Vermont
is well known for its multiple maple sugar operations and production. Vermont has developed a reputation for the
sweetness they provide in the form of maple products worldwide. They can range anywhere from a small, couple
hundred tap operation to nearly a million tap operation. The size can vary from a small one-acre plot
to a mountaintop with miles of tough wooded terrain or from buckets to
pipelines run by vacuum. Vermont doesn’t just treat sugaring as a means of
making money or creating popularity for their state, it keeps a tradition going
from generation to generation that is more than just a business or a hobby.
It’s a way to create a bond between friends and family while at the same time
spreading a little sweetness.
If one has ever had real maple syrup they
would easily acknowledge the desire for real over the fake. It is due to these
hardworking operations that many have fallen in love with the sweet taste of
real Vermont maple syrup not only in Vermont and throughout the United States
but also worldwide. I’d like to focus on
the marketing abilities of one particular sugaring operation close to my own
home, Georgia Mountain Maples (GMM).
They have a Website
What
I believe is so important about the way Georgia Mountain Maples is running
their operation has to do a lot with the way they market their product. They
have created a website which allows the consumers to not only know about their
product but also know where it comes from. By creating and using a website they
have given the customers the choice to not only buy their products in a store
but also order directly from them through their website.
They Care About the Environment
It
isn’t just the website however that has really set this sugaring operation
apart from others, it’s what the website and the company stands for. In
marketing the goal is to find a product that appeals to the consumers. You aim
to not only supple a top of the line product but also show the benefits of the
product to the consumer. One thing that Georgia Mountain Maples does is allows
the consumers to know that they take as much pride in the production of their
product as they do in their product itself. Obviously, in order to have maple
syrup you need the byproduct of the sap from maple trees. In their description
on their website, GMM really stresses how they take care of their trees and
care about how nature is affected. Mainly what GMM is known for is their
alternate form of energy, the wind turbines which you can see from miles away
on top of Georgia Mountain.
They Want
You to Get to Know Them
One thing that is evident on almost
every page of the entire website is how Georgia Mountain Maples really wants
you to get to know who they are and how they operate. They specifically lay out
their history and their care for the environment. They have a specific page
that lays out the exact specs of their entire operation where they tell you the
amount of land, taps, piping, rigs, etc. that they use in their operation. Not
only do they tell you their specs but they lay out the exact process that they
use from extracting sap from the trees to delivering the product to your table.
They Have a Well Laid-out Product Line
They Offer Birch Syrup
Now
I don’t know about you, but I personally have never heard of anyone offering
birch syrup? I think this will definitely be a good selling point which will
set them apart from other competitors. This is not only a unique product but it
gets attention drawn to their maple syrup product line and it creates interest
in the eyes of the consumer.
They Host
Events
They
offer field trips and special trips for seniors to observe their operation and
also for children and adults to learn more about them and their product. I find
this a good marketing strategy because often times viewing where the product is
made gives the consumer a sense of relief knowing their product is being
produced in proper and sanitary ways.
Georgia
Mountain Maples offers to host weddings and special events where you could rent
out their sugarhouse and buy their products for your event. Many of the events that they offer include
them offering attractive discounts on their products. By doing so this creates
a desire to not only buy their product but rent their facilities as well. They
host several maple breakfasts in their sugarhouse where they offer free samples
of their syrup along with supplying their product for the breakfast.
They Make
Promises
In
my opinion, the most appealing thing that Georgia Mountain Maples offers in
regard to their marketing strategy is the promise they make in return for your
business. “To
keep that commitment to sustainability going for future generations, we will
plant a tree for every online purchase made from Georgia Mountain Maples.”
Georgia Mountain Maples has done a more than sufficient job
establishing a solid way of marketing for their business. I could continue breaking
down their entire website. They have in my opinion hit every aspect of
introducing their product, establishing interest in their company and product,
and providing comfort and a solid understanding to their customers. I feel
after going through their entire website I could almost go out and start my own
operation in the sugaring business. They offer a variety of events to market their
product while creating attention to themselves. Their website is flooded with
pictures of their entire product line and operating system. Most importantly, I
think they have created trust with their customers that they aim to produce a
quality product while helping the environment. They’ve shown that they put the
time, effort, and love in creating one of the best products on the market.
For more information on
Georgia Mountain Maples go check out their website:
