How to Create a Positive "Farmers Market" Experience in Your Business

The farmer's market has been around for centuries.  The first US farmers market was held in Boston, MA in 1634.  Gadling.com recently published an article listing the top 10 farmer's markets in the US.  The farmer's market has generally been perceived as a positive experience for visitors.  Creating positive customer experiences is a strong opportunity area for businesses today.  I recently attended a farmers market on Marco Island, Florida and wanted to share some insights that could potentially transform your business:

1.  Front line employees need to have in-depth knowledge of your products and services so they can clearly communicate the value your business offers.  Many vendors had sales employees who were very knowledgeable about the business.  While visiting their booths, they engaged us, asked us questions about meals we were planning, and provided valuable tips on preparing the meals.  They went above and beyond the task of taking our order.  They provided value added service and information.  It was also evident by their high energy level and positive demeanor that they believed in their company and the products they were selling.  As a result of the recession, many companies have reduced the amount of training they provide for employees.  Make sure your business is providing front line employees with comprehensive training.  Think of it as an investment in your company, not just an expense.  Your front line employees have a real opportunity to create positive customer experiences.

2.  Show customers the quality that is built into your product.  One vendor was selling homemade mozzarella.  Most people would say that “cheese” is simply cheese, right?  She took photos of one of her employees making the mozzarella and had a storyboard hung on the booth that showed their entire production process.  You could clearly see the quality built in.  By the time we finished viewing the photos, our mouths were watering and we were ready to purchase the handmade mozzarella.  Is there an opportunity to visually showcase the production of your product or service in this manner in your marketing? 

3.  Ask  your customers for feedback and provide them with valuable information.  One of the more active booths was the City of Marco Island's display.  The city is planning to expand the bike paths on the island.  They had several attractive maps displayed with the current and proposed bike paths.  When you walked into the booth, they asked questions to learn about your leisure activities while visiting the island, specifically biking.  They gave you a nice map with current biking paths and asked you to complete a survey about the proposed new bike paths.  In retrospect, the city could have assumed they knew customer preferences and moved forward in finishing the bike paths.  But, they took an opportunity to stop and engage their customers in the process.  It has been my experience that customers like to be asked for their opinion.  They appreciate businesses that take an active interest in identifying and meeting their needs.  Look for opportunities to ask your customers for feedback on your products and services.  Customers will appreciate being asked and you may even uncover opportunities to expand your offerings.

Please visit Complete Business Strategies blog for additional ideas on business planning from the farmer's market.

Chrissann Ruehle is President of Complete Business Strategies, LLC. The firm specializes in management, process improvement and human resources consulting for businesses. My business helps companies streamline their processes, capture new business opportunities, and retain both their customers and employees.  I can be reached at chrissann@completebusinessstrategies.com or 513-443-2365.

Leadership Insights from Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

Indiana Jones' films are pure entertainment.  Last weekend, my husband, our black lab - Jack, and I watched a marathon of Indiana Jones' films.  It is a fun thing to do during a snowy weekend here in Cincinnati.  Temple of Doom has significant entertainment value, but there are some uncanny leadership insights we can pull out and apply to our respective businesses or even for career planning purposes.  Here are three key insights I gathered:

1. Always be open to change.
Indiana Jones and his accomplices - Willie Scott and Short Round - escape from an incident in Shanghai.  They board a plane, but later discover it was owned by the crime boss they were trying to escape from.  The pilots exit the plane and take all the parachutes with them.  The plane is flying without a pilot over the Himalayan mountains.  Facing death, Indiana Jones calmly figures out a solution to save them.  They end up using an inflatable boat to land on the mountain and ride down the slopes into a raging river.

There's a lot we can learn from this scenario alone as there are many leadership elements woven into it.  Companies sometimes try to operate without a strategic plan.  Or the leadership team knows the plan, but hasn't effectively communicated the plan to employees.  Also, there are alot of changes occurring in the environment - some changes are able to be controlled while others are not.  To be an effective leader, it is important that we "lean forward" and embrace change.  When problems or challenges occur, we need to approach them calmly and confidently, and develop creative solutions using our skills and talents.

2. Do the right thing.
After the dangerous ride in the inflatable boat, Indiana and his sidekicks arrive in the village of Mayapore, a desolate village in Northern India.  The villagers ask for their help in retrieving a sacred stone that had been stolen from their shrine along with the village children who were enslaved at Pankot Palace.  Indy and his team initially were focused on seeking out fame and fortune.  However, after critically listening to the villagers, they inherently knew they needed to adjust their mission.

Businesses today need to operate with an internal compass and do the right thing.  That may mean shifting the mission or objectives as the situation warrants.  Today, many firms are reviewing their strategic plan quarterly because of all the changes in the environment that are occurring.  Businesses need to do the right thing for their stakeholders - employees, customers, suppliers, and shareholders.  Employees want to work for organizations with high ethical standards and integrity.  Customers want to do business with companies that operate in an open, trustworthy manner.  Companies that operate on a strong platform of trust and integrity will naturally attract shareholders and other funding sources.

3. Create an environment of trust.
During their final exit, Indiana and his team mates are trapped on a rope bridge over a river that is swimming with hungry crocodiles.  Many businesses today are facing a similar situation; especially given today's fragile economic situation.  Their finances and employee morale may be weakened.  Competition in many industries is heating up - especially given the global marketplace we operate in currently.  Indiana uses creativity and problem solving to ultimately lead his team out of harm's way.  These are typical technical skills.  But the piece that made the difference was trust.  Indiana had worked to develop an "environment of trust" through consistent performance, communication and interpersonal skills.  Today's leaders need to adopt a similar strategy to help their companies navigate the rope bridges and crocodile infested marketplaces.

There's a lot more insight in this movie.  What are your thoughts?  Did you see any additional insights?

Chrissann Ruehle's firm, Complete Business Strategies LLC, helps companies navigate competitive marketplaces and achieve a competitive advantage by streamlining processes, reducing operational costs, increasing efficiencies, improving productivity, and increasing both employee and customer satisfaction levels.  She can be reached at chrissann@completebusinessstrategies.com or 513-443-2365 for additional information.