Farmers Markets can be a powerful sales channel for flower farmers, but are they right for you and your business?
Bailey Hale and expert guests Miranda Duschack and Mimo Davis of Urban Buds, and Shanti Rade of Whipstone Farm break down Farmers Markets for flower farmers in this honest panel talk, recorded with a live audience on Zoom on May 13, 2024.
Our panelists are all seasoned flower farmers with decades of experience selling bunches and bouquets through their local farmers markets. Learn how find the right market, what draws customers to your booth, how to beat the heat and keep flowers from wilting, and why you must make the market manager your best friend.
Viewer questions are answered in this 1 hour and 45 minute, wide-ranging talk. Stay tuned for an extra, bonus Q&A addressing even more viewer questions!
Great gratitude to our guests Shanti, Mimo and Miranda for sharing their experience and hard-won wisdom. Follow them on Instagram @WhipstoneFarm and @UrbanBuds for more insight into how they make farmers markets work for them.
KEY MOMENTS
| 00:00:50 | Introduction |
| 00:01:30 | Ardelia Farm |
| 00:02:30 | Gross Sales |
| 00:03:07 | Panel Introduction |
| 00:03:25 | Agenda |
| 00:04:00 | Miranda Duschack |
| 00:05:12 | Urban Buds |
| 00:05:40 | St Louis Tower Farmers Market |
| 00:06:08 | Are Farmers Markets Right for Me? |
| 00:08:15 | Community Connection |
| 00:09:20 | Rules in the Booth |
| 00:10:30 | Introverts |
| 00:13:30 | How to Remember Names |
| 00:14:50 | Find the Right Market for You |
| 00:17:00 | Nonprofit vs. For Profit Markets |
| 00:19:00 | Tax Laws |
| 00:19:30 | Finding Allies |
| 00:24:10 | Shanti Rade |
| 00:24:20 | Whipstone Farm |
| 00:26:00 | Low Barrier to Entry |
| 00:27:30 | Being Involved / Board of Directors |
| 00:29:50 | City Size |
| 00:30:55 | Stem Quality |
| 00:31:00 | Consistency |
| 00:32:30 | Personality |
| 00:33:00 | Product Knowledge |
| 00:34:00 | Stage of Harvest |
| 00:34:30 | Selling Closed Blooms |
| 00:35:30 | Florists vs. Market Customers |
| 00:36:30 | Mixed Bouquets |
| 00:38:15 | Pricing & Feedback |
| 00:41:40 | Display & Presentation |
| 00:43:00 | Your Role as Owner |
| 00:44:00 | Be Your Own Hype Person |
| 00:44:30 | Social Media Marketing |
| 00:45:20 | Email Marketing |
| 00:46:00 | Hospitality |
| 00:47:55 | Mimo Davis |
| 00:49:00 | Farmers Market Experience |
| 00:49:30 | How to Start Out |
| 00:50:00 | Knowing the Market |
| 00:51:15 | Marketing Yourself |
| 00:51:49 | Positioning |
| 00:53:15 | Market Manager Relationship |
| 00:55:00 | Promoting Your Stand |
| 00:55:50 | Price Points & Undercutting |
| 00:56:40 | 6-8" Happy Bouquet |
| 00:57:15 | Refresh & Restock |
| 00:57:50 | Full Display |
| 00:58:40 | Accommodations |
| 01:01:00 | Florists vs. Market |
| 01:01:30 | Year Round Markets |
| 01:01:45 | Creating Customer Habits |
| 01:03:30 | Customer Service First |
| 01:05:00 | Weddings |
| 01:06:00 | Customer Service is Everything |
| 01:06:15 | Self Presentation |
| 01:07:00 | Valuing Your Flowers |
| 01:07:40 | Owner in the Booth |
| 01:09:00 | Questions & Answers |