The annual November issue of American Farriers Journal has been an important resource for the industry. Through the directory, farriers can access critical information on supplies and services within their practices. But this issue has long had a focus on delivering advice to help farriers improve their businesses.
Editor’s note: Using an inflation calculator, the 1899 rate for the four new shoes and two pads would grow from $5 to nearly $150 in today’s buying power.
To some this is just an old invoice. But as a farrier, I see the history of our trade. It also tells me of the value of a farrier. The invoice on this page is from services performed by farrier Daniel Ward for the New York City Fire Department. These horses would pull the fire engine. A client of mine gave it to me after she had bought it for 50 cents at a yard sale in New York state.
Farrier Scott Hershowitz (Oak Bluffs, Mass.) talks about why he re-thought his pricing after attending the International Hoof-Care Summit. He also goes into what type of pricing structure he uses.
Data gathered from across the country for the 2012 Farrier Business Practices survey can help you make effective pricing decisions for the coming year.
Do you break into a sweat at the very thought of raising your rates and having to tell loyal customers that you’re going to have to start charging them more? The biggest fear for many farriers is that many of their customers will walk away if they add even a tiny increase to their current prices.
The ultimate reason for developing a successful pricing system is to make a profit from your work and the products you sell. The amount of profit you’ll realize depends on your costs, selling price, the number of products sold and/or the amount of service rendered.
Cutting expenses and investing wisely are good methods for improving your hoof-care business's bottom line. However, there are also many other ways to earn more money or increase your business income. Just as with cutting expenses, it takes a little imagination for any business to increase income, especially in these challenging economic times.
At last winter’s fifth annual International Hoof-Care Summit in Cincinnati, two veteran farriers tackled a number of frequently asked questions about the footcare industry. For the second straight year, this “Point/Counterpoint” discussion proved to be among the highlights of this annual event.
Greg Martin, CJF, of Boerne, Texas, takes the unique approach of marketing his hoof-care practice with a Christmas parade float in Boerne and Comfort, Texas. The award-winning float boasts a variety of surprising features.
Life Data Labs Inc. is a dedicated product manufacturer committed to producing premium quality animal nutrition and health products through continuous product improvement and new product development. First-class ingredients, fresh products, consistent high quality and scientifically proven effectiveness are the principal features of Life Data Labs animal health products. And that's why they've produced the #1 recommended hoof supplement by farriers for 12 consecutive years.
Kawell develops and produces copper alloy horseshoes and inserts, giving horses the care that they need to fight issues associated with white line disease, seedy toe and thrush.
From the feed room to the tack room, SmartPak offers innovative solutions to help riders take great care of their horses. SmartPak was founded in 1999 with the introduction of the patented SmartPak™ supplement feeding system. The revolutionary, daily dose SmartPaks are custom-made for your horse, individually labeled and sealed for freshness.