Why Your Farm Should Offer Pre-Orders
Pre-Ordering has become a norm for businesses today. Many people reserve tickets for concerts, book reservations months in advance for sought-after experiences (5-star dinners, tasting menus, etc.), secure limited quantity products (clothes, knick-knacks), and even order products from a Farm before harvest! Buyers love the concept of securing their purchase in advance and being in on the “hype” of upcoming product arrivals (e.g., Copper River Salmon, Morel Mushrooms, Huckleberry Season).
1000’s of Farms across the country have adopted the concept of Pre-Orders to increase revenue stability, drive cash flow, and offset costs during the off-season. Both Farmers and Buyers alike benefit from the ability to pre-order Farm products. Here’s how:
Revenue Security for Farmers
Farms have come to love Pre-Orders because it gives their business revenue for products that haven’t been harvested yet. Upfront cash can help Farmers to finance projects, prepare for the unexpected, or reinvest on the Farm. Why is this important? Going into the busy season knowing products have already been paid for will give you peace of mind and makes planning ahead easier.
In the off-season, revenue can be spotty if you don’t have consistently available products to sell. Whether you’re looking to build a new high-tunnel, chicken tractor, or want to add a new certification, you’ll have security knowing that there’s more cash available in your bank account.
It's great when people Pre-Order! Previously we always had to take out a big credit line from the bank and invest in the fields before seeing a return in the Fall.
- Produce Farmer, California
When you allow customers to Pre-Order from your Farm, you also gain an understanding of what your buyers want to purchase. For example, do they gravitate to certain staples or specialty products? Understanding customer buying preferences in advance can help you determine what to promote in the upcoming season, your pricing strategy, and how much available inventory you’ll need to move.
Read: Accepting Pre-Orders for 2022? This Farm Secured $40,000+
Listen: Direct Farm Tactics #2: Pre-Orders: Increased Security, Increased Sales
Food Security for Buyers
Today, 1 in 3 Americans are looking to purchase online. That’s why the simplest way for Farmers to offer Pre-Orders is online. Pre-Orders offer a positive experience with your Farm as buyers can be the first to secure your most popular products.
Our customers ask to pre-order our products starting in December. If they pre-order, we give them a little discount and guarantee they’ll get the first products of the harvest.
- Organic Farmer, North Carolina
Customers are used to purchasing things ahead of time. Many events, including concerts, sports tickets, and even on-Farm events - must be reserved far in advance. Even 5-star restaurants have a reservation system to secure a table. Your Farm produces as high-quality food as a 5-star restaurant, so it’s not unnatural for Buyers to want the option to secure food from your Farm in advance.
So, as Pre-Orders give your Farm security, they also give your customers security knowing that they will have access to quality products in the future. Paired with Subscriptions, customers can lock in seasonal commitments to your Farm and gain peace of mind knowing they’ll have ongoing access to your Farm products.
Pre-Orders are a true win-win situation: securing revenue for your Farm and high-quality products for your customers. There’s no reason why your Farm should not be offering Pre-Orders – between increased security, improved cash flow, and delighting customers with early access to your products. No matter the season, Pre-Orders should always be a purchase option available in your Farm store.
Barn2Door provides an all-in-one solution for Farmers to grow and manage their business. If you’re curious to learn why successful Farms run on Barn2Door, watch this 5-minute video.