E-Commerce Tools Launched To Help Farms Convert Christmas Turkey Traffic Into Box Schemes
New e-commerce tools were launched today to help farms reach online buyers and process produce-box subscriptions in time for the Xmas turkey rush. Developed with funding from Ordnance Surveys Geovation, the Foodnation website and mobile app combine location-based technology and e-commerce to help farms and Community Supported Agriculture schemes (CSAs) reach and build local food communities online.
Through the Foodnation website, farms can easily manage payment for recurring box schemes. Produce is uploaded free to a dedicated farm webpage to offer a marketplace for online buyers. All online order details are sent via email upon receipt. And customer payments are sent fortnightly to the farms bank account .
The website has a mapping tool where farms receive a free listing on detailed OS maps. Those listed will also be visible to buyers searching for their local farm using the Foodnation mobile app. Focused on driving farm traffic and encouraging buyers to find and talk about local produce over Facebook and twitter, the iPhone and Android versions launch alongside the website.
In addition to driving traffic through mobile technology, the Foodnation teams expertise in social networking, online marketing and search engine optimisation (SEO) gives farms extra visibility as well as professional on-line presence.
CEO & e-commerce specialist Louise Campbell said,
The market is more demanding now. We want to pick our produce, process payment and then pick up or get it delivered. Cheques and phoned-in orders are time-consuming and can lead to loss of custom. If local producers are to compete with the supermarkets, its important that the ordering process is simple and easy-to-use as possible for customers.
As a box scheme member and foodie, I am a big believer in getting more people to enjoy seasonal, local food. Ive spoken to lots of other box scheme members and the response to Foodnation has been overwhelmingly positive. With us taking the technical gubbins out of the farmers hands, they can focus on what they do best" producing delicious food. While we, the customers, get the food we want with minimal fuss.
We were keen to launch before Christmas as people tend to go further afield for their festive fayre. The plan is for farms to take one-off turkey or gourmet food sales and convert them into ongoing produce-box subscriptions with their local food community.
