Walking through an unfamiliarfarmers marketrecently , I notice that all the table looked nearly identical . I do n’t signify that they all were selling the same good or had the same tablecloths or tent . I mean there was almost no manner to differentiate them in term of their growing practices , their farm position or market niche . There were , in short , far too few signs .
Sure , every stead had some sort of preindication identify the farm , but no board had anything beyond that to appeal the intermediate customer — which I was that twenty-four hour period . I needed something to tell me , in this ocean of farmers , whom I should support . Attracting customers with sign , I realize , was one giant missed opportunity .
Here are ways to add or better your live signs to help you remain firm out in a crew .
1. Make Signs Readable & Visible
Signs can be any different condition or size , but just ensure they are easy to read from at least 20 foot off . If you ca n’t take them , neither can the customer . So big baptismal font with a prissy contrast of font color and background . White on immature or black , in other word , but not white on a light coloring material , or frailty versa . house should not be too busybodied , but a nice picture or vignette is fine . It ’s better for signs to be professionally printed , but if you have an creative person in the family , see what that person can do . That said , a good planetary house will draw customers in , so it ’s a right investment if you have to pay a piffling for it .
2. Say Where You’re From
If your farm is locate very near the market , play that up with musical phrase such as , “ Grown 15 miles from here ” or “ As local as local gets . ” Come up with something play that will bestow attention to just how little your food had to travel from farm to table . Also , if you know in a place with an interesting name , it ’s deserving pose it on your sign . I ca n’t tell you how many customers we ’ve attracted just by putting “ From Bugtussle , Kentucky , ” on our star sign and the confederation that ensue .
3. Push Your Growing Practices
Especially if you are a practicing organic grower , but are notcertified organic , you should have a sign that enounce something about it . During my late sojourn to the granger grocery , I only want to find out a grower who does n’t use chemical substance fertiliser or pesticides . Not one person had a mansion , but when I spoke to a few vendors I watch they were practicing constitutional method acting . Before we were certified constitutional , but were do , we had a sign that say “ We ’re lofty of the mode we grow––ask us about our grow practices . ” It started many conversations that turned into sales .
4. Advertise Your Unique Qualities
Are you a female farmer ? Permaculturalist ? 5th - genesis farmer ? First generation ? run it up ! If mass are trying to decide between 10 farmers sell tomatoes , the one that connects to them in person , or enliven them , will be the one who set out the sales event .
5. Tout Your Experience
If you have been doing this farming affair for a foresighted meter , say so . People like and trust experience . But also , if this is your first twelvemonth , do n’t shy away from that either . client might also enjoy support a new farm .
