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OK... Bud. I'll bite. This has been such a treat to see this new area. I am "almost" finished with a slew of trades... but, this was just too good not to speak up... I have been so busy since my Blue Eyes fell off the concrete, back porch steps onto our brick path. Anyway, I am new to gardening, country living, and the rural south in general.
The last 3 years have been an education and an extreme amount of fun. Not to mention, back breaking hard, hot work.
And... getting bites from fleas, ticks, no-seeums, turkey mites, and chiggers. I have had a shot for lymes disease every year... and had 2 ticks taken out of my back with a scalpal... no kidding. And snakes... never put your hand in a bale of hay on a spring day...never. Take a hoe and wack it to peices first... then flip it over. We have rattlers, copperheads, and cow snakes.. and.. well... you get the picture.
The first 2 years we sold Blue Eyes homemade canned goods. We did very well ... sometimes selling out on a Saturday and coming home to cook more Green Tomatoe Relish and Chow Chow...half the night.. and back to market on Sunday.
In my former "city girl" life... I did on the road sales for a number of years. Before we Retired (?) *wink* Studied Dale Carnegie... which I would highly recommend... At least read the book "How to Win Friends and Influence People". And, get your hands on the best classes and/or books on selling... that you can. The Library has many and they can order them through each State's Inter-Library Loan Service. That gives you more money for start-up business expences.
Here are some funny but, true things we have learned in the 3 years we sold over 35 canned goods products and this last year flower bulbs and plants.
Good Product is important... but, marketing is the key with a good product. Having a positive attitude is very important. Your customers rule. We have found that kindness and giving pay off. As was mentioned above. You learn to take the "that's too expensive" and say with a smile " Your right, you can buy Jelly at Winn-Dixie for less... but, you won't find this taste in a Winn Dixie Jar... come taste some... come here.. come on... Did your Grandma make homemade jelly?... Get it?
Do what you are good at. Study, experiment, and try it on a small scale first. Decide if you want to market it. Old Blue Eyes is great at creating... but, marketing... that's my strong suit. Except if I wander off.. the ladies like those Blue Eyes... *wink* me, too. So, we make a good team. Do you have a good team?
We like to buy from people with personality. We do not visit the nurseries that have an abrupt owner or short mouthed, sales people. When we go to Market to buy... we look for this one older gentleman...Henry. He always calls us by our name. He is a stitch. Sometimes, he sells us junk... but, we go back because he will always be nice to us.. and the next time we get good stuff. He always says "I'll treat you right" Remembering names, and where folks live... is important. Ask questions... people love to talk about themselves. And, listen. Give them postive support.
Pricing... this is the God's truth... we were selling our pint jars of product for $5.00... and the 8 oz. for $3.00. I had very nice... cute posters I made up each week. People would walk by our stands... old tables with patchwork quilts or all matching, season design tableclothes... and discuss our price as too high.
So, I thought... maybe...maybe those numbers "Sound" too high. I went home and made new posters... with $4.99 and $2.99 and we sold many, many more. Then we offered a special... buy 4... get one free... of anything in the same size and price... sold more.. Doing the volume sales was great. People loved it. and they left with an armful of our stuff to show off to the other buyers...
We always give something to someone less fortunate. We say "Say, we just have too much of this today.. please take this home" It will make your heart smile.
Now, here is the real kicker. One day I was hungry for something we had just made to sell. Just too busy to eat it. So, I went to the store and got crackers, spoons, and napkins. I opened the jars and started yelling out... "Hey, come over here.. and try this great stuff... Hey... do you like fresh, hand-picked wild blackberry jam? Come over here... this is your lucky day... Taste this...
And, from that day on... we brought coolers of all our stuff.. nice crackers.. not the junkie, cheap kind... and pretty napkins... People loved it. If we really liked someone... we added little, free jars... not much expense for us.. But, it makes them feel special and that little jar represents a future customer for years and years. Make the prices smaller on the poster. Hook them with the taste... first... you have them captive. They are eating your food for free.. and their face and hands are covered in jelly and chow chow... now, you have to tend to them. Give them some wet paper towels... wipe that strawberry jam off their white shirt... contact... relationship building...
We dress in denim type and wore straw hats... which I love. Blue Eyes wore Cowboy hats. I always wore a bib apron that matched my outfit... city girl influence.. *smile*. People thought we were cute... I could tell. And, I played on it.
Then, we started to give them our own recipes to use with our products... they loved it. More customers. I didn't write them down... I rattled it off and they wrote it on our school paper we took along. Why? Because it developed a relationship. We had to stand and visit while they wrote it out... it was an investment in their life.
Ok... I said from the get-go I am a talker. The good news was above. The bad news is the State of Kentucky closed all little folks like us down. A law was passed that will not allow anyone to sell homemade canned goods without a separate kitchen and be inspected... Well, I won't start to rant and rave about Restaurants and THEIR FILTH... it is just that we hardly eat out... and we wouldn't take our dog to most local restaurants.
Now, we are on the road to selling plants. We grew them in the garden. and took them to market in plastic bags with a little soil. And, we did all the above... just with plants... Hey... smell these flowers... look at this photo of them... Hey... I'll give you a really good deal on buying all of them... I can't tell you how many times we romanced customers and educated them... 4 times new home owners bought us out... everything. Hey... you can buy us out today.. and go home with a whole, complete garden...
And... always... "Thank You... we appreciate your business... and, with tongue in check.. Y'all come back.
Thanks for listening.. I will only be wordy this once.. Promise.
Betty of KY A Recovering "Former City Girl"
P.S. Hey, can anyone tell me where the "spell check" is on the Explorer 4.0 is... I will not load the 5.0 ... Junk.
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