We are in touch with many owners, every day. Gemma will be liaising on shoot enquiries and Carolyn for learning more on the new landowners who’d like to register. Jo too, she is still hands on across the business and as much as she is the founder and runs the agency, she still is fully invested in having excellent knowledge and relations with our owner community. Knowing our farms is something we never let go.
Owners are at the heart of our success after all. They provide our product, we don’t. And it’s not just us that provide the service, we also rely on owners to impress upon the decision-makers when they visit and shoot on their farms. We work closely together, and it’s the all-round team effort that derives our shared success.
So how do we get to know our Farms and their Owners?
Well initially, it’s up to the owner to share information on their farm – that’s done through a fact-finding process and providing photos; it’s this sneak preview which then allows us to agree together for the owner to join the portfolio, or keep in touch in other ways.
To list and leave, is 100% not our style. We don’t like the term “listing” or “library” for when an owner comes on board, we are an agency which offers a personal service, and we see our relationships with owners should develop and grow over time.
The best days are spent visiting Farms
When we have the opportunity to personally visit a location, these are our favourite days. In the early days, Jo was able to visit every farm as they were all based in the South East corner of England, close to home on the Romney Marsh. In recent years, with the net spreading widely across the UK, and the agency being continually super busy, we are unable to visit every farm. We are nonetheless way ahead of the norm, with personal visits amounting to over half of the portfolio, and we keep inching forward with more and more, as and when time allows.
Jo’s latest visit to Tudor Rose Farm in Kent was another treat!
Last week, on the hottest day of the year, Jo met up with owner Kathryn at Tudor Rose Farm in Kent. It’s huge what impact a personal visit can have, and this was no exception. To take a tour and take the time to have a coffee, talk and discuss the future plans for the farm and us, whilst working through the ideal types of client for Kathryn, has fuelled our engines for new marketing angles to come.
Take just one example: the pond. We have several farms with lakes and ponds, and we receive many briefs for lakes and ponds. Typically Tudor Rose has missed out on winning a hire because of its distance from London, however since witnessing the pond first hand, and hearing how Kathryn had swum in it twice that day, with eyes open underwater, this pond is clearly a step ahead of many natural ponds found in the countryside.
This clean pond won’t be a struggle for a model to get in. It has safe steps, life buoys, a boat and the water is crystal clear. So here is a pond that leapfrogs ahead of other ponds that you’ll find closer to London. And to draw the London crowd even more, this farm has a sauna, hammock and a green gym! Then there’s the fact that Kathryn can cater herself, offers overnight accommodation, AND it’s all set in a very pretty setting. I’ve not even started on the house yet (no time today, but let’s just say it’s a stunning blend of the original features of an ancient tudor house, lifted with modern touches) Kathryn certainly has taste and a natural flair and love for hosting.
So What’s next for Tudor Rose Farm?
We certainly know this farm better now. I’ve come away with so much more content and angles to build in our marketing of the location, along with a hankering for adding more farm visits to the diary soon. We will be improving the photo gallery and re-writing the description, and pitching the farm to its ideal clients with targeted marketing that should strike a chord.
And What’s next for other farm locations?
Please have a think yourself on what it is about your farm that are its unique selling points, and make sure we know about them. Share the facts and photos, and if we cannot commit to a visit until further down the road, share videos with us too. Once listed, please make sure you host a virtual for us. We have found these super useful to do, where the owner takes us (via their smartphone) on a walk around the farm, showing all sides of the key features. It’s another great way to boost our knowledge and get us to see each other.
We Know Farms Best!
If you have a farm location that has something great to offer, please get in touch, we’d love too see more and we are committed to know our farms better than anyone. It’s a simple process to register right here