Tack Shop - What Would You Like?

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misshubblebubble

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Hello

I'm looking into opening up a tack shop in the not to distant future.

Have considered putting in an equine laundry service.

What services etc. would you like to see in a tack shop?

What would you change about your local tack shop?

If you run or work in a tack shop, I would also welcome any pointers please!!!!

Thanks.
 
What would I really want??
Good friendly staff, a good range of cheaper and more expensive brands of rugs/tack/etc But most importantly to sell bedding and feed, as that is practically the only reason I go to tackshops, otherwise I end up buying stuff I don't need. Having a good range of feed will bring the customers in, so selling the main brands eg Dodson and Horrel, Baileys, Spillers, Dengie , and if you have lots of room add in others too. Have a few different bedding options too if possible
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Good luck
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As Dancer Bean says, feed and bedding and a good range of nice things. Jewellry and suitable things for gifts. A decent range of body protectors and foot wear. Knowlegeable staff, but not pompous snobs
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Chocolate and drinks! We often turn up on the way home from the yard and we're starving, but have to shop quickly as there is nothing for human consumption
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The tack shop at Elland Lodge is pretty good.
 
If you're doing equine laundry, I would hope that would include a repair service, i.e. an industrial sewing machine.

A couple of good tack shops in my neck of the woods are run by qualified saddle fitters. That works well if you want to sell secondhand saddles.

My favourite bit of my local tack shop is the secondhand area. They take stuff on a sale or return basis.
 
Thats all really great!

Dancer_Bean - Ooooh, like a tescos value? Good idea!

MrsMozart - Hadn't thought about food - what about a small cafe? Would you use that?

BrightMount - REally like the second hand area idea!

Definately agree about the staff, would only hire freindly and knowlegable staff - hate it when they are rude and have no idea what they're taking about!

Was also thinking about a dog section? Most horsey people have dogs right?

Hadn't thought about feed and bedding, but could easily add that in - was going to sell hay as have just bought a 60 acre field and was planning on making my own and selling it.

Great ideas everyone - please keep them coming in!!!!
 
Def use a cafe
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Have to be mud and child friendly though lol.

Def feed - if you can do dogs, cats, gerbils etc would be great.

If you do feed and bedding you'll get regular custom, and they'll often spend more each time.

Cards and wrapping paper. Christmas goodies for hoss and human.

Maybe add a farm shop? I'd love to be able to pick up the veg at the same time as getting m'hosses bits
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If you are going to offer equine laundry do it ON SITE. I know far too many people who have dropped rugs off at tack shops who act as agents and have never seen their rugs again.
 
Definately will do the laundry on site - have had that problem before, grrr.

Like the farm shop idea, my mum had mentioned that but we weren't sure how popular that would be.

Was also thinking of a bit bank? - not many places seem to do that anymore.
 
Bit bank would be good - I don't know too much about them though. Used one once, but they were desperately slow and I was nervous of their credit card handling process. Have to have very good knowledge of bits - the one I used didn't seem as knowledgeable as I would have expected.
 
I like a secondhand section, and also LOVE Dishley Horse Trough, where they have a little corner with some toddler toys. I almost always have to go to tack shops with my son, (If I am not at work, my husband is!) and can never browse when I have him with me. If I go to Dishley, he will play with their Megablocks or colour while I look round (and end up buying waaaaaay more than I would if I had to rush in, harrased, with a grumpy toddler)

Not all tack shops will have the space to do this though.
 
MissHB - your shop is bound to be a runaway success with all this customer friendly stuff, so could you please come and open a branch near Swansea at your earliest opportunity???? By the way, I'm honestly not sure that a cafe would work - mega hassle with H&S etc, but a hot choccy dispenser and a choccy bar/crisps machine would go down a storm. Good luck x
 
I second a vote for a vending machine. Also for selling chocolate if its not too much of a hassle.

Another tack shop near here has a reputation for the staff pressurising people into buying the most expensive version of the chosen product. I understand that people need to make money but I actually avoid going to this particular place, as I dont want to feel embarrased when I have to say I dont want the "premium" version of whatever it is Im looking for.
 
I understand what you mean - thats why I am going to start my own.

I am the bargain queen and hate it when items are ridiculously marked up. I figure that if I have reasonable prices, then more people will choose to shop at my store!

Will probably set up a chocolate stand by the till - think will sell more by tempting that way, hehehe!
 
Have room to store your stock indoors. Some shops stack their bales of plastic-wrapped bedding - shavings, Aubiose etc - outside and it doesn't take many split bags and subsequently wet corners or even quarters of bales to send customers to other shops with dry storage.

I like shops with a thriving second-hand section, selling goods at a sensible commission and keeping proper track of what is in there. One local shop 'lost' a saddle I'd left with them, insisting I'd been paid for it.

Willingness to order something that isn't kept in stock is a great help.

Interested staff, who don't gossip about the customers.

Sunday morning opening is a bonus!

A can-do attitude. And efficient communication.
 
Moose22 - Will let you know when we are ready to open - might not be till mid-to-late next year as still looking for the perfect site at the mo.

Palomino698 - that was very naughty of them. I'd have been too embarassed to try something like that!

Yes, would definately store everyting inside - nothing worse than soggy shavings or a tonne of water falling on you from the top of a shavings pallet - ugh!

Would be open all weekend and have late night openings for those that work during the day - I hate it when tack shops close at 6pm. Very annoying!

As far as i'm concerned, the more that you are willing to do to keep your customers happy, the more customers that you will get. Right?
 
A good range of sizes in clothing - eg jods that are not just for Waif's. Jackets which cover a bosom as well as a bust........ It can be so frustrating always ordering off the internet and never being able to try much on.

(That's how cavalleti clothing got started)
 
We have had a new tack shop open near by and the owner is fab! She is knowledgable and friendly, she stocks a good range of clothing from Pikeur to cheaper brands so really there's something for everyone.

Since selling feed and bedding I think the business has grown, how many people pop in for feed/bedding items then have a quick look round the tack section and come away with something?! There's also poultry feed and dog food. There's a rug cleaning and repair service.

A good notice board is great! Hot drinks would be good too but obviously you don't want stuff spilled on the stock!

Small gifts and things like birthday cards, there's some really nice and funny horsey and dog ones around, there's always someone at the yard having a birthday, little gifts like socks etc are good too.
Lots of pink and purple sparkly stuff, for nagging little daughters (I have experience of that!)

And of course competitive prices, we can all shop on line now so I think people are more aware of what things cost. I still get stuff on ebay etc but would much prefer to shop at the local tack shop as although the prices may be a tad higher, it's much easier to take back if something doesn't fit etc, rather than having to package it all up and post it back the postage costs are prob more than I would spend in petrol going to the local shop.

Willingness to order things in if you don't have the size or colour, some shops just say 'all the stock is out' in a "computer says no" tone of voice rather than offering to order the item, then calling the customer as soon as it's in!!
 
Secondhand section
The ability to order something if not in stock
If ordering by mail order (some tackshops have both) - not being ripped off on the postage!
Well laid out and open on Sundays!
 
Male objects aswell, time after time I go to tack stores and they dont sell male clothing. Also, staff that are friendly, and helpful but dont pounce on you as soon as you arrive and give you time to look around,
 
I'm hoping that we already offer lots of the services you plan to!

A very important part of our business is our delivery round, which covers probably a 20 mile radius from our shop, and is strictly segrated into certain areas on certain days. We don't charge for delivery (as I know many places do now), we do expect a sensible minimum order though, one sack of chicken corn or four tins of dog food is not enough!

PM me if you want more info, we only took over our business two years ago, it had been running for about 15 years prior to that, I've learnt a lot in those two years!
 
Ah, was thinking of you today as I trolled off to look at tendon boots (exciting life I live lol). And came up with these ones:

Embroidary service;
When order things follow up on it! <Mutter mutter mutter>;
Notice board;

Hm. Had thought of more, now all escaped me!

Like the idea of a play area
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I would really like to see equine/ animal coin opp laundry, somewhere i can go and use the laundrette myself for numnahs boots light rugs etc, save me having to slip them past my OH. lol.
 
Some good ideas here espically the 2nd hand option.
How about some good old fashoned customer service? My father was in business, not horse related for over 50 years, he taught me the customer is always right, even i fthey weren't!, something that is sadly lacking these days. He ended up with customers visiting him from all over the world, so he did something right.
 
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