people who have a horse related business!

[Reed77]

Ok, here's the project. I want to 'interview' someone who is in a successful business (you must own this business). The purpose of this project is to see where people went wrong and right with business decisions, ect. Please do not write one sentence answers, but it doesn't need to be a paragraph. this interview needs to be a horse related business. Also, if you no longer own this business and it wasn't as successful as you'd like, you can be of help too! Here are a few questions -

1. What is your company name?

2. Why did you get started in this business?

3. What mistakes did you make and how did you correct them?

4. How do you make your business stand out?

5. How long have you been in business?

6. If you could do it all over again, would you? If so would there be any changes? If not, would you go into a difference business?

7. If there was someone wanting to get started in your field of work, what advice would you give?

8. Did you have a well thought out business plan?



If you think of other important questions I should have added, please ad them in your post. You can also PM me if you don't want to post it. (secret safe )

[brody]

what's the project for?

[Reed77]

A mix of personal interest and college.

[eggzackly]

No company name
Started when i was around 11, needed some money.
Mistake, starting when I was 11, lol. Later on, should have had my own place.
Corrected it by going to nursing school.
How to stand out? Show up every day and do your best. Unfortunately, that is all it takes to stand out.
How long in business? Around forty years.
Do over? Better horses, better equipment and a better clientele! LOL
Advice? don't give up your day job, and no credit. Pay up or adios, no matter what.
My business plan was always come out ahead some on every transaction I could. I usually did.

[TheBigSwede]

You might want to ask for a brief description of the business.

[Reed77]

Bump! Thank you Eggzackly, does anyone else have a horse business?

[brody]

ok - I've picked one for you - in the past - the long past now

1. What is your company name?
no formal name - freelance riding instructor/trainer


2. Why did you get started in this business?
I was running someone else's barn on a fixed salary and wanted to increase my income fairly to my employer - I suggested starting a private lesson and training side business - she was delighted to have me do both

3. What mistakes did you make and how did you correct them?
I undervalued my service to start - so created an awful of work for myself - riding til midnight got old unbelievably to me

4. How do you make your business stand out?
Excellent service and honesty .. I also think strong communication skills with clients who weren't present about what was going on with their horses helped a lot

5. How long have you been in business?
altogether I did the freelancing for about 5 years with my favourite clients

6. If you could do it all over again, would you? If so would there be any changes? If not, would you go into a difference business?

I would in a heartbeat - i think a large part of the reason I'm the rider I am is because of the huge variety of horses in all stages of training I got to ride ...I think the reason i am the teacher I am is because of the skills I learned in this pahse of life
I did go into another business but I can see coming full circle and doing the freelance teaching again

7. If there was someone wanting to get started in your field of work, what advice would you give?

build your base slowly -be positive and have a good mentor

8. Did you have a well thought out business plan?
no

[SFM in KY]

Originally Posted by Reed77

Bump! Thank you Eggzackly, does anyone else have a horse business?

I don't know if you'd consider it a specifically horse-related business and I'm pretty much retired from it now, but I'm an artist and I used to do portraits of horses for people.

Started 'professionally' when I was in my 30s. Active for about 20 years.
Marketed locally/regionally through 'sample' portraits that were displayed at the local tack shops and vet clinics. Did art shows with a booth at area art shows and livestock shows. Donated work to local fund-raisers.

I still do occasional work but advertise now solely through the Internet.

If I were doing it over again and I would join more artists' organizations, enter more actual competitions.

[brody]

I'd say that's a business

[SFM in KY]

Originally Posted by brody

I'd say that's a business

The only place I advertise at all now is one page on my website. Most of what I do now is either for myself or as a gift for someone.
http://www.stallionstation.com/kalei...efarm/art.html