How to Start a Successful Farm Stand

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A few years ago, customers had no way to buy flowers directly from our farm. While we loved working with florists, grocery stores, and our own bouquet subscription program, we knew there was a growing demand for farm-direct blooms. 

People wanted to bring home flowers arranged by us, grown by us, and experience the magic of our farm in a more personal way.

That’s where our farm stand came in. 

I wanted to figure out a way to build a farm stand on our property—while still maintaining some separation between the farm stand and my home. My house, floral studio, and flower fields are located at the top of a big hill, and I didn’t want customers driving up to my house to purchase flowers. 

We applied for a grant and received funding to help us pay for building materials and to grade a level spot at the edge of our property, just off the main road. 

Now, after several seasons of operating our farm stand, I can confidently say it’s one of my favorite parts of our farm business! 

If you’re considering opening your own farm stand, here are some key lessons we’ve learned along the way.

Create a Beautiful & Memorable Space

Since our stand isn’t located near our main flower fields, we knew it had to feel special on its own. The goal was to make it visually appealing, inviting, and worth the trip. I wanted customers to feel like they still had the Flourish experience when shopping at the farm stand. 

Because customers may not have a view of your flower fields, creating a space that feels like an extension of your farm is key. 

Here’s what worked for us:

  • Use a charming, well-designed structure. Ours is a simple white prefab shed with our logo stenciled on the side. 

  • Create an inviting entrance. We have planters in the front that are always overflowing with colorful annuals to set the scene.

  • Add charm and character. To make necessary, functional signage feel more whimsical, I hired a local calligrapher friend to create signs with clear pricing, check out instructions, and our social media handles. We also display our flowers in unique ways, like in baskets or on vintage tables, including the vintage workbench that we literally had to build the stand around!

By making the space feel like a thoughtfully curated shop, we created an experience customers want to return to.

Make Payments Simple & Secure

A self-service model can work seamlessly with the right payment setup. We wanted a hassle-free, cash-free system that made purchasing flowers easy for customers while keeping the stand secure. 

Here’s our approach:

  • Self-service checkout using QR codes for PayPal and Venmo.

  • Clear instructions on how to pay are posted inside the farm stand, as well as shared in emails and on our website

  • Locking the stand at night for added security—so far, we haven’t had any issues with theft!

Highlight Seasonal Flowers

Part of the charm of a farm stand is celebrating the ever-changing beauty of the seasons. We celebrate seasonal favorites to create excitement and keep customers coming back. 

Here are a few of the flowers that folks get most excited about:

  • Spring: Ranunculus bunches

  • Mother’s Day: Peony bouquets

  • Summer: Colorful dahlias

  • Fall: Heirloom chrysanthemums

We try to offer these “special” flowers as single-variety bunches when they’re in season, as well as always having mixed bouquets and mason jar-sized arrangements available. We want to make it easy for customers to find something they love!

Intentional Marketing

Our farm stand is not located on a busy road—you have to drive here on purpose. 

This leads back to point #1 about creating a space where people want to make a special trip to visit. We rely on creative marketing to help draw customers in. 

We’ve found success with:

  • Social Media: I always share photos on social media about the types of flowers that will be available at the farm stand. I also record little videos showing what the space looks like inside and out.

  • Website: We have professional photos of the farm stand on our website to create excitement, as well as to give a sense of recognition whenever customers arrive. We also have a dedicated webpage that has our farm stand hours of operation and highlights any special sales, such as when dahlia tubers or fall bulbs will be available for purchase.

  • Email Newsletters: When the seasons change, we highlight whatever “special” flower is blooming by doing a write-up in our newsletter. 

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Set Clear Expectations

We want every visitor to have a great experience, so we make sure expectations are managed upfront:

  • Our website clearly states that the farm stand is separate from our main flower fields and the farm itself is not open to the public.

  • We use signs to help communicate with our customers. There is signage at the designated parking area that kindly asks folks not to drive past the stand. We also use signs on the main road letting people know they have almost arrived at the farm stand. 

  • When answering questions via social media and email, I pay close attention to what questions are commonly asked about the farm stand. That way, I can communicate that information more clearly in the future.

Create a Sense of Community

Even though the stand is self-service, we’ve found ways to create a personal connection with our customers:

  • The walls inside the farm stand are filled with framed photos that share the story of our farm.

  • We encourage customers to tag us on social media when sharing photos of their farm stand flowers.

  • We engage with customers online after they’ve visited the farm stand. Reposting their photos or thanking them for visiting the farm stand goes a long way to making customers feel seen and appreciated.

A farm stand is more than just a place to sell flowers—it’s a way to invite customers into your world, share the beauty of the seasons, and create a community around what you grow. 

With a little planning and thoughtful touches, your stand can become a beloved destination for flower lovers near and far.

Are you thinking about starting your own farm stand? Let us know your questions in the comments!