Egg Marketing-need your opinion on labeling

[Tala]

pips&peeps :

I'm pretty sure you have to grade the eggs and they must be candled before you sell to the public. Most likely you have to have an egg handlers license too.



www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STELDEV3004502 usda egg grading manual

Nope, not necessarily. You are exempt from most of the rules in Arkansas if you own less than 400 hens. The only thing is that you must lable your eggs as "ungraded" - which is easy enough IMO. That's why we told the OP to check her local rules, but it sounds like they have.

 

[pips&peeps]

It's just a suggestion, every state is different.

 

[BarnyardPunch]

Quote:
Celestial Seasonings may use ONE side of the box for their story, as does your favorite cracker. They're not trying to tell the story through the label/logo or just one part of the packaging. I too like to hear the family farm story on products like this, but the details have to go somewhere other than the 2 x 7 area you have to work with. You need to emphasize your value proposition in three bullets.

What makes you different? Who is your most likely buyer and what's most important to them when making their egg buying decision? Animal welfare? Health benefits? If you're selling to yuppies, they want to feel good about what they're buying--local, happy hens. If you're selling to hippies, they like that too, but will probably be a lot more interested in the pro-biotic stuff.

patandchickens made some great edits. Good luck!

 

[Organics North]

WOW, You are all simply spectacular!
Thanks so much. I have a lot of work to do. So many great edits and opinion!

I can sell UNGRADED eggs the label must say so in 1/4" type according to Wisconsin law.

But believe it or not Wisconsin considers it a "deceptive" practice to sell ungraded eggs with the word "fresh" on the box....

GRRR so factory farm eggs shipped from across the country are "fresh" but my eggs collected daily and delivered a couple miles down the road can not be fresh...

Also according Wisconsin Law I will need "KEEP REFRIGERATED" on the box along with my address and a packed on or expiration date. Thats not too bad...

I still need to wade through the quagmire of labeling them organic or not. Very little out there specific to eggs.

OK back to marketing:
I will be primary selling out of a small organic store, "most" folks shop at the two other grocery stores or Wal-mart. I am not going after the "average" customer, they can go buy $0.97 eggs at Wal-mart. I am looking to position myself at the top of the "high end" egg market. The organic store has "dedicated" alternative customers or trust funders and retired folks from Chicago know living at their lake cottages.. I guess I think of my market base as hippies that grew up and got straight jobs and were successful, then became yuppies, but know are into health and well being as they get older. Ya thats my market!

I will heed the great advice you all offer and be back with revisions..

(I am starting to like the idea of having the most of the "flowery" stuff some where else like a web page, a pamphlet, or a calender.)

Thanks again,
I really appreciate all the input!
BYC rocks!!!

ON

 

[rubyrogue]

I keep only the bare essentials on my cartons. BUT I have an almost page long "info" sheet available to those who want it. It talks about my hens and how they live. It has egg facts, info on washing them if they are unwashed ect.

 

[Red Maple Farms]

This is an example of our label that we use to sell through co-ops. We sell our eggs in 2x3 plastic cartons, with the label being 2" x 4" in size. Our story is on the website.

 

[Organics North]

Nice label Red Maple.. Thanks
Alpha.... Yummm worlds best string cheese...

OK here we go, still needs alot of work I need to increase font size and reduce the amount of blather yet, but I am moving in the right direction....
alicefelldown, I liked your wording....smooth....

Again, everyones input so far has really been appreciated..

ON

 

[alicefelldown]

Thanks! Can you tell I've been schooled in marketing/design? lol

You need a period at the end of your last sentence "vigor and health in our birds."

Also, (and this will sound confusing, but it's a good design trick) I suggest making the font size between your last sentence (our birds.) and (we select) smaller. As it is right now the last line is far too close to the (cartons made) section.

so, (P = paragraph symbol, or carriage return if you use that instead)

... are provided to sustain vigor and health in our birds. P
P (make this one smaller, like size 4 or 6)
We select our rare and unusual breeds for ... P
P (add this one make this one smaller like size 4)
Cartons made from ...

I would caution that saying you "select breeds for quality not quantity" sounds like you have a smaller production rate. I don't know if your consumers would understand that but it sticks out to me.

Oh, and delete the periods on your slogans at the bottom, the complex flavor and golden yolks part. Slogans don't need a 'closing'.

Great work though!

** I saw a cardboard carton last night that had a picture of happy free range hens on the front, with all the name/date/FDA stuff on the outside. But the inside, when you opened the top, on the flat area, was the story of their farm. I thought it was genius and am now mentally starting the redesign of my cartons.

 

[SpringChickens]

** I saw a cardboard carton last night that had a picture of happy free range hens on the front, with all the name/date/FDA stuff on the outside. But the inside, when you opened the top, on the flat area, was the story of their farm. I thought it was genius and am now mentally starting the redesign of my cartons.

I think that's a GREAT idea! It'll help you keep them coming back.​

 

[patandchickens]

There is still redundancy that could be eliminated, allowing your points to come across more clearly because fewer words being used.

What about:

"Our birds forage freely in pasture and forest, supplemented with 80% organic grains and organic mash made with flax seed for extra Omega-3s. No GMOs or soy! Natural probiotic foods increase the vigor and health of our flock. All eggs are from rare and unusual heritage breeds, selected for egg quality."

I would also really suggest adding "studies have shown that" eggs from pastured hens can contain <etc>... otherwise it sounds really odd, if you don't know the whole context being referred to there.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat