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Subject: Market Farming
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- From: "WB Carver" <wbcarver AT marketfarming.com>
- To: "Market Farming" <market-farming AT franklin.oit.unc.edu>
- Subject: Re: peddlers, politics & convenience
- Date: Tue, 13 Feb 2001 12:41:10 -0500
Hi All,
Disclaimer: Although I have a fair amount of experience with high-end
craft/artisan shows and some retail background, I have very little
experience with an actual market stand, "Yet". So this, and its sister
thread, "Peddlers at Markets" have been excellent threads for me to "Listen"
to.
On the subject of convenience to customer Vs. convenience to the farmer, I
am NOT going to take an actual stance. (Go ahead, call me a coward - I can
take it) I just want to share an example from another business. Simply a
point to ponder.
Years ago I worked in a service station, with a very loyal following of
customers. We were open all day during the week, but only open from 8:00 am
until noon on Saturday. On most Saturdays, we were as busy as we could
stand to be, from the minute the doors opened until they closed promptly at
12:00. (Not just gas, but lots of minor service work. oil changes, safety
inspections, and the like) I asked the boss why we didn't stay open all day.
He told me he had tried it for a while. And what he found out (when he
actually looked at the sales figures) was that he did nearly the same total
dollars in business, just spread over the course of a full day. He continued
to say that his customers had learned that he was only open until 12:00 and
they knew if they didn't get there in the morning they were not going to get
their car worked on that day.
How many situations can you think of, where something is only available
on certain hours or days. Do you find yourself making the time to get
there?
As one poster put it, "do you miss your childs soccer game because it is
"inconvenient"? "
Now the thing I do see as important is: Whatever you do, do it
consistently.
Have you ever been some place where the hours or rules kept changing. Or
gotten somewhere to discover they had closed early and you missed them by 15
minutes? How about that place you stop for gas on your way to or from the
Farmers Market. If they were closed one Saturday when you went by, you might
try it again the next week, but let that happen a couple times and they've
lost your business to the place down the road that might not be as
"convenient" but you know you can count on them to be there when they say
they will be.
I guess what I am trying to say is, it seems like, if people want what you
have to sell, and you are consistent in your availability, they will keep
coming back. Regardless of whether it is produce, pancakes, or petroleum.
Just some thoughts from the peanut gallery.
WB (Bill) Carver
Laughing Brook Farm
Westfield, NC
-
Re: peddlers, politics & convenience
, (continued)
- Re: peddlers, politics & convenience, Gary & Sarah Rowland, 02/12/2001
- Re: peddlers, politics & convenience, Liz Pike, 02/12/2001
- Re: peddlers, politics & convenience, Bob & Mary Buffo, 02/12/2001
- Re: peddlers, politics & convenience, Jeffery Blake, 02/12/2001
- Re: peddlers, politics & convenience, mckemie, 02/12/2001
- Re: peddlers, politics & convenience, Jeffery Blake, 02/12/2001
- Re: peddlers, politics & convenience, mckemie, 02/13/2001
- Re: peddlers, politics & convenience, Del Williams, 02/13/2001
- Re: peddlers, politics & convenience, Wiediger, Alison, 02/13/2001
- Re: peddlers, politics & convenience, Gary & Sarah Rowland, 02/13/2001
- Re: peddlers, politics & convenience, WB Carver, 02/13/2001
- Re: peddlers, politics & convenience, Del Williams, 02/13/2001
- Re: peddlers, politics & convenience, mckemie, 02/13/2001
- Re: peddlers, politics & convenience, Jeffery Blake, 02/13/2001
- Re: peddlers, politics & convenience, Del Williams, 02/14/2001
- Re: peddlers, politics & convenience, S & S Aqua Farm, 02/14/2001
- Re: peddlers, politics & convenience, Del Williams, 02/14/2001
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