[Market-farming] Hiring a market manager

Wiediger, Alison alison.wiediger at hart.kyschools.us
Fri Nov 21 11:40:15 EST 2008


Good Morning!
 
 
We are looking for some advice this morning.  It's officially past the
outdoor growing season (well, almost) and our farmers market board is
starting to address the yearly evaluation of the running of our market
and try to make improvements.
 
So, here's some information about our market.  Paul and I helped to
organize our producer only market in Bowling Green, Kentucky 5 years
ago.  We just finished our 5th season.  For that time, board members
have functioned as volunteer market managers.  Two of the board members
have done almost all of the managing.  As the market has grown, this has
become more and more problematic.  It's hard to manage vendors (and
consumers) as well as sell your own items, and there is the appearance,
if not the reality, of less than optimum objectivity when dealing with
vendor issues.  This season, the membership of the market took a
dramatic upturn, both in actual members, and in members attending on a
given market day.  We are approaching 50 members and that seems to be a
breaking point of a sort where hiring a manager becomes more important.
 
So, along with other business, the board is considering hiring a manager
for the market.  Not having ever done this, they are looking for advice
- no reason to re-invent the wheel!  We have some idea of what we think
we want a manager to do, but, I figure there is a wealth of information
and advice out there.  So, here is a list of questions they would like
information on:
 
What type/size market is your market?

What is the manager's salary and what costs does the market reimburse
the manager for(e.g. cell phone, travel stipend, etc.)

Does the manager do farm inspections (for producer only markets)?

Is the market using a service to pay the manager, or is the market's
treasurer handling payroll?

How many hours does your manager typically work a week?

Is the job year-round, or only seasonal, and if year-round, do hours
change seasonally?

What are the typical duties?

Do membership and stall fees support that salary totally?  And, if you
don't mind, what are the membership and stall fees?

Do you have any suggestions as how to find that "perfect" manager?

What would you like to tell us about the process that we haven't asked?

Thanks so much.  You can email us directly at    wiediger at windstream.net
if it is more comfortable for you.

Alison Wiediger, Au Naturel Farm

 
 
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