I love farmers markets. If you haven't been to one lately, you owe it to yourself to find one. And take some cash.
In addition to the tasty treats available at farmers markets - all of it fresh and local - if you take the time to talk to the vendors you can learn a lot as well.
Here are a few recent tips I got from some farmers market vendors:
Listen to the wisdom of people who care about you. The ones who share it with love and your best interests at heart, of course. You don't have to do everything they suggest, but why not explore at least some parts of their advice?
Be able to relate to your customers. Really engage people who show interest in your product or service, instead of just going for the sale. That means sharing information, genuinely listening to their concerns, and making yourself available for follow-up questions.
Bring as many aspects of yourself as possible to your business. A baker who started out studying engineering was fun and inspiring. Plus, his breads are awesome! I've had waaay too many baked goods at farmers markets. The good news is the better it tastes, the less you need. One fantastic croissant replaces three bland ones any day.
You can keep up with my entrepreneur profiles on the Kingstowne Patch website. The business people I talk to all have a great deal of wisdom, but they rarely wear it like a crown. They just do what they do, one day at a time, and help keep our national economic boat afloat. Let's help them whenever we can.
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