A great way to engage new prospective retail customers is by giving them a taste of last year’s product. Think about channeling your inner Costco sampler: “How are you today?” is a fine introduction, but “Hi, would you like to try some kelp?” is much more likely to get people’s attention. 

If you don’t have any product from the previous year, you can still set up a table with some promotional materials and get the word out about your business. This is a fantastic opportunity to practice your story, to experiment with the way you talk about your farm, your business, and your products, and to start building your mailing list. 

Either way, make sure these prospective customers leave with something in their hand. These point of sale materialsare traditionally things like brochures, business cards, or coupons, but the more creative, the better: postcards, pins, stickers, or even temporary tattoos are all fair game! Even if the prospective customer didn’t buy anything today, with a memorable point of sale materials they might come back in-season, or tell a friend who’s even more aligned with your product or values.