How do you find your market?

[Big Dave]

I am not talking about going to the store. After you have found what will grow and you can turn it into an abundant cash crop how do you go about finding the market for such Item? Vegetables, Soap, wooden items how?

[anniew]

Vegetables: farm stand, farmers market, restaurants, CSA
Soap: gift shops, farmers market, specialty stores
Wooden items: gift shops, farmers markets, specialty stores, maybe antique/collectible stores
Also, you could post on barter board, do a blog, place an ad, put up flyers, etc.
It takes leg work!

[blufford]

I would test the market by trying to sell a similar product made by someone else so that you don't have a lot of money tied up in growing or making something that doesn't sell in your area. Depending on your product and location (even on ebay) returning customers could make up the bulk of your sales so treat them well.

[lisa's garden]

It may take quite a bit of research on your part, and a lot of marketing. If you already have the cash crop, look at different ways of 'packaging' it. Is it a livestock feed crop, such as corn? You can sell directly to the customer for their livestock, but you can also package into bags for feeding squirrels and small pets, such as cracked corn for the newbie chicken owners.

You can list your product for free on Craigslist, put small ads in your local paper, give samples away to friends and family, check at local stores to see if your product would sell there and if they would be willing to carry it.

Also think about whether your product would work well for shipping to a broader audience. Is there a city or several towns nearby where you can deliver to customers?

If you have an online presence, put the info out there that you have this product available.

There are many questions that can only be answered by the individual and what they have to sell...which makes it really difficult to pinpoint a set formula for success.

[Charleen]

All good info here!

Also check regulations in your state (county/town) for what you're actually able to sell, do you need a Home Occupancy Permit? Sales Tax? Register your business name? INSURANCE???? Here in NYS to sell ANY item at a public farm market you must have insurance. Check with area farmers markets and ask what they'd like to see. Each market has different rules, too. Some markets don't really care what you're selling, some markets only allow you to sell what you have made/grown and will come to your home/farm for inspection.

Also - you have to like what you're doing! Be knowledgable about your product, talk to consumers to get their opinion, be ready to educate your buyers.

[Oldcountryboy]

Probably try'll and error for a while till you find the niche'.

Except for the disastrous last summer due to the heat drought, but in the years before of just selling my extra produce in my front yard, I've noticed a lot of people seem to be looking for tomatoes the most. Just about everyone of them reported to me that they're wanting a bunch to make salsa or picante sause with.

With that information, I've been thinking of specializing in mostly tomatoes and the other ingrediants that go into making salsa and picante sauce. Sell the ingrediants so they can make it theirselves plus make a few jars of it to sell to the public also.

[Callieslamb]

I looked for my market before I planted. I plan on only advertising on Craigslist and word of mouth.

[Left-Handed Dog]

All the above suggestions are good. We sell almost 90% at farmer's markets and we've tried a combination of trial marketing and having some of our choices driven by consumer demand. Trials work well when you have a well diversified bunch of offerings already; just add some new items and see how people respond. But we also pay very close attention to what people seem to be seeking out and/or having trouble getting enough of. This means we grow different proportions of crops than what we "think makes sense" but better meet market demand. And sometimes your customers have the best ideas: one of my friends mentioned that I make granola at a market and several customers asked me to bring some the next week. Ended up making six varieties that out-sold nearly every produce crop...

[luvrulz]

We joined a market 7-8 yrs ago and started out doing plant slips, a little produce and farm eggs. The things we did weren't connected and didn't do badly, but we didn't make alot of $$$ either. Then, I added jams and jellies, apple butter, etc and we did better - but that's alot of work. Plus the cost of the jars really cut into our profit - they were expensive plus all that sugar...!

One Saturday, I had made some chocolate zucchini bread and my commercial bakery grew from there. I now sell over $1,000 a week just by visiting different offices/banks/etc, We just got our commercial license and are doing fabulous! People love our product and call all the time. We still do the farmer's market, but since it's winter - they wanted a source so they could buy our breads and stuff in the winter. WIN, WIN!

[blufford]

Originally Posted by luvrulz

We joined a market 7-8 yrs ago and started out doing plant slips, a little produce and farm eggs. The things we did weren't connected and didn't do badly, but we didn't make alot of $$$ either. Then, I added jams and jellies, apple butter, etc and we did better - but that's alot of work. Plus the cost of the jars really cut into our profit - they were expensive plus all that sugar...!

One Saturday, I had made some chocolate zucchini bread and my commercial bakery grew from there. I now sell over $1,000 a week just by visiting different offices/banks/etc, We just got our commercial license and are doing fabulous! People love our product and call all the time. We still do the farmer's market, but since it's winter - they wanted a source so they could buy our breads and stuff in the winter. WIN, WIN!

Great, you went to your market instead of them coming to you.

[Alice In TX/MO]

What is your net?

[luvrulz]

We also farm and have 4 acres of asparagus and 800 blueberry bushes. Both those crops take awhile to fully mature - we developed this until they come in and give us the income we need/want. Plus, our bread customers love the crops we grow! We found a niche and developed it....you can be very successful at it!

[luvrulz]

Originally Posted by Alice In TX/MO

What is your net?

We are always evaluating our cost/payroll and it's about 1/3 of our gross. We have 2 or sometimes 3 people working for us part time. Most of all the baking work is done by me and all of the selling is done by dh.

I was able to 'retire' from my bank job a year ago and haven't looked back!

[RubyRed]

Originally Posted by luvrulz

We joined a market 7-8 yrs ago and started out doing plant slips, a little produce and farm eggs. The things we did weren't connected and didn't do badly, but we didn't make alot of $$$ either. Then, I added jams and jellies, apple butter, etc and we did better - but that's alot of work. Plus the cost of the jars really cut into our profit - they were expensive plus all that sugar...!

One Saturday, I had made some chocolate zucchini bread and my commercial bakery grew from there. I now sell over $1,000 a week just by visiting different offices/banks/etc, We just got our commercial license and are doing fabulous! People love our product and call all the time. We still do the farmer's market, but since it's winter - they wanted a source so they could buy our breads and stuff in the winter. WIN, WIN!

WOW!! Very impressive and good for you guys!!

[Bearfootfarm]

Sell the ingrediants so they can make it theirselves plus make a few jars of it to sell to the public also.

Often when you're selling "food" vs "produce", you get into a whole different set of regulations

I can't legally sell eggs unless I can prove I keep them at 40 degrees until I hand them to the customer, and putting them in a cooler won't pass that test

[||Downhome||]

You find your Market before the product is the prudent thing.
that is look for your niche, lack of Supply vs Demand= Potential market.
Lack of Supply also indicates lack of competition, but you need to ask why?
May be a good reason. If it is viable expect competition to crop up.
I would never let anyone know how well I was doing.

If for some reason you happen to have a surplus or windfall, its no skin off your nose to try and market it.
Developing a Market where there is no demand is tough though.
If you can win over influential people in the area that can help.

[Kazahleenah]

Look around and see what is already offered. Talk to the locals, visit the "local coffee shack" (or other gathering place where the locals hang around and shoot the breeze) Find out what they "wish" was available. See what you are capable of doing/making/raising and any regulations involved. I started small, with things that I could easily use IF they did not sell and went from there. Treat the customers well... their word of mouth and return visits is what will make or break your business.

[Lazy J]

Originally Posted by ||Downhome||

You find your Market before the product is the prudent thing.
that is look for your niche, lack of Supply vs Demand= Potential market.
Lack of Supply also indicates lack of competition, but you need to ask why?
May be a good reason. If it is viable expect competition to crop up.
I would never let anyone know how well I was doing.
If for some reason you happen to have a surplus or windfall, its no skin off your nose to try and market it.
Developing a Market where there is no demand is tough though.
If you can win over influential people in the area that can help.

Great advice!

[hiddensprings]

I started selling at our local farmer's market 3 years ago. I learned a great deal the first year and basically changed my entire product line. I have a small garden for hubby and I to enjoy squash, tomatoes, cucumbers, etc. For market I grow garlic, onions, herbs, and lettuce mix. I try to grow what no one else has and it has worked great for me. I don't have any competition at my market because I am not selling what everyone else has. I sell herbs to local chefs on a weekly basis and even at wholesale prices, do quite well (for example, my oregano sells for $16.50 a pound wholesale). I also sell goat's milk soap, fresh eggs, and pasture raised chickens. I could easily triple the number of partured chickens I sell but quite honestly, I hate raising them so have not expanded that part of the farm. My goat's milk soap has grown and is now sold online and at several specialty stores. And we are going to double our laying hens so I will have more eggs to sell. I never seem to have enough eggs...
This coming season, I will be adding herbal breads to our market goods. It's taken me almost a year to get my home kitchen licensed by the state and USDA inspected. Gotta love government red tape. lol

[pancho]

Originally Posted by Big Dave

I am not talking about going to the store. After you have found what will grow and you can turn it into an abundant cash crop how do you go about finding the market for such Item? Vegetables, Soap, wooden items how?

Usually much better to find your market before deciding what you want to grow. Just because it will grow in your area and is easy to grow doesn't mean there is a market just waiting for it.