A farm/flower stand touches people’s lives and creates memories they’re not likely to forget. Why? Because flowers make people happy, especially farm grown, well-loved flowers.
In this blog post, you’ll find details that will help you provide a service that benefits your community while expanding your flower farm business. (If you missed my previous blog post, Opening a Farm/Flower Stand Part 1, please be sure to go back and read it.)
The successful operation of a farm/flower stand requires planning and organization, skills that are just as important as growing the flowers themselves.
Watch the weather forecast daily and plan accordingly to make sure your flowers will stay hydrated on the stand. And be prepared to pivot. If the temperature or humidity climbs, you may need to move your flowers indoors. I move mine into the garden shop when conditions turn bad even though I’d rather keep them on the stand because that’s where passersby are most likely to stop and shop.
Rather than sit at my stand and wait for customers to come, I operate on an honor system. A sign tells customers they can pay for flowers by dropping their cash or checks into the strong, metal lockbox I’ve securely attached to the stand. Each evening, I empty the lockbox and calculate my sales.
At my stand, I like to change things up every week with novel designs and fresh ideas. That keeps customers coming back to see what’s new. Some weeks I offer hand-wrapped bouquets, but it’s usually jar bouquets/arrangements and large-vase floral pieces. You could also offer single-stem sunflowers, dahlias and hydrangeas.
With the exception of January, my stand remains open year-round. I love taking advantage of the last three months of the year by displaying and selling farm grown mums, pumpkins and gourds as well as fresh greenery, wreaths and arrangements for the Christmas season.
Facebook (or other social media) can play a big role in the success of your stand. I recommend getting acquainted with this free tool because it helps small-business owners get noticed. By posting consistently and sharing images of your products, folks will come to know you and appreciate the flowers you grow. They’ll even start thinking of you when needing fresh-cut flowers or a custom arrangement. The little things you do often turn into bigger opportunities such as birthdays, anniversaries and weddings. So always take pride in what you offer, no matter the cost. Remember, you carry your name on every bloom.
I hope I’ve encouraged you to consider opening a farm/flower stand in your area. It’s certainly one of the most rewarding aspects of my Kentucky flower farm!
Happy Growing!
Pamela Anthony
Beehind Thyme Farm & Garden