Unlocking Pricing Strategies in Agritourism with Maureen Ballatori

What if the biggest opportunity in your agritourism business isn’t more visitors—but how you price your experience?

In this episode, Maureen Ballatori, CEO of Agency29, breaks down the psychology behind pricing and how farms and attractions can increase revenue, stand out, and create unforgettable guest experiences.

From premium pricing to decoy strategies and brand differentiation, this conversation is packed with practical, real-world insights you can apply immediately—whether you’re a small farm or a growing attraction.

• The psychology behind how customers perceive pricing
• How to confidently implement premium pricing and anchoring
• Using decoy pricing to influence purchasing decisions
• Why premiumization is key to standing out in agritourism
• How to test new ideas without taking on major risk
• Real-world pricing strategies from farms and entertainment venues
• Common pricing mistakes and mindset shifts to avoid
• How branding and experience design impact revenue
• Creating memorable moments that increase customer spend and loyalty

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction: psychology of pricing
00:24 – Maureen’s background in agriculture and marketing
01:14 – Consumer perception and pricing strategy
01:40 – Agritourism’s role in farm business
03:03 – Revenue insights and financial breakdowns
07:50 – Financial discipline and saying no
11:11 – Premium offerings and anchoring
13:38 – Trial-and-error pricing strategies
15:15 – Bundling and pricing tactics for small farms
17:08 – Premiumization and high-end experiences
18:36 – Learning from other industries
22:30 – Branding, novelty, and collectibles
30:40 – Decoy pricing in action
32:59 – Social media-driven food and experiences
37:37 – Focus and brand mastery
41:45 – High-ticket experiences
44:24 – Testing and piloting ideas
50:08 – Timing, anticipation, and memory
51:39 – Increasing engagement and spending
55:15 – When to pivot or double down
58:55 – Spilled Salt
60:00 – Creative branding and closing thoughts

To learn more from Maureen Ballatori, visit:

• Agency29 - https://agency29.com/
• Maureen Ballatori Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maureenballatori

Tune in to Maureen's podcast Spilled Salt! Available on your favorite podcast platform!• Spilled Salt

🎧 Find all episodes, resources, and platforms here:
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Pricing isn’t just about numbers—it’s about perception, experience, and value. When done right, it becomes one of the most powerful tools to grow your business and stand out in a crowded market.

#Agritourism #PricingStrategy #BusinessGrowth #Entrepreneurship #MarketingStrategy #CustomerExperience #SmallBusiness #Branding #FarmBusiness #RevenueGrowth

What’s the biggest risk in agritourism—and are you actually covered for it?

In this episode, we sit down with Kim Ayers from Risk Services Levitt to break down the essential role of insurance and risk management in protecting your farm, your guests, and your business.

From liability coverage to signage, vendor risks, and real-world claims, this conversation clears up common misconceptions and gives you practical strategies to reduce risk, stay compliant, and operate with confidence.

Whether you're running a corn maze, pumpkin patch, or full-scale agritourism attraction, this episode is a must-listen for safeguarding your operation and planning for growth.

• The essential insurance coverage for agritourism operations
• Differences between farm liability, general liability, and umbrella policies
• How attractions like corn mazes, jump pads, and inflatables impact coverage
• The importance of proper signage and inherent risk notices
• Best practices for handling incidents, documentation, and claims
• How business structures (LLCs, corporations) affect liability exposure
• Managing risks with third-party vendors like food trucks and rentals
• Choosing the right insurance carrier as your business grows
• Avoiding coverage gaps with strong contracts and risk planning

00:00 – Introduction to agritourism risk management
02:06 – Key risks when opening farms to the public
03:37 – Farm liability vs. general liability
04:13 – Overview of essential policies
06:10 – Scaling attractions and insurance impact
07:38 – Application tips and working with agents
08:59 – Preparing for audits and projections
10:33 – Signage requirements and updates
11:26 – Inherent risk protections
12:56 – Incident response: what to do (and avoid)
14:00 – Guest safety and reporting protocols
17:44 – Managing attractive nuisances
19:41 – Real-world claims examples
23:27 – Documentation and handling incidents
25:19 – De-escalation and liability prevention
27:56 – Claims development over time
29:47 – Insurance market cycles
34:49 – Industry trends and challenges
37:49 – Business structures and coverage gaps
41:13 – Landowner vs. operator liability
43:14 – Vendor and subcontractor risks
45:51 – Certificates of insurance explained
47:57 – Growth and evolving coverage needs
49:16 – Umbrella insurance simplified
53:50 – Industry outlook and opportunities

Any questions? Get in contact with Kim Ayers!

https://www.leavitt.com/louisiana/staff/kim-ayers?r=search?p=staff

• Risk Services Levitt
• Understanding Umbrella Liability Insurance
• Inherent Risk Signage (Sample State Guidelines)

Find all episodes, resources, and platforms here:
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Link in bio

Effective agritourism operations aren’t just about creating great experiences—they’re about managing risk proactively so you can grow with confidence and protect what you’ve built.

#Agritourism #RiskManagement #Insurance #SmallBusiness #FarmBusiness #Liability #Entrepreneurship #BusinessGrowth #SafetyFirst #Operations

Building Culture, Innovating Through Crisis, and Growing with Purpose | Ticket Spice

What does it take to turn a family business into a thriving tech company—while building a culture people actually love being part of?

In this episode, Eric Knopf and Shadi Hayek from TicketSpice share how they transformed their business through resilience, innovation, and a deep commitment to culture.

From navigating the uncertainty of COVID-19 to developing new products and strengthening their team, they reveal how intentional leadership and bold experimentation helped them not only survive—but grow stronger.

You’ll also learn how focusing on people, customer experience, and continuous improvement can unlock new opportunities in the evolving experiential event industry.

• The origin story of TicketSpice and the meaning behind the brand
• How COVID-19 forced innovation and accelerated product development
• Building and scaling a positive, resilient company culture
• Why hiring for character and consistency matters most
• Practical ways to retain talent and create a strong team environment
• Trends shaping the experiential event and tech industries
• Leveraging personalization and real-time engagement to increase revenue
• The top ways to capture more revenue and reduce missed opportunities
• Creating a family-like culture in a growing tech company
• Why bold experimentation (even imperfect) drives long-term success

00:00 – Welcome & introduction
02:06 – Eric’s background and early insights into web-based software
04:26 – The genesis of TicketSpice
06:15 – Evolution into specialized event platforms
09:11 – Branding and the origin of “TicketSpice”
12:17 – COVID-19 impact and crisis response
13:12 – Lessons learned from the pandemic
16:00 – Pivoting to virtual and hybrid event solutions
17:29 – Building a resilient team culture
24:23 – Maintaining culture during growth
25:00 – Creating a team that genuinely cares
28:28 – Hiring for character and community
32:32 – Talent acquisition strategies
35:17 – Encouraging recognition and positivity
37:11 – Leadership, trust, and transparency
42:26 – Trends in experiential events
50:31 – Data, automation, and personalization
54:53 – Maximizing revenue opportunities
56:48 – Upselling and enhancing experiences
58:29 – Post-event engagement strategies
59:49 – Rapid-fire questions
61:27 – Embracing experimentation
63:00 – Closing thoughts

Find more information about the services TicketSpice provides here:https://bit.ly/TicketSpiceFind all episodes, resources, and platforms here:
Positive Business Action Linktree: https://linktr.ee/positive.business.action

Great businesses aren’t built by accident—they’re built through intentional culture, adaptability, and innovation.

#BusinessGrowth #CompanyCulture #Leadership #Entrepreneurship #CustomerExperience #TechStartup #SmallBusiness #EventIndustry #Innovation #TeamBuilding