What I Learned After a Year of Flower Markets

Рет қаралды 3,803

Күн бұрын

This year I did 8 markets, ranging from craft markets, maker sales, and one farmers market. I discuss if these markets were worth it in my flower farmer journey and if I'll be continuing them in 2024.
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Пікірлер: 35

@radmilamiljanic5977 6 ай бұрын

You've made a wise decision: nobody in the world can replace you with your children, social media will certainly keep you afloat until they grow up (not that they will ask for their mom less:))) Get well soon💐

@Cici1791 5 ай бұрын

Agree, sometimes the days seem so long when they're really young, but trust her: they really do fly by so fast and soon you'll miss all of it... even the sleepless nights and baby who just won't nap. Enjoy your time with your little sweeties and take care of yourself too! Sounds like you have a nasty cold.

@pattikulesza6203 6 ай бұрын

@Northlawn flower farm had some interesting learnings about roadside stands

@cheriedodd9358 4 ай бұрын

I agree about the markets. I live in another country, but it sounds just the same... Poor advertising. Also people coming to either just have a look for a morning out or want to buy something for nothing. I stopped pretty soon on, then took 2years of posting on local Facebook groups. Slowly sales began. Now word of mouth, and having business cards attached to bouquets has really been game changer and I'm at times trying to keep up. Looking forward to following you this year. You're so calming to watch. Beautiful family too 🎉

@TheKlopovClan 5 ай бұрын

Last year was my first year and I made 200$, I didn't let myself get dejected I just focused on the future and I knew all the mistakes I made and what to do differently. This year my husband is building me a flower stand and it will be right in town! My plan is to have a cash box and venmo option. I'm really hoping it works out:) I will also have a newborn this summer so this definitely works for me!

@smokinwithjeff5411 4 ай бұрын

I am in love with so inspired by your videos! Well done! Grew Zinnias and roses as my first cut flowers. Going to expand this year and see where it takes me.

@rrichardson2835 6 ай бұрын

I 100% agree!! Children are precious and the monetary value isn’t worth being gone. I’ve seen your wedding work and if I were you I would really market that skill for June. You create amazing bouquets. I know that that can also be stressful, but you can work from home surrounded by family 😊

@ShiftingRoots 6 ай бұрын

I find wedding work way less stressful. The bulk of the arranging is on Friday when they’re at daycare, and then it’s just 15 minutes on Saturday for pickup. Fits much better with family life.

@sallyazzato3481 6 ай бұрын

I think your roadside stand will do great! And that decision makes sense for your family

@JillBretherton 6 ай бұрын

I live in the countryside in UK. Every other person round here has a rambling cottage garden which I didn’t consider when I did a local farmers market. People came to my stand but only to discuss what they also grew in their garden. A bit like trying to sell sea water to nemo! I think the road side stand or a upick os a great option for you at this stage with such young children.

@ShiftingRoots 6 ай бұрын

That’s what I found at two of the markets, the parents were interested in getting their kids to be flower farmers and wanted to see what I did, or try and make what I was selling themselves.

@JillBretherton 6 ай бұрын

@@ShiftingRoots oh no. That’s just rude. it’s so disheartening after all your hard work. Definitely be more choosy next year and save yourself.

@beezbloominggarden 6 ай бұрын

I’m glad to see this post. There are so many people starting out and they don’t know the work and sacrifice that comes with it. We also sell kettle corn at farmers markets and that brings in more money than the flowers. We are looking into doing a small stand in our yard. Just trying to figure a way around the city codes of having a business at our home that will allow customers to come to our home. Good luck!

@calicedetamarack 6 ай бұрын

I love this honesty!!! I had a failures my second year, last summer, and almost everything was bust. I also didn't have anyone to care for my kiddo. I've decided to just to really really slow it down until she's older.

@user-gz6tm6tp4b 6 ай бұрын

I totally agree with projecting a gross revenue of $1000 per market to make it a profitable venture. Aside from all the other personal and family conflicts of life, preparing for a market is really a lot of work .I think there is a gross misunderstanding related to the overhead cost and time it takes to prepare for market. I also think people forget that included in that cost is sales tax! So a $20 dollar bouquet is really less than 18$ gross. I think that when flowers are sold with food at a market, people really do not understand this and I think that there needs to be more education and signage posted about this at markets..

@ShiftingRoots 6 ай бұрын

Yes!! Exactly this!

@eyrerosecottage1970 6 ай бұрын

Good information, and good decisions!

@petefredrick3784 6 ай бұрын

So glad to see your videos again! I totally agree. You have very young kids and you have to do what's best for you. Your kids are only young once and you don't want to rush it. Sounds like you have a great following and your customers will come to you for your amazing flowers. I have a road side stand, it's a busy road. I usually put out 6 bouquets 3x/wk. Weekends they go fast and usually add a few later in the day. I have had quite a few stolen as we are quite a way off the road. But it's what works for me. I'd like to do a farmers market but it's so time consuming. I may try it this year and see how it goes. Good luck!

@altheab.8907 6 ай бұрын

I’m glad to hear that you’re going to cut back on the markets, Kristen. You’ve been burning the candle at both ends. You just can’t do all you’re trying to do with toddlers and a baby. Not if you are going to be the mother you want to be and stay healthy. There’s a limit to what the body can endure physically, emotionally and mentally. Take care of yourself. Take care of your family….enjoy this precious time you have with them….and then do what you can fit in for the business. The roadside stand sounds like a great idea. I’m excited about that. Serina is doing well with their stand. It seems to be working fine with the cash box. She’s never mentioned any theft. You can replenish when you need and not have to pick a lot ahead. Maybe some pop up make your own bouquet sales like Nicole used to do. Whatever works for you that will cut down on the stress. You have a good customer base and a good sense of advertising. It will work out fine. Craft shows are always a risk. It’s always a guessing game. You may have more time to stockpile dried flower Christmas ornaments, wreaths, wall hangings or soaps and potpourri or whatever. The children will be old enough in a few years then they can help at the shows. How old is your son now? We don’t see him in your videos. Blessings to you and your family. May it be a peaceful, joyful, abundant year. Love and Light to you all. 💕😊🦋🕊 PS. I was just watching Serina. Someone told her to put a lot of short stem pieces in vases to help hold the flowers in. Seemed to work just fine.

@EvelynM-vlogs 6 ай бұрын

I did our farmer's market for one and a half years, then dropped it. I mainly did it so that customers could put a face - and cheery personality, haha - to my roadside flower wagon, which by nature does not have me actually at it. The roadside flower wagon is my main sales outlet for my tiny urban flower farm, other than that I have reached out to, and connected with a couple of local wedding florists for small orders - elopements, short notice add ons - as I sell enough at my flower wagon that there is not a lot of extra to sell elsewhere. The farmer's market only worked because I am also an artist, I didn't have enough flowers for both the flower wagon and the farmer's market, so to rely on the revenue of the bouquets and flower arrangements I took would not have been enough. Cards, magnets, and prints helped make the day worth it.

@ShiftingRoots 6 ай бұрын

That’s another good point, you have to have enough product to sell the amount you want to sell, and sometimes that is challenging!!

@finelimedesigns 6 ай бұрын

Yesssss. So glad you’re going to try for a roadside stand this year! I think it will be great for where you’re at in life right now!

@ShiftingRoots 6 ай бұрын

I think so too! Hopefully it gets approved, Michael is looking at building ideas.

@hopemorrison2367 6 ай бұрын

My advice if it's overload and stressful leave it alone Amy business you do you have to give 100 percent

@francesoneill9101 6 ай бұрын

Great decision! May God will bless what you put your hands too...

@ShiftingRoots 6 ай бұрын

Thank you!

@lizstokes9091 6 ай бұрын

Years ago, I tried multiple venues for selling my crafts and you're not kidding about their lack of advertising skills!!! I stopped trying well before the pandemic, I can't imagine how low the traffic is now. Cheers from northern ON!

@ShiftingRoots 6 ай бұрын

I feel like it’s coming back. The ones in the spring were not as busy, but by Christmas traffic was good.

@mhubertcfi 6 ай бұрын

Oh the seasons of life! I have never done much more than break even at a market because I'll generally hire a person or two to help man the booth and all of the setup expenses, fees, displays etc. I am going to try to get a coffee stand or two to work with this year

@ShiftingRoots 6 ай бұрын

That’s a good idea!