What is in this article?:
- Landlord Lessons | Treat Your Customers Right With Strategies That Pay Off
- Keep Landlords In The Loop
- Know what landlords want
Think Different: Community outreach is one area in which Rob Richards of Indy Family Farms thinks differently about its business. In addition to participating in Habit for Humanity and the Chamber of Commerce, the business is also certified by an independent auditing firm for meeting environmental and safety standards. One goal of such audits is to be able to trace all products that comes on or leaves the farm.
"We're trying to keep ahead of the game and be unique in a positive way," Richards says. So when traceability is mandated someday, “we can get a premium because we can trace and document our crop. It's challenging and it's hard work, but the audit makes us feel good about what we're doing."
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Know what landlords want
The first step is knowing what your landowners want, says David Bryden, Manager of Business Development for the FamilyFarms Group in Brighton, Ill. Some will be concerned with conservation practices and proper care of the farm. Others, particularly investors, tend to care most about a fair return, reduced risks and asset protection.
Three first steps:
- Understand what each landowner wants.
- Know how landlords prefer to receive information.
- Set aside time each week to communicate.
If you already have a plan and want to improve communication, the next steps are:
- Survey your current landowners to make sure you are meeting and exceeding their expectations.
- Keep the acres you already have
- Think about the individual market segments or type of landlords you want to attract, research those areas and build a plan to fit those needs.
- Consider a brand identity for your operation
