Fresh produce stand

Well folks Ole Rouxdog found work! I need suggestions from you professionals. Being comfortably retired, I landed a fulltime job! That would be one day a week for the summer unless I'm fired sooner. Gonna be operating a small, but high quality, produce stand outside Carrizozo, NM. Major highway, travelers etc., plus local folks.
The family who owns this summer operation are very good friends who asked me to run the place one day a week, Fridays. I want to add value to their business, make sales! The little business has been in operation for about 5 summers, successfully.
QUESTION: How do you suggest we attract travelers as well as locals to a greater level. I know I'm asking the right people. Thanks in advance for your thoughts!
Rouxdog

Small, brightly colored, individual signs, approximately 100 yards from the stand, on both sides of the road. www.flickr.com Enter "roadside fruit stand sign" The top signs are the ones.

CSD

There is a stand on Hwy 74 basically in the middle of nowhere but they practice a modified version of the advertising done by a resort called Souht of the Border. They put out small signs starting twenty to twenty five miles from the stand and then the signs continue telling you have passed the palce for five plus miles after the stand.

BTW South of the Border has signs 500 miles away alerting you about the place.

When I was in that business, I operated out of a truck. As Dog says, putting out signs a few hundred feet before the truck gave folks time to slow down, look, and generally pay attention. I also ran sales to generate "buzz". Corn at $1 an armfull was fun, if not profitable. (I did that when I had a field of not so great corn, or for 2nd picking corn, and not very often)

I'm in favor of the Mass Mailing. Make up a flier with a coupon for 10% off any purchase over $20 (for example), include a map or set of directions, and make extra to accidentally leave in the library, church, union hall, fraternal organization meeting places, or the like. Once will nail you if your product speaks for itself.

Does your state have a "Sponsor a Highway" program?
If so, you can get major coverage on a section of an Interstate.

HEY WHERE DID MY POST GO???

Oh Well

In the south I have seen several smaller general stores or fruit stands use the old Berma Shave sign approach.

starting about a mile from the place start putting catchy little sayings linking to your stand
(don't forget the oops you just missed us signs and the thank you signs out too.)

use the election campaign yard sign size (2x3??)

Signage is very important, we have often whizzed some nice stands because there was not enough signs.

Display all the items attractively with lots of color. Baskets of bread work well at produce stands as do simple homemade things like salsa, chutney or pesto. Packaged in 1/2 lb. plastic containers they move well. Good luck and have fun!

THANK YOU!
First, I knew I could count on you for good advice. You have come through! I'm gonna print off your comments and discuss tomorrow with Linda and Manny Rodriguez, owners of Indian Summers. Manny and I already have planned a few Cervezas while slapping some ink on several signs.
Friends, I had a great day greeting folks, fun and memorable! The highlight of the day ,for me, was negotiating with a lovely 8 to 10 year old young lady and her Mom as to what an Apricot was worth. She said 10 cents, I said OK, we shook hands, DONE DEAL!
I'm looking forward to Fridays, making friends, providing quality food, and helping my Manny and Linda make a few bucks.
Additional suggestions are encouraged!
Ole Rouxdog
AKA, Dean Lollar
Carrizozo, New Mexico

Thanks again. You are appreciated!

UPDATE...........
Once again, thanks for your wonderful suggestions!
I'm pleased to report following two weeks of operation the Indian Summer Produce Market here in Carrizozo NM is enjoying its best early start ever! As previously stated, I only work one day a week, Fridays. Our friends, Linda and Manny Rodriguez who own the place seem to think they deserve a day off, imagine that!
I've shared your thoughts with Manny and Linda, we've put them into action, thanks!
Old CSD, King of dogs, I'm gonna try to one up you! The ball is back in your court! You mentioned the use of music, swing, 30's 40's etc., sounds great.
Ole Rouxdog plopped out his Satellite radio and played the BLUES all day! Had folks dancing this morning before they picked out a cantaloupe and some green chile!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Friends, I sincerely thank you for your suggestions.
This is truly a great website!!!
Thanks to each of you
Ole Rouxdog
Dean Lollar

Congratulations on your success! I do not know what to add.

I think the fact that you are offering a nice, personal place for folks to buy their produce, or whatever else, is a plus, as against the large chain markets.

Are your customers, local residents, or folks "passing through"?

I agree with those who suggest signs, to advise motorists of what you have to offer. My only thought would be along the lines of something, that would let local folks know, too of your presence!

Even out here, in the land of many freeways, we have small local commnities (in suburbs) where surprisingly, even to myself, where regional farmers sell their produce.

Just around the corner, in nearby Fair Oaks, " Farmer Bob's" has his usual pumpkin patch and garden, a nice roadside stand in urban America. I tried to google to find a link. None.

And, not far north, is a huge market, Denio's of Rosevile. I am sure this is NOT what you are thinking, but it is just a comparison.

http://www.denios.org/

I wish you well and I know you are going in the right direction. Your personal touch and generous heart will make all the difference!!

For what it's worth...

ETA, and it is obvious, I am NOT a professional. I am just a customer.

i think it would make a great story, for the local reporters to run, about a local produce stand, with a 'blues' attitude.
maybe try gifting some ofyour wares to the local radio, newspaper, and t.v. folks. you might get some lucky, free, exposure.
mike

quote:

Originally posted by rouxdog
[How do you suggest we attract travelers as well as locals to a greater level. I know I'm asking the right people. Thanks in advance for your thoughts!
Rouxdog

I'll leave attracting travellers to others, but as for locals, it's easy: Have better produce (fresher, stuff the supoermarket doesn't have) and sell it cheaper than nearby supermarkets. People aren't stupid. Word will spread if you have quality and/or variety.

In my Arizona town I've seen a couple of produce operations go out of business because they really had nothing Safeway and Wal-Mart didn't have. But in San Francisco, I know of several booming produce markets--booming because they have an amazing variety of stuff and they tend it lovingly, quickly tossing out anything that looks unappeatizing.

If yours is the kind of place that's along the road where the produce is grown, you have a natural advantage in freshness, but you still have to pay attention and not try to sell people anything that's been sitting around long enough to wilt.

If the farm grows the veggies organically, make sure you post that in big letters on your signage.

Hey Rouxdog,

You're going to appreciate this. Difference between California and Alaska:

CA: avocados 6 for a buck
AK: $2.50 for one

CA: artichokes $1 each
AK: $2.50 each

CA: strawberries $3.00 for 5 lbs.
AK: $4.50 for 1 lb.

CA: grapefruit, oranges, lemons.....FREE
AK: don't even ask

enjoy your fresh produce and your customers!

RouxDog,
A couple of Ideas. Are there any RV Parks near by? If so, leave flyers at their offices or general stores. Also "Moble Home Estates". Retirees always appreciate fresh produce, like the good old days. If you have a portable generator, those Blow-up Floppy Stick Men you see at car lots attact attention from quite a distance. Maybe you could find one on EBay. Found a web site for you of them. http://www.creatableinflatables.com/wind_dancers_tubes.htm
There's other stuff on this web site as well.
Also, Just Running Up a tethered line of large Helium Balloons attracts attention to get people to slow down & look.
On another note, Based on the "stuff" you sent me on 4 Corners, we're going to Monument Valley over Thanksgiving and my 67th birthday the day after.

I guess now we need to call you the Banana Man!

Hey Dean,

Just a thought. Do you have a lot of retirement communities there? If so you might want to print up a doorhanger with some big letters that say FREE FRESH FRUIT FRIDAY, and go put them out on Thursday evenings.

You get to talk to people about the business and spread the word via print.

Just a thought- Rick

Update my friends........ The produce stand's summer season is off to a very good start! Manny and Linda Rodriguez, our friends, have welcomed your suggestions. Been my privalege to pass along your thoughts for consideration. As stated from the get go, I agreed to work Fridays as a "relief". Thought I would be doing our friends a favor. Well, they're doing me a favor! I truly enjoy meeting and serving the public. Yesterday I closed out the register with our best day this year, by far! I'm accused of luring people in on Friday. I'm guilty!!!!!!!!!
Thanks for your suggestions,
Ole Rouxdog

Smile a lot! Laugh a lot! And just enjoy. I had my little job in Cathedral City, and that's what I did......loved my customers and laughed and smiled.

Go get'em dog. Next year, you come work for me!!!!!!!!

Glad it is going well for you Dean. I hope your working really hard that whole one day a week.

That helps you stay young RD, keep it up.

THANKS FOR ALL YOUR ENCOURAGEMENT! It's been several months since I worked the produce stand, closed mid Sept. We incorporated many of your suggestions which contributed to a successful summer operation. I had a terrific experience serving the public that one day a week.
Most importantly at this time, thank each who responded with the many expressions of support.
You are appreciated,
Dean Lollar
(rouxdog)

I've thought about you several times over the past few weeks. I'm glad that everything worked out well for you.