Succeeding in the Farmers Market with Farmer Bailey

Farmers Markets can be a powerful sales channel for flower farmers, but are they right for you and your business?
Bailey Hale and expert guests Miranda Duschack and Mimo Davis of Urban Buds, and Shanti Rade of Whipstone Farm break down Farmers Markets for flower farmers in this honest panel talk, recorded with a live audience on Zoom on May 13, 2024.
Our panelists are all seasoned flower farmers with decades of experience selling bunches and bouquets through their local farmers markets. Learn what draws customers to your booth, how to beat the heat and keep flowers from wilting, and why you must make the market manager your best friend. Viewer questions are answered in this 1 hour and 45 minute, wide-ranging talk. Stay tuned to the Farmer Bailey channel for an extra, bonus Q&A addressing even more viewer questions!
00:00:50 Introduction
00:01:30 Ardelia Farm
00:02:30 Gross sales
00:03:07 Panel Intro
00:03:25 Agenda
00:04:00 Miranda Duschack
00:05:12 Urban Buds
00:05:40 St. Louis Farmers Markets
00:06:08 Are farmers markets right for me?
00:08:15 Community connection
00:09:20 Rules in the booth
00:10:30 Introverts
00:13:30 How to remember names
00:14:50 Find the right market for you
00:17:00 Nonprofit vs. For Profit markets
00:19:00 Tax Laws
00:19:30 Finding Allies
00:24:10 Shanti Rade
00:24:20 Whipstone Farm
00:26:00 Low barrier to entry
00:27:30 Being involved / board of directors
00:29:50 City size
00:30:55 Quality of Product
00:31:00 Consistency
00:32:30 Personality
00:33:00 Product Knowledge
00:34:00 Stage of Harvest
00:34:30 Selling closed buds,
00:35:30 Florists vs. Market
00:36:30 Mixed Bouquets
00:38:15 Pricing
00:40:50 Immediate Price Feedback
00:41:40 Display & Presentation
00:43:00 Your role as owner
00:44:00 Be your own Hype Person
00:44:30 Social Media
00:45:20 Email Newsletter
00:46:00 Hospitality
00:47:55 Mimo Davis
00:49:00 Farmers Market background
00:49:30 Starting Out
00:50:00 Knowing the market
00:51:15 Marketing yourself
00:51:49 Positioning
00:53:15 Market Manager Relationship
00:55:00 Promoting your Stand
00:55:50 Pricing & Undercutting
00:56:40 Happy Bouquet 6"-8"
00:57:15 Refresh & Restock
00:57:50 Full Display
00:58:40 Accommodations
01:01:00 Florists vs. Market
01:01:30 Year Round Markets
01:01:40 Creating Habits
01:03:30 Customer Service
01:05:00 Weddings
01:06:00 Customer Service is Everything
01:06:15 Self Presentation
01:07:00 Valuing your Flowers
01:07:40 Owner in the Booth
01:09:00 Questions & Answers

[@kimieann1975]

This is my first yr flower farming. I love the markets! The only thing I find aggravating is the putting up and tearing down. Especially being by myself. I've definitely made mistakes this year. Grew to many fillers and flowers with a not so great vase life. It's disappointing I spent 1,000's dollars and don't like half of what I'm growing. That being said I'm definitely going to concentrate on focals next yr. Pricing is hard for me, I really need to nail it down. My biggest concern is the heat & humidity. I'm zone 9a and I'm not sure how great the bouquets are going to hold up at markets. The good news is there aren't many flower farmers in my area & the ones that are here are only growing for wholesale. Fingers crossed next yr will be better and I'll have more of the kinks worked out.

[@farmerbaileyplugs]

Hi Kimie Ann, thank you so much for watching the video and sharing your experience. Don't be too hard on yourself about mistakes, everyone's first year is typically filled with frustration and failures! It's how we learn. We commend you for trying and learning from all of it! I think regarding heat and humidity, you need to plan to keep most of the flowers cool during markets (in a vehicle, in a cooler under the table, etc) and refresh the display as you sell. ~Felicia

[@BosqueBlooms-cb3lb]

Thankyou for the info!

[@farmerbaileyplugs]

Thank you for watching! ~felicia

[@deehancock5008]

Can you put flowers in an ice chest with icey water? Standing stem up

[@farmerbaileyplugs]

Hi Dee, thanks for watching. Shanti mentioned in the webinar that most flowers do not like ice water. It is better to keep them cool with refrigeration and shading. ~Felicia

[@maybelline888]

shanti is not kidding when she says there's a lot of politics going on at the markets...

[@farmerbaileyplugs]

Like sands through the hourglass, these are the days of our lives... (rings the bell). ~Felicia