There’s a wonderful dream that many people hold, and it serves as something of a fantasy. When we head to our jobs during our morning 9-5 commute, it’s not uncommon to imagine driving away and taking our family to the countryside to start a farm and run a humble farm shop. Nothing but one another, nature, and wide open spaces to nurture our soul and comfort our sense of well-being.
But running a farm shop is not always that easy, of course. Nor is running a small farm or smallholding. It’s intense, demanding work, but the sense of achievement you gain can be like nothing else if it all pans out well. Moreover, local communities are replenished by the presence of wonderful local produce, and so you’re sure to be popular.
If you’ve been considering running a local farm shop, perhaps out of your country home, then it’s worth considering a few vital pointers to get started. This article intends to impart that warm advice:
Distinct Signage
Farm shops tend to be run in rural areas. If you’re running the shop out of or near your home, it may also be that your local customs has no reason to drive down that private lane or make a detour from the main passthrough. This is why investing in good signage that helps notify your potential customers of where to turn and how to find you can be so worthwhile. It helps you avoid being a “best-kept secret” and instead transform into a more reliable presence.
Understand Your Business Licenses
Ultimately, if you’re selling food, you need a license and approval for said license. Now, this might not track if you’re just selling your free-range chicken eggs to your neighbors, but if you’re hoping to make this into any kind of commercial outfit, well, you need to be registered. If you’re a little out of the way and only sell to your neighbors, this might seem like an untoward step. But in the US, you must apply for a food establishment permit, a general business license, a sales tax permit, weight and measures certification, and even permits for the aforementioned signage.
Layout & Inventory Management
Your shop may be small and humble, but it’s important to practice essential hygiene and inventory management to keep produce fresh and safe. Investing in separate refrigerators, strong storage shelves, air conditioning, rotating stock, and implementing appropriate use by dates can make certain you sell appropriately, and that as time goes by you run out of the oldest stock first. Investing in worthwhile stock tracking software can help you manage your inventory and understand which items to put on sale or push promotions for. You can also encourage certain sales by opening social media accounts to make it clear when you’re moving inventory.
With this advice, you’re certain to run a farm shop and hopefully make a profit from your suppliers or your smallholding. Why not both? After all, rural life doesn’t have to be so humble, there’s revenue to be made. Good lucK!
