Real Local RVA’s September Meeting
Marketing on a Shoestring
with The Apple Cart
Monday’s meeting was full of great marketing information for small businesses on a limited budget. Barb Upchurch and Stephanie Ganz of The Apple Cart are experts in the local food world and have helped many small start-ups get off the ground. Their best advice when thinking about your marketing plan? HAVE ONE. The biggest hurdle for most small businesses to jump is to actually commit to making a marketing plan, but they stressed this is an invaluable resource for the success of a company.
They discussed 5 important pieces of building a brand a small business should invest in:
- Logo – hire a designer and leave logo creation to the experts
- Website – a website should “work” for a business as an employee, invest in the design up front
- Photography – hire a photographer, invest in beautiful photography, it will pay off
- Printed materials/Business cards – stay consistent with a “look” and carry it through all materials
- Events – be prepared with an eye catching display, and allow your customers to get to know you, the person behind the brand!
If businesses invest in these pieces up front, they are sure to pay off down the road! Many thanks to Barb and Stephanie for this great insight. If you are interested in more assistance, The Apple Cart provides support for food businesses in a variety of ways including:
- One-on-one strategy sessions
- Long-term assistance with marketing, PR and strategic growth
- Workshops
We enjoyed freshly shucked oysters from Onliest Oyster Co topped with AR’s Hot Southern Honey mignonette and Hummingbird Garden’s herb salt, and washed it down with Texas Beach Bloody Mary Mix. Thanks to our hosts at St. Stephen’s for providing the coffee, and to all who joined us.
Announcements
Attendees shared some exciting events coming up!
- 17th Street Holiday Farm and Craft Market, will run every Thursday from 4 – 7 pm starting on October 4 and finishing on December 13. The farmers market will be held on Franklin St. behind the 17th Street Market until renovations are completed, at which time the farmers market will move into the renovated space. The address is 100 N. 17th St, Richmond, VA 23219.
- The owners of Tarrant’s Cafe, Max’s on Broad, and Little Saint will open an exciting new restaurant this fall. Bar Solita will be a Mediterranean small-plates restaurant focusing on quality ingredients with a wood fired oven. The restaurant will have a sizable bar and lounge area as well as private dining options for groups up to 90 people. Many of the breads, pastries, salamis and pastas will be made in house, and the fresh flavors and small portions seek to delight and entertain the palate as well as promote sharing and tasting new flavors.
- Mark you calendar for October 21st & 22nd for Union Market’s annual Eat Oysters! Drink Beer! block party. The party will feature Big Island Aquaculture, Land of Saffron paella, Union Market’s backdoor pop-up, local food and artisan vendors, beer, wine, and live music from One Job, Andrew Alli & Josh Small, and Gina & The Cowtippin Playboys.
- October 26th, 2018 – Tickets are LIVE for Tricycle Urban Ag’s 10th Annual Harvest Festival and Golden Trowel Awards – The Festival celebrates the simple act of growing and eating good food as an incredibly powerful way to change the overall health of our community. The event will showcase a delicious bounty prepared by the best local chefs RVA has to offer, music and a silent auction. Tricycle is also accepting nominations for the Golden Trowel Award. Click here to nominate a deserving member of the community!
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