Is Your Farm Direct Marketing Business Customer-Friendly ?

• A friendly smile :) when customers visit?
• A salesperson who is knowledgeable of the products you are selling?
• Large signs that name the types of products that are for sale?
• A parking area designated “Customer Parking”?
• Regular hours of operation and signage to indicate same?
• A clean washroom that customers can use?
• A trash barrel where customers can pitch their trash?
• A guest book that people can sign, provide comments and provide their e-mail address and telephone number?
• A bench or chairs where older persons can sit down and relax?
• Baskets that customers can carry to gather the products they want to buy?
• A cash register with lots of change on hand?
• Sheets with recipes and your name and phone number on them to hand-out?
• No offensive barnyard odors (the biggest turn-off)?
• No rotting or poor quality fruits, flowers, vegetables or value added products?
• Price stickers (buyers want to know the price)?
• A large name sign at the roadside of your farm gate?
• A clean, neat area where your products are displayed?
• A process whereby poor quality products are removed immediately?
• A place where children can play while the buyers can look at your products (animals in pens are just great)?
• A log book where you can note the names of the buyers, what they bought, when they bought it, quantity and when they have birthdays and special events?
• Slightly beveled table tops to display your produce and products?
• Consistency? If your sign says that you are open between 8:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. from Monday to Friday - make sure that it is true.
• Neat well segmented presentations of your products with clear large legible signage?
• An e-mail newsletter to valued customers telling them about any news at your farm gate?