Marketing Tools

As a farmers' market vendor, keep in mind that each market day you are like a mini-retail environment for shoppers. You have the benefit of speaking directly to your customers and they have the benefit of working directly with you.

• Know your market. Know your customers. Are people browsing or are they just there to quickly get the things they need?

• Think from the customers' point of view.

• Make a focal point to draw people in.

• Show your prices. This cannot be emphasized enough.

• Think in terms of colors, shapes and textures. Balance aesthetics with practicality. For example, display items next to each other that go well together visually and when prepared. Think about complimentary colors, like the red of tomatoes and the green of basil. They go together in all sorts of ways. It's enticing.

• Consolidate items as they are sold to give the appearance of abundance, even when there is not abundance.

• Keep things well organized.

• Make sure you have enough help so that the customers do not have to wait too long. If you are so popular that there is a line, then help the first customer first. Devise a system that helps you to identify the customers in the order that they have arrived.

• Educate yourself about what the other vendors at your market have, so that you can be helpful to customers when they are looking for specific items.

• Make an investment to have a nice display!!!!