What would u like to see in a equestrian shop

This is why I doing my research because I want to be different then other shops
What to be reasonable priced not over priced like some shops and beable to stock things other shops don't
Speedgate was like frogpool and very much the same
But it's the same as snaffles and brambledown all very much the same
I want to appeal to the public
And range from small and large people
Big and normal sized horses
Different measurements such as narrow and wide fitting in rugs etc
Want to appeal to men riders too
 
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Equus Leather said:
I think you might be trying to appeal to too many marketplaces with your list. If it was me setting up I'd specialise in one thing to start with, and from your list I would start with men's clothing.
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I agree. I think you need to decide what kind of market you are aiming for. The only way I can see you being able to appeal to all of those markets is if you have an absolutely mahoosive shop/storage warehouse!

Everyone wants something different/has different tastes to the next person at the end of the day.

Have you looked around at the tack shops in your area an noted what types of items/brands they sell and what their target market is...and see how you can diversify a bit?
 
This would be my next stop
I do know that 2 off my locAl shops supply woman and childrens clothes from shires so it most possible they are very much try to Market for those
 
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My two favourite tack shops from over here are fab, both with good selection of stuff, websites and friendly staff. (Holmestead and Carrowdore Saddlery) If you ask them, they will really go out of their way to help. Even if they don't have the item in stock they will get it in for you. Holmestead also have free coffee available :D
 
Do u think it will possibly appeal to people
From me once. Shop if fully up and running to start doing a tack party
More on the lines of lines Ann summers but in the way of horse and rider wear

Coffee Or tea with biscuits it is then
 
We're spoilt for choice here: we're within 15 mins of 5 tack shops, and 30 minutes of perhaps 6-8 more.

I go to one (Countrywide) because it's most local for things like wormers, special offers and things I run out of like tack cleaner, another we can go to one of 2 or 3 branches (Eileen Douglas) depending which way we're travelling for feed (cheapest), essential things like suppliments, fly stuff etc (again, cheapest) and the best range of stock if you want a rug or a numnah or jods. They also will order in - we struggled to find boots for my daughter, but they got us some. Another 2 we go to are NOT the cheapest, but we like the service and knowledge of the staff, plus they fit hats and body protectors properly and they will order in and are very knowledgeable.
(better than our experience of Countrywide (sold us hat too small) and Scats (body protector too wide) both these carry very little stock of these items anyway)
We also go to Robinsons sometimes, which isn't the cheapest but has a very wide range, and they do have very knowledgable staff and good customer services.

I would suggest if you did wormers to offer an email reminder service with a printable voucher for special price = people will come in spend on other things regularly.

I also think a mid-week late night would work well with people who work and don't want to waste a weekend's riding time shopping for essentials/things they need for the weekend's riding - perhaps special offers or discounts to get folk in on your late night.
 
On the subject of mens clothing I would say I wouldn't advise specialising in it.

The shop I work in does stock a good range of mens clothing, but they really are a tiny percentage of footfall coming through the shop.... so beware!

But it is easy to stock mens jodhpurs.... mainly because larger ladies have the same waist size as the fitter males. (male jods tend to start at 32/34 inch. Not that big really) So buy in unisex ones and just a few male ones. Neither like close fitting jods IME. Works quite well.
 
Wormers - in order to sell them, you have to be a SQP - Suitably Qualifed Person. If you have this qualification, you can sell wormers for all stock - you can't just do a course in horse wormers, and you hae to be on site in order to sell them ie you have a day off, your unqualified staff can't sell them.

Accounts - the big boys won't touch anyone new without a minimum first order, Horseware was £10k, Shires, Westgate EFI and Matchmakers the same, the last time I checked was at Beta 2009.

Clothing and rugs, we've found they sit and sit forever! You never have the right size/fit/colour/weight/with a neck/without a neck in stock! I can now understand why Mole Valley Farmers only had nylon jods in beige or navy!

How will you attract customers to you, do you have premises in mind already, have you costed rates, rent etc?
 
SALES SALES oh and more SALES!!!!
lol!!!!

but seriously I have a bit of a rug fettish so rugs!!!!!!!
oh and defiantely headcollars (as if one breaks you need another asap!!) leadropes, feed and supplements!! again, things that you may run out of and need more of asap without waiting on p&p!

Also I find if you offer a secondhand tack station for people to bring their own stuff in, not only do you get the people bringing their stuff in browsing your shop! But you also get more for prospective buyers to peruse and possibly buy a bit secondhand and a bit new!!??
 
Sorry haven't read whole thread. But pet hate is having to rummage for the right size. I would like to see bridles etc grouped accordingly so that its easy to find what you want. Also please not all flash nosebands! Good luck!
 
(1) Bigger rang of bits, supplements, wider variety of rugs
(2) Horsewear, Fal, Musto, Mark Todd Rugs, Amigo, But also some cheaper makes
(3) Bigger sizes for horses, yes
(4) I don't mind paying for good quality rugs and will spend quite alot on this area, I like to spend less in other areas though. However because there is so much competition these days you can pick up good quality rugs for much cheaper if you search around on the internet etc.
 
Unless you have squillions of pounds you don't mind losing I would say don't do it!!

I've managed and worked in several tack shops and things are so different nowadays, with the internet especially.

With regards to men's clothing I think (no offence meant guys) that most men who want proper jods etc want them as they are competing professionally and I think most would buy them at places like Hickstead when all the trade stands are there.

Clothing is very much a fashion item nowadays and you have to know your market very well so you don't end up with last years stock having to be sold at a loss. Same with rugs to a degree, so many people use their local tack shop to have a look at the rugs they want and then go off to their laptops and find them cheaper. Sales are a good idea but you have to be careful to remain within trading laws as regards to how long higher prices have been charged etc. Also, if you try to remain competitive and keep your mark up low then by the time you have reduced it for a sale you run the risk of making pennies on it (and yes I have known people do this in their quest to be cheaper)

I would advise keeping things very simple to start with if you do decide to do it. Too much choice is not always a good thing! Be aware as well that some companies like STS will let almost anyone have a catalogue and although I think their minimum order is £200, if you are in a yard and several people order then that is easily reached.

If you've got the strength and space I would suggest that feed would be the best way to go, if you are not inundated with feed stores in your area. Although the mark up is low you can make your money on volume of sales. Obviously do bedding and supplements too and then a very basic range of essential tack to compliment it all. If you do do feed the important thing is to keep good stock levels, nothing is more infuriating to a customer than to turn up for their usual bags to find you've run out! Especially nowadays when all the feeds seem much more complicated and it is not as simple as swopping to a different bag of mix.

One of my local feed stores has stopped doing wormers as she couldn't match internet prices. Added to that all the hassle and expense of training and refresher training and all the paperwork you need to keep and the problem of can you sell them if she's gone out to lunch and the saturday girl is there on her own.

Have you thought about staff? If you try and run it single handed you will end up frazzled and doing alot of ordering and accounts and other paperwork at home after hours but staff can be a nightmare too. Lots of legislation involved too.

Sorry, don't mean to be too defeatist about it but have you asked yourself why there aren't more tack shops out there? Don't want to see you loosing lots of money and wishing you'ld never started.
 
Maybe some books???
'normal' book shops don't seem to stock much of a range of riding books (The Classical Seat, Ride with your mind - those type of 'technique' books).
You can get them on Amazon but can't see what they're like before you buy.
Just a thought, and they won't take up much space either.
 
tendon boots! no shop near me sells the cheaper brands of tendons boots its so annoying
and bigger brands names like whitaker or kingsland and leather boots!!! not the rubber ones.
bits more sizes they have like 4 1/2 to 6 then stop? what about the bigger/smaller sizes? also with the bits i know this sounds stupid but a desction say like theres so many snaffles? so how do i know which on is right? :) x
 
For me, I like to see a range of brands and products to suit all budgets, from e.g. from weekend riding hats for £25, to top of the range £200 riding hats. Staff that don't look down their nose when they find out you're on a tight budget. Staff that know what they're talking about i.e. not just 16yr olds looking pocket money, but people who know/love/own horses and can pass on valuable knowledge and opinions. Essentially variety, helpfulness and courtesy!
 
i still use tack shops and not online as i have found them to be very simular in costs.

we also have 3 or 4 tack shops in the area that are within 15 mins drive.

recently i have found that one shop that does bigger sizes, im only a 16 to 18 but thats big in the quine world as u all probably know. this shop is run by some very rude people, who say stupid things like o u wont want that will you or thats only for people doing proper dressage when they dont no anything about me like the fact me and my horse do medium dressage tests when ive only owned her for 5 months.

the second shop, is brilliant if i just want the little extras as it does pink gloves and nice cheap brushes in lovly coloures and i got my pink travel boots and brushing boots from them.

the third shop does more joules stuff but isnt very specialised in anything.

and the fourth shop which i use the most have experts in body protectors, hats and saddles and they are always polite but willing to have a good gossip. i do also know that all the tack and rugs i get from them are really good quality but sometimes i wish that the really nice high quality rug would come in differant colours to blue and black. horses are suppost to be fun afterall.
 
Thinking about what we have already in Kent, I'm wondering if the market you might be able to address would be the budget end. You know, end of ranges, last year's styles, discount stuff. I think that there might be a market for treeless saddles and bitless bridles, but keeping a stock of saddles would cost a lot. I think stock the good saddles or don't bother, because with cheap treeless saddles you could get all sorts of complaints. Same with rugs really, I've just regretted buying a cheap lightweight rug. I needed it in a hurry, but the neck's really big, the leg straps are too low down and it's larger than it's supposed to be. Now, if someone was doing good deals on Fal, Rambo etc, I'd have travelled to Sittingbourne just to get the rug.
Speedgate now own Frogpool don't they?
 
Johds from a range of suppliers. Am fed up of Robinsons, who have like 100 different designs of johdpurs (although not very many in plain blue anymore) which are all by the same manufacturer and about 1 foot longer than my legs!
Also, on the point above, what is wrong with just navy? I miss my lovely local man, who only did proper colours!
To me, a range of suppliers is more important than a range of colours; you can show a catologue for colours and offer to order in if you need the extra range.
 
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