As stated; compost will not always sell itself, periodically evaluate how well-aligned the product you create is to the expectations of customers. Ask your customers how you could improve. Look at what your competition is doing. https://www.compostingcouncil.org/page/participants Review the updates to the specifications on the US Composting Council website. https://www.compostingcouncil.org/page/HowUseCompost…
The next step in preparing a marketing plan is to evaluate options for education and outreach. Education is key – plan public a relations and education strategy. Consider education as part of your marketing strategies and consider it a strategic goal. Compost is a technical product, so sales and marketing…
Consider how you will distribute your product. Evaluate options for delivery. Do you have in-house hauling capability, with vehicles not contaminated by feedstocks? Can you contract with an outside hauler? Packaging. Bagging your product bring additional cost, time, and a different market segment. Distribution Retail sales have a higher markup,…
Compost does not sell itself. Selling your compost will require processes to ensure consistent high quality product levels, establishing marketing and promotional programs, and creating proper pricing structures for all products.
Increase your customer’s confidence in your product through third-party product certifications. Various types of compost product certifications can be found here: Certification through the Seal of Testing Assurance (STA) Certified Compost program is a great tool to market your compost. https://www.compostingcouncil.org/page/CompostManufacturersSTA ▪ The nationally recognized branding and logo are available…
Branded promotion and education lead to increased sales. Target a specific audience. Targeting specific market segments should be determined based on type of feedstocks being used, screening and blending capabilities, and market demands. Develop a product identity. Then, be consistent so your customers know what to expect. Developing a product…
Compost is used for a variety of purposes, some of which are specific to a market sector. Composting should be approached as the production of a revenue-generating organic material, rather than disposal of a waste. The shift in focus toward revenue generation can affect the quality of the finished product…
The first steps of preparing a marketing plan are to evaluate the market. Because actual markets for compost vary widely from one community to the next, an assessment of the organics industry in your region is essential to understand the potential for compost use in your locality. Potential market sectors…
Communication with your customers is key. If you are in a Public- Private Partnership, make sure communication is clear about who is responsible for selling the finished product.
Compost is best known for its soil enrichment value. The addition of compost improves the physical, chemical and biological properties of soils and potting mixes. The use of compost for plant growth purposes requires consideration of factors such as the crop or plant to be grown, type of soil at…