Grant Baldwin’s Blog

This morning we got up early and went to the local farmer’s market just for fun. Of course we ended up buying strawberries, tomatoes, some pumpkin bread, a few plants, and a jar of strawberry jam. But what was interesting to me was how many kids and teenagers were involved in selling items. While you could tell some were there to help mom and dad sell their product, you could also tell that some of them took an active role in bringing their product to market.

And as I watched some of these students and the various vendors, I was reminded of some simple business lessons:

• You Can’t Be All Things To All People – At the market, I saw fruits, vegetables, plants, flowers, handmade furniture, meats, jellies, candy and herbs. But one thing I noticed was that no one was selling one of everything. There was no one-stop-shop. If there had been, I bet it wouldn’t have been that busy. People sold what they could specialize in.
• Being the Best Attracts a Crowd – There are apparently strict rules that forbid vendors from selling before the person in charge blows a whistle. But even before the whistle blew, there were lines at certain booths. There were probably half a dozen booths that sold strawberries but only one of them had a line the whole time. A long line. A line that I waited in and actually paid more for the strawberries, but that were known to be the best.
• Start Young Learning Business – I loved seeing students get involved because a venue like a local market provides such as opportunity to learn Business 101. I started in elementary and junior high mowing yards and shoveling snow and I learned a lot of valuable lessons that I keep with me today.
• Love What You Do – There was a clear difference between those people who loved what they did and the monetary benefit was just secondary to them and those people who were just doing a job. If I have to be up early on Saturday and sell something in the hot sun, I’d rather sell something I’m passionate about. But that’s just me.