(Photo credit: Sea Smiles Photography)
Tucked between Florence and Darlington, South Carolina, on roughly 50 acres of farmland, the Pee Dee Farmer’s Market stays open all year-round. It’s a steady source of the area’s freshest produce and a growing center for the ornamental horticulture and floriculture industry.
Bob Sager, the Market Manager for Pee Dee Farmer’s Market, started his 25-year career in the retail industry working with Belk. In terms of agriculture, “I’m still the new guy,” Sager said with a laugh. After Belk and Macy's, he worked with Ray Reich and Tim Norwood in recruiting stores to downtown Florence for two years. A short detour as a census liaison for the Department of Commerce followed, and then the Market Manager job opened up.
Retail and farming look different on paper, but Sager spots an overlap especially in the marketing side of things. “Marketing is marketing. Events bring traffic, and traffic helps small vendors,” he said. Early doubts about an outsider in charge melted once people saw the growth in the area. “I think people realized my experience was going to add value to their business and grow the Pee Dee region,” he shared.
For small businesses in Florence and beyond, the primary hurdle is generating sales. “I’m all about selling stuff. If we don’t bring in new customers and grow your business, there’s no point,” he explained. Vendors join the market for a variety of reasons – some chase profits and others seek exposure. Regardless, success demands adaptation. Navigating state operations, which differ from the private sector, remains his biggest challenge. “I adapt by studying what’s worked before,” Sager replied. “Researching what has succeeded and failed, then finding someone who is excelling at an idea – then copy and improve,” he explained.
Hosting events and boosting social media engagement are central to raising awareness. Standout events like Fall Family Harvest Festival, arts and crafts shows, tractor exhibits, plants and flowers festivals, fruits and vegetables celebrations, and the Christmas market have driven significant growth for the market and its partners. Sager noted that he’s looking forward to repeating the successful events and improving on them each year.
His advice to entrepreneurs: Differentiate yourself. “Give customers a unique reason to choose you over your competitors outside of changing the price,” he advised. He also shared bits of wisdom from Ray Reich at an entrepreneur workshop: “Have at least two years of projected expenses in the bank on opening day.” Ample capital covers emergencies and sustains daily operations.
Looking ahead, the market seeks to attract more families to complement its traditional demographic and embed itself in everyday life.
To visit the Pee Dee Farmer’s Market, check out their Facebook for market updates: https://www.facebook.com/peedeefarmersmarket
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