Market Farming

["Elizabeth Pike" <pike AT always-online.com>]

Chris, I did this last year & found it was just a waste of time.  Not one 
customer commented or discussed vit. cont.  On the other side of that 
table, as a health conscious produce buyer(in the winter at least), I'm not 
particularly concerned with this either.  JMHO.

For farmer's market displays, I found in doing my research (I visited many 
fm for 2 years!) & in doing my own booth, anything that I could do opposite 
of what was the stand norm really upped my booth's impact. Fms all have 
their own personality, so these changes will vary from stand to stand.  At 
our stand, no one used table cloths.  So I used bright blue & white checked 
fabric on my tables-noticeable as soon as you stepped in the door.  
Everyone displayed their flowers on the floor.  I moved mine to the table.  
Everyone used the same regulation required tables.  I brought in an antique 
goat cart, & children's wagons.  No one displayed prices.  I did.  (This is 
the single most stupid mistake any business person can make, whether you 
sell produce or diamonds!  Customers deserve better than this common 
practice at fms.   For every customer who asks how much, you've lost 5.)  
Produce was most commonly displayed in the cardboxes they came in 
(resellers--ugh!!!), I used wicker flats.  Vendors could not/would not 
change hundred dollar bills.  I did-and I always got the first customers of 
the day.  Why?  Because other vendors came to me for change first thing in 
the morning.  When those first customers walked through the doors, my booth 
appeared crowded with customers, which attracted more.  Like flies to honey 
 (Ever visit a town & look for a good restaurant??  The best ones are the 
ones with all the cars. Locals know where the good stuff is!)

It's a game.  Psycological warfare for those almighty dollars.  I plan to 
stay in business!

Liz
Morningstar Gardens
Pollocksville NC