Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Many shepherds who market directly also publish a newsletter or host
a festival or picnic at their farm. As Paula says, “I attended a Shearing Day
Festival in Michigan, and it was more fun than a carnival, with an auction of
a prize fl eece, shearing and spinning demonstrations, spinning contests, and
food booths. They had a booth with barbecued lamburgers — most delicious
and popular.”
Many enterprising sheep raisers are adding to their income by buying and
selling (that is, merchandising) complementary products, such as sheep coats,
electric fencing supplies, and certain veterinary products that are otherwise
not easily located. Think about what you would like to buy and have had
trouble fi nding — maybe this would be a good product to make available to
other sheep people.
EASY WAYS TO ADVERTISE
If you are on a well-traveled road, try putting up a sign advertising
RAW
WOOL
FOR
HANDSPINNERS
or
NOW
TAKING
ORDERS
FOR
LOCKER
LAMBS
.
Computer-generated handouts, with tear-off phone numbers on the
bottom, hung in local businesses often yield results with little to
no up-front investment. Brochures can be prepared to hand out to
prospective customers at fairs and farmers' markets. Be sure that
signs and brochures are neat and give clear contact instructions,
including directions to your farm if you sell from there.
