Spread Of Sales

I will say that the 2nd most asked question is "Where is the market?".

This morning I get again one of the good follow up inquiries from the ones who read then ask. It went beyond the "where is the market" thing.

The text asked if the sales for the year was 100%, was the 50% on the last quarter? Oh yes, most consumer products' sales are in the months of October to December because of the Christmas season.

In my personal experience, it isn't the case. We get a good hold of the supply and demand all throughout the year because the market for the Sunshine Chicken is the conscious consumer. The one who watches their diet, wants tasteful chickens and studies value for money.

Sure the demand may go up for Christmas season, but this type of food gets set aside for time being during the festivities. So if the demand and sales doesn't go down, then we did something very good in terms of marketing.

I like stability...and see to it that marketing makes us grounded and constant all year round.

Developing

Neverending. Continuing. Forever.

Our ball has not stopped rolling. We have to always be changing for the better and development and marketing never ceases. You can't market stale ideas and products so new ideas have to always be cooking.

The past days, the word "Cooking" was the key word for me. Yesterday we visited Animal Products Development Center of the Bureau of Animal Industry. Most helpful team! Does the DA pride and Joy :)

We toured around the slaughtering facilities, waste disposal systems the meat processing section and their training areas. They met with us regarding the products we want to be developed. They had a more than tight schedule, what with the Christmas season etc etc. But, they gave in to our request to squeeze us into their development and processing schedule. Ahhh, you know me by now? Why wait for a schedule to process after development when I trust that they will come up with good products. So, why wait for 2010? I asked them already for processing sched to meet Christmas offerings.

They knew exactly what I wanted as we started describing our grass fed line of Sunshines. They are equally excited to develop recipes that are chemical free.

Niche marketing...

Continuous Marketing

Planning marketing is my main duty now for Sunshine Chicken. It is a hair line away from selling. Marketing is harder in my eyes, as the selling comes after you have projected and made known your company and product.

Always going, straight lines and circles...of course we have to forever compliment the marketing for our growers too. We plan to embark again (as if we don't always do weehehheheheh) on farm visits for our growers that may be featured for agriculture news.

Which made me recall an incident last Sunday. I was at a weekend market where we participated. As I was walking around, I saw another booth selling dressed chickens from free range SASSO. Surely I know all my growers...so I approached the man who owned the booth and talked to him about using the name SASSO. Surely his supplier didn't say that what they were selling him were SASSO chicks!!!

Maybe out of lack of anything better to say, he asks me about the proper raising and pricing. "I can't be involved as it will be unethical...I am just here to catch your attention about your claim on using SASSO" :)

Geez...this was may beyond me! He said he thought that his supplier might be the better one because they more expensive. YEOWWWWWW...this is exacty the market I am not targetting. The one that thinks that expensive is better. Hello? Yes, I may be from another world, but thank you, I prefer to be where I am. Give me an original Crispa T-shirt anytime please.

Yes also, I am focused in my marketing. There is a certain genre I want to keep and satisfy.

We work hard to give quality and cut costs. We have the numbers to give you lower prices.

I pride myself about planning and making strategies. I can't comprehend when someone rides on others' popularity and work. I am confident that we move forward and not just follow others' actions nor routes. We ourselves, and so does our growers, don't use the name SASSO in our marketing nor labels :)

Organi....

The last article in Agri Page about lower prices for organic produce.

Brainstorming with co-vendors at MATH.

Seeing different products and suppliers that I will want to use myself.

Lack of time and manpower...too many things to do at the same time.

Marketing.

Niche marketing as theme of Agrilink 2008.

The above had been tickling my mind the whole day today...might be making a step in the next few weeks.

No Buy-Backs, No Contract Growings, BUT.....

Our regular growers know and see how we really market our Sunshine growers and not us :)

But you can't please all inquiries and it does exasperate even the most patient people who take your calls (surely I am not referring to myself lol).

Yesterday, Doc Rey got a call insisting about selling his produce. Mind you, he hasn't even started raising any. The call ended up in a sorry note. One got impatient, and it takes a lot to do that. The other one ended up getting mad because other companies are into buy-backs.

It was explained to him that our real line is producing and distributing the certified F1 Sunshine Day Old Chicks....BUT...our marketing is focused on our growers. I guess, unless you work hand in hand and side by side with us, you will not understand our dedication to this :)

We are a small entity, can't play with the other competitors on buy-back policies.

I still don't plan on doing buy-backs but I will strive to work harder to push my Sunshine growers.

Niche marketing is our focus. Each Sunshine grower will have to study their market and find their own niche.

BUT...we support all the way!

Marketing Our Sunshine Growers

For the past month, suppliers have been asking why we do the food trade shows. They know we do the agriculture expos, but now the queries are "Why the food shows?". Suppliers and colleagues have been wondering "why" when the cost of show spaces are very high. And now, they see that we also do the consumer food shows, w/c is some steps past our line.

We do the agriculture shows because our main business is in animal health supplies and services. It spun off to Sunshine Chicken, my passion since.

Asked often if we do contract growing, buy backs, etc. You'll be amazed at how almost everyone asks! Nope, we don't.

There are growers, entrepreneurs, marketing people etc. Possible, but unlikely, that we get them all rolled into one persona. Some may have the capacity to raise, but where to sell?

Long before you see themes of "niche marketing"...I had been saying that. Create a market. Focus. And yes, it is all about niche marketing.

I for one go on gut feel, no feasibility plans etc. You don't need to go far to sell. Start with your circle, going to outer circles little by little. Before you know it, you are selling.

So how do we assist? Any guarantees that a grower makes money? How d0 we work on the marketing for our Sunshine growers?

1) Open up the avenues for them through our joining food trade shows/expos/weekend markets. They join the shows for FREE. No charge for space!
2) Brainstorming on product development
3) Information dissemination
4) Consumer awareness on benefits of getting Sunshine
5) Print and radio exposures

I nurture relationships w/ our growers. Communication is open and constructive points are taken.

Our growers are getting their share in marketing mileage. The ones who work side by side with us see and experience this.

Hopefully, the other quiet growers see the importance of the food trade shows we do for them.

Next stop is the Cebu Food Expo 2008 at the Waterfront Cebu! My three regular growers in Cebu are joining.

If my growers feel we are not helping them any, I pray they let me know :)