This interests me so if you want to move off list that would be fine.
Do you have an idea about the demographics of your customers. It would seem (
to me ) that there should be more price elasticity than that. I live in poor
Northeast Arkansas and I would think there would be a market here. Remember
that you can justify different prices based on your marketing efforts. Do you
have a health club or other gathering place for people that treasure healthy
foods. On the unsold eggs do you have a food pantry or something in your
county that you give some eggs to and garner some press.
Tim
On Tuesday, June 27, 2006, at 08:23AM, Lynn Wigglesworth
<lynnw AT chilitech.net> wrote:
>It's not a good area for premium prices. I just raised the price of my
>free-range eggs to $1.50/dozen, and I lost most of my egg
>customers. I have lots and lots and lots of unsold eggs...I'm feeding them
>to the dogs. The message is clear: I can go back to $1.25/doz. or go out
>of the egg business.
>
>Lynn
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Tim Oppenheim" <timopp AT mac.com>
>To: <homestead AT lists.ibiblio.org>
>Sent: Monday, June 26, 2006 10:58 PM
>Subject: [Homestead] Selling was: Harpie visit
>
>
>> Lynn,
>>
>> You are selling a premium product to a discerning clientele...so all
>> you have to do is find the discerning clientele . : ) Even in the
>> most rural places there is always somebody. Start with Doctors and
>> Bankers .Call, ask for fax numbers ( if you don't like to call on
>> people personally ) Make a flyer of your products and fax ( use eFax
>> if you have to or Winfax and your modem) to your most likely targets.
>> Charge a premium, explain the benefits, say your products will be
>> available for inspection at their location ( or a neutral location,
>> or a particular day at the farmers market ) Have a fax back order
>> form or a not interested check box. Show up at the appointed space,
>> look the part of the hippy, organic, super farmer. Have change or
>> take checks. Make sure you enclose another order form or your card
>> with all orders and keep going.
>>
>> Keeps expanding your target list. Always ask your customers if they
>> know anyone that would be interested in the worlds best produce.
>> Don't sell, educate your customers on the benefits of local organic
>> produce. Repetition is key, keep faxing and getting the message out.
>> You want the crowd to gather before you ever get there. Think and be
>> premium always ( give no questions asked refunds, don't offer junk,
>> never compete price wise with the grocery stores) Always remember
>> that your greatest asset is your customer list. Start with one and
>> keep building.
>>
>> I hope that helps
>>
>> Tim
>>
>>
>>
>> On Jun 26, 2006, at 8:45 PM, Lynn Wigglesworth wrote:
>>
>> > There are no urban centers anywhere near here. There is someone
>> > running a
>> > CSA (the 'shares' you mentioned), and she seems to be doing OK on a
>> > fairly
>> > small scale (8-10 customers). That's something I'm looking into, along
>> > with some kind of farmer coop, selling to restaurants or even having a
>> > year-round store selling all local foods.
>> >
>> > Lynn Wigglesworth
>> > Peasant Farmer
>> > Tioga County, PA
>> > ----- Original Message -----
>> > From: "WILLIAM" <billymegab AT yahoo.com>
>> > To: <homestead AT lists.ibiblio.org>
>> > Sent: Monday, June 26, 2006 4:41 PM
>> > Subject: Re: [Homestead] Harpie visit
>> >
>> >
>> > Hi Lynn
>> >
>> > One way I've heard that works in selling organic food is to sell
>> > shares
>> > to people (usually city folk) for a regular stream of whatever you
>> > produce. Are you close enough to an urban centre for that to work??
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > Lynn Wigglesworth <lynnw AT chilitech.net> wrote:
>> > Hi Bev (and all my old friends whom I haven't talked to in a long
>> > time);
>> > Your son went into the military, didn't he? How's he doing? And your
>> > daughter moved in with some guy you didn't like? Did that work out?
>> > I'm
>> > glad that you and Ron are finally getting to take trips together.
>> >
>> > I NEED a business partner...a salesman (er, person...but I'd prefer
>> > a man
>> > :-)) with a head for business. I'm divorced now...my ex couldn't
>> > stand the
>> > fresh air and sunshine of country life any more so he moved back to
>> > the
>> > city and I divorced him. I'm trying (still) to make the farm into a
>> > business. Now I depend on succeeding, or I'll have to go out and get a
>> > REAL job (ack!). The beef business is doing well, but the market
>> > garden
>> > part isn't. I can grow wonderful heirloom vegetables, but can't
>> > sell 'em.
>> > We started a new Farmers' Market, but it's not up to speed yet with
>> > attracting customers..and I need a lot of steady customers to make a
>> > living farming.
>> >
>> > Lynn Wigglesworth
>> > Peasant Farmer
>> > Tioga County, PA
>> >
>> >
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>> >
>>
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>>
>
>
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