John, Considering the date of the "Pie" business the price is probably inline with todays market. Think of this: In 1960 my mother would send me to the corner store for a Loaf of Bread, quart of milk and a pack of cigarettes. She would intrust me with a single $ and always remind me to bring back the change. Approx $.10
In todays world (New Jersey, Pa): Loaf of bread costs approx. $2.29 1 Quart of Milk cost $1.79 1 pack of cigarettes $7.00 Total $11.08 somewhat more than 12 times the price for the equivalent value. If you multiply $1.25 X 12 = $15.00 for a fresh homemade pie. I believe that is a going price for a pie today in an UPSCALE bakery. Sounds like both the customer and the seller were getting what they paid for. Michael Vaughn Owner/Manager Pie-In-the-Sky Orchard New Milford, Pa On 7/30/10, JOHN BELISLE <[email protected]> wrote: > > David, > > > > As to the question of fair price. Was $1.25 for a hand crafted pie a fair > price. Sounds a little country farmy to me. (meaning to cheap) Did a > multitude of pies at $1.25 bring in enough money to pay your help a living > wage??? Did the $1.25 a pie allow your family to hire help to keep your Dad > from working 12 hours a day??? If it did then $1.25 could have been a fair > price for your DAD, if it did not then the price was only fair to the > customer. > > > > I am afraid far too many of us consider fair to be a selling price that > returns far too little for us. Should we not strive to price like the Sunny > Slope Peach??? Why are we so afraid? > > > > JOHN > > > > *From:* [email protected] [mailto: > [email protected]] *On Behalf Of *Arthur Kelly > *Sent:* Thursday, July 29, 2010 5:37 PM > *To:* Apple-Crop > *Subject:* Re: Apple-Crop: A discussion of the vision of doing business > > > > See Peter Drucker, "The Five Deadly Business Sins" > > > > Art Kelly, Kelly Orchards, Acton, ME > > On Thu, Jul 29, 2010 at 7:26 PM, David Barclay <[email protected]> > wrote: > > John, > I think the bottom line regarding the fair price is that we are all subject > to the market of our products. That said, - there are many examples in the > produce markets of producers creating their own brands and farm retailers > providing exceptional products, services and activities which command the > extra gross income. I remember in the 1970's buying a brand of peaches > called Sunny Slope. These peaches would consistently cost 25% more that the > average marks. And, - they were 25% better, bigger size and more consistent > quality. You know what? The retailer made more money on the Sunny Slopes, > less waste and more appeal to the retail customer. My Dad and Mom started > baking apple pies in 1960 for our new farm market. The pies were really > good, - the best apples for flavor and homemade crust., perfect spices - > baked to a golden brown. Dad set the price back then at $1.25 for a 9" pie. > You couldn't keep up with the demand. We worked 7 days a week to build the > business. Hundreds of pies were sold, - then thousands, - then 10's of > thousands. Was that a fair price? Well, - I guess so because the volume was > the answer. Today I look back and think Dad was pretty lucky but for sure he > had a vision of what would sell and have appeal. I think this opportunity > exists for everyone in agriculture. > > David Barclay > Colts Neck, New Jersey > > > > > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > The 'Apple-Crop' LISTSERV is sponsored by the Virtual Orchard < > http://www.virtualorchard.net> and managed by Win Cowgill and Jon Clements > <[email protected]>. > > Apple-Crop is not moderated. Therefore, the statements do not represent > "official" opinions and the Virtual Orchard takes no responsibility for the > content. > > > > > > -- Michael D. Vaughn Owner / Manager Pie-In-the-Sky Orchards
