on the corner of main street with parking on two sides. It's quite easy for customers to walk up and down each side to see everyone's items. No one else has any craft/artsy items. I have been bringing my tote bags and small quilts, but they are pretty much ignored. Several of us have brought fresh herbs, but they don't sell. However, I have sold alot of bags of fresh catnip for $1 each....it grows as a weed out here on the farm! |
| Clare |
Posted - Aug 17 2005 : 2:52:42 PM
Excellent ideas, Bramble! You are a wealth of experience!
Ours is held in a parking lot at the riverfront park. They do have several signs placed stratically at major intersections to direct new people there. The each bring their own canopy if they desire shade.
I walked through our farmer's market today and saw several interesting vendors...in addition to the produce vendors (of whom only one said organic!)... one lady had made the cutest bird feeders from old plates on the bottom, glued or drilled (not sure) an aluminum feeder (ala the feed store) to the plate.. this had a jar size opening in the center, to which she screwed in canning jars, and topped that with an old bowl or a dish with curved edges turned down to shed the water and wire hanger with beads on it. They were the cutest things selling from 45-60 dollars each.
Then another creative lady welded old farm machinery and garden tool parts together to create all sorts of wonderful yard art objects. Too cute! Range in price was $15-$150.
Last week there was an apron/sewing vendor lady there. Her aprons were smock pullover reversible types selling for $12 each, which I thought was a bit low. She had about 50 lined up there, which I thought was maybe a few too many (looked like she never sold any).
What I observed is that most of the produce vendors were not very creative with their displays. I think Bramble's ideas would help them out alot. Some of them didn't even have displays. One farm worker came in with a pickup truck load of cantelope and corn on the cob. I followed him in early and when I went back on my lunch break, he was about half empty. I guess he was doing ok for not having any marketing skills... (I hope he spoke English).
I think there is a big learning curve to this direct selling/marketing niche.
**** Love is the great work - though every heart is first an apprentice. - Hafiz
Set a high value on spontaneous kindness. - Samuel Johnson****
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| bramble |
Posted - Aug 17 2005 : 2:22:33 PM
Deb- Is your farm market in a central location, with good parking and some way to have "curb appeal"? Our main one is a garage like structure where the vendors can pull up their trucks and the doors to unload. The inside has paved aisles that you can stroll along to check what everyone has before you decide to buy!It does not have alot of curb appeal and many people are drawn to the more quaint farm stands all over the county. The one exception I can think of is the "farm market" that they have one day of the week in front of a small coffee shop in Hopewell. The farmers that come there bring very nice products and usually something gourmet to discover that you might not have found at the big market.What are you selling? Can you package it in a way that stands out from everyone else's? Is your display multi leveled? Cover some boxes with vintage tableclothes and sell flowers from canning jars.Put fat herb bunches in colorful tomato cans. Make whatever you have to sell look like it is the cream of the crop. After many years at street fairs and artisan shows, getting someone to look is the first step and I won a few best in shows for my display and I almost always did well even when other vendors were complaining. Maybe you have to set up in a location where the money flows more freely, sadly seniors will not be your best customers.Good luck!
with a happy heart |
| Thistlewoodmanor |
Posted - Aug 17 2005 : 1:24:55 PM
Hi again. Those are some great ideas! We are a small town, about 4,500 people, and the only shops are specialty or gift shops. Only one grocery store in town. We do have some vendors who bring guitars and play and sing, but maybe some outside music would be good. I asked the local newspaper to write us up, but they haven't yet.
Marlene, Geneva is southeast of Hampton, which is where the market is. The other vendors are disappointed too, and say it wasn't always like this. They are talking of pulling out and going to other towns for market, which would be sad for Hampton. |
| MBurns |
Posted - Aug 17 2005 : 12:39:05 PM
Where is Geneva, Iowa? I live between Cedar Rapids and Iowa City. Cedar Rapids has several farmers markets and they are two early evenings and on Sat mornings early 6-10. The sat ones are so crowded
you have to wait to park. They have a huge variety of things like hand made potholders, doilys,jewelery, baked goods-pies and cakes, cookies and rolls and jellies and jams and kolaches (very popular) and all kinds of breads- fresh produce most popular is tomatoes and plants to plant like herbs and flowers and soaps and teas, and fresh flowers which really go fast, fresh popcorn. There aren't any coupons but it is advertised widely. They need fresh coffee to go with the rolls. People do use food stamps also. Location is a big things I think. Many vendors where I go will give you extra tomatoes or sometimes they will do a buy 1 get 1 free. A theme like pumpkins is a good idea with fall coming. |
| lurban |
Posted - Aug 17 2005 : 09:09:05 AM
This must be so discouraging.
Here are some other ideas:
Are there musicians who can play at the market? In particular, are there young musicians whose parents would come out to see there kids perform and maybe buy stuff while they are there? Think about music schools in the area -- would any of them want to give an open air performance? It would be good advertising for their students too.
Are there other businesses that might be able to cooperate in a similar way? Since it is an evening farmer's market, what about a storytime put on by a local independent bookstore? Would they promote the event and market to their customers?
Ads in the local paper aren't as effective as articles. Has your farmer's market been written up recently? Could you invite a reporter to share your booth next week and do a story on the experience? Is there a local radio station that might do the same? Listings in church papers can help, too.
Is the location of your farmer's market readily apparent to everyone? Do people know where to park? Sometimes simple signage can help folks to get over the tiny hurdles that stop them from checking something out. And don't be afraid to use the methods perfected by fundraising carwashers everywhere -- people (esp. cute girls or kids) with signs waving people to your location.
Can you make one week really special? Is there something really neat about your town that you can capitalize on and create a festival atmosphere around it? A crop that your area specializes in (lets say pumpkins) that you can build an event around? Pumpkin pie bakeoffs? Pumpkin carving contests? Pumpkin hurling? A Pumpkin princess? Photos in a pumpkin patch display for kids? Pumpkin storytime? Pumpkin look-alike contests? Pumpkin percussionists? You may be able to get more publicity for such an event and then you can use the event to "teach" people about your site location and the kinds of things your farmer's market carries?
A bigger question: who is your competition? Are the folks in your town buying their produce at a grocery store? At farmstands during the week? At Walmart? Or do they grow most of what they want in their own gardens? Once you know this, you may be able to position your market to take advantage of whatever it is that your competition can't provide, whether that is diabetic products, organics, baked goods or a fun place to go on a Tuesday night.
I've rambled enough. Hope something here helps. |
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