Do you have any suggestions to increase my sales?

Between sowing seed, weeding and harvesting, I don’t have time to write a newsletter let alone collect and reproduce recipes. Do you have any suggestions to help out with this form of promotion?

I really don’t consider myself very artistic, can you offer some tips for making my booth more attractive?

I keep hearing the term “Branding”, what does this involve?

I would like to start providing samples of some new peach cultivars to my customers but I am concerned about the rules and regulations regarding food handling. What do you suggest?

Do you have any suggestions to increase my sales?

Provide top quality customer service by being ready on time, greeting your customers and acknowledging those that are waiting. If you are too busy, hire someone to help and keep that same employee all season. Recognize your regular customers and learn their names.

When you are in your booth you are “on stage”. A smile helps bring customers to your booth so no eating, smoking, sitting, or reading.

Make sure your hands are clean with no dirt under your nails. You are handling products for consumption and not everyone has the same affinity for soil.

Always ask if the customer would like anything else before providing the total amount due.

Offer preparation and storage help – free recipes and a few tips while bagging the produce. On occasion put in some samples of new products.

Have customers fill out slips to be on your “e-mailing list”. Send out weekly “at the market” announcements telling them what you will have available for sale that week. Include occasional coupons, recipes or tasting events. You can use groups from this same customer base to be new product testers out at the farm.

Most of all, remember to say “Thank you , See you next week!”

Between sowing seed, weeding and harvesting, I don’t have time to write a newsletter let alone collect and reproduce recipes. Do you have any suggestions to help out with this form of promotion?

During the winter, work on your computer skills. If you are really uncomfortable with one, take a class through the local community education program. Once you can navigate around fairly easy, computers really can save time and be used as a tool to help you with your promotions.

Newsletters and recipes can be written during the slow season. After your crop plan is developed, start collecting and producing recipes that use the items found in your booth. Try and develop a collection of recipes that use only the produce found at a certain time. Try to avoid the recipe that focuses on seasonal vegetables and then has one ingredient that is out of season or exotic, requiring the customer to make a special trip to the grocery store. Newsletters can be put together ahead of time with space for a current news article to be added before printing.

I really don’t consider myself very artistic, can you offer some tips for making my booth more attractive?

The amount of time a shopper spends in a booth is perhaps the most important factor in determining how much they will buy. But you have to get them there first. Reflect on how the grocery store displays their produce or special products they wish to promote. Produce is usually no lower than waist height, goes up to mid chest height, and is on an angle. This keeps it close to eye level for the consumer. The signs are consistent, using the same type style and graphics. Apply this concept to your booth. Angle produce by using boxes, boards or baskets, then use bricks, buckets or pots to support them. Make signs and have them laminated so you can write on them with washable marker and reuse them. Use florists picks to hold them up above the produce.

Adopt a logo, symbol, color and/or type style to represent you. Make sure it looks good in black and white, and color. Use it consistently on your signs, truck, stationary, newsletters, ads, post cards, press releases, shirts and recipe cards. Have a rubber stamp made and stamp your logo, name and phone number on your paper bags. Display a large banner over your booth. Let customers know who you are so they can find you again.

I keep hearing the term “Branding”, what does this involve?

Marketing is the development of a relationship between the buyer and seller. Branding is putting forth your image in a way that will build strong relationships with your target markets. The Brand is not the product, it is the essence of the overall emotional and functional benefits that your customers derive by having a relationship with you. A Brand is a consistent promise that customers can rely on that you will the same or better over a long period of time. It is a trust relationship. Providing your customers with product and service beyond what you would demand as a consumer will help you develop that relationship.

I would like to start providing samples of some new peach cultivars to my customers but I am concerned about the rules and regulations regarding food handling. What do you suggest?

Attract the customer’s attention with activity at your booth, arouse their curiosity by engaging them in conversation about your product and then seal the deal with a taste. That’s Selling 101. Customers can be reluctant to buy new products without trying them first.

If you decide to have taste samples at your booth, keep health considerations in mind. Follow these simple rules to avoid any food born illnesses.

• Avoid bare hand contact with the food when preparing the samples. Wear gloves and a clean apron, and use utensils when possible. Remove the gloves and apron when leaving the sampling area, never wear them to the bathroom.
• Wash your hands and arms with soap and warm water before preparing the samples. Have single service soap, water and towels or sanitizer in your booth.
• Maintain the proper temperatures for the food samples. Keep all equipment used in preparation, storage and display sanitary.
• If items are left for customers to take samples, they should be pre-cut, left in a covered container and single use utensils available for the customer to take the sample (e.g.: disposable silverware, toothpicks).

Contact the health department for the county your will be selling in or the market master for more information.

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