Buyers' Control

I firmly believe that the buyers should "control" the market! And, the markets should be at locations, at times (months & days), and containing items (exhibitors, product lines, activities, and information) the BUYER wants to SEE, DO, AND PARTICIPATE IN! Believe me when I say if the buyers are there, the manufacturers will come… not necessarily the other way around, although both are required for a successful market, the buyers are the most important ... and, seemingly, the most silent. Buyers 'voting with their feet' won't quickly, or necessarily positively, change anything. It's time to speak up if you want change.

Until the buyers step up and start communicating their opinions – clearly defining their wants, needs, goals, expectations, and reasons for attending (or not attending, as is the case with the majority) a given show with some real reasons and examples – I don't believe there will be any unity in this industry. People – buyers or manufactures – can not expect things to improve, or positively change, especially not for the east coast markets, if the market organizers aren't clearly told by the BUYERS what they need to do to get a higher and more active attendance (of buyers). I don't believe more shows are the answer the buyers are looking for.

There are OVER 35,000 different retail companies trying to profit from and participating in some facet of the equine retail community; yet less than 4,000 "companies" are represented or otherwise attend ANY of the market shows in the entire United States; and 90% are the same from show to show, season to season. Your vote, your opinion, and your needs count, but they can only be counted if you express them through written communication (i.e. blogs, forums, emails) to others that can do something about it. Your opinions need to be explained and made public so that people will take notice, so your votes can be counted, and the proper people can act upon what the majority of the buyers really want in this industry.

There needs to be a defined unity among the buyers, which I don't believe any organization is currently offering buyers (WESA is clearly the closest). And, until recently, there's really been no opportunity (or forum) for the buyers to, as individuals or a group, tell the various organizations or trade show organizers what THEY WANT and NEED to get their participation without constantly repeating themselves, which gets tiresome.

TackStoreInfo.com is trying to do just that, offering a FREE forum for ALL buyers, exhibitors, and industry parties to have a voice, a vote, and an opinion. Please check it out. Tell them what you want, need, and expect to get your participation in a show. The information posted there will be made available to all legitimate organizations (WESA, WETA, etc.) the various trade show market organizers, and various trade magazines. It's free, and it's for YOU, the buyer! Good, bad, or otherwise, share your opinions, ask questions, seek answers, and unite in one place for the industry at large.

Help the people that are making decisions that affect you, learn what YOU really need, want, expect, and hope for in this industry.

To aid in this goal, please take the time to fill out our industry survey.

Sincerely,

Terry Mercer, President
MD's Choice, Inc.
865-384-8556
www.vetsupplements.com