With Black Friday and Cyber Monday looming, we’ve all been inundated with marketing for the hottest deals and steals of the season. Let’s face it: as an alpaca farmer, your morning chores may prevent you from standing in line at 3am, and while the internet has allowed you to reach new customers, local community support has always been the key to your success. There’s no need to say “Bah Humbug,” however, as Small Business Saturday is the perfect opportunity to capitalize on the after-Thanksgiving shopping rush.
Small Business Saturday began in 2010 as a joint venture between American Express and a number of other parties, though it has since evolved and taken on a life of its own. The shopping holiday, which falls on the last Saturday of November, is now in its 10th year. Held this year on November 30th, Small Business Saturday urges consumers to shop at locally owned small and independent businesses.
Last year, the holiday drove record sales to small businesses, while also illustrating the joys of shopping small, as “96% of consumers who reported shopping on Small Business Saturday said the day makes them want to Shop Small all year long, not just during the holiday season.”1
Why Does Small Business Saturday Matter?
As an alpaca farmer, you are already in your prime sales season, so seize the day and host an event, join a market, or have an open house on Small Business Saturday! Be sure to let your customers know the benefits of shopping local!
Free Resources:
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Click Here --> Downloadable Shop Small Alpaca Banner Click Here --> Downloadable Shop Small Alpaca Infographic Click Here --> Downloadable Shop Small Alpaca Logo |
The American Express Website has some free resources available for businesses to gear up for Small Business Saturday:
Customizable Marketing Materials: https://www.americanexpress.com/us/small-business/shop-small/studio?intlink=us-mer-sbrc-sbs-studio
Shop Small Map: https://merchant-global.americanexpress.com/login/public-profile
1,2. Statistics from https://www.americanexpress.com/us/small-business/shop-small/about?linknav=us-loy-homepage-learnmore & https://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/advocacy/2018-Small-Business-Profiles-US.pdf
This classic alpaca hat just got better. We've completely overhauled the design of the Cable Knit Beanie to make it softer, warmer, and more comfortable to wear. The fit has been improved so it wears like a typical beanie style hat and an inner headband lining has been added. The lining helps block the wind and keep your ears and neck warm while the top of the hat still breaths so you don't over heat. Soft, warm, and stylish!
Available in Black, Denim Blue, Mulberry, Slate Grey, & Royal Purple
PDF Download - Halloween Alpaca Coloring Page
High Resolution JPG Download - Halloween Alpaca Coloring Page
Have an idea for a future graphic? Email us your ideas to support@neafp.com
Do you have a Facebook or Instagram page for your farm or farm store? If you don't, you could be missing out on new avenues to sell your products! Perhaps you already have one but you aren't getting the traffic you were hoping for. It may seem daunting to manage multiple social media pages on top of the work you do as a farmer on a daily basis, so we've put together some tips to help you be more successful!
Start with a Goal or Plan in Mind |
As you begin exploring social media marketing, take a moment to decide what you want to gain out of the experience. Your business pages on Facebook, Instagram, and other platforms can serve you and your customers in a number of capacities, so it is easy to get overwhelmed by the possibilities. You may decide to:
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Understand your Audience |
There are many active social media platforms, but which one will get you the response you’re looking for? A 2019 Pew Survey of US Adults points to YouTube and Facebook being the most popular social media platforms, but that doesn't mean you should discount the others. Take into account factors like the intended age and gender of your prospective customers. Facebook is consistently popular with both younger and older adults, while others like Instagram and Snapchat attract young adults almost exclusively. On the other hand, Pinterest users are more than 3 times more likely to be women.
Take into consideration the intended purpose of each platform as well. While it may behoove you to create a personal LinkedIn page as a business professional, you will be hard pressed to find customers there! Instagram and Pinterest tend to focus on the visual while Twitter is textual. Knowing the difference between each platform can help you cater your content to your intended audiences.
Be sure to utilize the various analytics pages available to monitor your page performance. Facebook and Instagram analytics provide useful information, including when people visiti your page or posts, what is most popular, and who your audience is based on their age and location. Use this information to hone your social media marketing skills!
Be Responsive | |
Think of social media as another avenue for conversation. Customers will use it to chat with you, ask questions, and review your products and services. Become an active participant by "liking" comments, responding to questions in a timely fashion, and regularly posting updates about your business. You may receive negative comments or critiques regarding your services, products, or animals. If this happens, always keep a level head to prevent escalating the issue. It may be helpful to think of possible responses ahead of time. For example, if a social media follower accuses you of cruelty for shearing your animals, have a thoughtful response ready to explain why alpacas need to be sheared on an annual basis. |
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Rely on Visuals |
Social media marketers find that they rely heavily on visual media when reaching out to their customers. Data on visual content marketing from the past few years illustrates that captivating visual media is necessary for high levels of customer engagement with your pages.
There are a number of ways to incorporate video and images into your social media marketing. Original content in the form of videos, shared content like related graphics and memes, as well as product, animal, and lifestyle photography are all great ways to go visual. Videos should be short enough to keep the attention of your viewers and photographs and images should be at a high enough resolution to be viewable!
Don't think that visuals are that important? They certainly are if you're hoping to create a paid ad for Facebook. If you plan to promote your business through a paid Facebook News Feed ad, only 20% of the image can have text on it, or it will not pass through Facebook's filters!
Stay on Schedule |
Timing is important when it comes to social media for many reasons. Regularly posting keeps your followers interested and engaged, while platforms like Facebook have a number of built in features like post scheduling and event hosting that can help you reach your intended audiences. Here are a few ways to stay organized. | |
1. Create a social media calendar to keep track of when and how often you should post to social media. Monday: Post a candid barn photo or video of an alpaca Wednesdays: Post a photo of one of your products and a link to where it can be purchased. Friday: Remind your followers where you'll be selling products that weekend (ex: "Stop by the farm tomorrow from 10am-2pm!") 2. Schedule Posts in Advance during Peak Viewing Times Did you know that people tend to check social media at certain times, and it differs between platforms? Different businesses have greater success depending on the time of day as evidenced by this chart on prime Instagram posting times. Hootsuite found in their research that the best time to post to Facebook for Business to Consumer brands is 12 p.m. EST on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday. Take advantage of Facebook's ability to schedule posts in advance through Publishing Tools. That way, you can make sure your content gets out there and better yet-- you don't forget to post it on your busiest days! |
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3. Schedule and Share Facebook Events If you're planning a farm event, be sure to create a Facebook event to organize all the pertinent information that an event-goer, potential farm visitor, or shopper may need. This includes a clear event title, thorough description, concrete location, and exact start and end times. The event can then be shared easily by both you and your followers. When setting up your event, use tags for relevant keywords. Interested parties may decide to stop by when searching for things to do using Facebook's calendar. |
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Social media is constantly evolving, and while it can be hard to keep up, understanding the ways that these platforms can work for you can make your business more successful in the long run!
We hope that these Business Resource Blog Posts have been helpful. Is there a topic you'd like us to cover in a future post? Write to us at support@neafp.com
Adding on to the popularity of our Mountain Eve Alpaca Slouch Beanie released in 2018, we’ve created a unique textured beanie with the same slouchy silhouette.
The Textured Slouch Alpaca Beanie is made from our softest U.S. Grown Alpaca and features all over contrasting rib & cable knitting using naturally colored alpaca yarn, which creates a subtle 3-Dimensional design.
The slouch beanie has that hip loose look on the top while still keeping your head warm in a wide range of conditions. The headband area features a microfleece lining, keeping the hat snug on your head and blocking wind on your forehead, ears, and neck. The top of the hat stays breathable so you feel comfortable while staying active in the great outdoors. This hat is finished with a faux suede sewn on tag, bringing the hat and the alpaca brand itself to new heights.
We've designed this hat in house from the ground up to be as stylish as it is warm and cozy and we couldn't be happier with the results!
The story behind this homegrown product is as good as it feels. The natural and renewable alpaca fiber used to make it is grown by small U.S. alpaca farms. Century old textile mills spin this fiber into yarn and a 4th generation family run knitting mill knits the fabric. Then the fabric comes back to us here at NEAFP where we cut, sew, and finish the fabric into a finished hat. From there it goes back to alpaca farms to share with their local communities, truly coming full circle! This is what makes U.S. Grown, U.S. Made Alpaca feel so good.
Check out our other downloadable graphics in previous blog posts:
3. Earth Day: The Sustainable Alpaca
4. Celebrating Motherhood: Alpaca Mothers & Crias
5. 5 Great Reasons to Visit Your Local Alpaca Farm
Feel free to share this graphic online or print it and use it at your next farmer's market as an educational resource.
PDF Download - The 16 Standard Colors of Alpaca Fiber
High Resolution JPG Download - The 16 Standard Colors of Alpaca Fiber
Have an idea for a future graphic? Email us your ideas to support@neafp.com
Check out our other downloadable graphics in previous blog posts:
3. Earth Day: The Sustainable Alpaca
4. Celebrating Motherhood: Alpaca Mothers & Crias
Feel free to share this graphic before your National Alpaca Farm Day event or print it and use it at your next farmer's market as an educational resource.
PDF Download - 5 Great Reasons to Visit Your Local Alpaca Farm
High Resolution JPG Download - 5 Great Reasons to Visit Your Local Alpaca Farm
Have an idea for a future graphic? Email us your ideas to support@neafp.com
For all time sensitive orders we ask that you get them in to us as soon as possible and let us know in the Order Notes box during checkout. Currently we are shipping all orders within 1 business day.
We recommend all time sensitive orders check out with UPS Ground or
better as USPS Priority does not guarantee their delivery times.
Look up your zone in the UPS Transit Time map below and this table will let you know the last day you can order
for UPS ground to reach you by the end of Friday September 27th.
YELLOW | BROWN | GREEN | RED | ORANGE |
Wednesday September 25th |
Tuesday September 24th |
Monday September 23rd |
Friday September 20th |
Thursday September 19th |
We hope you all have a great open house!
Is it worthwhile for you to use your farm for agritourism experiences? Opening your farm up to new entertainment, recreational, and educational activities may create a new revenue stream that bolsters visitation to your farm and sales of your products.
Defining Agritourism and Similar Value-Added Enterprises
You likely already engage in some forms of agritourism, if you host holiday open houses or participate in the annual National Alpaca Farm Days. Many visitors simply yearn for an authentic farm experience, and opening your farm by appointment or on particular occasions to share your work with the public is the simplest form of agritourism. Might it be time to add some alternative enterprises to the farm?
What are alternative enterprises? According to the Southern Maryland RC&D Board's guide "Taking the First Step,"
Alternative Enterprises are "marketing an existing farm or ranch product differently, adding value before it is sold, or adding a new enterprise (product or service) to existing enterprises on the farm or ranch. Also referred to as enterprise diversification. Besides the production of food and fiber, alternative enterprises include the following activities:
• Agritourism - Inviting the public onto a farm or ranch to participate in various activities and enjoy an agricultural experience. Agritourism enterprises include bed and breakfast, for-fee fishing or hunting, pick-your-own fruits/ vegetables, corn mazes, farm markets, and much more.
• Agritainment - Providing the public with fun on-farm or on-ranch activities. Such activities include haunted houses, mazes, miniature golf, yoga, horseback riding, hayrides, and the like.
• Agrieducation - Formal and informal education about agriculture through signage, tours, hands-on classes, seminars, and other methods."
What are some examples of successful agritourism ventures? Vineyards offering tastings and events like concert series have become extremely popular, especially when included in a regional "wine tour." Corn mazes and pumpkin patches remain a fall favorite. Don't forget the cider donuts at the end!
Agritourism as a Source of Revenue
If you are planning to host an event or recurring series of events on your farm to attract tourists, consider the many possible income streams. Many of the above activities are now lumped into the term “agritourism.” Whether you choose to charge an admission fee, or charge for activities onsite, there are numerous ways to build value into the experience. You may choose to charge a small fee to feed the alpacas or take a hayride, for instance. Some farms provide tastings or sell produce or food grown onsite, while others choose to be full fledged bed and breakfasts! Regardless, as an alpaca farmer, you will probably find that a gift shop for selling alpaca products will be central to your farm’s success.
Perhaps your farm is the perfect event space for weddings and private events? A picturesque landscape might make it the ideal backdrop for photographers willing to rent it out as well. Other farms have had success hosting picnic suppers for the community.
Challenges of Agritourism
Opening up your farm to visitors means that you must also manage visitor expectations. If you have open hours, visitors will expect you to be open during that time. Farms can be inherently hazardous, so it is important to prepare your site for visitors, complete with signs and fencing if necessary. Visitors will likely expect ample parking and bathroom facilities, so if you’re putting on a larger event or expect sustained visitors throughout a season, it may be worthwhile to rent a portable toilet.
Having clearly demarcated areas for visitors is one way to keep your animals and guests safe while on the farm!
The Risks of Agritourism
Despite the benefits of broadening your offerings beyond open houses, engaging in agritourism require careful pre-planning prior to planning your events. Before embarking on any agritourism ventures, understand any risks or liabilities. Does your insurance cover accidents and injuries that take place during non-farm related events? You could also run into a zoning conflict, or may be required to obtain a permit or variance, such as an event permit if you hope to use your farm for recreational or educational activities. Financially, engaging in certain forms of agritourism can complicate taxes, and if your farm has employees, using your facilities for agritourism can also alter your compensation requirements.
Make sure you understand the potential financial risks and other conflicts that may arise before you invest in an agritourism venture.
Interested? Learn More about Agritourism
If you're interested in learning more about adding alternative enterprises to your farm, participating in National Alpaca Farm Days this September is a great way to start, by demonstrating activities that you're already doing on a daily basis. Invite the public to your farm to purchase products, interact with the animals, and tour your farm. If you're able to, offer demonstrations on alpaca care and management, and hands on activities for kids and adults alike. If you find that you're successful, why not investigate the possbility of making your farm an agritourism destination!
Agritourism Resources: http://tioga.cce.cornell.edu/for-farmers/agritourism
Getting Started in Agritourism: http://senecacountycce.org/resources/getting-started-in-agritourism
Considerations for Agritourism Development: http://senecacountycce.org/resources/considerations-for-agri-tourism-development
Taking the First Step: http://senecacountycce.org/resources/taking-the-first-step-farm-and-ranch-alternative-enterprise-and-agritourism-resource-evaluation-guide
FAQ: Agritourism on your farm: https://smallfarms.cornell.edu/2019/04/faq-agritourism-on-your-farm/
We hope that these Business Resource Blog Posts have been helpful. Is there a topic you'd like us to cover in a future post? Write to us at support@neafp.com
p.s. Don't forget to shop our annual Stock up Sale and get some great deals before time runs out!
The Backpaca Sock was launched in November of 2018 and has quickly become one of our fasting growing U.S. alpaca products. The fine alpaca hosiery yarn that goes into the Backpaca was years (and many prototypes) in the making and it allowed us to begin making socks on more advanced knitting machines. Giving us a platform to make lightweight U.S. alpaca socks that were comfortable in a wide range of climates and seasons - we've now launched our 2nd sock in the Backpaca line up!
Before you even think about your booth setup, make sure you attend the right events. Ask yourself what type of people will come to a particular market, if the location is easily accessible, and if the event is marketed or advertised. If possible, reach out to like-minded vendors who have worked the event in recent years to hear their perspective and gain valuable insight. While many markets will try to prevent vendors from selling similar products, it is always wise to check for yourself, as redundancy will lead to fewer sales. You want to make sure that your products “fit” within the overall scope of the market, but you won’t want to compete with a handful of similar vendors!
Regardless of how an event is externally marketed, it is your job to market your event on social media. Always share where you will be selling in advance, and be sure to take photos of your booth at the show to create buzz during and after the event! Don’t forget about repeat customers: make sure your website or social media pages are posted on any collateral you have in your booth so that new customers can find you again. Looking to start a mailing list? Put a sign-up sheet in your booth so customers can be notified about future events.
If you sell a wide range of products, make sure you bring the right products for a particular market. You will likely find that certain products sell better in different locations. In most cases it is important to still offer a variety of products and something for every budget at each show. Be sure to bring smaller, more affordable options for customers who might not be ready to invest in higher price-point items. These more affordable products help introduce customers to your brand and hopefully bring them back for a larger purchase in the future.
We love to share photos of our booths on social media. It's a simple way to get the attention of potential customers who might be interested in perusing your products! We posted this photo during the most recent MAPACA show. Take note of the smaller items for sale on the table: T-Shirts, Bumper Stickers, Key Chains, Pins, and other affordable options!
Create a booth that is convenient for you and your customers. Ensure that your equipment is easy to set up and take down, and is versatile for different types of events. If you’re given the chance, always set up in high traffic areas, such as those close to the market entrance or on the end of an aisle. A canopy or tent is a great way to protect your products, but it can also make you stand out from the rest of the crowd, especially if it features your logo or information on what you’re selling. If your booth is dimly lit, consider bringing additional lighting to brighten the space and allow customers to better view your products.
Attract shoppers and help them move easily through your booth with a well-organized, user-friendly layout. Placing an inviting table or display towards the front of your booth will increase visibility, while also encouraging visitors to walk in and around it. The more time spent in your space, the greater the chance of a purchase being made! Check to make sure that there are no fixtures, products, or other hazards that could inhibit the flow of traffic.
You will appear less cluttered and disorganized if you keep your fixtures clean and products orderly. Consider using racks, hangers, or clear bins that are easily visible and accessible to shoppers. Fight the urge to put everything out at once. Instead, stay attentive to your displays as you make sales and reorganize them as needed to prevent your booth from looking empty. Pay attention to even minor details. Clear labeling is also key. Many shoppers will choose to walk away rather than ask about pricing, so make sure your customers understand what your products are and how much they cost by using tags and signs.
Our layouts may change depending on the location, but we've made sure our display stands and boxes are easy to move regardless of the situation. Even in an oblong space like this, we made sure there was enough space for customers to flow freely through our booth.
Be sure to use the space in your booth creatively. Rather than simply setting products on a table, think about how you might use shelving, stands, and racks to utilize valuable vertical space and create visual interest. Put the most popular products out front to draw potential customers in to see what else you have available. Place more expensive or fragile items in areas where they are less likely to be handled. Keep less desirable items in view, but not front and center. How can this work in practice? Place your most eye-catching and popular products at eye level, your more expensive or delicate above, and slower moving products closer to ground level.
Just as your overall marketing should tell a story, so should your booth space. Make sure that your booth tells your story while connecting back to the alpacas. Your booth should emphasize your brand through your choice of fixtures, your signage and displays, and any decor you choose. If possible, provide a connection to the actual alpacas that contributed to the making of your products. This could be having them at the event, having photos of them in your booth, or bringing raw fiber for customers to touch. The better the experience, the more likely your visitors are to buy your products.
Alpaca products are not usually static objects, they are meant to be worn or used. For wearable alpaca garments, give customers the chance to experience products as they’re meant to be used. You may find that some customers decide to buy a hat only after they’ve seen it on themselves. Having a mirror in your booth will prevent shoppers from having to imagine what something might look on themselves. Showcasing products on mannequins is another worthwhile technique. Styrofoam heads are relatively inexpensive, and great deals can be found on mannequin busts at local “going out of business sales.”
Check out our stock of posters in the Marketing & Collateral section of our website if you're looking for ways to visually connect your products back to the alpacas!
Even if a customer is interested in your products, they may decide that purchasing is not worth the hassle if the checkout process is unclear. Therefore, consider your checkout process. Make it clear where customers can go when they are done shopping and ready to make a purchase. If a line forms, have a place for shoppers to stand that does not crowd the booth. Also consider the forms of payment that you will accept. A cashbox will streamline transactions and make your operations look more professional. However, if you only accept cash, you are eliminating a large portion of your customer base. Look into Square and other forms of credit card processors that can be used easily at your booth. After the transaction has been completed, make sure you have some kind of packing material (such as paper gift bags) available to secure your customer’s purchases. You can sneak in a business card while you’re at it!
It never hurts to be friendly and professional. Get to know event organizers, other vendors, and your customers. Events can get stressful, but customers are buying into a brand, not just the product itself. If you leave them with a good impression they will be more likely to return. Remember not to be too pushy either, or you may drive some interested customers away!
As you think about what products to stock for the upcoming market seasons, remember to give some thought to how you will display them. Check out our previous blog post on market setups, featuring photos of your booths here!
We hope that these Business Resource Blog Posts have been helpful. Is there a topic you'd like us to cover in a future post? Write to us at support@neafp.com
1x Love Alpaca Hat Pin + 1x No Farms No Socks Bumper Sticker!
Stock up on everyone's new favorite lightweight alpaca sock!
We started with our elegant LEAF knit and created a graceful asymmetrical poncho. The refined knit pattern made using soft alpaca has created a stunning poncho, absolutely beautiful in person! Generously sized and flattering for all body shapes, this pullover poncho will quickly become a timeless staple in any wardrobe.
Warm, soft, and feminine, this poncho adds a luxurious alpaca touch to any outfit.
Available in a natural Dark Fawn color.
Contents: 80% U.S. Alpaca, 20% Recycled Nylon
Care Instructions: Spot Clean By Hand, Using Cool Water & Mild Wool Detergent, Lay Flat to Dry
NEAFP will be taking our annual Summer Break from June 28th until July 7th.
All orders and support that come in during the week of 4th of July will begin heading out when we return.
We hope you all have a wonderful relaxing 4th of July and we look forward to hitting the ground running!
We are excited to release our newest addition, Sportweight, to our All Natural line of Knitter's Yarn!
This new All Natural Sport Weight Knitter's Yarn is made using U.S. Grown Alpaca blended with U.S. Merino Wool. It's soft, warm, and cozy and the lighter Sport Weight yarn allows for intricate and smooth knitting.
Skeins are 3.5 oz and approximately 300 yards each. This yarn is a 3 ply, giving it a nice hand, improved strength, and consistent making it perfect for a wide range of knitting projects.
Soft, smooth, and bright - a truly beautiful yarn!
Contents: 70% US Alpaca, 30% US Merino
Needle Size: 5-7