More and more food growers now consider trying out farmers markets. The popularity of these places has made doing business at them quite profitable. If you’re interested in selling your goods at a local farmers market, here are some things you should do to prepare before you go.
Be Ready for Questions
While many customers will simply see something they like and buy it, some people who go to farmers markets are knowledgeable about the different types of foods that you might offer. You’ll need to be ready to answer their questions about everything from chemicals used to the season’s growing conditions. We know that you know your products quite well, but this barrage of questions can sometimes take new vendors off guard, so it’s a good thing to prep for.
Only Bring Your Best Stuff
Regardless of if your customers ask questions or not, you want to be sure to impress them with your spread. Many vendors bring all the food they can. While that’s good for variety, it also means some of your items might not be in their prime.
You should only focus on bringing in-season, great-looking food with you. If a customer sees something that doesn’t live up to the kind of quality they expect, they will likely assume that’s the case for all your products.
Check the Weather
Since most farmers markets take place outdoors, you’ll want to know what kind of weather to expect. As long as conditions aren’t too extreme, people will be there—rain or shine. However, that doesn’t mean you have to get wet or sunburnt to make a profit.
If you bring the right gear, you won’t have to worry about the weather. Canopy tents are a fantastic option that will protect you from most forms of weather. Just make sure you know how to keep your tent grounded on windy days so that it doesn’t blow away.
Offer Other Forms of Payment
One thing that many people expect at farmers markets is that the vendors will only accept cash. While that means you shouldn’t have to worry about people forgetting cash, hard forms of money run out quickly.
That’s why you’ll likely make more sales if you can give people the option to pay with a card. Even if a customer still has a lot of cash on them, they can still use their debit card at your booth, helping them save money for other vendors. Either way, they’ll appreciate the option.
Provide Free Samples
The final thing you should prepare before going to your first farmers market is a selection of free samples. One thing that can keep someone from committing to a purchase is not wanting to spend money on food they haven’t tasted. However, if you prep some free samples beforehand, they can experience your food right away, which might guarantee you another sale.
