1. Why the Athens Farmers Market THRIVES
Jan Kozak
Market Manager, Athens Farmers Market
Jerry NeSmith
Treasurer, Athens Farmers Market

2. Background of
Established as a Limited Liability Company and began operations in 2008 by farmers, craftspeople and community representatives
Provides a marketplace for local, sustainable farmers, local artisans and food purveyors
Managed by Board of Directors of which there are 9!
establish and refine by-laws and operating policies
Set budgets
Select vendors from applicants

3. Successful and self sufficient for eight years
56% of income from vendor fees
15% of income from merchandise
19% of income from sponsorships
Only 10% of income from grants/fundraising
Budgetary and operational model designed by Jerry (treasurer), implemented by Jan (market manager

4. Venues
Bishop Park
Saturday mornings, 8am to noon, April through December
40-45 vendors (at or near capacity for last 3 years)
adult visitors per Saturday morning
Live local music
Cooking demos
Kid’s activities in partnership with Athens Farm-to-School
Very popular destination – a festival!
Excellent venue made possible due to strong relationship with local government

10. Venues Creature Comforts Brewery
Wednesdays, 4pm to 7pm, April through November
Local brewery hosts market in parking lot, shaded by large tent
12-15 vendors, adult patrons per market
Symbiotic partnership
Double the marketing and promotion, with the added appeal of craft beer
Cost sharing on infrastructure expenses
Privately owned lot allows for more flexibility in the face of local ordinances
Live music and prepared food sales
Past downtown locations did not allow for this

16. What makes the AFM THRIVE??
Running the AFM like a business
Detailed budget designed by Jerry NeSmith
Allows for adjustments in vendor rates, vendor counts
Accommodates incentive programs such as Wholesome Wave Georgia

17. What helps the AFM THRIVE??
Operational system
Using QuickBooks as scheduling tool
QuickBooks can be more than bookkeeping!
Market dates are items which are sold to vendors who are customers
This method allows scheduling, invoicing, accounts payable, reporting, cash flow management, etc to be done from one program

18. What helps the AFM THRIVE??
Implementation
Sales by item report then gives market by market vendor list by market date
This report can be ed to manager to generate layouts or can be generated by manager her/himself
At AFM, manager uses Adobe Illustrator to create layouts, but can be done on MS Word

19. What helps the AFM THRIVE??
SUSTAINABILITY
The model established by AFM leadership is:
Repeatable
Flexible/customizable
Efficient
Self-sufficient/self-reliant
Proven
Ultimately - SUSTAINABLE

20. Markets must FIRST be SUSTAINABLE before they can thrive.
Leadership must lay a sustainable, stable, self-sufficient foundation before adding layers.

21. What helps the AFM THRIVE??
Token System
Must accommodate multiple types of payment!
According to American Consumer Credit Counselors, 80% of consumer spending in America in 2013 was CASHLESS
Markets should allow for credit/debit/EBT spending via centralized system
Great service for patrons
Great service for vendors
Since 2010, AFM has processed $550,000 in business via token system
$172,400 in 2014 alone!
$229,000 of $550,000 was EBT with matching dollars from Wholesome Wave Georgia

22. What helps the AFM THRIVE??
HIRE A COMPETENT MARKET MANAGER AND PAY THEM!
This one’s a no-brainer
Volunteer managers are not part of a recipe for long term success
Develop manager into an Executive Director type position over time

23. IN SUMMARY
Establish mutually beneficial relationships with local government AND private businesses to gain access to great venues
Run your market like a business
Diverse, representative board of directors
Set policies (its ok to copy!)
Set budgets
Make your systems efficient, repeatable, and flexible
Consider the power of QuickBooks as a multi-dimensional tool for markets
Token System
Absolutely vital to accommodate patrons paying with Credit/Debit and EBT
Hire a competent manager and pay them!

24. "The loftiest edifices need the deepest foundations
"The loftiest edifices need the deepest foundations.“ - George Santayana
We all want fancy programming and all the fun layers we see added on to markets, but the foundation is key. Build a strong, tested foundation and then branch out from there.

25. Contact: Jan Kozak jan. kozak@athensfarmersmarket
Contact: Jan Kozak Jerry NeSmith