Working Alone and Standing Together
Big city or rural, sprawling or small, all farmers’ markets tend to be full of independent thinkers. Each brightly colored tent on the street houses a fiercely individual business owner. Whether small farmer, bread-baker, coffee-roaster, apron-sewer or pickle-fermenter, a farmers’ market vendor often walks to the beat of their own drum.
Before adding another weekly market, weigh your options
Even if the market is busy, in a desirable location, or has shoppers with deep pockets, it doesn’t ensure that sales will live up to your expectations. There are so many variables that impact success at a farmers’ market, and not every product is fit for every market. When considering the idea of adding on another farmers’ market to your circuit, putting in the due diligence beforehand will pay off.
Running a business is a marathon, not a sprint
Seasonal exhaustion isn’t a unique experience. I’ve heard similar sentiments from my fellow farmers’ market vendors and small business friends. So, in preparation for the start of the next season, here are a few ways to rejuvenate yourself and avoid ultimate burn-out. Remember, operating a business is a marathon, not a sprint!
Prepare your food business for the holiday season
We are well into November and skeleton motifs have been swapped out for decorations featuring autumnal leaves, turkeys, and cornucopias. Ladies and gentlemen, the holiday season is upon us! Between farmers’ markets, special holiday events, online sales and wholesale orders, there are lots of opportunities to pull in some serious revenue before the year is up, but you’ve got to be prepared.
Keep your regular customers coming back week after week
Being an outgoing salesperson may not be your forte, but it gets easier once you gain some regulars. Continue to foster that relationship by recognizing returning customers, learning their names, and noticing their purchasing habits. Once you’re familiar with them, you can give suggestions for other items they may like and expand the amount of items they purchase from you.
Give tourists a taste of your local farmers market
During the summer months, farmers market vendors will likely see many new (slightly sunburnt) faces roaming the booths at their weekly markets. Here are some tips on how to make nice with the tourists and increase your sales during those busy summer months.
Make your farmers market fun and kid-friendly, without turning it into a carnival
It’s summertime and school is out! The weather is great and the days are long. Moms, dads, babysitters, and grandparents are all looking for something fun to do with the wound up kiddos in their lives. It’s time to get ready for extra little visitors at your farmers’ market.
Lean on and learn from your farmers market family
When we became vendors at a farmers’ market we realized we were the newest members of a large, loud (and at times dysfunctional) family. Sometimes there is sibling rivalry and competition, but there is also a sense of familial belonging. Here are some tips on how to take full advantage of the resources available when you’re a vendor at a farmers’ market.
How the Farmers Market Saved My Wedding
Planning a wedding is hard. If you’ve planned one you know, and if you haven’t you’ve probably heard a bride (or groom!) complain about it. Here are just a few ways that my local farmers market helped me plan my special day.
How to Move a Market
Choosing a new location for a well-established, large market is a unique predicament. This situation is much different than deciding whether to move an underperforming market to a site with more space or better visibility, or analyzing where to start a brand new market. The San Diego Markets team’s experience moving the Little Italy Mercato was the ultimate farmers’ market manager Rubic’s cube game.
From farmers market newbie to loyal customer
With new shoppers come new challenges. Instead of getting annoyed by clueless first-timers, take a moment to remember that most people fail the first time they try something new! With time and some grace, those farmers’ market newbies may become your most devoted customers. To help your new customers get with the program, here are some tips for dealing with new farmers’ market shoppers.
Making moms feel special at the market
It’s no coincidence that Mother’s Day takes place in the spring. Flowers are blooming and bountiful, the weather is perfect for a stroll outdoors (like say, through a market?), and seasonal farmers’ markets are celebrating their opening days. Although babies are born year round, it feels like everyone I know is celebrating a new birth and celebrating women becoming new mothers or grandmothers. Here are some tips to help get your market Mother’s Day ready.