Blog – Page 15 – Hugh McPherson

20 Jan 2020

Part 3: Problems YOU cause when working with a marketing company.

Agritourism, Marketing Tools, Seasonal Business

https://youtu.be/3uxjSheW2sQ Part 3: Problems YOU cause when working with a marketing company. Unclear expectations.Unclear roles and authority.Late event announcements.No or late on-site pictures for event promotion. The #1 Problem on the client-side: Abdication, followed by denunciation, is one of the most painful mistakes in MC/Client working relationships. Once an MC is hired, a brief "get to know you" meeting is held in which the Client believes everything necessary has been communicated; then, the marketing company is free to do, or not do, anything it wants. This is the abdication. This abdication feels like freedom! It seems excellent until that fateful…

13 Jan 2020

Part 2: You should certainly NOT hire a marketing company.

Agritourism, Marketing Tools, Seasonal Business

https://youtu.be/WKmd9RXEcN4 Part 2: You certainly should NOT hire a marketing company. There is NO WAY you should hire a marketing company. This was my thought for years as I toiled away under the assumption that, because I was clever enough to start and run an entertainment business in the middle of nowhere and charge people for the privilege of walking through a corn maze (Unheard of back then!), I certainly didn't need any help marketing. I was right, just not for the "I'm-too-smart-reason." In fact, my stubbornness was precisely why I shouldn't hire a marketing company. (MC for short.) The…

06 Jan 2020

Part 1: You definitely should, & certainly should NOT hire a marketing company.

Agritourism, Marketing Tools, Seasonal Business

https://youtu.be/Mgy-AWx06Rs The debate rages on: Should you hire a marketing firm or not hire a marketing firm? This debate is happening in my head, typically in Spring, as I look down the barrel of my upcoming to-do list and think, "Gosh, there are 1,000 marketing firms. Surely ONE of them could take this off my plate?!" Spoiler Alert: I did hire a marketing company, then let them go. Then hired another one, then let them go. Then hired another one, then let them go (and that one was just this year!) Spoiler-Spoiler Alert: We WERE marketing company at Maize Quest,…

13 Dec 2019

Long-distance relationships.

Agritourism, Family Business, Maple Lawn Farms, Seasonal Business

Above is Case's autonomous tractor - No Cab! It's already in testing and coming soon to a farm near you, just not sure how soon... Long distance relationships. Hey Friends, Technology in agriculture sure has come a long way. Think of what we take for granted. I have always been a nerd, and by nerd, I mean interested in future technology and willing to give things a try even when there is no immediate benefit evident. My middle school buddy and I tied up two landlines, two modems, and connected a mac computer and a DOS computer in 6th grade so that…

22 Nov 2019

Life’s too short, only read what you’re interested in.

Agritourism, Employee Management, Family Business, Maple Lawn Farms

Working with corn maze clients across North America and the UK, creating attractions and marketing plans for hundreds more farms and entertainment businesses, plus managing nearly 100 staff across three businesses and 1,400 acres of production, retail, and entertainment in a family business generates a lot of stories. This blog is a connection point for seasonal and family business owners to look inside, learn from our mistakes, and connect on a level only people in the small business community can. Choose what you'd like to read by category or search, then surf around occasionally for something interesting you might not…

19 Nov 2019

Center Grove Orchards – Part 2 ALR Report

Agritourism, Family Business, Marketing Tools, Seasonal Business

Part 2 of 3 Report on Center Grove Orchards Hey Friends, In case you missed it, I'm reporting ideas, information and observations from the NAFDMA Advanced Learning Retreat. If you've never participated, you can learn more about the most recent ALR here. Back to Center Grove Orchards, which I'll be reporting on in 3 parts: Farm Market and indoor spacesFoodservice bright ideasAttractions & admissions Full disclosure: I am not a foodie. I like to eat food and enjoy time out with friends trying new things, but I am not a foodie. Disclosure 2: I am not a food service person…

15 Nov 2019

ALR Report Center Grove Orchards – Part 1

Agritourism, Family Business, Marketing Tools, Seasonal Business

Part 1 of 3 Report on Center Grove Orchards Hey, [[ contact.first_name | default: 'Friend' ]], Part 1 - NAFDMA ALR Report Center Grove Orchards - Part 1 "In the market." I admit that I have wanted to visit Steve and Deanna Black's farm for a long time. (Quick note: They are brother and sister, not husband and wife!) The NAFDMA Advanced Learning Retreat is a gem of agritourism learning experiences with essentially a 'deep dive' into the specifics of 1 to 2 operations. It is not a quick, 1 hour per stop 6 stops in a day bus tour. The benefit…

31 Oct 2019

The 31-Day Workforce Turnaround

Books

The 31-Day Workforce Turnaround: One month to a happier you and a more productive crew book came from the collected experiences around managing staff. While the stories come from agriculture and entertainment, the book’s principles are applicable to anyone managing a team. Hugh has been working on the farm, on a team, then leading teams throughout his life. In the process of creating the Agritourism Manager Boot Camp, Hugh collected stories, processes and life-changing anecdotes, then formatted the collection into a 31-Day program, with just 1-3 pages per day, then an exercise to practice with one’s own team. On launch, The 31-Day…

25 Oct 2019

The Lowe’s have been visiting for 3 years longer than Farmer Hugh has been alive.

Agritourism, Family Business, Maize Quest Corn Maze & Fun Park, Seasonal Business

Pumpkin picking is for families! FINAL weekend of pumpkin picking on the farm, so bring your family for some fun, then head to the patch on the FREE wagon ride. Apple Orchards FINAL PYO Orchard Weekend! We will have apples in bins in the market thru Nov 3, 2019. We have to save the apples from falling to the ground. Red Chief, Smoothee Gold, Empires, JonaGold, Stayman, Rome, York Regular Orchard & Market Hours: Mon-Sat 8AM-5PM, Sun 1PM-7PM Regular Winery Hours: Sat 12PM-5PM, Sun 1PM-5PM Regular Maize Quest: Fri 10AM-10PM, Sat 10AM-10PM, Sun 1PM-7PM Farm Market & Maize Quest Corn Maze Open Thru…

04 Oct 2019

Maybe you just need a change in perspective.

Agritourism, Family Business, Maize Quest Corn Maze & Fun Park, Seasonal Business

Hey, I'm in a busy season of life, and maybe you are, too. Between business, family, teenagers, community activities and everything else we have to juggle in our lives, it seems like life and decision-making keep getting closer. Almost like I'm living life right in front of my face. If you've raised teenagers, you know what I mean. You'll hear things such as, "This test is life or death", or "If I don't get my drivers license, everything's over", or "I can't stand this [INSERT person/place/thing/idea] for one more minute". That's living life "right in front of your face". As we age, the notion of wisdom might…