Store Demographics
 

It is my belief that many trade shows are held in the hope of bringing buyers, such as yourself, together with a variety of manufacturers in this industry, but usually without asking either party they are trying to service what their opinions are, what they want, or what they need to improve or increase their business.

It is my opinion that you can have the best store in the world, but if any or all of the following are true, the products you sell may just sit on your shelf, gathering dust.

  • The products you sell aren't able to effectively supply the needs of your customers.
  • The products don't have compelling packaging to get that customer's attention.
  • The manufacturers' don't do the proper advertising to help drive the customer to your store for their product.
  • Your employees don’t help "push" the products you sell by gaining enough knowledge about those products to know what will help fulfill your customers' needs.

Retail business is clearly a push-pull situation. By answering the questions below, you are helping to educate us, which, in turn, allows the people in this industry who learn from this information to help you even more.

If you do not wish to receive information about the industry, new products, existing products and companies, etc. via email, as well as special deals being offered by our sponsors, please tell us so at the end of this form. Your privacy is important to us, and your opinions are vital to making this industry better.

Fields Marked with a * are required. The rest is information that would help our organization better service you and your business's wants and needs.
 
* Company Name:
* Owner's Full Name:
  Manager's Full Name:
  Reseller or Tax ID #:
Only Businesses with a valid Reseller or Tax ID # can register
* Mailing Address:
         Street Address:
       City:   State/Province:
       Zip/Country Code:   Country:
* Business Location (if same as above, type "same" in Address field):
         Street Address:
       City:   State/Province:
       Zip/Country Code:   Country:
* Business Telephone:
  Alternate Telephone:
  Fax:
* Email Address:
Your email address and other personal information will NOT be shared with any other company or organization and shall be held in the strictest confidence.
* Confirm Email Address:
* How did you learn about this site?
  Magazine Ad Specify Magazine
  By Mail Specify what You Received
  By Email From Where?
  Banner Ad On What Web Site?
  Sales Rep Name of Rep
  Friend, Business Acquaintance or Employee
  Other Please Specify
* Store Type (Check all that apply):
  Retail Store
Retail Store with Living Quarters on Premises
Home-Based Business
Equine Products Add-On to Main Business
Mobile Unit
Catalog Sales
Internet Sales
* Number of Stores Owned:
  If more than one, what is the address of the main store or corporate office?
  What does UPS consider your business shipment receiving location?
Business   Residential      |     Standard   Rural
  What does Fed-Ex consider your business shipment receiving location?
Business   Residential      |     Standard   Rural
* Type of Business:
* Years in Operation:
  Annual Gross Sales:
* When calculating the selling price of a product, which method do you use?
  If more than one owner, which of the following apply to the other owner(s)?
  Family Members (by blood or marriage)
Friends (at time business started)
One or More Silent (not active in the business)
All Still Active
Some Retired or Semi-Retired
* Number of Buyers (for the products in your business):
  Number of Departments/Divisions:
* Number of Employees:    Full-Time:   Part-Time:    Seasonal:
Count yourself, your spouse and your children, if they work regularly for your business.
Enter 0 in a box that does not apply to your business.
  Average # of Employees ON FLOOR available to help customers:
  Number of Cash Registers:       Sq. Footage of Store: (no commas)
  Number of Computers:       Internet Connection? Yes   No
If you own more than one store, please enter the amounts for the largest store and check this box.
* Do you regularly access the Internet? Yes   No
* Do you use the Internet to gather new product info? Yes   No
* Do you require appointments to review specials & new products? Yes   No
* What contact days are best?
  Do you deliver? Yes   No       Do you ship? Yes   No
  What is the average length of time employees work for your store?   Months    Years
Do not include in your calculations unique cases of unusually long or short time periods, such as the person who quit after just half a day or the family member who's been working there for fifty years or more. Including these would skew the results.
  What is the reason most often given for full time employees leaving your store?
  If "Other", please specify
  What type of training do you give your employees? (Check all that apply)
  We have written training manual(s) and materials
We have a training video(s)
We have brochures/flyers from mfrs and distributors that employees are required to read
We encourage our employees to have experience with products we carry
Sales reps from manufacturers and distributors train our employees
Some formal training, but mostly on-the-job
At least a day or two of formal training per month
At least a week or two of formal training per year
Our owners/managers do all the training
All on-the-job training
We have department managers who train all new hires in their departments
We expect most (or all) our employees to help train new hires
We don't train our employees -- they learn as they go
Other    Please Specify
  Industry Focus (Approx. percentage of business):
  Western %     English %     Lifestyle %
Other %   Please Specify
  Focus of Your Business (Approx. percentage of business):
  Lifestyle (clothing, jewelry, furniture, gift items, etc.) %
Feed & Hay %     Do you deliver?
Tack %
Stall Equipment %
Supplements %
Pet Supplies %
Health Care (including prescriptions and vaccines) %
Leather Repair, Customizations and/or Sales %
Grooming %
Boarding Facility %
Training Facility %
Trail Riding %
Breeding %
Co-Op %
Show Grounds %
Other %     Please Specify
  What products/services does your store have? (Check all that apply)
  Hay & Grain Best Selling Brands
  Tack Best Selling Brands
        Approx. how many lines?
  Supplements Best Selling Brands
  Prescription Drugs Best Selling Brands
  Vaccines Best Selling Brands
  Pet Food:  Dog   Cat   Bird   Rabbit/Rodent
    Best Selling Brands
  Shampoos, etc. Best Selling Brands
  Hardware Best Selling Brands
  Health & Topicals Best Selling Brands
  Barn Products Best Selling Brands
  Stall Accessories Best Selling Brands
  Safety Products Best Selling Brands
  Equipment Best Selling Brands
  Grooming Equip. Best Selling Brands
  Books:  Training   Entertainment
  Videos/DVD's:  Training   Entertainment
  Clothing Best Selling Brands
  Boots Best Selling Brands
  Hats Best Selling Brands
  Helmets Best Selling Brands
  Jewelry Best Selling Brands
  Gift Items Best Selling Brands
  Western Saddles Best Selling Brands
        Low price     High price
  English Saddles Best Selling Brands
        Low price     High price
  Leather Repair Best Selling Brands
  Leather Customizing Best Selling Brands
  Other Please Specify
* What is most important to your customers?
  Will your customers buy in quantity to save money? Yes   No   I Don't Know
  Do your customers ask for help on selections? Yes   No
  What type of customers do you have? (Approx. percentage of business):
  Lifestyle Only %     Horses for Fun %     Professional %     Amateur %
  Customer Disciplines (Approx. percentage of business):
 
Western Pleasure % Team Penning % Dressage %
Trail Riding % Ropers % Eventing %
4-H % Cutters % Endurance %
Hobbyist % Hunter % Other:   %
Barrel Racing % Jumper % Other:   %
  Other Focus Areas:
* Do you have any professionals among your customers?
  Veterinarians   How many?      Farriers   How many?
Trainers   How many?      Stable Managers (12+ horses)   How many?
* Do you have any big name customers? Yes   No
        If Yes, who?
  What are the most effective methods of advertising for your store? (Check all that apply)
  Word of Mouth
Phone Book
The "Barn" Book
Newspaper
Radio
Direct Mail
Horse Shows
Store Web Site
Magazines
Billboards
Email
Television
Other    Please Specify
  What horse associations do you belong to?
AQHA    PBR    FFA    NSBA    Other:
* Trade Shows/Markets Normally Attended (Check all that apply)
 
AETA   Denver (WESA)   Indy   Reno   Other:
Atlanta   Gatlinburg   Magic   Stanley  
Baltimore   Heritage   Mid-States   Universal  
Dallas   HH Bakker   Orlando   Wheatbelt   None
* How often do you attend these wholesale trade show/markets?
  How many people go from your store(s)?
* How often does someone from your business attend the following types of shows within a 5 year period? If it's a new business, enter how often you intend to do so.
Enter 0 for any show type that you do not attend.
  Equine Products    Apparel    Gifts    Distributor    Other
* Trade Show/Market Types You Prefer (Check all that apply)
  Equine Products    Apparel    Gifts    Distributor    Other
  What are your main reasons for attending wholesale trade shows?
 
  What are your main reasons for NOT attending wholesale trade shows?
 
* What would it take to get you to attend a show that you are not presently attending regularly?
 
  What do you like/dislike the most about the trade shows you have attended?
 
* Should exhibits be segregated by product types (e.g. tack in one area, apparel in another)?
  Yes   No   I Don't Know   No Opinion
* What states/major cities would you prefer going to a show at?
* What states/major cities would you refuse to attend a show at?
* What days of the week work best for your store to attend a show?
* What hours should a show be open?     Number of exhibitors you visit per day
  How do you get to shows? Drive  Fly      Which do you prefer? Driving  Flying
  Why?
  On average, how much do you save because of show specials?
  What does it cost you to go to a show?
  How many manufacturers do you purchase from directly?
  Please tell us why you purchase from these manufacturers and other comments you have.
  What do you, the retailer, need from manufacturers to help sell their products?
         DVD About the Product
       Employee Training
       Flyers
       Brochures
       POP
       Posters
       Contact by Phone
       Contact in Person
       Self Talkers
       Referrals
       Other     Please Specify
* Distributors You Purchase from for Your Store (Check all that apply)
 
ASC   Florida Hardware   Walco (Sunwest)
Associated Pet   Kentucky Breeders Supply   Western Saddlery
Bradley Caldwell   Lextron   Wynco
Central   VSI   Other
  How important are the following things when you buy?
  Product Quality:
Very Important  Important  Somewhat Important  Not Important
  Product Prices:
Very Important  Important  Somewhat Important  Not Important
 


Very Important  Important  Somewhat Important  Not Important
  Shelf Life of Products:
Very Important  Important  Somewhat Important  Not Important
  Employee Feedback:
 Very Important  Important  Somewhat Important  Not Important
  Customer Feedback:
 Very Important  Important  Somewhat Important  Not Important
  Return/Exchange Policy:
Very Important  Important  Somewhat Important  Not Important
  Return Guarantee on Broken/Defective Products:
Very Important  Important  Somewhat Important  Not Important
  Money Back Guarantee:
Very Important  Important  Somewhat Important  Not Important
  Guarantee on Product Working (Results Based Guarantee):
Very Important  Important  Somewhat Important  Not Important
  Sell-Through Guarantee:
Very Important  Important  Somewhat Important  Not Important
  Good Service from Supplier:
Very Important  Important  Somewhat Important  Not Important
  Relationship with Supplier:
Very Important  Important  Somewhat Important  Not Important
  Prompt & Courteous Product & Customer Support from Supplier:
Very Important  Important  Somewhat Important  Not Important
  Ability to Reach Supplier/Sales Rep by Phone:
Very Important  Important  Somewhat Important  Not Important
  Manufacturer Support for Your Store and Your Customers:
Very Important  Important  Somewhat Important  Not Important
  Free Shipping:
Very Important  Important  Somewhat Important  Not Important
  Drop Shipping:
Very Important  Important  Somewhat Important  Not Important
  Cost of Shipping:
Very Important  Important  Somewhat Important  Not Important
  Prompt Shipping:
Very Important  Important  Somewhat Important  Not Important
  Delivery Lead Time:
Very Important  Important  Somewhat Important  Not Important
  Discounts & Specials:
 Very Important  Important  Somewhat Important  Not Important
  National Advertising:
Very Important  Important  Somewhat Important  Not Important
  Local Advertising:
Very Important  Important  Somewhat Important  Not Important
  Visits from Sales Reps:
Very Important  Important  Somewhat Important  Not Important
  Calls by Sales Reps:
Very Important  Important  Somewhat Important  Not Important
  Relationship with Sales Reps:
Very Important  Important  Somewhat Important  Not Important
  Product Packaging Design:
Very Important  Important  Somewhat Important  Not Important
  Sponsorships:
Very Important  Important  Somewhat Important  Not Important
  Other:
* Trade Magazines Read by Owner/Manager/Buyer (Check all that apply)
 
Market   DVM Magazine   TackStoreInfo.com mailers
Shop Talk   Equestrian Retailer   Other
Tack 'n Togs   Veterinary Practice News   None
  National Magazines Carried in Store (Check all that apply)
 
Blood Horse   Flying Changes   Am. Quarter Horse Journal
Equus   Horse Illustrated   Paint Horse Journal
Horse & Rider   Practical Horseman   Thoroughbred Times
Horse USA   Reins & Manes   Other (separate with commas):
The Horse   Western Horseman  
  Regional Magazines Carried in Store (Check all that apply)
  Western States
 
Ride!   Equestrian Connection   California Horse Trader
Riding   Horseman's New   Horsemen's Marketplace
Stable News   NW Horse Source   Other
WC Horseman   Northwest Rider   Other
Western Times   Pacific Coast Journal   Other
  Eastern States
 
Arena Talk   Horse Exchange   Everything Equine
Hoof Beats   Horse 'n Tack   Southeast Equine (SEC)
Horse & Pony   Mane Events (SS)   SE Horse Connection (SHC)
Stable Mates   The Plaid Horse   Other
Wire to Wire   Yankee Peddler   Other
  Shows & Events Your Store Exhibits At (Check all that apply)
 
Arabian Nationals   NBHA Finals   Quarter Horse World
Breeder’s Cup   NFR   Rolex
Equine Affair   NW Horse Expo   Western States
Florida Horse Expo   PBR World Finals   None
Idaho Horse Expo   PRCA Finals   Other
Keenland   Qtr Horse Congress   Other
  Does your store put out a newsletter? Yes   No
  If "Yes", how often does it come out?
  If "Other", please specify
* Does your store presently have a Web site? Yes  No
        If "Yes, Web site address:
  Answer the following only of you answered "Yes" above:
  Who maintains it?
  Does it have eCommerce (Internet sales)? Yes  No
        If "Yes", Web site address for eCommerce
  Does it link to your favorite manufacturers? Yes  No
  Does it have local events and customer news? Yes  No
  Do you offer specials or discounts on it? Yes  No
  Do you have products on it that aren't stocked in your store? Yes  No
  Are you happy with your site? Yes  No
        If "No", please explain why
  Any regrets about it? Yes  No
        If "Yes", please specify
  Other Comments:

Because we respect your privacy and do NOT believe in SPAM or wasting your time sorting through things you aren't interested in, we offer the following "opt-out" options. You can change your mind at any time by sending us an email. Your email address and other personal information will NOT be shared with any other company or organization and shall be held in the strictest confidence.

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