If you sell products from your home/farmstead

[cindyc]

QUESTION:

How important is the overall "presentation" (cleanliness, cheerfulness etc...) of your homestead/farmstead to your marketing effort? Will people be just as likely to buy from you if your yard is picked up than if it isn't?

Are people not only buying "product" but also their romantic image of a farm i.e. the experience?

Just curious. I was considering an event this weekend, but it may be too soon if presentation and first impressions matter. As you may know, the people who lived here before left it a MESS, and I have a LOT of work to do. I can get the whole yard around the house area pretty cleaned up by then, but not the whole property.

What do you think?

Cindyc.

[DenverGirlie]

it depends... if I'm buying firewood, it wouldn't be that big of a deal to me.

If I was buying a product I would consume, it would be a big deal to me.

However, that would be different if I personally knew the people I was buying for. But if they are esstetially strangers, then how clean and nice the people are would make a big difference.

I think it really matters as to what you are selling and to whom.

[cindyc]

Originally Posted by DenverGirlie

it depends... if I'm buying firewood, it wouldn't be that big of a deal to me.

If I was buying a product I would consume, it would be a big deal to me.

However, that would be different if I personally knew the people I was buying for. But if they are esstetially strangers, then how clean and nice the people are would make a big difference.

I think it really matters as to what you are selling and to whom.

The kids want to do a bake sale, generally to neighbors. We don't know them, as we just moved here. They are raising money for a computer.

Cindyc.

[mistletoad]

I think a bake sale would call for neat and tidy - we could never hold one here! lol

[cindyc]

Originally Posted by mistletoad

I think a bake sale would call for neat and tidy - we could never hold one here! lol

Yea, that is what I was thinking... Hmmm... how much time do I have to invest in this right now? Hmmm...

Cindyc.

[CJ]

Like DenverGirlie said, it it were firewood, doesn't matter. But if I were buying livestock, food, used items of any type, then it would make all the difference in the world to me. A well kept home/farm to me says, this person takes pride in their home, and takes care of their possessions.

While that may not be the case, impressions/perceptions are everything.

[haypoint]

I agree. For firewood it wouldn't matter. Matters some for fresh fruits and vegetables. Live chickens and fresh eggs, I'm a lot more careful. Baked goods, breads, cookies, jams or jellies, I want the place to be really clean.
I guess the Health Department has it figured that way, too. In this State you can't sell to the public stuff you've cooked in your house. Regulations on selling home butchered chickens, too. While I have no idea how close the Health Department in your area watches this stuff, if anyone questions the neatness of your setup or (God forbid) someone gets sick after consuming your baked goods, you might be getting yourself into more hot water than it was worth. I don't like the Government's intrusion, however by having standards and inspections in place, I think it keeps me aware and striving for a high standard of cleanliness.

[A'sta at Hofstead]

Clean and tidy! We sell eggs and our cart and cooler are spik 'n' span- In our state you can buy a homestead license and sell baked goods, for a one time fee of $25.00 - I am thinking of doing this and selling goodies down at the egg stand. You do need to follow state recipes for certain things like jams and jellys I think.

[cindyc]

Originally Posted by CJ

Like DenverGirlie said, it it were firewood, doesn't matter. But if I were buying livestock, food, used items of any type, then it would make all the difference in the world to me. A well kept home/farm to me says, this person takes pride in their home, and takes care of their possessions.

While that may not be the case, impressions/perceptions are everything.

Thanks CJ. Wonder how mad they are going to be if I tell them we have to postpone this bake sale? Hmmmm.... I just don't want to make a bad first impression as there are other things they want to do later, like sell eggs etc...

Well... a lot to think about.

Cindyc.

[Meg Z]

I agree with what everyone else has said, with this caveat...

If this is your new home, it was a mess before, and you've been working to get it cleaned up, and this event is for your neighbors, then I'd say go for it. They'll see the differences in before and after more than they will what's left to be done!

If it's for people that never saw the 'before' then I'd wait.

Meg

[amwitched]

How about getting your kids to help you clean the yard? You could tell them that in order to have the bake sale, the yard needs to be ---- and span. That should certainly motivate them.

[cindyc]

Originally Posted by amwitched

How about getting your kids to help you clean the yard? You could tell them that in order to have the bake sale, the yard needs to be ---- and span. That should certainly motivate them.

Yea, we have been doing that today, but I don't know if there is quite enough time to get it REALLY CLEAN! They pulled weeds in the flower beds today and hauled off trash... that sort of thing... but there is a LOT of work that needs to be done out there.

Cindyc.

[wy_white_wolf]

Originally Posted by cindyc

... generally to neighbors. ....

I would say first impression may have already been made. If they can see you place driving by I'm sure they know how much of a mess the place was. And how much cleaning you've already accomplished. With that in mind, I'm pretty sure they understand the task you have in cleaning the whole place.

[cindyc]

Originally Posted by wy_white_wolf

I would say first impression may have already been made. If they can see you place driving by I'm sure they know how much of a mess the place was. And how much cleaning you've already accomplished. With that in mind, I'm pretty sure they understand the task you have in cleaning the whole place.

Well... that may be a point. It DOES look better than it did when we moved in.

Thanks!

Cindyc.

[Maura]

You can also put a few stakes in the ground, run string around, and call it next year's flower bed. One very visible here, one very visible there. Also, draw the eye away from the negative. Put pots of flowers on the front porch, and by the vegetable stand. Place the vegetable stand in such a place as the consumer would not be looking at the junk past the veg stand, but something attractive.

[cindyc]

Originally Posted by Maura

You can also put a few stakes in the ground, run string around, and call it next year's flower bed. One very visible here, one very visible there. Also, draw the eye away from the negative. Put pots of flowers on the front porch, and by the vegetable stand. Place the vegetable stand in such a place as the consumer would not be looking at the junk past the veg stand, but something attractive.

That is a good idea. I was thinking today how I wish I could afford to buy fall flowers, but... String and stakes, I have those. In fact, I have COLORFUL string, and stakes. Cindyc.
Cindyc.

[MELOC]

just put up a sign that says "under new management...please be patient while we improve. check back often to see our progress".

[Linebacker]

Ive been cleaning up my new place since Jun so I feel your pain as well as your pride. Sounds like your entire family has worked very hard. I like the idea of next year's flower/veggie beds. I say go for it!