Where to sell syrup

[Germanmaples]

Hi this is Chris from German NY. I was wondering where most people sell syrup. I try to sell all mine jugged but the more you make the harder it gets to get ride of it all. Maybe most people sell bulk. Let me know.



16x20 sugar shack
22x24 addition
900 taps
1 gas powered vacuum pump
3x10 small brothers evaporator
filter press
100 gal last year great from 55 gal year before

[Dave Y]

Farmers Markets , craft shows, grocery stores , butcher shops, any where !

[BnSmaple]

We sell most of ours at a roadside stand all commercial grade goes to bascoms in barrels

[maple flats]

I did farmer's markets but stopped them this year, however I do sell to a vendor who has a large greenhouse business and along with sales year round at the greenhouse, they go to 3 different farmers markets. I also found that the more your name gets out there, the more new customers you get along with returning customers. I did also put an adv. on a non maple forum I belong to that has worked wonders. For example, in Nov. that adv. resulted in over $800 in syrup sales (before the S&H was added).
Are you a member of any non maple forums? If yes, ask if they allow adv. from members. I belong to a few others but I only tried 2, one does the other never responded either way. I've been so busy shipping and canning more from bulk that I didn't ask again, yet!
I'm sure the sales in Nov. were mostly Christmas purchases but I still expect a steady stream of orders year round from the past results.
Do you use a nice label on your containers? You want an attractive one that tells your customer how to get more, IE: name, contact info, web site?, phone and such. I also have a web page but sold little from it until I placed the adv. on that forum. It sent them to my site and then it got good traffic. Another outlet is where you work, I am also a school bus driver and I sell a fair amount to the other drivers. In fact when I was your size that was my only outlet aside from at the sugarhouse (by appt. only).
If you make a quality product sales will come, price it right but never at giveaway prices. I do however stay slightly below many, I'd rather sell all my grade A at retail. So far that is working well. In 11 seasons I have only sold 30 gal grade A in bulk, I have however had to buy or trade for some grade A to meet my sales. This year for example I had to buy 40 gal medium in bulk, and I traded 5 gal. B (+ a few $) for 5 gal light in bulk.
Just keep going, the sales will come. All this said, there are many who concentrate on farmer's markets, craft shows and such with great success.

[Starting Small]

I ended up getting connected with a breakfast restaurant. They paired my syrup with their waffle specials on weekends. They asked for me to write up a brief history of my operation and they put that on each table. They also described the waffle special on their menu as coming from "Mosher Farms" and local since it is in the same town as where I tap. For non-waffle specials a customer could order a side of my syrup for an extra $2.00 so the restaurant made some money back. They also offered to sell my syrup in their store in pints and quarts without a commision! After a month they sold out and asked that I produce enough this year to last them throughout the year. If I were you I would go to a breakfast place, see if they offer real maple syrup and if not offer to let them try yours. Chances are with a taste and some creative thinking you can get them to buy a bunch of your syrup and maybe even let you setup a little shelf where patrons could buy your syrup. Good luck!
-Dave