There are many ways to sell beef. The most common avenue to market is selling your animals at auction to a major wholesale buyer (aggregator). However, many Farms and Ranches, also sell directly to Buyers under their own brand, whether it’s selling quarters, halves and whole beef, selling beef cuts or pushing various cuts in a Bundle Box. There is a wide variety of options to consider - each with their benefits and challenges.

Farms selling Direct-to-Market find success in offering convenient pick-ups and home delivery options to local Buyers. This can spur purchases from busy customers, attract new Buyers through word-of-mouth marketing and reinforce their support of local businesses. Farm delivery day does not have to be a stressful ordeal. Simplify your delivery day routine with systems designed to prep all orders in advance.

Peter of Bartlett Farms has learned to increase their Average Order Value (AOV) by communicating the health benefits of their products, pricing at a premium and offering attractive fulfillment options (direct-delivery to the doorstep). Now, the Farm maintains a profitable 6-figure business through their direct Sales of milk and protein.

In 2020, Joe made the switch to Barn2Door’s software built for Farmers. Instead of using analog records or a horizontal ecommerce solution (formerly Shopify), he moved the business to an order management solution, designed to support Retail (consumer) and Wholesale (restaurant) buyers. While Joe has seen other Farms constrained by commodity prices, he has maintained premium prices for his products by selling Direct-to-Market.

Julie and Michelle joined forces in 2019 to bring sustainable Farm products to their community in Texas. Now, Veteran’s Liberty Ranch serves Buyers throughout central Texas, with in-person and online sales.

Every Farm is different, selling varying products, serving different markets and establishing their own, unique business plan. However, to scale and increase sales for your Farm business, it is important to implement tactics that have proven successful across the country.

In 2021, Benoit Family Farmstead made the decision to partner with Barn2Door to expand their reach to access new Buyers with Farm eCommerce and streamline their operations. The Farm has been able to add more products and serve their community, without having to spend extra hours in the office.

Many of the most successful Farms in the country drive consistent revenue with recurring orders, also known as Ongoing Subscriptions. These Farms are successful due to the fact that Buyers can make a one-click purchase to secure recurring orders from your Farm (weekly, bi-weekly, monthly as you see fit).

Farms in all 50 states find success in online and in-person marketing, such as weekly newsletters, social media posts or physical flyers and word-of-mouth. The opportunities to market your Farm business to your local community are endless, but to stand out, consider creative marketing strategies to attract potential Buyers.

With 100’s of Millions of dollars in transactions across 1000’s of Farms in all 50 States, at Barn2Door we’re well aware of the attributes of successful Farmers and Ranchers. There are a consistent set of tactics employed by our most successful Farms to capitalize on Buyer demand for local Products.

We’ve captured a quick synopsis of how your Farm business can leverage Barn2Door to accelerate your growth, recapture your initial costs, and build a more resilient and profitable Farm business.

With email marketing, you will have the ability to communicate with Buyers straight in their inbox. You can tailor your message depending on the type of Buyer, actions you desire and current events on the Farm. Independent Farmers ‘own’ their customer base, so it is essential you know how to effectively market and communicate to encourage loyalty and purchases.

Independent Farmers have more freedom in their business. Instead of relying upon auction houses to purchase products at commodity prices, they have full control. When selling direct, you determine the prices and packaging, meaning you can optimize your profit margins (and still move all your products).

Email is a powerful tool to spur Farm sales, driving up to +30% larger order sizes. Buyers want to know about your Farm and get information in their inbox, somewhere they look every day. Taking advantage of the power of email is one of the best ways to propel your Farm business to the next level.

Though every Farm business is unique, it is helpful to gain insights from successful Farmers who have been in your shoes. Ensure you are prepared to start your business, by taking crucial steps to organize your Farm operations and grow strategically. Trying to change too quickly may result in failure, while avoiding all risks may put your Farm in a box. Rachel Shenk recently shared how their Farm started and successfully scaled in a matter of years.

Growing a microgreens business for profit is now accessible for most Farmers, as they have become popularized. Selling microgreens may be more nuanced than common produce, since some Buyers are still unaware of their advantages. It is important to plan ahead of selling microgreens, and to be prepared for the growing process, as well as marketing them to your local community.

Barn2Door released a Point of Sale (POS) device in early 2023, giving Farmers the ability to accept an array of in-person payment options, and connect in-person purchases to their online store. The POS will sync inventory, payments and customers across a Farm’s online and in-person store. With the Barn2Door POS, Farmers can offer wholesale and retail pricing to Buyers, apply discounts or promos, and include a tipping option. As an independent Farmer, it is crucial that you have the power to customize your sales, no matter where they occur.

Every business has a Brand. Your Farm Brand reflects your values, practices and mission. Each aspect of your marketing should revolve around your Brand image - from the imagery you share to your communication with Buyers. We recently talked with Josie from Dan & Debbie’s Creamery to discuss the importance of a Farm Brand, how to establish your Brand and how to effectively market it to Buyers.

Will Campbell from Old Rich Valley Farm in Virginia recently shared his tips for pricing products to sell, and make a profit. Every business is different, so it is important to understand that what works for one Farm, may be different for you. However, all Farmers must consider their underlying costs, to ensure their asking price can deliver a healthy profit margin.

Farm Marketing is important for building your businesses’ brand. Buyers have to know your Farm exists before they purchase your products. While there are tools to improve your marketing efforts and give you tips to implement, it is important to understand that you ‘own’ your marketing.