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Custom Made Items
I started a small business making custom saddle pads, polos, quartersheets etc. What I find interesting is that even though my prices are lower than most tack store, people still prefer to go to a tack store and purcahse these items.
Is there something that deters people from buying from small business's? Is it quality? No I can't mass produce my items but I take my time making them to ensure that they are going to hold up. I even use them myself here and there to test durability and quality.
Even on my site I offer repairs FREE of charge if anything were to come undone/rip etc. What companies elsewhere such as a large tack store like Greenhawk that would do that? I know I bought a blanet from a well known tack store, and it was a well known brand. It ripped in half the first time my horse wore it and it took me months to get them to repair it for me, and when I got it back it wasnt even waterproofed again.
What do you look for in a small business? Reasons why you would buy from a small business over a large business or vice versa?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Tiffany K on -
Thank you both for your replies. I didnt have access to a vehicle until late but plan on attending some fall shows with flyers. I have a website, and have several adds posted at local barns. All the tabs for the website seem to be going quite fast but i dont often get inquiries.
Where i am is largly populated by horses, but even more so to where I am moving in a few weeks so perhaps business will perk up a bit then. -
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Permalink Reply by Ellen Feld on -
Hi Tiffany:
I'm the author of a series of children's horse books. Signed copies are available on my website for the same price as unsigned books at Amazon. 95% of my web orders, tho, come through Amazon. It's pretty well established in the book trade that buyers prefer to purchase through known stores/sites rather than go through unknown/smaller sites. I suspect it's the same with tack stores vs. a one person "shop." Plus, people may not be ready to buy when they first see your product and then when they are, they may have forgotten how to contact you and so go to the tack store. Have you considered selling through tack stores?
Ellen Feld
Willow Bend Publishing
www.willowbendpublishing.com -
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Permalink Reply by Barbara Hymer on -
Tiffany,
You did not mention how long you have been in business. I noticed that the first few years I only made strong sales at Christmas. Then slowly as the years went by the sales started spreading thought out the year. I agree with the others to hang in there and with all you are offering you should do very well.
Barbara
http://bhymer.com -
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