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  • From: Tim Oppenheim <timopp AT mac.com>
  • To: homestead AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: Re: [Homestead] marketing
  • Date: Tue, 27 Jun 2006 11:24:05 -0500

Just on the face of things it looks like you are competing on price instead of other things. I really think that getting the word out to the right audience is crucial. Every week in our office we get the several faxes from local restaurants that show the specials and I know that works. There is also a band of guys that bring produce ( supposedly from Texas ) and they come by with cases of oranges and apples and sell them for $50 a case. When you can probably get the same at Walmart for way less. So it would seem to me that differentiate your product as a better but more costly alternative is the way to go.

As for restaurants, most are driven only by cost and consistency. I am sure they would buy but need to be assured of a constant supply and a consistent quality. I have worked in restaurants and tried to buy local, but either couldn't get a reliable supply or would work to get something established and the guy would just never show up again.

In the realm of cheap effective marketing I think the fax is a great tool. Be consistent in your message and offering. Tell people where you will be ( farmers market or roadside ) Build an audience. Lynn look on eBay and buy complementary wholesale items that you can mark up and sell while your are waiting http://bnfusa.com is the source of all the Maxam brand knives and gadgets you see on Ebay. The markup is phenomenal .

Tim


On Jun 27, 2006, at 10:54 AM, Lynn Wigglesworth wrote:

Marketing is one of the real problems I have with the farm business.
Farmers' Markets are so hit-or-miss. Somedays when I didn't have much to
sell, I sold out in the first half hour and had to sit the other 3.5 hours
(I'm the Market Manager, so I can't leave). Other days, I bring lots of
produce home. I never know if half the vendors will have lettuce or I'll
be the only one. One of our vendors has a bucket of beautiful green onions
every week. She rarely sells any, but has rows and rows of them planted.
Even in our rural county, there are 42,000 people, and they all eat. We
raise fresh, tasty, nutritious food. There's GOT to be a better way to
make the connection! That's one reason I'm thinking of a farmer
coop...selling to restaurants, maybe schools (there's a big farm-to- school
program in Pennsylvania). If market farmers had a guarenteed market for
their produce, and didn't have to sit in the rain all day hoping to sell
it, they might be more willing to grow more.

Lynn Wigglesworth
Peasant Farmer
Tioga County, PA
----- Original Message -----
From: "VAN DELL JORDAN" <vdjor AT yahoo.com>
To: <homestead AT lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Tuesday, June 27, 2006 10:49 AM
Subject: [Homestead] marketing


Please don't be too quick to take the conversation off
list. I'm interested in anything about marketing,
what products can pay and related subjects. As I am
not yet in research mode, and due to the way I learn,
any information / ideas I pick up here will be
helpful.

Lynn, have you tried going back to say $1.30 or
something in between.
Van Dell



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