How much to charge......?

[firefightersbabe]

Hi all,

I've been growing tomatoes and marigolds from seed in my greenhouse, with the thought that they can be sold at our nursery school fun-day, which is (this) Friday 21 May.

The tomatoes are around 3/4 inches tall now, each in individual pots. 

The marigolds are in trays of 20 modules, mostly one per module, but I did plant 2 seeds in each, so in some, both have germinated.  They are around 3 /4 inches tall also, but no sign of flower buds yet.

I have some spare cucumber plants, but maybe only 8/10 plants, that are only 2/3 inches tall, that I'd sell too.

My question is, what do you think - how much can I realistically ask people to pay for each?  It's a fund-raiser, so obviously we want to make as much as we can, but still, people wont buy if too dear!   

I don't really know, so that's why I'm asking you!!!

Please help!!!   Many thanks, Judi

[firefightersbabe]

[Deb P]

This thread might help you a bit.....

http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/smf/index.php/topic,60106.msg615047.html#msg615047

[manicscousers]

Hiya, ff..our marigolds are in trays of 10, the flowering ones are 3.00 per tray and the smaller ones are 2.00, toms are 50p each unless heritageand other veg, like cucumbers are 50p dependimg on size, I sold some squash at 2.00 as they were quite large, hope this helps  :)

[triffid]

Judi, as it's a fundraiser for the nursery, so your customers are giving to their own good cause ;D  I'd be tempted to up the prices just a bit. Maybe 75p rather than 50p... perhaps not as much as £1 as the plants are still on the small side (though that's where I'd start - London prices, y'know ...  ;) )
One way of helping yourself along, if you decide to go for the higher pricing, would be to print off some nice growing instructions as 'added value' to go with the plants. Presumably the school would copy them for you?

You could include some fun facts (like toms and cucs being fruit not veg, and marigolds being edible in salads) and even a recipe or two? - maybe even a bit on saving seed for next year (if the varieties you're selling aren't hybrid F1s). Make the fact sheets very simple and parent-and-child-friendly: after all, we'd hope that the nursery-school kids will be helping mum and dad to grow (and eat!) the veggies you're selling.

Have the courage of your convictions: you can drop the prices if stuff doesn't sell but if your stall is emptied in five minutes and you know people would have paid more, you'll feel frustrated that you could have raised more money.
To be honest I think your little plant stall will be emptied very quickly.

Fingers crossed for lovely sunny weather this week so your little veggies grow some more by Friday.
Good luck!

Triff
:)

[firefightersbabe]

Thank you all for your replies so far. (Please don't stop - the more opinions the better!!!)

Thanks for the link to the other thread, Deb, which was useful!

Manicscousers - yes, your info was very helpful, thanks.  At least gives me some kind of ball park figure to work with!

Triffid - I like the idea of some info sheets, recipes and planting/care instructions.  I'd actually thought of that, but haven't yet done anything about it - you've prompted me to go for it!!  :)

And, yes, lets cross fingers for warm weather for a final boost this week! 

Any other thoughts welcomed!!!

Judi x

[PurpleHeather]

You can always drop prices but you can not put them up.

Quite soon you will see how many are getting sold so put them out at top price then be prepared to sell them at less even buy one get one free.

[Squash64]

I sold out of Minibel tomatoes last Saturday - 80p each or 3 for £2.  Also sold out of Bangladeshi chillies at the same price.  They were small plants but I think the thing that made them sell was the ticket I put on them -

[attachment=1]

I used that bright card, stuck the seed packet on and copied what it said about them.   I had to go to the greenhouse for more  tomatoes, they couldn't get enough of them.  Other tomatoes which were donated and didn't have this sort of information didn't sell as well.

Good luck with your sale!

[1066]

firstly good luck with your plant sale  :)

I'd also think about what you charge based on change - i.e. lots of 25p / 75p prices means you will need loads of change. Multiples of 50p are the best and easiest to manage  ;)

[carrot-cruncher]

I charge 50p each for tomato, cucumber and capsicum plants.   If people want the "full house" i.e 1 of each then I'll charge £1.25 for all three.

Sunflowers I also sell at 50p each, pumpkin plants are £1 each.   Brassicas are £1 for 10 seedlings.

CC

[firefightersbabe]

Thanks all.  You've given me some great advice, and some food for thought!

I definitely think the little signs are the way to go - I agree, people will be interested in some information about what they are buying.

I like the 3 for 2 offer idea.  I think that might be the way to go. 

I'll let you know how we get on!

[SMP1704]

Hi Judi

We had our first plant sale on Sunday and raised an astonishing amount of money.  We went for £1 for  tom plants that ranged from 6" to 2" in height, or 4 for £3.50 - considerably cheaper than local garden centres.  Squashes that were at planting out size for £2 each.  smaller pots of all varieties went for 50p

No one quibbled over the prices and we were open to a bit of good natured haggling, e.g. £6 for 8 plants

We put labels on most of the plants, explaining variety, growing habit, when flowers/fruits etc.  I did a bit of cut and paste from Suttons webiste for pictures and descriptions and people did seem impressed by them.

[firefightersbabe]

Hi all,

Fun Day was today, so thought I'd report in, and announce happily that my plant stall raised £112.20!!!!!   I was absolutely thrilled!!!!  Last year, it only took £48! ( I wasn't running it!  ;D )   

I had loads of tomatoes (70) a mix of Gardener's Delight - cherry, and Moneymaker.  Got about 25 left, so will offer to fellow allotmenteers, or maybe Freecycle.  Toms were 50p each.

I had grown marigolds in trays of 20 cells each, some with 2 plants per cell, for £2.50 per tray.  VERY popular, and I could have had 3 times the amount I had.  Note to self for next year!

I had some lavender, herbs, caulis (quite small - 20p each) pumpkins, cucumber, aubergines, courgettes, and sunflowers.

My mum make some beautiful floral arrangements to sell, and most of these went too. 

The weather was amazing - which was a complete bonus, as often its cold and rainy and windy!! (North east Scotland!!!) 

Now, our nursery (childrens!!) can afford to take the children on their summer outing to a nearby animal park.  We'll have a ball!!!

Thanks for all your help, guys!!!   ;)

My little plant stall!

http://tiny.cc/58l11/

[triffid]

Marvellous result - well done Judi.  ;D
And the stall looks fabulous.

How about planning for another stall in autumn, with planted-up bulbs and winter-flowering pansies etc? You could raise enough for a great Christmas party for the little 'uns.

[Squash64]

Excellent, well done!

[Jayb]

Your stall looks fantastic and a great result, well done.
Loved your other pictures too  :)

[betula]

What a lovely looking stall,so glad you did well  :)

[manicscousers]

congratulations, so glad it all worked out  ;D

[SMP1704]

Well done you - enjoy the trip :D