Have you been thinking about selling your products at the farmers market? If so, there are a few things to consider.  

1. First and foremost, find a market that works for you - Every market is different. Reach out to the markets you might be interested in and ask questions. Does the market have rules you can look at? How many regular vendors do they have? Do they have a marketing plan (or do they post regularly on social media)? Do they highlight vendors on social media or in newsletters? What are their vendor fees? Be sure to ask questions relevant to your business and your needs. Also, go walk around the market on a market day to get a feel for the other vendors and the customers!  

2. Be sure to get the proper licensing/registrations – Most states/counties will require you to operate under a business license. Check with the local city and county governments to see what they require. Also, depending on your product, you might need a homebased processing or microprocessing license for food products. Your local health department can help ensure your product is processed in a safe environment and you have the proper labeling. 

3. Develop a sustainable marketing plan – Think through how you will reach current and prospective customers, which can include posting to social media accounts, sending out a regular newsletter, going onto local radio shows or sending information to the local paper (just to name a few). Marketing efforts should be a mix of letting followers know where you'll be and when, what your products are, and why your products are worth buying.  

4. Be consistent – Customers come to farmers markets expecting to see their favorite vendors with their favorite products. Having sporadic attendance and inconstant products will cause customers to lose trust in your brand. Be consistent with products and let customers know where you will be and when you will be there.  

5. Make your booth/table the place to be – Getting people to your table is goal number one on market day. Be sure to have a pleasant and welcoming attitude and put some effort into your booth/table. Does your table look nice and organized? Sometimes just adding a tablecloth or putting products in baskets can make a huge difference. Can customers pick things up easily and do you have a variety of prices? Some customers will be able to afford higher price items, but others want smaller items with lower price tags. Also, prices should be clearly displayed as customers walking by are looking for prices before they commit to walking up. Offering samples of your products can also help get customers to your table. Be sure to check with your local health department to ensure you follow their guidelines. 

6. Community over competition - Form relationships and partnerships with other vendors and customers. Does another vendor have a product that could compliment yours? Talk to them! Working together promotes both of your products to both of your audiences and can increase your reach, and sales.  

7. Remember - People shopping at farmers markets are often looking for a closer connection to those that grow/raise their food. The question then becomes, how can you help grow that relationship? Some market vendors do this by printing family recipes and giving them to those that buy their product or sending weekly newsletters with funny stories from the farm.  

KCARD is here to help with these conversations. Reach out to us at (859) 550-3972 or kcard@kcard.info.