At Bendigo FM

Two little girls, about four and five, cut across the park and come skipping towards the pink, both wearing the biggest smile.
Me: Oh hello! Would you like to taste the pink muesli?
LG1: I already tasted it at home.
Me: What do you think? Do you like it?
LG1: Umm, I liked it this much (put her hand to the level of her tummy, indicating help her size) Me: Oh? Not to the top? Maybe because you haven’t tasted this one yet (I hand them both PM Coconut Caramel Crunch with Almonds). Most kids like this the best.
LG2: It’s up to the top now. (happily munching away)
Me: That’s good! What about you (to LG1), did you like it?
LG1: Yessss (eyes bigger, nodding). Ok, thank you!
LG2: Bye. (I wave them goodbye and serve the next customers).
Some time later, LG2 comes back with $25 in her hand.
Me: You’re back! Looks like you want to buy a big bag?
LG2: Yes, this one please (points to PM Citrus & Ginger). It’s for my Mum.
Me: What a good girl you are! Here you go. (I hand her her purchase)
LG2: I might come back to buy more.
Me: Ok, thank you!
LG2 skips away, large bag in hand. I followed her with my eyes and saw her join her family who were enjoying the live music in the park. She comes backf shortly with $5 in her hand.
Me: Hello again!
LG2: I’d like this one please. (points to PM Coconut Caramel) This one’s for me.
Me: I can see that.
LG2: This one’s at the top (puts her hand on top of her head).
Me: Why thank very much!
LG2: Bye (waves and skips away).

Mum & daughter are in the pink ?

At Eynesbury FM

Senior couple strolls towards the pink reading out loud the sign on my sandwich board.
SC1: Vegetable muesli! How intriguing!
Me: Yes! I am the only vegetable muesli maker this side of the planet. Here have a taste. (I hand them samples)
SC2: Ummm that is good! What’s in it? (I point to my ingredients list)
Me: Raw fresh beetroot mixed with all these nutritious stuff.
SC1: Amaranth!
Me: Yes, it’s a high protein seed with grain-like properties.
SC1: Yes, I know amaranth.
Me: That’s great! So this variety (I point to PM Berries) is really grain-free, if you’re following a paleo diet, this would be ideal.
SC2: No, we’re not paleo. Frank would like this (they talk among themselves)
Me: Try the rest, I have four varieties today. (I hand them the rest of the samples)
SC1: They’re all so different and absolutely delicious. Well done!
SC2: I liked the ginger and the berries and we’ll get the same for Frank.
SC1: Ok we’ll get 2 of the ginger and 2 of the berries please.
Me: Small or large?
SC1: Large please. The small ones won’t get us far! (I hand them their purchase)
Me: Thank you so much! I hope Frank likes it, enjoy!
SC: Oh we will and he will too, thanks dear.

Nan and Pop are in the pink ?

At Bendigo FM

Towards closing time, a young lady comes hurrying to the stall. I was still serving a few people so she had to wait her turn. When they had left, I started offering her samples.
YL: Oh, no need. I bought a couple of bags last month and loved them. I even kept your flyer, it is so well done! I showed it to everybody at work. I work in an advertising agency.
Me: Oh wow, it’s a good sign then when an ad girl likes my flyer! (we share happy lolz) Have you tried them all? I have four flavours now.
YL: Oh! I must have missed them. (I hand her samples of PM Coconut Caramel and Christmas) YL: Oh wow! Now I don’t know what to get! They are all so different! Ok, maybe I’ll get these ones I just tried. I woke up late, saw the time and was so worried I’d miss you. I came here for you!
Me: That is so good to hear! You just made my day, thank you so much!
YL: No, thank you, I love this stuff. (she walks off happily with her purchase)

Return customers are the best ?

At Substation FM

Market opens at 9am but a few shoppers come wandering in early. I was still setting up my stall when a Dad with his two little girls, both in pink, come directly to the pink stall.
Me: Good morning! You’re up early!
Dad: Oh yes. They were up at dawn so excited to go to the farmers market. They wanted me to take them even then!
Me: Did you now? Good on you girls! Would you like to taste the Pink Muesli?
Girls Chorus: Yes, please! (with matching nods. I put small chunks onto their outstretched palms, and Dad’s)
Dad: Umm, did you like that girls? (girls nod in unison) So which one did you like best.
Girls Chorus: This one! (one points to PM Berries, the other points to PM Coconut Caramel) Dad: Oh but we’re only getting one.
Girl1: Let’s get this one! (PM Berries)
Girl2: But I like this one! (PM Coconut Caramel) (She starts to whine.)
Dad: Oh, alright, we’ll get two.
Girls Chorus: Yay!
Me: Excellent choice girls, well done! (I hand each one their pick of PM)
Girls Chorus: Can I hold it Daddy?
Dad: Yes, you may.
Girls Chorus: Yay! (girls skip away, swinging their little arms holding their prize triumphantly) Me: Thanks Dad!
Dad: Thank you!

I love it when children start young to develop a taste for healthy food!

At Clunes FM

Young gentleman approaches stall with a big smile on his face.
YG: Wow pink muesli! Amazing! How come I’ve never heard if it before?
Me: Because I never made it before. I’m the only one making this on this side of the planet. Here have a taste (I start handing him samples)
YG: Wow that is so good and so original!
Me: Thank you. Have it with milk or yogurt or garnish it on your salads (I point to the photos) or desserts.
YG: That’s a great idea! The salad caught my eye. I’m a chef and this (pointing to the salad photo with PM Citrus & Ginger) is simply stunning. I’ll have a bag of this please to try it.
Me: Thank you so much! (I hand him his purchase and he walks off with a happy smile).
Later that day, Market Manager tells me that this chef was gushing about PM to her, that it is so good to find something so unique and original at the market. Oh boy, did that make my day woohoo! Word-of-mouth, bring it!

I love happy customers ?

Remember my cop tale (Pink Tale #24)? It gets better

At Clunes FM

A family of women came over the stall.

F1: Hi, howya goin? ?
Me: Hi, really good thanks! Would you like a sample?
F1: You don’t remember me, I’m not in uniform today.
Me: Oh yes! In Bendigo the day of the protest rally! Of course! How are you?
F1: Great! That was so funny when I saw you there, I dragged all the girls over just so I can get my fix. Your PM is my new chocolate you know. It’s my treat. I don’t eat chocolates anymore, I eat this instead.
Me: Oh wow! Good on you! So glad you like it!
F1: Love it! Sis (turns to her sister), this is what I’ve been telling you about. It’s the bomb!
F2: Which one is your favourite?
F1: This one (points to Coconut Caramel) but you should taste them all, so good!
I hand sis samples of each variety.
F2: Ummm, yum! I’ll get a bag of the coconut caramel too please. So good!
Me: Here you go, thank you so much! (I turn to F1) Hey R thanks for sending me new business! F1: Pleasure!
Return customers are the best ?

At Vegecareian Festival

The Vietnamese noodle shop beside PM was the most popular stall with long queues all day. They had a large team of cooks and sales personnel, maybe a dozen or so, all working seamlessly. It was great for PM as it attracted folks who were waiting their turn. It also attracted the young son of the owner. He looked about 10 y.o. He was looking intently at the samples but was too shy to come over. He finally got the courage by standing next to a mother and daughter who wanted samples. M&D: Oh wow beetroot, love beetroot! (I hand them both samples of PM Berries. I also hand one to the young boy, who was surprised but gratefully accepted.)
M&D (turning to the boy): That’s good of you to try new things! Did you like it? (YB nods)
I hand them samples of the rest and with each one YB nods in appreciation even saying “Wow!” from time to time. M&D ends up buying three large bags and YB goes off to explore the grounds.

At lunchtime, owner hands me a bag of spring rolls to sample and some noodles with mock meat (so yummy!). She refuses to take my money and I munch happily away. I was extolling the deliciousness of the mock meat that a few folks started buying just that! (ha!)

Later that day when the noodle shop had sold out, a few of the ladies came over looking curiously at the products. I hand them samples.
Ladies: Ummm, so yummy! (They speak in rapid Vietnamese while nodding their heads. Most nodding with the Coconut Caramel Crunch with Almonds)

I give them a bag of that to share with the team free-of-charge. I could see them all nodding their heads in appreciation as they taste the PM.
Towards closing time, one lady comes over.
Lady: I buy two of this (points to PM Coconut Caramel Crunch with Almonds).

Me: Thank you so much!
The owner also comes over.
Owner: Me too, I get two (points to same)
Me: That’s great thank you!

She hands one to her young son who had the biggest smile. They’re in the pink!

At Vegecareian Festival

Mature aged lady with a golden labrador in tow spots the pink and approaches the stall. Lab sits quietly beside her.
MALWGL: Oh my, beetroot in muesli! This I gotta try! (I hand her samples)
Me: Yes, the pink is from the beetroot.
MALWGL: Yes, I can see that! This is delicious! I love beetroot! It is so good for you.
Me: Absolutely! It’s good for the brain, the heart, the kidneys, the liver, for stamina. It is the genuine superfood.
MALWGL: Oh it is so hard to choose. May I please have another taste of this one? (points to PM Berries)
Me: Certainly. (I tip in another spoonful into her spoon)
MALWGL: And this one too please (points to Christmas Special).
Me: Here you go (I tip that into her spoon too.)
MALWGL: They’re all so different and delicious! Hmm, ok give me a large bag of the Christmas please. (I hand her her purchase then I notice the dog is wagging his tail furiously)
Me: Oh, to do you want some too sweetie? (addressing the dog) will he eat it? (addressing the lady)
MALWGL: Yes, he will eat anything. ( I tip some PM into her outstretched hand. She feeds it to the lab who quickly slurps it up while happily wagging his tail.)
Me: He likes it! What a good boy! (we all smile big)
MALWGL: Thank you so much for your generous samples.
Me: You’re most welcome! Thank you for buying!

They’re in the pink!

At Coburg FM

Young Mum with her 3 y.o. daughter in a stroller, after buying from nearby stalls, comes to PM. YM: Beetroot muesli?!
Me: Yes, have a taste (I hand her a spoon with PM Berries)
YM: (takes the spoon to her daughter) Would you like to taste this darling?
3yoD smiles big, nods and opens her mouth for the PM
YM: Did you like it? (2yoD nods again while munching happily on the PM)
Me: Would you like to taste the rest?
YM: I’m looking for a healthy cereal without nuts that she can take to school for her snack. They don’t allow nuts in school.
Me: Oh, I see. That leaves, only the Berries and Citrus & Ginger. These other two have nuts (I point to Coconut Caramel Crunch with Almonds and Christmas Special—has pistachios and macadamias).
YM: No, not the ginger. Too strong for her. I’ll take a large bag of the Berries please.(turns to her daughter) Would you like this for school? (3yoD nods strongly that her little feet were nodding too) Me: Add milk to it and it will turn pink! All your classmates will be so jealous! (we all lol)
YM: I will advertise it in her school.
Me: Great! Thank you so much!

They’re in the pink!

At Substation Newport FM

Young hipster couple approaches PM.
YHC1: Oh wow beetroot! Who woulda thought? Are you new here? I’ve never seen you here before.
Me: Yes, this is my first time here. (I hand them samples)
YHC2: Ummm that is so good! So did you dehydrate the beetroot?
Me: Yes, I dehydrate raw organic beetroot I get from that man there (I point to Dave of Spring Creek Organics) with all these beautiful ingredients (I point to the ingredient list), and as you know beetroot stains everything, the juice is absorbed by them all, hence the pink!
YHC1: Very clever! I make my own muesli, just with oats and seeds, nothing like this.
Me: You can sprinkle it on top to add more nutrients to your meal.
YHC1: Yes, I was thinking about that.
YHC2: Should we get some? Which one did you like best?
YHC1: Difficult to choose. (They look over the ingredient lists and quietly discuss among themselves. In the meantime, I serve a few other people. After some time, they finally announce their decision.)
YHC1: We get a large bag of the Christmas Special please.
Me: Excellent choice. Here you go. (I hand them their purchase)
YHC2: Will you be here next month?
Me: Yes, I will.
YHCchorus: Great! We’ll see you next month!
Me: Fantastic! Thank you so much!

They’re in the pink!