The basic value of the co-op or buying club is convenience for our customers. We know many of you simply can’t get out to the farm for various good reasons as often as you like, but would enjoy our products if only it were easier to acquire them.
We have modest experience with co-ops and thus far this is how they work. They are essentially broken down into two types. A very general car share type and a forager type.
The car-share co-op is several families organizing a trip to the farm on a weekly, biweekly or monthly schedule with the various members taking turns to come out to the farm and picking up the orders which are emailed ahead of time. We have the orders ready and packaged and the driver pays for the entire order and goes home where the other members then pick up their share.
The forager buying club works similarly to the car-share co-op, but the driver is the same every week and gets "paid" for their effort. Typically 20% of the value of the order with a $10 minimum paid by the other members, but this arrangement is controlled by the forager.
We typically offer some advantages to the co-op groups such as modest discounts on larger group orders (ground beef, stock, frozen chickens, etc), special buying opportunities (lamb, veal, goat or pork) and we usually hook the driver up with some treats. As this renewed emphasis on co-ops and buying groups grows we have plans to further incentivize purchases, especially bulk purchases on products that are created by us with minimum inputs from the farm. As our grass-fed beef program grows we are willing to create value-packs at differing price points from ground beef only, to roasts, steaks and so forth. We are also evaluating how we might lower our prices on several products such as milk, eggs and cheese to our co-op members. Better management of our product needs due to anticipated, or regular group purchases, will allow us to offer savings to our members.
We will set up an individual email account for each major club and orders (we are creating an order sheet) need to be placed at least 2 days prior to pick-up with a SPECIFIC cut-off time (typically noon of the day before) for any last minute additions or subtractions to the placed order.
Late orders stress the farm's limited and fully scheduled human resources, and ultimately lead to disappointments and errors. The cut-off time will be strictly enforced. Each order will be packaged and invoiced through our cash register so each order will have an individual receipt. Pick-up time at the farm will range from 20 minutes to 1 hour depending on the size and complexity of the order. Each club will have a specific pick up day and time in an effort to keep everybody organized and positive.
We remain open to suggestions and as the program grows we would like to find one special person to help oversee, manage and grow this mutually beneficial opportunity.
Please respond with your full name, physical address and phone number via email trent@hendricksfarmsanddairy.com with the subject line of buyers club, and your interest in either leading a club or simply participating. Leaders will be responsible to manage their club and grow it according to their needs. Bulletins will be available for posting at health clubs, civic groups, and emailing to your home school and church friends.
This new leaf offers much in the way of value to all of us and we look forward to partnering with you on a whole new level.
"Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God." - 2 Corinthians 1:2-4
