For a remote farm in Bridesville, the dream has always been simple: get our harvest into your hands. For years, that meant the "market circuit"—loading trucks, driving hours, and setting up stalls. But as we look toward the future of Natural Farmworks, the reality of sustainability has led us to a new frontier: the retail shelf.
The Myth of the "Easy" Shelf
Many believe that getting a product into a grocery store is the finish line. In reality, it’s just the starting blocks. Moving into retail isn't as easy as "one, two, three." It involves complex logistics, working with distributors, and navigating a system built for much larger players.
But getting on the shelf is only half the battle. Staying on the shelf is the real work.
The Margin Gap: Markets vs. Retail
There is a significant reality check when it comes to margins. When we sell to you directly at a market, the connection is instant. When we sell through a retailer, a portion of that sale goes to the grocer to cover their overhead.
Furthermore, to ensure people actually see us on those shelves, we invest in "dwell time"—demos, samples, and marketing. Ironically, it costs us significantly more to be accessible to you at a local grocer than it does for you to buy from us online.
Why We Are Choosing This Path
If it costs more and the margins are tighter, why do it?
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Consistency for You: You shouldn't have to wait for a sunny Saturday to stock your cupboard. Retail gives you access 7 days a week.
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Growth in the Lower Mainland & The Island: We recognize the demand in Vancouver and on the Island. To reach you there, we have to play the retail game. We are actively working with distributors to bring Bridesville to the coast.
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Farm Sustainability: To grow in volume and quality, we have to be on the farm, not just on the road.
How You Can Help Us Survive the "Game"
The retail world is a "volume game." A grocer will only keep us on the shelf if the product moves. If you want to see Natural Farmworks stay in your local shop:
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Buy in Volume: If you love the Earl Grey or Spiced Chai, grab an extra for a friend.
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Show Up for Demos: When we are doing a tasting (like this Friday at Vitamin King!), come say hello. High traffic at these events proves to the retailer that our community is local and loyal.
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Request Us: If your local grocer doesn't carry us yet, ask them to.
We are trading the market stall for the retail shelf so we can spend more time in the soil. We can survive this transition, but only if our customers choose to support us where we stand.
See you at the grocer.