Here’s a small touch that can generate a big increase in sales – offering a shopping basket at your stand. It works in several ways.
It makes it much easier for customers to load up if they aren’t having to juggle different items and encourages impulse buys. It also puts them in supermarket mode, where they are used to buying lots of items. It even gives you a friendly ice breaker because you can say, “Hello, would you like a basket?”
All of a sudden the customer feels like they are in a different space, a more familiar space. Taking a basket means they have committed to seriously shop at your stand, and not just spend a few dollars. Many chain mall retailers use this tactic. It’s easy to test out with a few baskets. If it works, you can scale up and have a rack of them with a sign that says “Take one for your convenience.”
One farmer who did this reported that sales doubled, and it turned some occasional customers into regulars. Try it – bigger sales may be in the basket!
