reko.day is my start up. I hope it is used by millions of folks as the easiest way to buy and sell locally. While it was conceived as like a virtual farmer's market that catered to farmers, it became obvious that just about every local farmer, maker, and baker wants this.
This page is where I will be working in public.
Current Focus
First Customers (Updated 2026-04-13)
Core problem: Every seller outreach method has failed. Zero products listed in the app. Zero active sellers. Farmer activation is the sole bottleneck — buyer signups work via Facebook ads.
What we've tried (all failed):
- Hundreds of in-person conversations over years — universal excitement, near-zero signups
- Business cards, mailing lists — nothing
- Facebook group posts — zero responses
- Reddit posts — zero responses
- Direct email to farmers — zero responses
- White-glove onboarding offers (Ryan does all setup, brings buyers) — zero conversions
- Pop-up market coordination offers — zero responses
- This pattern holds across ALL seller types: farmers, bakers, soap makers, toy makers
What works:
- Facebook ads drive buyer signups. Demand side is proven.
What we don't know (CRITICAL):
- Why do excited sellers not convert? Nobody has been asked directly. This is the #1 question to answer before any new strategy.
- Ryan has theories but no data from actual seller conversations about what blocked them.
Current strategy: LEARN FIRST
- Email seller list with direct question: "We talked about Reko Day and you seemed interested. What happened?" No pitch, no link. Just the question.
- Ask the same question in person at farmer's markets when they open.
- Hold all new outreach methods until we understand the conversion blocker.
- Keep Facebook buyer ads available to restart when supply comes online.
Seller interview questions:
- "What happened after we last talked? Did you try to download it?"
- "How do you sell outside of the farmers market today?"
- "If I could get you 10 customers who'd buy from you every week without you going to a market, what would that be worth?"
- "What would need to be true for you to try this week?"
Rogers Farmer's Market — Shelly:
- Organizer invited Ryan to speak at pre-vendor meeting. Date TBD (offered March 24).
- Follow-up sent April 6. No response as of April 13.
- She has direct relationships with farmers Ryan can't reach otherwise.
- Her endorsement carries more weight than Ryan approaching booths individually.
- Track status in
reko.day/CRM/Shelly - Rogers Farmers Market.md
Constraints:
- iOS only. ~1/3 of potential sellers are Android users — can't use the product.
- Reko Day can't handle taxes (market requirement for some organizers).
- Buyers pay $4.99/mo subscription (free to browse, pay to purchase). 2-month free promo active.
App Improvements
Smoothing out onboarding, better and more robust notifications and adding some QOL things throughout the app.