AETA PREPARES FOR ITS FIRST ELECTION
The American Equestrian Trade Association (AETA) was pleased to distribute, in April, a call for nominations for AETA’s first election. Nominations paperwork for the Association’s 2009 Board of Directors is due back to the AETA office on 2nd June.
Open Positions/Eligibility: AETA is inviting nominations for President-elect, Vice President/Secretary, Treasurer, and Directors. Manufacturer/Distributor, Retail and Sales Agent members in good standing are eligible for these positions. Specific qualifications for these positions are outlined in the AETA by laws posted on the web site, visit www.aetanews.com.
Board responsibilities: the full board meets in person twice a year at the AETA International Trade Fair and by conference call. Since the association and board are new entities and evolving, members of the board step in to assist as needed on projects including the trade fair, membership, communications initiatives.
The new board members will be announced at the AETA International Trade Fair in Baltimore on 2nd August 2008. The dedicated group of volunteers currently serving on the ‘founding’ board will continue in their roles through the end of 2008. They will mentor the newly elected board in the final months of 2008 to ensure a smooth transition and organisational continuity. Only AETA members can have a voice and this is an opportunity to directly influence the future of the association and the American equestrian trade industry.
For more information visit www.aetanews.com or email equestriantrade@verizon.net
SOCIETY OF MASTER SADDLERS - REPORT ON TREELESS SADDLES
The Society of Master Saddlers (SMS) joined forces with the British Equestrian Federation in 2007 to purchase the latest pressure mapping system from German company, Novel. Part ownership of the system has allowed the SMS to start to compile data collected from using the Pliance system.
Click here to read more
(Image to right is a library image
and does not depict
a treeless saddle)
FIRST UK HKM STORE OPENS
A fortuitous meeting at BETA in autumn 2007 has led to the opening of the UK’s first HKM concept store at Robinson Tack and Feed of Urmston, near Manchester. Christine Walsh, a partner in the store, was looking to take the business in a different direction and was impressed with the HKM products and the idea of an HKM store. This concept means that a retailer only stocks HKM products and in return HKM supply and fit all the shop furniture, decorate the store and present all the articles in a fashionable and refreshing manner. HKM also operate shop in shop systems, which involve a retailer setting aside a small area of the store for HKM products. This system has provided a 28% increase in sales for German retailers.
After visiting HKM’s German headquarters, showroom and warehouse, Christine agreed to the new store concept and design work began. After a huge clearance sale Robinson Tack and Feed underwent a complete refurbishment to give the store the crisp new image HKM demanded. The new stock arrived in an articulated lorry and has been displayed stylishly by HKM’s experienced display team using all the new furniture supplied. The store has also been supplied with posters, flyers, opening giveaways and all the merchandising required to make the first UK HKM concept store a success.
