Horse Boot Dealer News and Tips

Epics are coming: make sure your orders are in the system. We've been working diligently on pushing our scheduled build of Epics up for quite some time. Well, the wait is almost over.  We have a small air shipment arriving the week of August 22nd. Although most of these boots are already spoken for, this shipment will be followed by a larger shipment the week of September 12th. The Easyboot Epic is our second most popular boot, right behind the Easyboot Glove and a must-have in every retail store. 

The Epic fits a wide range of hoof sizes (Pony-7) and shapes. With the cable and buckle system it is easy to fine tune your fit and snug up the Epic for any weather or terrain conditions. This easy use boot has been a staple for endurance and pleasure riders since its inception. If you don't already have an order in the system, make sure to call EasyCare at 800-447-8836 and get in line for the Epics.

This was my second Tevis as a crew member for the Easyboot riders. This year was much easier for me because I knew the area and that is was going to get hot during the day. I also had a better sense of what I should expect from our human/horse teams. Last year there was the fear of the unknown: it was our first Tevis glue-on attempt. 2010 was very different for a number of reasons: there was even more on the line this year. In 2009 Easyboots performed almost flawlessly, so in 2010 not only did we want to repeat our 2009 performance; we wanted build on it.

This year Garrett and the EasyCare team booted almost twice as many horses as last year. Because of the way Gloves and Glue-Ons have performed over the past two years it was not a surprise that more people wanted these high performance boots on their horses. Tevis is a grueling 100 mile trek over some of the most rugged terrain in the Sierras and your choice of hoof protection can make or break your experience.

2010 exceeded our expectations. EasyCare had six horses complete in the top 20 and a 59% completion rate vs. only 50% for horses with other forms of hoof care. If those statistics were not impressive enough, Garrett and Lisa moved from 16th and 17th place to 8th and 9th in the last six miles. To top it all off Garrett and The Fury won the Haggin Cup, an award for the horse that is judged to be in the best physical condition the day after the event. The Haggin Cup is viewed by many as the most prestigious award in the endurance world.

I have been with EasyCare for almost four years: it is a great company with amazing support team. I have never been as proud to be part of something in my professional life. Easycare and our hoof boots are making a difference, we are changing the way people view hoof care. We are creating better lives for horses and offering solutions where  there used to be none. It feels good to be involved with company that is effecting change and making a difference. It was a proud day not only for EasyCare, but also for barefoot horses.

If you have EasyCare boots in stock and would like to dress up your arrangement a little, we still have some point of purchase(POP) displays available.  These easy to set up cardboard displays look great on a counter top or end cap.  With eye catching graphics and the ability to hold an assortment or combinations of 8 of the follow boots... Gloves, Epics, Bares, Easyboots or Grips, they are a great way to highlight the EasyCare hoof boot line. 

If you don't have a POP in your store, give us  a call at 800-447-8836 or shoot us an email at bmueller@easycareinc.com and we will get one headed your way.  Only one thing sells faster than EasyCare hoof boots... that is properly merchandised EasyCare boots!

Great news! We're getting our single largest shipment of Easyboot Gloves in tomorrow morning. If you understand the evolution of natural hoof care, you must know about the Glove. The Glove has taken off like a wildfire and without a doubt become the most popular and event-decorated hoof boot in the world. Over the last year the we have sold twice as many Gloves as we had forecasted. The reason? The Glove flat-out works! With no external or internal hardware, buckles or cables; the Glove is truly fits like a second skin over the hoof.

So, if you don't know the Glove, give us a call 800-447-9600 and get to know it! There is a reason it's hard to keep on the shelves. Find out for yourself!

The most important detail to your customer purchasing their first set of EasyCare hoof boots is getting the proper measurements.  The graphic above shows where both the length and width measurements need to be taken.  Proper sizing is imperative to maximize ultimate performance and a positive boot experience.  The best way to get an accurate measurement is with a rigid ruler with both inches and millimeters. Then follow these steps. 

1. After a fresh trim, measure the width of the hoof across the bottom at the widest point.
2. Measure the length of the hoof from the toe to the buttress line of the heel. The buttress line is the farthest weight bearing point of the heel where the hoof wall ends. Do not include the heel bulbs in the measurement.
3. Compare your measurement with the appropriate size chart. Please note that each boot style has its own unique size chart.
4. Ideally, the length and width measurement will fit into the same size. If the length and width measurements indicate different sizes, select the larger size. If the width and length measurements are different by more than one size, your selected boot style is not recommended.*  Be sure to check your measurements against an alternative boot in the EasyCare line—another style may accommodate your horse’s hoof shape better.

Hoof Tracings, pictures, iron shoe size and guesses are not acceptable for fitting EasyCare boots.  Our hoof boots are the highest performance boots available in the world, but they need to be the proper size to work to their potential.  Ask yourself this questions... would you run a marathon in shoes that were too big or small?

If you talk with EasyCare on a regular basis, read our blogs, visit our Facebook page, look at our website or read  our catalog, you know the most important factor in hoof boot success is FIT. Measuring hoof length and width seems simple enough, but there  is always room for error. Last year when the Glove was released, Garrett had a great idea: to ensure the Glove fits perfectly we should offer a kit which allows end-user to see the shell on their horses hooves. This method really takes all guess work out of fitting the Glove.  The Fit Kit was born. With a Fit Kit there is no doubt left about which size boots you need. Once the shells are put on, it is so simple to see what your horse needs. 

Every dealer should carry a complete Fit Kit (all 11 different sizes 00-4). In the long run they will virtually eliminate any sizing issues and save time and money for both you and your customers. If you don't have a Fit Kit, now is time to add one. Your customers and their horses will thank you.




Brian Mueller 

Director of Sales

As the director of sales, I am responsible for identifying new dealer opportunities and building on existing relationships to foster ideas and create additional growth.

In 2009 when the Easyboot Glove was introduced, we knew it was going to be a special product. The Glove is without a doubt the best hoof boot in the world. No moving parts, no internal hardware, light, low profile, easy to apply and it will stay put even in the harshest conditions. We knew we had a winner, now the difficult part: how do you determine sales numbers for a product that really cannot be compared to any other hoof boot in the world. Well, we studied our extensive sales history and made an educated decision. What has happened over the past years has surprised even us. Sales numbers have been amazing. The acceptance of hoof boots is at an all time high. Everyone loves the Glove and so they are really hard to keep in stock. The good news is now we have a year of real numbers under our belt. We are bringing in larger stocking orders, scheduling more builds, getting more people on the production line and clearing out room in our warehouse. 

2010 has already been a busy year and the next 4 months are really going to pick up. Riding weather is here and the word on the Glove is out. Over the next 6 weeks we will be getting 3 different shipment of Gloves. So if you are waiting for inventory, need to place an order or have not picked up the Glove: the time is now. Add to that back order, place that stocking order or bring in the Glove and witness for yourself what we already know.

This being said, I would still recommend getting that order in yesterday. Especially since I have gone on the record talking about our strong inventory of Glove.

Alternative hoof care is hot: it's growth over the past couple of years has been unbelievable! EasyCare has been pushing the envelope of this movement for a few decades, so the growth does not really surprise us. As the world leader in alternative hoof care we feel it is our responsibility to provide the most advanced and field tested hoof boots available. This movement is not a fad, it is a fundamental change in the way horse owners are choosing to take care of their horses. 

In any in fast growing market a retailer must do a few things or they may be left holding antique inventory.

1. Always Turn Your inventory. First in first out! EasyCare often updates products, we do this not to cause confusion, but because we listen to our customers and improving existing products is what successful companies do. As long as you are selling items as they arrive and stock your shelves from the back you will never have an issue of mixing old and new SKU's.
2. Optimize Inventory. Get rid of what you don't sell and order what moves. Sounds simple, but to effectively optimize your inventory you must keep your finger on the pulse of the market. Don't just look as last year's number and start ordering. Educate yourself, take some time to see where the market is going and what end-users are asking for. Need help on this one? Contact EasyCare at 800-447-8836 and we are happy to give you some stock advice.
3. Focus on Banner Products. Once you know what to stock and in the proper sizes, it gets pretty easy... Bring those items in, always have one to show and one to go.  End-users usually need our boots for a reason and often they cannot wait. If you don't have it they will probably find elsewhere.
4. Use EasyCare Resources. EasyCare does everything we can to keep our Retailers up to date. Make sure you are using the following resources: our website, Facebook page, Dealer Locator, Blog, Dealer Training and the Media page for all of the latest images and logos.

If you can focus on these four things, you will sell EasyCare boots. The demand is there and the end-users are looking for retailers who are knowledgeable, have the items in stock and most importantly provide great service. As the weather gets warmer and the riding season picks up, make sure you are not just providing our products but selling them.

Congratulations to our contest winners!  The competition was fierce, but the five top performers listed below just nosed out the competition to win the EasyCare/3point5.com training module contest.

1. Sarina Barbara-  7 Night Mexican Riviera Cruise
2. Alexis Soutter-  iPod Touch
3. Angelique Barbara-  EasyCare embroidered Cloudveil Jacket
4. Rebecca Wyatt-  iPod Nano
5. Sherrie Baggett-  iPod Shuffle

Although the contest has come to an end, EasyCare's training module is still available.  So, you may have missed the contest, but you still have the opportunity to make sure your staff is trained for the riding season.

If you have been in a hole or maybe just too busy to check out the EasyCare Facebook page, you need to take the time to become a fan. We have more than 8,600 fans from all over the world, all of whom are equine enthusiasts. So as equine retailers, our audience is your audience. 

Get in touch with what end-users are saying and get a look at the latest from EasyCare. The forum is a great and easy way to keep in touch as well as promote. Hoof boots are hot, make sure you are not missing out... Join today!

If you have not had the chance to visit the new EasyCare training module, your chance to win some great prizes and earn a nice discount is running out fast! 

Although the training module will remain active, our top performer contest and 5% discount ends April 30th. 

So what are you waiting for? Hurry over to 3point5.com; get registered, learn, earn and win! 

Don't hesitate to contact us with any quesitons at 800-447-8836 or by email at bmueller@easycareinc.com.

EasyCare has always been the type of company that pushes innovation. We want to be the driving force behind education, change, advancement and thus a greater acceptance of alternative hoof care. One thing we have noticed over the years is our dealers who remain up to date with our product additions and updates find success. 

For example, in 2009 we launched 4 new boots: Glove, RX, Glue-On and Edge and the company had a record setting year. At year's end, after the dust settled, we had time to reflect and analyze numbers.  What we found was simple: dealers who picked up new products had an increase in sales and dealers who didn't, well, didn't. 

As alternative hoof care evolves it is important to keep pace. We do out best at EasyCare to give our dealer network the tools and support to be successful. It's just a matter of keeping up with what is on the cutting edge.

So, if you have not added the Glove or RX to your line, now is the perfect time. If you have questions give us a ring at 800-447-8836 or drop me a line at bmueller@easycareinc.com. We are more than happy to help you and your team get up to speed. 

The market is moving fast. Make sure you are moving with it.

At EasyCare we are always trying to give our dealer network the support they need to keep up to date on the latest and greatest Easycare products.  So we've redesigned our dealer images section to make it easier to find what you need. 

To download the images:

• Click on the desired image caption. Image will open in separate web browser window.
• Right click on the opened image and choose "Save Picture As".
• Save the image to the desired location on your computer or server.
• Please include the credit "Courtesy of EasyCare Inc." when using print images.

If you have any questions, feel free to email us or call 800-447-8836.

Calling All Dealers!

If you and your staff have not taken advantage of EasyCare's new training module here's what you're missing:

1. Knowledge about the EasyCare brand
2. Being a Master Dealer on EasyCare's home page
3. 5% discount on all orders until April 30, 2010
4. The chance to win some great prizes

So take the time, we are sure it will pay dividends much greater than the 5% discount.

EasyCare is pleased to announce that our 3point5 training module is now available for our international dealers. 

Follow these simple instructions to become an EasyCare hoof booting expert.

1. Go to http://easycareinternational.3point5.com/action/index 
2. New members- Select "EasyCare International" from the location drop-down menu
3. Click "Sign Up"
4. Follow prompts to create your account

Once you have created your account, use the link above and sign in with your member ID and password.

There are only 51 days left for your chance to win one of the following great prizes:

Prizes

1st Place - 7 Night Mexican Riviera Cruise
2nd Place - iPod Touch
3rd Place - EasyCare embroidered Cloudveil Jacket
4th Place - iPod Nano
5th Place - iPod Shuffle

If you are a current domestic EasyCare dealer and you have not trained with 3point5 you are missing out.  Although the training will be available all year, these prizes are only available until April 30, 2010.  See below for contest rules and the current leader board.

The top five performers through April 30th, 2010 win! You must complete all training modules to compete. Only your first six attempts at each Edu-Game count toward your best score.

Contest runs 01/13/2010 through 04/30/2010.

Only 6 Edu-Game attempts are allowed for each module. Additional attempts will not be counted towards the contest entry.

The following training modules must be completed to qualify for the contest:

• Fit & Construction
• Hoof Boots
• Our Momentum
• Our Story

Below is a list of the current top 25.



If you have questions on how you can get involved please contact EasyCare at 800-447-8836 of email us at CSR_email@easycareinc.com

Professor Robert Bowker recently returned to Australia to lecture again for the Australian College of Equine Podiotherapy and to also offer a two day seminar for professional trimmers and vets. 

Professor Bowker is a researcher and anatomy teacher based at Michigan State University and runs the Equine Hoof Laboratory there.  His ground breaking research into the hoof right down to cellular level, is helping trimmers understand the importance of anatomy based trimming strategies and 33 new Aussie students eagerly lapped up his information.

One student trimmer recently broke her leg in a riding accident, but in a wheelchair and armed with crutches, she flew in from Tasmania so as not to miss any of  Dr. Bowker’s lectures.

The Australian College of Equine Podiotherapy are excited to have Professor Bowker as one of our lecturers and thank him for his endless enthusiasm and wonderful advice.  We look forward to his return for the next course starting in October 2010.

 

Chris Ware

Course Co-ordinator

www.equinepodiotherapy.com.au

Check out the article below... EasyCare Dealer in Australia makes sure their clients get their boots!

Employee of the Year!

 

Easycare Down Under is based in a rural town in NSW Australia. This is not normally a problem as much of our business is Internet based sales and we have an efficient postal service here so boots can be dispatched daily.

We have recently had three years of severe drought and nature in its wisdom thought that it would supply us with three years worth of rain in one go and throw in a lot more for good measure.;

Normally it’s a short daily drive to the post and no problems. But the floods changed that.

Once the causeways that provide us access washed away they left watery & very rocky crossings not suitable for a normal car. Sandi Hale who does our office & sales was minding the store whilst we were away and was trapped alone on the property for three days.

But never under estimate the power of a determined woman!

We have wonderful neighbors on the other side of the causeway, Paul & Lucy Phelan who offered to help her get her load of easy care boots to the post.; Problem being she had to get across the broken causeways first. So when the water subsided a little she loaded up the farm quad bike and headed out.;

All went well for a couple of days with smooth crossings, and then on the last day Sandi hit a rock and the bike bounced her parcels off the carrier tray and sent them downstream.;

Sandi not one to let a mere flood stop her deliveries jumped into the water and retrieved the parcels!

I don’t know many employees who would do the same and we want to say a huge thanks to Sandi for her dedication above and beyond, and to our neighbors who helped her out.;

Her motto is definitely “the boots must get through”!

Mike Ware

Easycare Down Under

www.easycaredownunder.com.au

Sandi waits for a break in the weather and heads out into the floods with her precious cargo.

EasyCare partnered up with our new UK distributor Trelawne Equine for the 2010 Beta International,  for what turned out to be yet another great show.  Beta is the biggest and most prestigious equine show in UK with over 5000 buyers from all over the world.  The three day show was busy from start to finish, a lot of new dealer inquires and product questions.  Within the past 3 years I have personally seen quite a shift in the number of natural horse products and a much greater acceptance of the barefoot hoof. 


Lucy from Trelawne keeps busy with another inquiry about EasyCare boots


EasyCare is so lucky to have a partner like Trelawne Equine, who brings unmatched passion and knowledge of EasyCare products and the barefoot hoof to the UK market!  If you are in the UK and have any questions about picking up EasyCare products or need any technical assistance with existing products drop Lucy a line 0844 257 8585 or an email at sales@trelawneequine.co.uk .


Day two at Beta in Birmingham, UK