pricing plants question

so lucky said:

If the singles aren't really big, it doesn't make sense (to me) to charge more for them than for 6 smaller plants.
In a certain parameter, the size of the plants don't make that much difference. And many folks really don't want 6 yellow tomato plants, or jalapeno peppers.
But to my way of thinking, a customer shouldn't be overly penalized for only wanting one of something. They may be buying the 6 packs and sharing with their friend or neighbor, or (horrors) tossing out the extra 4 or 5.

You could sell singles of the same size for slightly less than the 6 packs. And some over sized tomato plants for those customers that think bigger is better, for a premium price.
Such as, 6 pack for $3.50, single for $2.50, or larger single (and larger pot) for $5 .

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Hey a six pack with 6 different varieties might be a draw.

Cat that is a great idea for people with small gardens !!!!!!!

I don't think one should ever sell below Big Box competition. There is "economy of size." There is no way for a little guy or gal to compete with the automation of greenhouses with packing shed large enough for 18-wheelers to pass through them. However, local dollars stay local .

Besides, a local grower has a good idea of local growing conditions. He or she may be the one standing there doing the selling. The customer can ask for tips. What information are you going to get from the high school kid who hardly knows enough to keep the plants alive for the 3 or 4 days it will take to get them out the door and the next load arrives from 1,000 miles away??

The value of your greenhouse space should be considered but how are you going to do that? Peppers are around for months while the cucumbers beside it may be only 3 weeks old. Three weeks of care compared to 3 times that long in the same space.

18 plants in a flat certainly should not be cheaper than 72 plants in a flat. If the plants have grown about as much as they can in those containers filling those flats and need transplanting into the open garden, the value of the flats should be about the same.

Steve

I find this thread interesting as to plant prices in different parts of country. I pay $1/4 pack. What I pay for a flat will make you sick.

so lucky said:

If the singles aren't really big, it doesn't make sense (to me) to charge more for them than for 6 smaller plants.
In a certain parameter, the size of the plants don't make that much difference. And many folks really don't want 6 yellow tomato plants, or jalapeno peppers.
But to my way of thinking, a customer shouldn't be overly penalized for only wanting one of something. They may be buying the 6 packs and sharing with their friend or neighbor, or (horrors) tossing out the extra 4 or 5.

You could sell singles of the same size for slightly less than the 6 packs. And some over sized tomato plants for those customers that think bigger is better, for a premium price.
Such as, 6 pack for $3.50, single for $2.50, or larger single (and larger pot) for $5 .

Click to expand...

I kind of like your pricing idea. I was actually running a similar idea through my head the other day of switching 6 packs to $3 and singles to $2.50. I also do pot some of the singles up into containers roughly gallon size about a month in and charge $5 and they usually sell out faster than I first thought they would.

catjac1975 said:

Hey a six pack with 6 different varieties might be a draw.

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I do have an idea for a "specialty variety" 6 pack if you will that I plan to try This year. I'm going to place 2 jalapeno and 4 roma tomato plants per 6 pack and call it the "salsa 6 pack". I even thought of including a peat pot of cilantro and then charge like $5.50.

Big question is how much money do clients in your area have ? If they are worried about keeping the lights on they will want the best value for money. If money is not a issue they will want the unusual, a white tomato that none of friends have will bring $$$$

Dirttiller25 said:

I do have an idea for a "specialty variety" 6 pack if you will that I plan to try This year. I'm going to place 2 jalapeno and 4 roma tomato plants per 6 pack and call it the "salsa 6 pack". I even thought of including a peat pot of cilantro and then charge like $5.50.

Click to expand...

How about a 6/for. Let them pick there 6 individual plants for a set price.

I like the idea of a variety 6 pack. I hate it when I see a 6 pack of Sungold tomatoes when I only have room for 1.

Mary

Better be the deep 6 packs ...

What's that? 36 to the tray - yep.

See, that is one-half of the shallow inserts with their 72 plants.
Steve