the instructor might invite the class to there stand at their market. assuming the instructor is a marketer them-
selves.

stan:

Great idea. I'm thinking, maybe better, is to take the students to a few farmers' markets to get a broad picture of the variety that goes on and the workings of the whole thing.

I'm still waiting for beginners to jump into this posting thread to let me know what they think is important.

Joe

Here is your beginner. I have tiny greenhouse and want to sell to purblic, have already gotten state sales tax number and agriculture/nursery license. Before going further I need help creating a business plan, then taking my first baby steps.

I have tried our local farmers market, which has now been usurped by the city and turned into a Flea market/farmers market/carnival on occassions. Prior to these changes I had some fair sales and picked up a couple of now long standing customers. Now, I am lucky if I get the booth fee back. So no longer worth my effort.

So what do you recommend as next steps to take.

I'd love to take a class like that! Even a week-end seminar would be helpful! My 10 year old Cub Scouts will be selling this year to raise money for charity. We've never done this so we're struggling our way through it. We are learning a whole lot though!

cejaysau and CzechChick:

I would like to communicate more with you. I would like to find out specifically what you think you need to know about this subject to be successful. I would be happy to share my class notes with you as the class gets developed. It will be part of the offerings through the local college this summer.

Thanks,
Joe (gardenguru at yahoo.com)

Joe, right now I've been spending my time trying to find 3 1/2" pots to transplant our seedlings into. So far no success. I'm also wracking my brain to get some idea of when the seedling will be ready to sell, it's a long process to go through all the seed catalogues to check for 30 varieties of flowers, but I'll get through it or the seeds will tell me in spring! I have to be carefull to plan so that I have a steady flow of product to sell, and that not everything comes in at once and I can't transplant them all.

I also think that marketing is a challenge. I don't mean just showing up at Farmer's Market with your stand, but getting word out that YOU will be there and now they have a reason to be there too. Decoration of the actual stand is important too. It has to be original and get noticed. I want to give people a reason to walk over, not just take a look my way. I need graphics. I need an awsome sign. I also need HELP!

Thanks for the information...

Here is a link that might be useful: Penny Stocks

After marketing for 11 years now, I may be able to answer some of your questions. Keep in mind that I am a natural salesperson, but a bit shy in my past years.

When I first started with my farmers market stand, I found that I needed to be as knowledgeable as possible on what produce that I had. Plus I said 'hello' or 'good morning' to EVERY person that passed ANYWHERE near my stand. Most people will respond back and also look at the person speaking to them. Once they actually seen me, some would stop to see what I had.

My first year, I had several market days with little or no sales. One day I remember I sold a whopping $1.45 (yes there is a demical). But I kept coming back. That year I sold $1700 of produce, not much but I was happy. Of course, that was sales not profit.

Each year got better and now after 11 years, I still have some of the same customers buying from me. I have also found that several 'newer' vendors have taken lessons from me. I have heard the exact wording on some of their 'speeches' to their customers that I used in the past. Evidently I was doing something right, in their eyes at least.

Farmer marketing takes time to build customer relations, and whatever you do, don't lie to the customers. The lies will come back to bite you later.

My idea is that if you can make 1 customer happy, that customer will tell 2-3 friends. Make a customer unhappy, that customer will tell 20-30 friends. You want the happy customers.

Couple things I would add.

Try to be reliable, dependable. You can't be there one week then not the next.

Have enough to sell. Larger quantities draw people in. Nobody likes the bottom of the barrel.

Consitency of your product. Customers come back the next week looking for the carrot or whatever you were selling the week before.

Eric
Double Dog Farm
{{gwi:1037531}}

Know this was an older post, but there are some basics not mentioned.

One is knowing how to GROW and harvest the product.
Know the product - what it is good for and/or if unique in some manner.
Keep records of schedules, costs, etc.

About display: does it look good, would you buy it if someone else was selling it, is the price reasonable?

Would have to teach how to research the appeal of a product in a particular market.

Then I'd make them read all the posts here & at least 3-4 Extension Service publications about marketing!!!!