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Entrepreneurship:  First market!!!  |
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craftychick06
True Blue Farmgirl
71 Posts
Darlene
fennville
Mi
USA
71 Posts |
 Posted - Aug 13 2006 : 03:46:30 AM
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Well I decided to take our produce to a small nearby town market! Got everything picked the night before packed up some old baskets and buckets to put things in, tables and covers and left early in the am. OK remember i am used to doing craft shows with a trailer it was such a nice change to just drive the truck and not have alot of time packing and setting up LOL, i split a booth with my brother who does herb plants, so for $5.00 it was fun!~! I sold $50.00 mostly in my goats milk soaps but quite a bit of produce went too. I could not believe how much the stuff was around us though. They had corn for $4.00 doz, which ours was $3.00, tomatoes were $1.75 a pound, i only had lg green maters and sold them for .50cents each, blackberries were $4.00 a pint! and i sell ours for $2.50 a pint and $4.50 quart! oh and green beans were $2.00 a pound which we have the heirloom purple, yellow and green which i put in brown bags by 1 1/2 pounds in each one and sold most of them for $1.50. I didnt want to be too cheap but that is what i price things for in our farmstand here.
I was happy leaving there with at least some money!! and it was only from 8-1.30 so not alot of time either.
Just had to share my day with yall and that i took the plunge to do it!! GOOD LUCK to all of yall that do markets!! Going back next thurs again!!
**LIVE LIFE JOYFULLY** |
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Nance in France
True Blue Farmgirl
1438 Posts
Nancy
St. Laurent de la Salanque
France
1438 Posts |
Posted - Aug 13 2006 : 04:01:15 AM
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| Darlene -- wow, a craftychic with a greenthumb too! Awesome combination! And how great a feeling it must have been to see those folks buying your produce and knowing they would be happy when they sat down to the table later on!! I think you are smart; I would rather not find myself at market with the highest priced produce.... Does your brother sell Stevia plants? It is amazing how sweet it is. Have you ever posted what types of crafts you make (maybe other than the soaps)? I've only been "here" about three months.... Anyway, congrats!! Nance |
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katie-ell
True Blue Farmgirl
1818 Posts
Katie
Illinois
1818 Posts |
Posted - Aug 13 2006 : 04:36:19 AM
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| Darlene -- What town is your market in? Fenville? I grew up near Hamilton and have lots of relatives in Holland-Grand Rapids area. I think you're pretty good with your prices -- I wouldn't want to be the most expensive at the market, but you may want to raise your prices a bit -- you do have to consider your travel/gas/set up time at the market as opposed to your farmstand. But maybe wait until your customers have a chance to try your goods first -- then they will know that you have great quality. Anyway -- good job, and keep us posted. |
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Mumof3
True Blue Farmgirl
3890 Posts
Karin
Ellenwood
GA
USA
3890 Posts |
Posted - Aug 13 2006 : 05:28:48 AM
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Darlene- That sounds like so much fun! What a great way to get a little extra cash and spend time outdoors meeting new people. Congratulations on your success!
Karin |
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willowtreecreek
True Blue Farmgirl
4813 Posts
Julie
Russell
AR
USA
4813 Posts |
Posted - Aug 13 2006 : 08:44:10 AM
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Good for you! There is a great market in Little Rock, Arkansas and I hope to set up there next spring and summer! I look forward to it! Glad you had fun and success!
Jewelry, art, baskets, etc.
www.willowtreecreek.com |
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Lovin Life
True Blue Farmgirl
103 Posts
Lisa
New Hampshire
103 Posts |
Posted - Aug 13 2006 : 3:40:49 PM
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Hi Darlene,
Glad you had a nice time selling your stuff with your brother. The Markets really are fun aren't they? I sell at one here with my sister in law. I have the goat milk soap and lip balms and some veggies and she sells a lot of herbs and her duck, guinea hen and chicken eggs. I usually make between 25 and 50 dollars for a 3 hour market. The blackberries here in NH were going for 6.00 a pint, and I was selling them for 4 before I checked the market bulletin. I figured they'd be about the same as blueberries, but they're more!!
This is my first year doing this, definately a learning year.. what to do more of next year, what not to bother with, new marketing ideas to sell more etc...
How close are you to Dearborn, MI? I have relatives there. Good luck next week!! and Welcome to marketing. It sure brings out our creative sides doesn't it?
Lisa
I'd rather live my life with a "full plate" than an empty one. Life is not a rehearsal... eat up! |
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blueroses
True Blue Farmgirl
1323 Posts
Debbie
in the Pandhandle of
Idaho
USA
1323 Posts |
Posted - Aug 14 2006 : 3:50:11 PM
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Way to go, Darlene.
Glad you sold and had a good day.
Debbie
"You cannot find peace...by avoiding life."
Virginia Woolfe |
Edited by - blueroses on Aug 15 2006 11:42:14 AM |
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therusticcottage
True Blue Farmgirl
4439 Posts
Kay
Vancouver
WA
USA
4439 Posts |
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brightmeadow
True Blue Farmgirl
2045 Posts
Brenda
Lucas
Ohio
USA
2045 Posts |
Posted - Aug 15 2006 : 2:54:32 PM
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Hi, Darlene!
It sounds like you had a really good day your first trip out!
I googled Fennville to see where you are located - I see it is just south of Grand Rapids - my husband grew up selling at the farmer's market in Muskegon, not too awfully far from there. His family farm is near Kent City, north of Grand Rapids. Last time we were there we noticed there is a farmer's market in Rockford also, and wondered about it. Rockford seems like a pretty artsy little town full of lots of people with money to spend?
Which town was your market in? Do they just charge $5.00 every Saturday? Like Lisa, I have been doing the local farmer's market here in Ohio for the first time this year, and I am still learning about what sells and how to price (and also making a list of things I am going to do differently in my garden next year!!!)
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 blog at http://brightmeadowfarms.blogspot.com, web site store at http://www.watkinsonline.com/fish or my homepage at http://home.earthlink.net/~brightmeadow |
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Forrester Farm
True Blue Farmgirl
703 Posts
Ann
Belmont
MI
USA
703 Posts |
Posted - Nov 16 2006 : 7:38:39 PM
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Brenda,
I've been selling cut flowers at the Rockford, MI market for 5 years now. It is so much fun. My parent's first house was in Grand Rapids just down the street from the Fulton Street Market. We moved when I was 4, and I really don't remember it, but I think that it really must have had quite an effect on me when my mom would walk me to the market on a regular basis. My husband even told me that I glow when I'm at the market.
The Rockford market is very busy. The rules are quite strict. No craft items or hard goods - unless preapproved for a 1 time fundraiser. There is talk about adding a market day in the middle of the week. My goal is to have more flowers available. My business has grown steadily every year, and I know that if I had more to offer, more would sell. I added potted herbs this past year - that was a hit. There is quite a bit of friendly competition. I'm always thinking about what to change and do differently.
Where in Ohio do you live? We drive thru part to visit my husband's family in Mercer,PA.
Ann
http://annforrester.tohe.com |
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ILoveBaskets14
True Blue Farmgirl
76 Posts
Stefanie
Cross Lanes
WV
USA
76 Posts |
Posted - Nov 18 2006 : 6:50:38 PM
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It sounds like fun. How do you make goats milk soap? and does it help really dry skin?
Baskets of Blessings. |
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Entrepreneurship: First market!!! |
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First market!!!
