Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

Hi Everyone,

I`ve been searching for websites that lists all the organic farmers that sell direct to consumers and so far there is only one main one out there: http://www.localharvest.org/

I`m looking to start a business to connect organic shoppers and producers.  As many of you know, buying organic food at the wholefoodsmarket or trader joes can really put a dent in your grocery budget (there`s a price for eating healthy), hopefully my model can help consumers as well as producers with this problem. 

Are there any other sites like localharvest.org out there that you use often? I find it hard to believe there is only one main site that services the world.  I`ve typed in every keyword into Goggle but nothing comes up...

Also what do you think of this idea in general?

I think it`s a good idea but what would you be doing differently than LocalHavest?  You need to be unique in order to compete.

Well I made a list of improvements that I can make to the site, cheaper commissions of course, better user interface, nicer looking website layout etc... localharvest seem to have a lot of avid organic foodies and farmers.  My site would cater more to the `beginners` whos looking for alternatives and other ways to eat healthy without paying $1.75 for each apple.

I think you should look into pricing on these things ... organic farming can be expensive and bargain-basement pricing would just hurt the farmers.

no no no, im not asking the farmer to change their pricing at all.  i meant my commission would be much lower then other competitor to let farmers keep more of their money.

What I mean by "different" (and I think what Nikole is hinting at too) is that it`s not enough to just have a lower commission or a better looking website.  You`ve got to have a different business model.  Why do what LocalHarvest is already doing?

Competition works differently on the internet than in the physical world.  It`s not like someone can easily compare differences between you and a competitor.  An example is the way people can see gas prices at stations across the street from one another.  Or that they can walk into several stores in a mall.  On the web, you`re only in one place at one time.  And while search engines can get you exposure, they don`t show how you compare.  Without that edge, it`s very difficult to compete.

Case in point.  Google Checkout offers very similar services as PayPal and at a cheaper price.  So even with all the money and resources that Google has, PayPal is still the leader in web-based transactions.  If one uses PayPal, how are they to discover an alternative, unless of course they are seeking it out?  They`re most likely not.  PayPal users don`t walk by a storefront and see a sign for lower prices at Google.  But if Google Checkout was different enough in the services it offers, it could gain an edge by doing something unique.  This is the USP, an unique selling proposition.

You`ve got to do something unique that LocalHarvest doesn`t do, and it has to be a major part of your plan.  Site design and variations on price isn`t enough.  So think of it this way.  From what you`ve said, you`ve only found one site that covers the field in which you are interested in working - getting organic food from farmer to consumer.  This is great news because only one way to do it has been covered.  As the saying goes, there`s more than one way to skin an organic potato.  Wrap your brain around it and do it in a new and better way, not just a slightly different way.

Tommyjeans,
Check out this site it may give you a few ideas, but then again maybe not...
I am in the health and wellness field myself and would love to know more about your ideas...
Email me or give me a call if you`d like, tim

http://www.wholefoodfarmacy.com/2005/ga_home.asp

-------------------------

Tim Szazynski
timshaz@gmail.com
270-312-7234

zenzuu.com/timshaz

http://case-studies.sitesell.com/timshaz.html