|
|
|
|
|
HoofPrints Newsletter
|
January 22, 2015
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ABOUT THE COMPANY AND THIS NEWSLETTERFarriers Greeting Cards was started by Gina Keesling in 1986 (in a very small way) to provide helpful promotional materials for farrier husband Rob. Along the way the company became HoofPrints.com, too, adding a selection of fun horse and dog products geared toward women of a certain age. This newsletter is emailed to subscribers a few times a month, depending on how often I have something to share. Watch for special sales, interesting stories, uplifting quotes and more.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
This 2015 Horse Day Planner
is one you never saw promoted.
The What Horses Teach Us Day Planner made it's debut in the flyer HoofPrints mailed this fall. It was brand new and I was conservative in my sales projections. That's usually not a bad strategy - UNLESS the supplier RUNS OUT of product. Which is what happened. I never got a chance to rave about how cool they were - because they were all gone! This problem actually morphed into a pretty good deal for customers as I then located THREE alternate day planner choices! Shown here is the Gypsy Vanner Horse Day Planner. It features a big color photo each week of a dazzling array of colors in this unusual breed. Developed originally by European Gypsies, the Gypsy Vanner Horse has appeal on multiple levels. For those who love the look of a draft horse, the stout body and lovely feathering, but don't have the inclination to feed, house and handle an 18H behemoth, the Gypsy Vanner is a scaled down version - with heights averaging that of a smallish saddle horse. And the variety of colors is truly impressive. Ranging from classic solid black to pinto to perlino - and everything in between - the pictures in this day planner are a feast for the eyes. It's printed on high quality, heavy paper and spiral bound so it will lay flat. The cover is protected with heavy clear plastic, and you'll find lots of thoughtful features to help you keep your schedule in order. It's on sale for HALF PRICE while supplies last here. Not into hairy horses?
There's something for the Western crowd, too.
|
MAGNETIC FARRIER CALENDARS HALF PRICE
I've been known to be pretty critical of other companies' advertising efforts, though this handy magnetic calendar is an example of one of my own stupidest marketing mistakes.
I hate magazine ads that make you work to figure out what they are selling; fancy, "arty" photography that does nothing to describe a product or it's use. A trip in the car to Indianapolis always results in ranting over the vague and cryptic messages on the billboards. Again, what are they selling? At 70 mph that's not much time to figure it out. Don't even get me started on the Viagra "get things done" commercial where the guy unloads a team of already harnessed ?? horses to pull out his stuck truck and trailer. I get the symbolism of what they are implying, but does the average consumer that's the target market for this product get it? The long version of the commercial shows a woman in the upstairs window - presumably hinting at what's next - but a more realistic scenario would be that same woman wanting to know if those horses got unharnessed, cooled out, bedded and fed before the guy even came to the house...
At any rate, I feel a little dumb, after all this time, FINALLY writing a proper description for the magnetic business card calendars, and illustrating what a great bang for the buck that they are. For years, my copy said; "Our handy magnetic business card calendar lets you keep your card in front of your customers all year round, and give them a chuckle, too! Each month has different Things Not to Say to a Farrier phrases, paired with humorous farrier drawings. At the bottom is a farrier related hint that may (hopefully) help your clients to help you better care for their horses' feet. Great to enclose with your invoices, or with your holiday cards. These stick to any metal surface. Just remove the liner, and apply your own business card to the adhesive."
What I never took the time to describe, was the fact that with each calendar comes an EXTRA magnetic piece that you punch out and stick to a SECOND business card. This lets you turn any ordinary business card into a handy magnet that you can bet will stay around where clients can see it a lot longer than a regular card.
It's a tough concept to convey with just a small picture and a few lines of copy. Many folks who were interested in the idea, got tripped up when I tried to explain that they needed to use business cards that they ALREADY HAD or place an order for some separately. So, I took a new picture and constructed the above graphic to hopefully give folks a better idea of how this all works. AND, I've marked them down to just 50� - that's HALF OFF the regular price of $1.00! That's still half a year's worth of good calendar pages and the extra magnetic piece that I never bothered to talk about before. What a bargain. On sale while supplies last here
|
Buck Brannaman is an example of a man who's accomplished a LOT in spite of a not so great start in life.
He's traveled the country for years, helping horses and riders get their act together. Unlike many famous clinicians we see today, Buck does NOT have a flair for drama. He quietly assesses the needs of the horse and the rider, then sets about helping the two better understand each other. And he articulates what he's doing in such a manner that those who are watching can learn, too. Even without the showmanship, Buck's remarkable skills have not gone unnoticed. In fact, the main character in Robert Redford's film The Horse Whisperer was based largely on him, and he served as the director's technical adviser during the shoot. Then later, designer / photographer Cindy Meehl took her troubled horse to one of Buck's clinics. She was so inspired that she she ended up deciding to make a film documenting his teachings. That's a fascinating story in itself, as the resulting Buck film was so well received that Meehl went on to produce the 7 Clinics series, that outline in even greater detail the specifics of Buck Brannaman's teachings.
The Faraway Horses Book is Buck Brannaman's fascinating and poignant account of his life from an abusive childhood to his phenomenally successful approach to horses.
 These principles are really about life - about living your life so you're not at war with the horse, or with other people," Buck writes. At heart, this rich and rewarding autobiography is ultimately a prescription for living a harmonious existence - whether it involves horses or not.
BUCK DVD - HALF PRICE Sale
Nearly every week of the year, Buck Brannaman is on the road, conducting horsemanship clinics. Some of what's depicted in the BUCK DVD is a behind-the-scenes look at his life on the road. Can you imagine? Traveling to a new city every week, with your necessary belongings in a camper, and your horses in tow? Each clinic bringing an unknown set of horses and riders, each with a myriad of issues that must be assessed and hopefully a recipe for helping them concocted - all on the fly, by the seat of his pants - and in a manner that keeps everybody safe? Plus, he's expected to talk about what he's doing so the rest of the crowd can understand what's happening and learn, too. OMG, I couldn't even remember everyone's names! Anyway, he does bring his family along on some of his clinics. His wife and three daughters also give their accounts of what life is like for a horse clinician on the road. It's obvious that he's steered his life in a much different direction than did his own father: Abused horses are like abused children. They trust no one and expect the worst. But patience, leadership, compassion and firmness can help them overcome their pasts."
Gina's note: Both the book and DVD (Buck) are based on Buck Brannaman's life and his philosophy for working with horses. Both are fascinating in their own right, but if you're inclined to read - the book fleshes out a great deal of details about the man that the film can't fit in. I recommend both as a set to fully appreciate the story. This is our third year carrying the BUCK DVD - it was immensely popular - I based my fall buying based on previous order history. But when the 7 Clinics DVD Series came out last fall, interest switched to those and we ended up overstocked on BUCK DVDs.
To order, click here
|
Dog Lover's DISAPPEARING MUD MUG
is HALF PRICE!
Even though it's winter, these days we've got the mud anyway. In celebration of mud, I created this 11 oz white ceramic mug with a fun twist. It's imprinted all over with muddy paw prints, and the words SMILE! IT'S ONLY MUD. Fill the cup with hot liquid, and the most amazing thing happens. The words & paw prints dissolve away, revealing a pack of smiling dogs. As the cup cools, the words & paw prints reappear. It works over and over again.
The lovely smiling dog photos were sent in by HoofPrints Facebook fans. When the muddy pawprints disappear you'll see:
Colene White's Freckles (a Border Collie)
Gina Hyatt's Marshfire Lily (a rescue Dalmatian)
Robi Heffington's Clinch (a Corgi)
Carrie (a rescued Red Tick Coonhound from The St Louis Senior Dog Project)
Caprice Madison's Brownie
Jeni Peck's Poudre
LeAnne Manning's Gus Gus (a rescue)
Ashley Moniz's Nattie (a rescue)
Susan Stevens-Clark's Mandy (a Rottweiler)
Tracy McDermott's Ginger (a rescue from Humane Society of SE Missouri)
Gina Keesling's Lucy (a Jack Russell Terrier)
Gina Keesling's Puppy-Girl (a Labrador Retriever)
To order click here
|
Clutter busting continues at HoofPrints
My efforts to clear the warehouse (and my house- house) of accumulated oddball products continues to gain momentum. I've written about it before. The point continues to be, sometimes the space becomes more valuable than the items that are occupying it. So this is where most places say... "our loss is your gain!" Well, check out this super-cheap stuff and BUY IT. And your gain will be my gain, too. Because I need that space on the shelf.
The Half Price Page is here - check this often as they're one-of-a-kind things that will sell quickly and be replaced with whatever else starts to get on my nerves. I am currently going through a large stash of samples* - so many wonderful things, it's hard to choose just a handful for the catalog. And the rest have got to go! Only one of each available so act fast if you see something you like.
*A note about the samples - Someone made a comment on the HoofPrints Facebook page that the samples are free to me and implied should thus be priced accordingly. Just to set the record straight - I pay for almost every sample I acquire. Occasionally an author or publisher will send me a book unsolicited, but I prefer to buy these anonymously so if I review and don't think it is a good fit for the product line, I don't feel guilty about not including it.
Half Price PRINTS are here - there are a lot of lovely prints languishing in drawers here that really should be hanging on folks' walls making them smile and beautifying their homes. Fall/winter is busy season here and I don't encourage print sales then - I don't have the extra time it takes to wrap these carefully for safe delivery. Now that Christmas is past, I've marked them way down now to sweeten the deal.
ALSO New is Half Price JEWELRY here
The more I got to digging, the more I found. Jewelry doesn't take up much room - suffice to say there is a LOT of lovely stuff that needs to find a new home. Then there's that whole problem I have with the beads. It's getting worse. Stay tuned for details on that.
Newest is Half Price Books & Magazine Back Issues here
This represents a major turning point for HoofPrints owner Gina Keesling. This treasure trove of magazine back issues has been lovingly collected and hoarded for many, many years. It's getting to be a space problem, keeping them all stored AND due to the sheer volume of them, along with my busy schedule, they rarely get any attention. But even now, as I go through them to write sales descriptions, I am feeling sad at the prospect of letting go of this vast collection of pictures and articles about all the things I love - Horses, Dogs, Farriery and Blacksmithing, The West, Pretty Western Clothes and Jewelry, Awesome Country Homes, Recipes for Hearty Food, Healthy Living, Spirituality and more. I'll do my best to mention the content that stands out to me in the descriptions. Prices on these back issues reflect the fact that I am still very much in love with them, however they are at or below what the publishers are charging. The current sales list is small, but I'll be adding more as I am able; going through these is a slow process, as you can imagine, I get sidetracked frequently by all the fascinating content that lead me to hoard these in the first place.
The Closeouts Page is here
It features items that are being phased out - still lots of good deals to be had there, too.
|
|
|
|
Here's what we talked about last time
Last newsletter is here ALL newsletters are here
|
|
MADE IN USA!
Nifty little wood box has a lid that fits so neatly that it's virtually invisible when closed. A real deal at only $19.95 here
|
|
Look Professional
On The Job
Sturdy cotton golf shirts look and feel great! See our complete selection here
|
|
Embroidered Farrier Garments are most accurate and detailed available
|
|
FARRIER TRAVEL MUG
For those whose tool kit includes morning coffee, we have the perfect cup to take on the road. BIG 16 oz capacity, slim shape with no handle fits cup holders without problem. Rubber sealed lid - for leak free fit. Insulated and lined with stainless steel. Imprinted with our Tools of the Trade logo. Order here
|
|
WHAT'S HALF PRICE?
Farrier Air Fresheners!
Farrier Air Fresheners include Money, Leather, and Sport Fresh here
|
|
Farriers Traveling Desk
Corral your paperwork on the road! And it's HALF the cost of the previous version here
|
|
Blacksmith Calendar
2015 Blacksmith Calendar $14.95 while supplies last, plus back issues only $1.9 9 here |
|
The Natural Superiority of Mules
Brand new updated second edition covers everything you ever wanted to know about mules. Order here
|
|
Horsey Zipper Pulls
A great way to dress up any vest, jacket, sweatshirt, or purse. Order here
|
|
Bomber Jacket
~ $10.00 OFF! ~
MORE ABOUT THE JACKET: This one's not really suede of the genuine leather persuasion, but you'd never know by touching it. It's made of a high-tech polyester fabric, velvety mocha suede on the outside, cushy oatmeal-colored sherpa fleece on the inside. The two layers are bonded together so this fits like a dream. Smooth, warm, comfortable. How could it get any better? The fabric is 4-way stretch, AND it washes up great with no special coddling in the laundry. Two-way zipper unzips from the bottom for freedom of movement. Zip pockets hold all your stuff without being bulky. To order click here
|
|
Copper HoofPrint Bracelets in 7 colors!
Hand tied right here at HoofPrints - see them all here
|
|
This Hug's For You
Equine Sympathy Cards here |
|
MANURE MOVERS
OF AMERICA - sweatshirt and sign available here |
|
BEST NEWS EVER!
BEAUTIFUL JIM KEY movie is in the works! Morgan Freeman has signed on as the star! This TRUE STORY is a fascinating feel-good tale that's loaded with accurate historical details from our country's history. Make sure you've read it before you see the movie! Order here
|
|
Message
I love hearing from customers. You can contact HoofPrints owner Gina Keesling via email at gina@hoofprints.com |
|
Find us on facebook
Be sure to LIKE our facebook page - it's where we announce special sales, breaking news and everything else we find interesting. To see it go here |
|
|
Share our emails
| |
Viral marketing... it sounds bad, doesn't it?
You can ask my husband - a frequent topic around here is that of forwarded emails - and the psychology behind them - just WHAT prompts people to decide; "I am going to send this to everyone I know!".
We receive a lot of them. Some are pretty good, and others are dumb. Dumb in a myriad of ways... Alarmist email rumors that have been around forever - that folks keep sending "just in case it's true" Pictures of someone's butt (or worse) - don't even get me started about the firecracker butt - but at least that one was timely when it showed up around July 4. Christian messages that are uplifting - until you get to the end and you're threatened "if you're not ashamed that you love Jesus, forward this - if you are, then delete." Pictures of cute puppies and kittens (awww)
I enjoy writing these newsletters - and sharing all this stuff with you all. But the fact is, it's also a way to help us stay connected with customers and sell products during the time between catalog mailings (which is only once a year) So I really, really like it when someone new stumbles upon the newsletter and is excited to "discover" our company and the products we offer.
In all my efforts to make the newsletter interesting and forward-worthy - it never occurred to me to JUST ASK you all to send it! Duh. Sometimes the obvious is elusive, I guess. So here goes - my request to ask you to forward our email newsletter to your horsey friends. All we ask is that you please be judicious and only send to folks who might be interested. Otherwise we are no better than the "firecracker butt". Click to get started. (please note - using this form does NOT subscribe anyone to our list - it is a one-time only forward)
|
|
|
|
|
