Market Setup Guide - Getting Started

Market Setup Overview

Setting up a successful online farmers market is an exciting journey! This guide will walk you through every step, from initial planning to your grand opening. Most markets can complete this setup in 1-2 weeks with proper preparation.

1

Planning Phase

Define your market's mission and gather your founding growers

2

Technical Setup

Configure your market settings and payment processing

3

Grower Onboarding

Invite and train your growers to use the platform

4

Launch Preparation

Test everything and promote to your community

Phase 1: Planning Your Market

Before diving into technical setup, invest time in planning. Well-planned markets are more successful and sustainable.

Define Your Market's Purpose

🎯 Mission & Values

What is your market's primary goal?
Who are you serving in your community?
What values guide your operations?

📍 Geographic Scope

What area will your market serve?
How far can growers reasonably travel?
Where will shoppers come from?

👥 Target Audience

Who are your ideal shoppers?
What products do they want?
What are their shopping habits?

📊 Market Size

How many growers will you start with?
What's your growth target?
What sales volume do you expect?

Assemble Your Team

Successful markets need dedicated people in key roles:

Market Manager: Overall operations, grower relations, and shopper service
Technical Administrator: Platform management and troubleshooting
Marketing Coordinator: Promotions, social media, and community outreach
Pickup Coordinator: Manages pickup location and logistics
Volunteer Coordinator: Recruits and manages helpers (if needed)

💡 Small Market Tip: One person can wear multiple hats initially. As you grow, delegate responsibilities to build a sustainable operation.

Phase 2: Technical Setup

Now let's get your market configured on LocallyGrown.net!

Step 1: Create Your Market Account

Visit locallygrown.net and click "Start a Market"
Choose your market's subdomain carefully (e.g., townname.locallygrown.net)
Enter your basic market information
Verify your email and complete registration

Step 2: Configure Essential Settings

Navigate to Admin → Market Settings and configure:

📝 Basic Information

Market Name: Your official market name
Tagline: A brief, catchy description (appears in headers)
Full Description: Detailed information about your market
Contact Email: Where shoppers can reach you
Phone Number: For urgent shopper needs
Physical Address: Your market's base location

⏰ Operating Schedule

Time Zone: Critical for order cutoffs
Season Dates: When your market operates
Order Window: Days/times shoppers can shop
Order Cutoff: When orders close before pickup
Harvest Notification: When growers get their lists

💳 Payment Configuration

Create a Stripe account if you don't have one
Connect Stripe to your LocallyGrown market
Configure payment options:
- Credit/debit card processing
- Shopper account balances
- Market fees (if any)
Set up bank deposits schedule

Step 3: Create Pickup Locations

Go to Admin → Pickup Locations and add:

Location Name: Clear, recognizable name
Full Address: Include landmarks if helpful
Pickup Day/Time: When shoppers collect orders
Instructions: Parking, finding the pickup spot, etc.
Contact Person: Who's in charge during pickup

📍 Example Pickup Location

Name: Downtown Farmers Pavilion

Address: 123 Main Street (behind City Hall)

Time: Saturdays 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Instructions: Park in Lot B. Look for the LocallyGrown banner at the pavilion entrance. Our team will have your order ready with your name on it.

Phase 3: Grower Onboarding

Your growers are the heart of your market. Help them succeed from day one!

Recruiting Growers

🎯 Target 5-10 Founding Growers

Start with committed growers who understand online sales. Quality over quantity!

📋 Look for Diversity

Mix of vegetables, fruits, proteins, and value-added products creates a complete market.

🤝 Set Clear Expectations

Explain time commitments, technology needs, and your market's standards.

Grower Training Program

Schedule a training session (in-person or virtual) covering:

Platform Basics: Logging in, navigation, and key features
Product Management: Adding products with great photos and descriptions
Inventory Control: Setting quantities and managing availability
Order Processing: Reading harvest lists and preparing orders
Shopper Service: Communication standards and policies

🎓 Training Resources

Share the Grower Getting Started Guide
Create a simple one-page "cheat sheet" for common tasks
Set up a grower group chat for peer support
Offer one-on-one help for less tech-savvy growers

Grower Agreement

Establish clear policies in a simple agreement covering:

Product quality standards
Accurate product descriptions
Reliable inventory management
Timely order fulfillment
Professional shopper communication
Market fee structure (if applicable)

Phase 4: Launch Preparation

You're almost there! Let's make sure everything is ready for a smooth launch.

Pre-Launch Checklist

✅ Technical Readiness

Market settings completely configured Payment processing tested and working Pickup locations created with clear instructions Market theme and branding applied Email notifications tested

✅ Grower Readiness

At least 5 growers fully onboarded Minimum 50 products listed with photos All growers trained on order fulfillment Test orders placed and processed

✅ Marketing Readiness

Launch announcement prepared Social media accounts created Email list of potential shoppers Press release sent to local media

Soft Launch Strategy

Consider a "soft launch" before going fully public:

Week 1: Friends & family only - iron out any kinks
Week 2: Limited public launch - monitor and adjust
Week 3: Full public launch with marketing push

⚠️ Common Launch Mistakes to Avoid

Launching with too few products or growers
Not testing the full order-to-pickup process
Insufficient promotion before launch
Unclear pickup instructions
No backup plan for technical issues

Launch Week Activities

Make your launch week special and build momentum!

📅 Monday - Open for Orders

Send launch announcement email
Post on all social media channels
Alert local media contacts
Monitor for technical issues

📅 Tuesday-Wednesday - Build Momentum

Share grower spotlights
Post product highlights
Respond to shopper questions
Track order numbers

📅 Thursday - Order Cutoff

Send last-chance reminder
Close orders on time
Generate harvest lists
Confirm with all growers

📅 Friday - Preparation Day

Growers harvest and pack
Prepare pickup area
Print shopper lists
Brief pickup volunteers

📅 Saturday - First Pickup!

Arrive early to set up
Welcome shoppers warmly
Take photos for social media
Gather feedback

Post-Launch: Building Success

Congratulations on launching! Now let's build on that momentum.

Week 1 Follow-Up

Send thank-you email to all shoppers
Survey shoppers for feedback
Debrief with growers
Address any issues that arose
Plan improvements for week 2

Ongoing Growth Strategies

📈 Add Growers Gradually

Onboard 1-2 new growers monthly as demand grows

🎯 Focus on Shopper Experience

Smooth operations build loyalty and word-of-mouth

📱 Maintain Active Communication

Weekly newsletters and social media keep engagement high

📊 Track Your Metrics

Monitor sales, shopper growth, and grower satisfaction