[Guest Expert] Market Strategy & Farmer Markets - Sarah Dylan Jensen, The Market Maven

This episode of the Business Millennials Podcast features an in-depth conversation with Safa Harris and Ashley Dreager, founders of Scale and Thrive Co., and special guest Sarah, a local business owner and farmers market manager. They dive into how farmers markets can serve as a powerful business incubator, offering direct consumer interaction, community impact, and opportunities for significant return on investment (ROI) for small businesses. The discussion highlights the importance of showing up consistently, engaging directly with customers, and using farmers markets as a marketing channel to expand brand awareness, test product desirability, and grow other revenue streams. The conversation also touches on the value of listening to customers for refining business and marketing strategies and how farmers markets can drive business growth beyond just seasonal sales.

Key Takeaways:

1. Farmers markets can serve as valuable business incubators, providing opportunities for small businesses to test products, build customer relationships, and grow their brands.
2. Consistency and commitment are key factors in a vendor's success at a farmers market, as it takes time to establish trust and loyalty with customers.
3. Engaging with customers, sharing the unique story behind a business or product, and creating an exceptional customer experience can help vendors stand out in a competitive market environment.
4. Vendors should view their participation in farmers markets as part of a broader marketing strategy, leveraging the exposure and connections gained to grow their businesses beyond the market.
5. Market managers can support vendors by providing tools and resources, such as online directories and marketing support, to help them maximize their success both during and outside of the market season.

Timestamps:
03:43 The Evolution of Farmers Markets: Strategies for Growth
07:58 Building Brand and Sales Through Unique Value Propositions
13:05 The Farmer's Market as a Marketing Goldmine
20:15 From Market Booths to Business Growth: Real Stories of Success
28:44 The Farmer's Market: A Community Impact and Business Incubator
30:30 Challenges and Expectations for Vendors
31:37 The Importance of Vendor Presence and Interaction
34:26 Maximizing Opportunities at the Market
38:10 Consistency and Commitment for Success
40:03 Leveraging Market Participation for Business Growth

Connect with Sarah
https://www.facebook.com/themarketmaven

https://www.instagram.com/yourmarketmaven

https://www.yourmarketmaven.com/

Is your business just not the vibe right now and you can't seem to get it going, even though you feel like you're doing #AllTheThings? Fill out the linked audit form to give us the inside scoop on your current situation, challenges, and goals. That way we can spot your strengths, opportunities, and outline next steps, keeping a sustainable & scalable business in mind.

Free Audit:
https://scaleandthriveco.com/strategy-assessment/

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