Hawke’s Bay Farmers’ Market launches a new website to connect stallholders with customers.
Every weekend, passionate local growers and producers from across Hawke’s Bay attend Hawke’s Bay Farmers’ Market in Hastings every Sunday and Napier Urban Farmers’ Market in Napier every Saturday selling their produce to regular customers, locals, and visitors to the region.
Hawke’s Bay Farmers’ Market Inc. is a not-for-profit organisation that has been operating since 2000. While Hawke’s Bay Farmers’ Market is proud of the role it plays on market day, the team recognised that their existing website was not fulfilling its potential. Having been built in 2015 it needed an update. Alex Martin, Marketing and Promotions Manager describes the opportunity that was identified to do more in the Hawke’s Bay Farmers’ Market’s online space.
“We’re about so much more than just products. Our producers are growing and creating food and produce which is the embodiment of Hawke’s Bay as a region. Each producer has their own story to tell and combined they make Hawke’s Bay Farmers’ Market truly unique in New Zealand.
Our existing website was built in 2015 and didn’t capture the breadth and depth of what the Hawke’s Bay Farmers’ Market is really about. That’s why we decided it was the right time to invest in a new online space.”
Telling stories is an important part of the role of Hawke’s Bay Farmers’ Market and that’s what the new website has been designed to do. The website was designed and built by local Hastings-based Web Design Agency, caddie digital.
caddie digital worked in partnership with Hawke’s Bay Farmers’ Market Inc. to create a website that could share up-to-date news about what’s on at the Hawke’s Bay Farmers’ Market, as well as featuring information on each of the suppliers that sell at the market each week. Creative Director Jodi Henning has enjoyed the opportunity to create a special online space for Hawke’s Bay Farmers’ Markets.
“Our aim in creating the website was to help Hawke’s Bay Farmers’ Market broaden the experience for visitors to the Market. We designed a simple layout and structure to make it easy to find out more about the market and the products available. With in-depth introductions to each supplier, it’s possible for customers to connect directly with the producers and find out what makes them special.”
The sellers at the Hawke’s Bay Farmers’ Market are also looking forward to building online connections with their customers. Billie Mathie, owner of Granny McNab Organic Heirloom Nursery, is enthusiastic about the changes to the website and looking forward to the chance to share information with her customers online.
“We sell our seedlings and plants at the Hawke’s Bay Farmers’ Market, and we often meet customers who are visiting Hawke’s Bay who want to find out more about our products and growing practices. Having a space on the Hawke’s Bay Farmers’ Market website where we can tell people about our business is going to be a great opportunity for us.
We hope it will help people explore what we do and even if people can’t visit the market, they can learn more about our plants and our ethos. It’s an opportunity to share a taste of Hawke’s Bay, wherever you are. “
The new website www.hawkesbayfarmersmarket.co.nz launches on Sunday 1st August.
