Bay Baby Produce's Lindsey Lance Shares Fall Merchandising Insights

MOUNT VERNON, WA - The arrival of fall brings no shortage of merchandising opportunities for produce departments, and Bay Baby Produce believes retailers can make the most of the season by thinking beyond a single display. By building around décor, family activities, fandom, and holiday entertaining, the company says retailers can create fresh reasons for shoppers to return throughout the season.

"We continue to see shoppers looking for more than just traditional fall produce—they are looking for products that create an experience," shared Lindsey Lance, Director of Marketing, Sales. "Whether it is decorating their home, celebrating their favorite team, or finding an affordable activity to do with their kids, fall produce has an opportunity to be both functional and fun."

Fall Produce Becomes an Experience

Rather than relying on a single pumpkin display, Lance said retailers can create destination merchandising by bringing together painted pumpkins, ornamental varieties, and Organic Winter Squash. Products that are convenient, visually distinctive, and easy to add to the cart also create strong impulse-buy opportunities, particularly for families.

That philosophy is driving Bay Baby's newest offerings for the season.

"We are especially excited about continuing to expand the variety of ways shoppers can celebrate fall," Lance explained.

Among the company's newest introductions is Poppy, an ornamental pumpkin whose distinctive shape resembles a flower when viewed from above.

"When viewed from the top, its unique shape resembles a flower, with a hardy orange exterior and beautiful natural flecking," Lance said. "It is a great example of how pumpkins themselves can become décor without needing any additional decoration."

Bay Baby is also expanding its officially licensed sports program beyond NFL and collegiate offerings to include Major League Baseball, giving retailers another way to connect seasonal displays with game-day excitement. Meanwhile, products like Pumpkin Patch Pals®, Little Ghouls, and the company's Jack Pack and Paint Activity Kits continue to give shoppers approachable ways to celebrate the season.

"Our smaller-format products continue to be an important part of our innovation," Lance said. "Pumpkin Patch Pals®, Little Ghouls, and our Jack Pack and Paint Activity Kits give shoppers approachable, convenient ways to participate in the season. Their size makes them an easy impulse purchase for families, and because they are long-lasting, shoppers can take them home and enjoy them throughout the fall."

Building a Fall Destination

Beyond introducing new products, Bay Baby is also paying close attention to how shoppers want to interact with the category.

"That is something we think about throughout our product development," Lance noted. "Our smaller painted pumpkins are easy to display, easy to take home, and require no carving or preparation. Our Paint Activity Kits turn fresh produce into an affordable at-home family activity, while our licensed sports pumpkins allow shoppers to personalize their fall décor around teams they already love."

Just as important as the products themselves, Bay Baby is investing in merchandising strategies that help retailers build displays shoppers can't help but notice. As the season unfolds, Lance encourages retailers to think beyond Halloween alone.

"One of the biggest opportunities is to think of fall as a season rather than a single Halloween event," she said. "There are multiple reasons for shoppers to come back and purchase throughout September, October, and November."

She recommends evolving displays throughout the season, beginning with early fall décor and back-to-school merchandising, transitioning into football-themed displays and Halloween products, then finishing with ornamental pumpkins and Organic Winter Squash as shoppers turn their attention to Thanksgiving entertaining and harvest décor.

"Keeping displays fresh and changing the product story throughout the season gives shoppers a reason to stop and look again," Lance concluded. "Rather than putting out one pumpkin display and leaving it unchanged, retailers can create several smaller merchandising moments that encourage repeat purchases throughout the entire fall season."

Looking ahead, Bay Baby plans to continue investing in design and innovation across the category.

"We take a lot of pride in setting the standard for innovation in this category," Lance said. "That means developing concepts well ahead of the season, paying attention to where consumer tastes are headed, and continuing to give our retail partners something new and exciting to bring to their shoppers each fall. We want consumers to look forward to seeing what Bay Baby comes up with next."

Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow as we continue exploring the trends, innovations, and merchandising strategies shaping the fall produce season.