Enterprise Nation

Would you ever have imagined it? An interactive 3D Virtual Farmers Market that combines a 3D world with a traditional online retail website. It’s set to launch on 1st January 2010 and we’re thinking it’s an interesting opportunity for home businesses with something to sell.

The Farmer as you’ve never seen before

Using the latest in 3D games technology, the Virtual Farmers Market (VFM) is a virtual take on the traditional Farmer’s market that will allow consumers and specialist food & drink producers to interact in a 3D environment without stepping foot outside their front doors.

The shopper can ‘stroll’ freely around over 45 market stalls, view products, interact with the producer and buy the same high quality artisan produced food & drink they might find in a real-life Farmers market.  The unique thing about the VFM, say the people behind the site, is that it allows people to ‘meet’ the original producer first hand, which is often not even possible at a real life Farmers market.
 
For smaller specialist food & drink producers it offers the opportunity to reach new markets.

A growing market

In 2009 the online grocery market is worth £4.4bn and in 2014 it’s expected to be worth £6.9bn. Research shows 83% of consumers* like to touch & feel what they buy, and the VFM can help overcome this concern with this new way of cyber-shopping adding a human element to the online shopping experience.

The VFM is the brainchild of Marcus Carter, Managing Director of Carter Food House. He says:

‘The VFM gives consumers the opportunity to buy direct from the producer. Seeing the face behind the food is more important today than it has ever been. To be able to connect remotely by using the internet, with the people who make what we eat, enables consumers to get a sense of trust before buying.’

Click on the link below to visit the site in its pre-launch phase. 

• Virtual Farmers Market