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Subject: Market Farming
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- From: "Del Williams" <delannw AT dlogue.net>
- To: "Market Farming" <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
- Subject: Re: [Market-farming] Re: Perennial/Annual sales
- Date: Wed, 16 Jul 2003 16:28:23 -0500
Katy,
Just my 2 cents on it... but I think that being able to talk with customers
and build a relationship with them is not only one of the best parts of retail,
it's good for the business. It sets up a human connection. That is
what distinguishes small business from big business. (Although I have to
say that Wal-Mart's idea of putting elderly employees who know gardening in
their garden centers is pretty damn smart.)
We get a lot of young couples who come in to start planting around their
first homes. They don't know much about plants or planting and they
usually have a kid or two in tow. I usually take the kids inside and let
them pick out an apple or a pear to eat while their parents wander around.
But I spend a lot of time talking to the adults about their home, where they are
planting, what they have in mind. (the kids go look at the goldfish
pond...yep, we have one inside our main greenhouse... )
These young and ambitious proud homeowners are really into making their
yards look nice. So that extra conversation and getting to know their
interests is very important. Not just to make the sale, but to make sure
their plants are planted properly and maintained.
Reminds me of some folks who came in with a grand plan. I looked at
it and said, OK, this is what you're in for. Then, I said, our landscaper
happens to be here today. Could you hang around for a few minutes more
while I ask him for his recommendations? Sure.
So he put together a planting plan for them at no cost to them. I
sold them $300 worth of perennials and sent them to a competitor for some soil
improvement amendments. You know what I know? They'll Be Back.
Sure enough. The husband came back to tell me how he screwed up one
of the plantings. Poor fellow. He thought that once the plants were
out of the pots and in the ground he couldn't move them again. LOL.
Oh my.
This is where some respect for the customer comes into play. This is
not a stupid young man. He is ignorant about plants and planting.
So, I show some respect for his intelligence and offer him some knowledge.
I suppose this is where the old teacher in me starts working.
In sales of perennials or annuals, fruits or vegetables, your knowledge is
something to be shared. It has value. Sometimes you can charge for
it. As a market gardener, I could share what I knew about the use of herbs
or vegetables in cooking, and in gardening. I gave out lots of free
recipes.
And isn't that what makes the difference between the supermarket and
you?
Isn't that what makes the difference between the resellers and those of us
who grew and used what we grew for our own lives?
If you are doing what you love, you can't help but share the wealth of
knowledge you have acquired. Customers seem to play into that zest for the
same thing.
I think that very little of what I do is actually sales. It's
connecting with someone else's dream.
And if I'm dreaming, don't wake me up. Otherwise, I'll figure this is
nothing more than a job.
Del Williams
Clifton, IL
|
-
[Market-farming] Re: Perennial/Annual sales,
KTCopsey, 07/16/2003
-
Re: [Market-farming] Re: Perennial/Annual sales,
Del Williams, 07/16/2003
-
[Market-farming] Disaster at Santa Monica Market,
Margaret, 07/16/2003
- Re: [Market-farming] Disaster at Santa Monica Market, Pat Meadows, 07/17/2003
- Re: [Market-farming] Re: Perennial/Annual sales, becky watkins, 07/17/2003
-
[Market-farming] Disaster at Santa Monica Market,
Margaret, 07/16/2003
-
Re: [Market-farming] Re: Perennial/Annual sales,
Del Williams, 07/16/2003
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