The Radford Farmers Market is run by a committee under the supervision of the Chamber of Commerce. The committee is organized of a group of Radford Farmers’ Market Vendors, with one individual or business acting as the Market Moderator. We strive to provide a safe, pleasant and fun environment for all participants while creating a profitable and exceptional market for our vendors.

Most common time to visit: 9am-11am Goal: To increase first time & repeat customer attendance to 10+ visits a season and to increase the traffic to all vendors & tents Less then HALF our customers visit all the vendors at the market on a given Saturday

“i like it when there are other events going on at same time” “Music!” “I like when they carry unusual/ not typical vegetable garden plants for planting in our home garden”

“Overall, I think the Farmers Market Vendors are…” 1.Friendly, considerate, and welcoming 2. Priced reasonably 3. Too few vendors Specifically, customers would like to see more: 1.Produce/Fresh food vendors 2.On site food vendors 3.Sitting Areas “Highest Ranked features…” 1.Produce and Fresh Foods 2.Music 3.Friendliness

“What do you like Best?” “What can we improve on/add to the market?”

-monthly events -beer & wine -sitting area -advertising -evening market -food trucks -community & non-profit booth “What can we improve on/add to the market?”

- Printing 500 Business Cards - Available at INFO table along with a vendor site map & brochure about the market - Available for vendors to distribute

Added the Farmers Market to online avenues & created ads: -LocalHarvest.org -USDA Local Food Directory -Virginian Grown -VA Farmers Market Association -NRVNews.com -Nextthreedays.com -Roanoke Times

Monthly Events -Dog Days -Tomato Festival -Community Outreach Day Weekly Events -Non-profits -Local churches -Fundraiser events (boy/girl scouts, sororities, etc.) Music -Brings in customers -Keeps atmosphere fun and lively -Ranked very high on customer surveys

Radfordfarmersmarket.wordpress.com

Radford Farmers’ Market on Pinterest.com

Radford Farmers’ Market on Facebook:

- Contact & Correspondence -Increasing Vendors Actively looking for new vendors to increase variety and healthy competition while respecting and minimizing conflict for our current vendors. Trying to increase produce and meat vendors by 2 new vendors, trying to increase on-site foods or food trucks by 1 or 2 new vendors or rotating vendors -Insurance Insurance is NOT REQUIRED but is greatly RECCOMMENDED. See Vendor Application for more information on liabilty.

- Parking -Severe Weather Radford PD allotted 7 parking passes to be distributed to vendors between 6:30am & 1pm If needed, mini cones can be placed in Railroad lot at 6:30am to reserve these 7 spaces

- Layout Planning Benefits: Reduces safety concerns Creates a “forced traffic flow” Brings Vendors together as a whole Visually looks larger than what we are Trickle Down Effect By listening to our customers, we therefore: Make our customers happy Encourage more families to visit Increase customer’s positive word of mouth commendations Customers visit with more or all of the vendors Much more likely to stay longer and shop more creating more vendor profit Vendors: Choose own location based on products Site map to easily show customers your location

-Community Outreach -Work together to spread information to our schools, churches, non-profits, and other entities. Invite to set up a booth at market -Information Booth & Customer Outreach -Donna’s Booth -Business Cards, printed info -Printed Applications for prospective vendors -Comment Box -Holly’s Booth when Donna unavailable

Future Goals: West End Wednesdays - Evening market in West End Radford (2016) Free Fruits & Veggies for Kids – Providing a few pieces from each vendor to give to children, available at Info (Donna’s) Booth (2016) Hosting Educational Workshops for Vendors (pricing, booth design, customer interactions, social media, etc.) (2016) Education - Hosting educational workshops during market hours; traveling to schools or other events (2017) Applying for State Grants – to help with Education & Market (2017/2018) Providing SNAP benefits (2018)