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HoofPrints Newsletter
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May 19, 2016
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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.
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More Farriers Business Cards added to online directory
I belong to several online horse groups, and nearly every day someone is looking for a farrier. There are many reasons for this - and I think we are quick to assume the worst when the "I can't find a farrier..." scenario comes up. Sometimes there's a reason that owners can't get a farrier to come, (bad working conditions, slow to pay, etc) or sometimes it's the farrier (won't show up on time, is rough with the horse(s), etc.) and we tend to gravitate toward that kind of thinking. But the fact is, there are lots of reasons farriers and owners need to "shop around" until they find a good fit. And they aren't all negative. For every story I hear about a farrier that won't keep appointments, or an owner who has unruly horses, I also hear stories about wonderful relationships between owners, farriers and their horses. If you take the time to get it right, hoof care can be a whole lot less of a headache for everybody involved. Since I started listing the business cards on Facebook as well as in the directory) I am delighted that our followers frequently take the time to chime in a kind word about their farrier. So, it's in that spirit that I list below our current batch of directory additions. (The cards shown here are for illustration purposes, were randomly chosen and are in no particular order.)Click on the state to view details for each farrier listed below: Alabama - Tim Smallwood Arkansas - Jason Rankin Arizona - Tyler Claves California - Sam Fabila, Johnny Griffin, Jerry Jones, Chris Miller, Chuck Mills, John Pfening, Jamie Wells Colorado - Justin Mundt, Justin Roselle, Steve Schneiderman, Jason Svetich, Jason Wallerstedt Connecticut - Jeff Trask Florida - Bob Dorr, Chris Grimes Hawaii - Brenden Kanakaole Iowa - Randy Hensley, Kenneth Schrock, Clayton Sheeder Indiana - Brad Cook, Mark Franks Kentucky - Jeffrey Lopez, Robert Mast, Kyle Owens Maryland - Janet Fulcher, Dan Garner, Patty Lynch Michigan - Jeff Gilchrest, Dane Johnson, R.J. Kuenzer, Matthew Sampey Missouri - Jesse Gartman, Chris Schlotzhauer Montana - Joshua Bidlack, Tracey Ovnicek North Dakota - Trae Kautzman Nevada - Nick Landrum New York - Esco Buff Ohio - Gregory Altrogge, John Kerlin, Holly Lenart, John Unzicker, Alan Weilnau, Brian Bauer, Jessie Brody Pennsylvania - Creekside Stables, Benuel Fisher, Steven King, Kyle Thompson Rhode Island - Ryan Sweeney Tennessee - Lee Crites, Barry Faulk, Robbie Paris Texas - Ray Bach, Billock Equine, Hootie Cornett, Chase Murdock, Michael Vaughn, Terry Whitman Virginia - Ryan Hoffman Washington - Jesse Wilson Wisconsin - Greg Fredericks West Virginia - Andrew Nelson, Czerna Richardson There you have it, at least for now. I'll feature the next batch of cards once I get some accumulated. If you're a farrier (or other equine professional) and are interested in ordering custom business cards, we have dozens of lovely full color logos to choose from here.
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NEW LOWER PRICE!
Farrier DoorHanger Envelopes
This is the best revision ever on an old favorite - more compact, same good quality, but LOWER PRICE! If the price on these ($35/100) was a deterrent before, be sure to give them a second look now, as I've found a new supplier with a slightly different style for these handy envelopes. They are now UNDER $20 for a package of 100! The hanger portion on these is shorter, more compact AND double thickness, so less likely to tear. The envelope portion is exactly the same size as our previous doorhanger, so our standard farrier invoices fit neatly inside. Another improvement is the opening flap is on the long side, so it's much easier to insert the contents and seal. This was an idea I had years ago when we were visiting a friend in Long Island, NY. We were touring one of the exclusive boarding stables near her home, and the farrier had been there earlier that day. The shoeing bills were tacked to all of the stall doors. Of course, we HAD to snoop and see what the prices were for shoeing and trimming on Long Island. It just doesn't seem like a good idea to leave the bills where they could be read by everyone, or be torn off and lost. Leave your bills or notes in confidentiality with this special hanger that doubles as a return envelope. The reverse side has a place for your address and stamp. The hanger portion is perforated to detach easily before mailing. To order doorhanger envelopes click here.
Ever have those clients who say they would have sent payment - but they didn't have your address? (yeah, right...) You can be sure that they DO have your address - by stamping it on each of the envelopes you leave behind! CUSTOM RUBBER STAMPS are available here. These are self-inking - and good for many, many impressions before they need refilling. You can also use this opportunity to also include a NEXT APPOINTMENT STICKER to remind clients when you're coming back. These are brightly colored and specially printed with farrier artwork - will stand out on the calendar and help cut down on forgotten or missed appointments. Time after time we have had frantic farriers call - because they've run out of stickers and their clients are clamoring for them. To order stickers click here
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PRINTED IN USA: FARRIER INVOICE PADS
HoofPrints uses a local printer for our 2-part carbonless farrier invoice pads and he'd absorbed the increase in paper costs for a lot longer than he should have. He warned me that there was going to have to be an adjustment... you know - like having to pass on the increased price of shoes, nails, and shipping - after you finally sit down and realize how much more they are costing you vs how much the customer is paying for shoeing;you've given yourself a PAY CUT by not raising prices as materials increase? Anyway, that's what happened here, too.
The official increase took effect with the last catalog. However, I've held the old price ($9.00 per pad) on invoice pad ASSORTMENTS. With the assortment option, you get to choose the "A" or "B" body style, but I pick the logos that you get. If it's important that your invoices match your business cards , then this might not be for you. But if you're wanting to save money, then here's a way to do it. The price is $40. for 5 pads - which is a savings of $1.00 per pad! To order, click here
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Below are a few phrases that farriers may be hearing in 2015. We've assembled these & more on a collection of hilarious t-shirts.
Things Not to Say to a Hot, Tired Farrier T-SHIRTS - $19.95 here The MUG (makes a great gift!) is only $12.95 here
All it takes to be a farrier is a strong back and a weak mind! He won't stand for me either, but your ad said you were a professional Can you come back? We are home now. Let me get my twitch before we get started. Sooo, when you're finished, do I have to wait an hour before I can ride him/her? My horse hates men. Yep, I put that stuff on their feet right before you got here. Every time we turn him out he throws a shoe. That don't look that hard! Isn't it great to be outside all day? Let me call my neighbors and their 5 kids. They have never seen a horse shod before. It sure is HOT! I used to shoe, and I can tell right away if you're doing a good job. Do those nails hurt him? He's normally gentle as a kitten, but it is the first time I have had a halter on him. Honestly, I DO clean his feet I haven't ever picked up his feet, but he seems real gentle. Can you put these shoes on good and tight so that they won't come off? My vet said for you to call him and he will tell you how to shoe my horse. He kicked the last farrier just like he kicked you. He's never been that bad!! What did you do? The last guy I had won't come any more. Can you come today? I left them out in the field because it was such a nice day. So, how much does your chiropracter run you a month? Sorry - that's my cell phone. I won't let it ring under this colt's nose again. He never does that for me. My horse doesn't kick. ...well he has never kicked before. Are you busy TODAY? Can you make his foot smaller? This is the first time he has EVER lost a shoe. Since he's a colt, will you charge me half price? I used to shoe my own horses, but I could never get the angles right. Do you think you could take a little more off that back foot? My horse is lame. You must have cut him too short. Let me help you clear out a place to work, I've been meaning to get out here and straighten up this old barn... That's not the way the farrier did it back where I come from. Can you save all the hoof trimmings for my dog? Boy, you must have a strong back to bend over all day like that. He's just trying to swat the flies off you. These shoes have been on for only 12 weeks, and they are getting loose.
WARNING - Copyrighted material! We don't mind if others enjoy our humorous quotes - but please include proper credit if you choose to pass this along... �Gina Keesling - www.farriersgreetingcards.com
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EVEN MORE ITEMS ADDED to HALF PRICE SALE!
Clutter busting continues at HoofPrints
My efforts to clear the warehouse (and my 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 website/flyer. And the rest have got to go! Only one of each available so act fast if you see something you like. The image shown here is what was available at the time this newsletter was sent.
*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.
Half Price JEWELRY is 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.
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 overstocks, items that are being phased out - still lots of good deals to be had there, too.
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FARRIERS: Folks are WATCHING you!!!
Sorry to creep you out, but it's true.
With all the hubbub these days about privacy, huge measures are being taken to manage what various business entities are allowed to do with a person's personal information. As a marketer who uses this information to help make decisions about products & promotions, it is very valuable to me in terms of being profitable to be able to accurately target folks who are likely to be interested in what we have to offer.
But there's a whole 'nother privacy thing that can come under the microscope when you work for the public. Like a farrier does. Every day, all across the world farriers make appearances at various folks' farms to do their work. And they're being observed. And sometimes (probably most times) those folks form an opinion about what they see. If it's interesting enough, they tell their friends. With the advent of the internet, they can tell a LOT of friends.
Consider A Farrier Tale from Horse & Man blog. This blogger tells an interesting account of a routine farrier visit - doesn't much mention the actual work being done - (are they being shod? barefoot? does everybody stand well? etc - typical stuff that farriers would think focus would be on) Instead, she describes her farriers' wardrobe, his grooming, even the behavior of his kids. How well he parks his truck. She becomes aware that the working conditions she's provided for him are less than stellar. It's a fascinating chronicle of how someone else views an ordinary interaction - you can read the rest here Farriers are being talked about on another online group I belong to - this is a very technical group that discusses (often in detail way over my head) things like operant conditioning, bridge & target training, perception modification, and more. These are highly educated folks who are on the cutting edge of animal training research. I hang out there and read all this stuff that's light years ahead of my own skills - hoping a particle or two will rub off on me? There's one gal who's blind - she writes fascinating posts about her relationship with her service dog. Amazing stuff. Another gal works with troubled horses. She's rehabbed a number of "hopeless" cases. Including a mustang who'd been so traumatized by someone's effort to do "natural horsemanship" on him that he was afraid of even the water in his bucket. The discussion has recently shifted to hoof care. This gal shared her story - she'd spent eons of time getting this horse comfortable enough that she could even touch his feet. Finally she can pick them up and hold for a short time. She arranges for her farrier to come and give it a try. They discuss beforehand - he (the farrier) will do as much as he can on one foot, and they will consider the session a success and quit for the day. The farrier comes. The horse allows him to trim without much trouble. Farrier thinks he can do more. Against her better judgement, owner allows him to try. This is too much for the horse and he "misbehaves". Farrier HITS HIM with the rasp. Ugh. Of course, this negates months of work that's been done to gain this horse's trust. Fortunately for the farrier, the owner did not share his name. That wasn't really the point of her post - to trash the farrier - but to emphasize how very important it is that farrier interactions go successfully for a previously-traumatized horse in "recovery". There's even a Facebook Group dedicated exclusively to Farriers Butts! With members all posting photos of their farriers butts. Of course I had to get in on the action. Shown above is my husband Rob trimming Billy , while Lucy cleans up. Rob stopped shoeing years ago because of a back injury, but he still trims ours. We've found that the HoofJack really helps with working on Billy's hind feet. His hocks and hips are arthritic and he is very heavy to hold up. This device lets him lean all he wants without strain on the farriers' back. So, farriers, remember that folks are watching everything you do. Maybe even taking pictures. Make sure the fodder that they have to share is something you're proud of!
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Here's what we talked about last time
Last newsletter is here ALL newsletters are here
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These just in...
Check out new products here
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When they're gone - they're gone...
Don't miss one you've been wanting - sadly, some favorites have been discontinued with no replacement - see them here
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EMBROIDERED CAPS for Farriers
See all our unique, high quality caps designed especially for Farriers here
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Look Professional
On The Job
Sturdy cotton golf shirts look and feel great! See our complete selection here
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Embroidered Farrier Garments are most accurate and detailed available
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DON'T do it yourself
FARRIER COASTERS
No farriers were harmed in the making of these coasters. To order click here
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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
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Farriers Traveling Desk
Corral your paperwork on the road! And it's HALF the cost of the previous version here
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FARRIER GLOVES
Protect your hands and keep dexterity with these durable, open fingered gloves. Order here |
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MADE IN USA
Blacksmith Shop Sign
See this and all our signs here
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FARRIER GOLF SHIRT
Edwin Landseer's "Shoeing The Bay Mare" image makes an appearance in embroidery on a sturdy, professional looking golf shirt here
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MADE IN USA:
DC Metals Steel Cross Pendant
This makes a great gift for a man, but it's not too big for a woman to wear, either. To order click here
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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
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BOOKS for FARRIERS
Millwater's Farriery and more here
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GINA'S BLOG
Fun on the Farm
read the latest happenings in the Keesling household, involving construction, destruction, remodeling adventures and general wreckage here
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Message
I love hearing from customers. You can contact HoofPrints owner Gina Keesling via email at gina@hoofprints.com |
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Share our emails
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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)
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"While you're here, would you mind trimming my new BLM Mustang?"
