CSA "week" really gave us a good boost. We used the template for a press release and modified that a bit and sent it to several area newspapers. I know for sure that it was in one local paper and the other had it on its Website. I am not sure if a few of the smaller weekly papers posted it.
On the Saturday before, I sent out an email to past members who had not yet signed up and another to those who had, and that motivated several members to get signed up. I did a few blog posts and linked them through Facebook and they got a lot of views and a few members. We offered $10.00 credit for each new referral during that week, but very few new sign-ups mentioned a referral.
Overall, I think it was a success. It did not cost much and it was kind of fun. I greatly appreciate the effort, suggestions and materials that we received from FairShare. At the end of the week, we had 28 members signed up and are currently 40 members ahead of where we were last year at this time, and currently have a 71% return rate.
At Trumpeter Swan Farm, I actually did it backwards. I announced on CSA Day, and provided a special bonus for new signups between Feb 28 and Mar 6 (so a week). Sent to all our previous members, trying to encourage them to sign up now. The bonus was 2 free deliveries in May, prior to the start of the regular summer season on May 31. Since we are switching to Harvie from our own custom box customizer, it will give us a chance to try the new application on a subset of summer members, working out kinks. And in May we do have extra produce as asparagus and rhubarb show up, along with early spring stuff - more than we need for our Winter members - so the extra can go to the bonus summer folks without much effort. The bonus offer really did get people off the dime. Prior to Feb 28, we had 28 signups, in the 4 days since Feb 28, 46 more members have signed up. Still got 4 more days to go. Being in Minnesota, where winter lingers, our biggest signup month in the past has been April. So getting a head start in March is good. It also helps that this week the weather has taken a definite spring like turn, with temps above freezing and melting snow.
At FairShare, we've posted on social media, sent out an e-news letter for the day and emailed all of the farmers in the Coalition with materials and copy to use to promote the day.
CSA "week" really gave us a good boost. We used the template for a press release and modified that a bit and sent it to several area newspapers. I know for sure that it was in one local paper and the other had it on its Website. I am not sure if a few of the smaller weekly papers posted it.
On the Saturday before, I sent out an email to past members who had not yet signed up and another to those who had, and that motivated several members to get signed up. I did a few blog posts and linked them through Facebook and they got a lot of views and a few members. We offered $10.00 credit for each new referral during that week, but very few new sign-ups mentioned a referral.
Overall, I think it was a success. It did not cost much and it was kind of fun. I greatly appreciate the effort, suggestions and materials that we received from FairShare. At the end of the week, we had 28 members signed up and are currently 40 members ahead of where we were last year at this time, and currently have a 71% return rate.
At Trumpeter Swan Farm, I actually did it backwards. I announced on CSA Day, and provided a special bonus for new signups between Feb 28 and Mar 6 (so a week). Sent to all our previous members, trying to encourage them to sign up now. The bonus was 2 free deliveries in May, prior to the start of the regular summer season on May 31. Since we are switching to Harvie from our own custom box customizer, it will give us a chance to try the new application on a subset of summer members, working out kinks. And in May we do have extra produce as asparagus and rhubarb show up, along with early spring stuff - more than we need for our Winter members - so the extra can go to the bonus summer folks without much effort. The bonus offer really did get people off the dime. Prior to Feb 28, we had 28 signups, in the 4 days since Feb 28, 46 more members have signed up. Still got 4 more days to go. Being in Minnesota, where winter lingers, our biggest signup month in the past has been April. So getting a head start in March is good. It also helps that this week the weather has taken a definite spring like turn, with temps above freezing and melting snow.
At FairShare, we've posted on social media, sent out an e-news letter for the day and emailed all of the farmers in the Coalition with materials and copy to use to promote the day.