February 13, 2001
Article

Groceries Online: Farmer Bob Delivers

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As Webvan, Peapod and Homerun.com spend millions duking it out in
the online grocery-sales marketplace, Maine's Farmer Bob reminds
us what it's all about. Forget stock prices, VCs, and
infrastructure conundrums. The fact is consumers are definitely
willing to use their computers to order groceries, if you can
make it easy for them. Robert Sessums, an organic farmer in
North Yarmouth Maine, has proven this quite handily without a fancy Web
site, or advertising beyond word of mouth.

Sessums' tactics are simple -- every week during the fresh
produce season he sends customers who've signed up at his farm
stand a quick email telling them what's in season. Then dozens
of local homemakers rush to the computer to get their orders
in for delivery.

As Sessums sees it, the question is not whether online grocery
sales will work, but how well you can manage the business.
In the North Yarmouth area email rsessums@maine.rr.com

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