Owning your customer base is essential for any Farm business. When Farmers sell through third-party channels (e.g., Crowd Cow or MarketWagon), they own the customer relationship, not the Farmer. As a result, a Farmer has no ability to communicate, influence, and upsell more Farm products. More importantly, your Farm products are reduced to a commodity, and Brand loyalty does not accrue to your Farm.

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!

The CSA model was created to attract community members to support local Farmers - ergo “Community Supported Agriculture” or “CSA.” Even though the concept has been around for decades, 99% of Americans don’t know what the term “CSA” means. The rise of the internet and the ease of purchasing products anytime online has fueled buyers’ expectations of convenience. If buyers don’t know what a CSA is, they won’t take time to figure it out, leading to lost sales for your Farm.

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.

Last year, we were happy to welcome Sacred Roots Maple to our Farm Advisory Network. A Maple Farm located in West Chazy, New York, Ashley and Ben Clark manage 140 acres of maple trees. From collecting the sap to making the syrup and producing other specialty items like maple cream, melts, sugar, and even a scrub, the entire process occurs on their land.

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.

Barn2Door is expanding! To better serve Farmers in the Midwest, South, and Northeast, we’re opening a new office in the heart of Nashville, Tennessee! As a fast-growing high-growth startup, this expansion is giving us the opportunity to better serve Farmers across time zones, get closer to more Farms, and gain access to a new pool of individuals to join our growing team!

Buyers want to support local Farms, and one of the best ways to do that is through a Subscription to Farm Products for the coming season - often referred to as a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture). CSAs offer buyers regular access to your Farm’s products, and in-return Farmers lock in recurring revenue, guaranteeing that products are paid for the season.

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!).

At Barn2Door, we’re proud to provide an all-in-one solution to help Farmers grow and manage their business. We recently sat down with Caleb, an individual passionate about the connection between agriculture, technology, and finance. In this edition of our Employee Spotlight series, we’ll learn more about Caleb’s journey, how he’s contributed to Barn2Door’s growth, and how the company's mission inspires him.

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).

Barn2Door is committed to supporting Farmers and providing access to the best resources to grow and manage a Farm business. We are thrilled to announce a partnership with the Farm to Consumer Legal Defense Fund (FTCLDF), which is committed to helping Farmers navigate the unique legal challenges of the industry — as laws, regulations, and legislation constantly change and vary across state lines.

At Barn2Door, we know how important a Farmer’s Brand is to attract customers, build loyalty, and establish your Farm as a business. A logo has the power to communicate your Farm’s values, create a connection between you and your customers, and distinguish your Farm from the competition. That’s why we’re introducing Farm Logos as an in-house Barn2Door service.

Your Farm can thrive by focusing on local efforts. As 90% of retail and wholesale Buyers would rather purchase from local producers versus a commodity product, it’s essential that your Farm is well-positioned to attract and build a loyal base of local customers.

Expressing gratitude with a tip is no longer an act of civility, it has become the norm in the service industry. Whether grabbing a coffee at a local cafe or receiving Food delivery at home, buyers are accustomed to providing a tip for the products and services they receive.

We’re introducing the Barn2Door Marketing Toolkit to help Farmers implement a winning marketing strategy without the need to spend hours of time planning. When Farmers subscribe, they will regularly receive seasonal materials and assets each month, including images, graphics, and sample copy and prompts to use in emails, newsletters, and social media posts.

When Farmers and Ranchers pivot to selling direct-to-market, they can often increase their margins from 30% to 80% (versus wholesale). However, before making the transition to direct sales, it’s essential to set your business up for success. Here are some tips to follow as you prepare your Protein Farm for the direct market.