We work with 1000’s of Farms across America and are always paying attention to innovative tactics Farmers are using to fuel their success. One of the most inventive ways Farmers are using to drive local sales is by participating at local school events.

When Farms offer value-added products to their inventory, they increase their average order value and can drive sales year-round. Value-added products have the power to improve your net profits, expand the appeal of your Farm to new customers, grow Brand awareness, and extend the season’s bounty.

When Farms offer the convenience of online ordering coupled with easy fulfillment options, we've found that they increase their customer base and drive sales. Here are four ways your Farm can run successful and convenient Pickups.

Email is one of the strongest channels to engage buyers and stay top of mind. So much so that having an effective email strategy to reach customers consistently can generate up to +30% larger order sizes. The most successful Farms use email as an avenue to engage customers and drive consistent Farm orders. So, what’s their secret to driving larger order sizes, frequent purchases from customers, and creating a loyal customer base? Barn2Door + Mailchimp!

Pre-Orders are a Farm's secret weapon to bankroll revenue going into the season and guarantee products will be moved. Customers love securing Farm-fresh products months in advance, reserving access to items in high demand or products with short growing seasons.

Pre-Ordering has become a norm for businesses today. Many people reserve tickets for concerts, book reservations months in advance for sought-after experiences (5-star dinners, tasting menus, etc.), secure limited quantity products (clothes, knick-knacks), and even order products from a Farm before harvest! Buyers love the concept of securing their purchase in advance and being in on the “hype” of upcoming product arrivals (e.g., Copper River Salmon, Morel Mushrooms, Huckleberry Season).

When building a thriving direct-to-market Microgreen business, it’s essential to understand the opportunities to maximize profits, reduce costs, delight customers, and save time. Sound impossible? It’s not!

Last month, we announced that Farmers who run their business on Barn2Door would be able to offer buyers the ability to give a preset tip (3%, 5%, 10%) or a custom tip (any amount) at checkout. Farms have already seen results from accepting customer tips, using the extra cash to cover their processing fees.

As 1 in 3 Americans have ordered Food online, Farmers are using their attendance at markets to spread awareness of their brand and convert buyers to loyal online customers.

The most successful Farms on Barn2Door are regularly focused on new ways to grow their brand and expand their network across digital and in-person channels. They work to understand buyer expectations and attract new customers who appreciate the value of their products. The best Farmers promote themselves through email, social media, and in-person activities to foster personal connections within their community to help grow their business and expand operations.

Microgreens are gaining popularity across America among consumers and chefs alike. With increasing awareness of their nutrient-dense properties, local demand for the tiny greens is rising. However, consumers are unaware of the unique nuances Microgreen Farmers face: short growing times, differing maturing rates, and their highly perishable nature (to name a few!).

Growing a Farm business means investing in building customer relationships. To create long-term success for your business, it’s essential that Farmers “own their customers.” What does this mean? Your Farm needs to possess all the customer details and contact information of all your buyers (versus relinquishing that relationship to a third-party distributor).

There are many nuances to growing and managing a Farm business. Even more so, when a Farm takes the risk of building a new line of business (direct-to-market), with the ambition of building a viable business for the long-term.

It’s easy to stick with a familiar routine. Getting a booth at your local farmer’s markets is a common avenue for many Farmers to initially attract potential new buyers and grow their brand awareness. Some days at the market will be fruitful, while others can be long and result in a small number of sales (failing to even cover the costs of attendance).

With the New Year around the corner, it’s essential to take the winter months to prepare your business for the busy season. With increased awareness and demand for local foods, keeping buyers engaged with your Farm now will help your business secure customer commitments in the future.

With the holidays around the corner, it’s time to start implementing a marketing plan to drive Farm sales and stay top of mind. When it comes to generating revenue through the winter, the holidays are the perfect time to stay connected to your buyers. Engage them on all channels (web, mobile, social, and email) regardless if you have products to sell this winter.

Email gives your Farm a channel to regularly communicate with your audience, build your brand, and develop lasting relationships with customers. Farmers who’ve successfully driven sales with email, target their efforts based on customer segmentation and activity. To see these benefits of email, Farmers need to take full advantage of which techniques yield the highest results.

Pre-Orders are the best way to secure buyer commitments months in advance. Capitalize on the great experience that customers had with your Farm, to capture their order for next year. Start by advertising your products now, while your customers are engaged. Create buzz among customers and FOMO (the fear-of-missing-out), to spur demand for your products.

American consumers love local food, but they enjoy convenience more. Efficiencies realized by large corporations (i.e., Amazon, Target) have created a blueprint for Farmers to implement efficient and profitable delivery services. Delivery can be one of the most lucrative activities for your Farm business as it satisfies Buyers’ expectations of convenience, drives higher monthly orders, and is one of the main contributors to Farms selling out more often.

The Barn2Door + Mailchimp integration enables Farmers to regularly engage Customers and showcase their products through emails on a consistent basis. With the integration, it’s easier than ever to stay top-of-mind to increase sales and drive Customer loyalty.