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Review our startup Farmly.net - buy fresh food in the UK

farmly.net

21–30 of 37 posts

Re: Review our startup Farmly.net - buy fresh food in the UK

#21
Interesting. I've had a similar idea for the US and actually own farmersstand.com (haven't done anything with the domain yet).

I'm not sure people will order local food online in the US, but I think a case can be made for a tablet app that allows the user to sit on their couch and browse local farmers and read about a specific farmer's growing methods, farm photos, selling locations/options, etc. The end goal of the user would be to meet up with the farmer at a market, csa, ect to make a purchase.

Not sure how to monetize or populate it with farmers. Two-sided marketplaces are difficult.

Re: Review our startup Farmly.net - buy fresh food in the UK

#22
I'm part of your buyer market here I believe, as I've just started receiving fortnightly deliveries of organic produce from a local box scheme and I spent a heck of a lot of time recently trying to find local lamb and beef and running into dead ends left, right, and centre.

That being said, first of all and completely off topic, I appreciate you're in Heslington (York alumnae and still living in the north east). Perhaps you could consider spelling out on the site if you are planning on being a middle man, or an information centre, or a facilitator.

Will you show information for local box schemes, local farm shops, markets, independent cafe's?

I'm quite interested in seeing what you're trying to do, since I've recently had such problems searching for box schemes in the North East.

Re: Review our startup Farmly.net - buy fresh food in the UK

#23
Just a random suggestion: What I would want is a "system" to replace any snacks I eat with fresh fruits. Meaning, I want the same level of convenience.

I want it organic, sliced, and delivered twice per week. I know that this sounds like a logistical nightmare, but that would be something with a crystal clear positioning.

Re: Review our startup Farmly.net - buy fresh food in the UK

#24
Congrats on a solid idea/execution combo. I suppose we need to support UK startups as much as we do our local suppliers. Fingers crossed I think you might even manage to win over the British luddites and naysayers with this blend of old and new!

Design-wise I can only say that it matches the expectations of consumers in the demographic pretty much spot on. And I like it :)

Would be good to follow your progress so will stick to Twitter for now, but in-depth blog posts would be welcome if you find time.

Re: Review our startup Farmly.net - buy fresh food in the UK

#25
post #2

First criticism - I have to create an account with you guys to see if there is anything of interest to me in my part of the UK. Any chance of finding some way of indicating the density of local suppliers before I sign up? I would prefer to use OpenID or OpenAuth to creating yet another username and password combination plus I have no way of telling if you will keep them secure.

Came here to say the same thing - I want to see what's local to me first without having to sign up.

Also, living in a village in West Sussex, I have a selection of local farm shops and independent butchers within a 4 mile radius so I am not sure what I'd get out of this service - and since I can't see without giving up my personal details, it looks like I'll never know.

Re: Review our startup Farmly.net - buy fresh food in the UK

#26
I have just subscribed to get updates and I am not even in the U.K. I hope you do really well. Like others here, I am curious as to your exact business model. It isn't clear to me what specifically you will be doing. I hope this kind of business becomes more common. It is a potential antidote to some of the problems caused by largescale modern farming and general commercialization of our food.

Re: Review our startup Farmly.net - buy fresh food in the UK

#27
post #23

Just a random suggestion: What I would want is a "system" to replace any snacks I eat with fresh fruits. Meaning, I want the same level of convenience. I want it organic, sliced, and delivered twice per week. I know that this sounds like a logistical nightmare, but that would be something with a crystal clear positioning.

graze.com sounds like what you are after?

--edit, code for a free box MCH1FRRA

Re: Review our startup Farmly.net - buy fresh food in the UK

#28

http://www.abelandcole.co.uk/

I guess the difference is that Farmly connects you to the local producers while Abel and Cole are a big food supplier and manages the logistics internally. But it means a steady supply(at a cost of importing of foods) and also they guarantee organic source of all of the produce.

Re: Review our startup Farmly.net - buy fresh food in the UK

#29
I'm not sure that "buyer" is the best word to use: it often has a specific nuance (someone who arranges ordering for a brand or retailer). Maybe it's just me, but I initially thought I was in the wrong place when presented with a button that said "I'm a buyer". Perhaps "shopper" might be better.

Re: Review our startup Farmly.net - buy fresh food in the UK

#30
You have to make a really quick and easy search on the front page which lets me check out which suppliers are available in my area.

Otherwise, you're just wasting everyone's time.

[edit] having signed up for the product since I want to be nice, and I've found all I've done is sign up for a mailing list of a product that might launch at some point in the future.

This isn't a startup to review or comment on, it's an MVP landing page test.

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