How to Find Good Pickup Location Partners for Your Farm

Partnering with local pickup locations can help farms and CSAs reach new customers while maintaining affordable distribution costs. Farms and CSAs on Local Line leverage local pickup points in their communities, including gyms, bakeries, and restaurants, as pick-up locations for their orders.

Here’s how to get started!

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Identify potential pickup locations

The first step is to identify businesses that could serve as suitable pickup spots. Locations like local gyms, YMCA facilities, cafes, and bakeries are great options. These businesses often appreciate the opportunity to offer added perks to their customers or members, making the collaboration a win-win situation.

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Initiating the conversation

When approaching these businesses, it's important to emphasize that you’ll take on all the work needed, such as setting clear pickup times and days with your customers, getting any required equipment (freezer or storage containers), etc. This minimizes the burden on the business owner and makes the partnership more appealing. 

Initiate the conversation by explaining how the program can benefit both parties. Sometimes, this might require multiple discussions, so don’t give up right away – they might just need a little extra convincing!

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Offering value in exchange

You want to ensure that you’re highlighting the value of this partnership, i.e., that you’re helping each other out here. Here are a few value propositions you can pitch:

• Increasing Foot Traffic: Partnering with restaurants or retailers can boost foot traffic and expand their customer base. For example, if you’re working with a cafe, your customers might often pick up a coffee while picking up their orders.
• Collaborative Marketing: Depending on their business type, consider selling some of their products on your online storefront, driving more sales to them! 
• Wholesale Specials: If you also sell wholesale, consider offering a wholesale discount to the establishment for being a pick up partner: "As a partner, you get first pick when [x] product comes in stock, or you get 10% discount on all wholesale orders."

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Setting clear expectations with partners

The success to a long-term partnership is setting clear expectations right off the bat. Walk through potential scenarios and how you would solve these. 

For example, what happens when a customer misses the pick up window? 

• Do you donate their box? 
• Do you store their box at the pick up location until they can come? 
• Can they pick up at the farm later? 

Whatever the scenario, be sure to have a set protocol, and then clearly communicate this with your customers and pick up partner. The last thing you want is unnecessary responsibility placed on the pickup partner without them knowing, i.e., frustrated customers asking where their orders are after the pickup time slot. 

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Creating pick up locations inside Local Line

Once you’ve secured pick up partners, add these locations to your Local Line storefront for customers. 

To set up a pick up location: 

1. Click on the Fulfillment tab on the left-hand side of your Local Line account.
2. Click on Pick up Locations in the top navigation.
3. Click Add Pick up Location. Proceed to fill out the information about the pick up location, such as the name, address, availability, order lead time, instructions, and fees. Assign the pick up location to the relevant price lists. 

Some ideas for great pickup location partners

• If you’re a meat producer, consider partnering with a local gym to target all Keto/health-conscious gym rats!
• Local cafes.
• Universities, schools, and other community centers
• Community activities, i.e., dance studios, art studios, dojos, and more.
• Food hubs or local co-ops. 
• Breweries, restaurants, or vineyards.

Collaborating with non-agricultural businesses for CSA or order pickups can be great for business! Create successful partnerships that benefit everyone involved and start connecting with local businesses in your area.