What is KMS?

Who We Are
KeyMarketingSolutions.ORG (KMS) is made up of manufacturers who were not happy with the attendance of wholesale trade show markets in the Equine Industry or the number of new accounts opened at those shows before the various divisions in the eastern markets. It was founded in 2005 by Terry Mercer of MD's Choice and Ralph D'Agosta of America's Acres. KMS comprises people who care about this industry and want to help improve networking and communication. KMS is NOT "another show" or "organization" seeking a membership fee. We are NOT trying to divide the industry in any way, shape or form. We want growth, which we believe can only occur through honest communication, problem-solving, networking, and more unity.

Why We Exist
Over the past four years, MD's Choice has taken a detailed demographics survey from thousands of stores they've visited. The results are staggering. ONLY 20% of all tack shops surveyed attend market trade shows every year. Another 15% attend once every two to five years. Nearly 90% of those that do attend are the SAME BUYERS from show to show, season to season. As manufacturers, we ALL need to capture the 80% of the existing dealer pool that doesn't participate in the markets. Using direct mail, verbal and written communication, and the internet, KMS and its sponsors are actively doing something about it. The founders recognized a need to improve this situation. KMS was formed to help increase the market show attendance in the USA, to assist in gathering information from both manufacturers and buyers, and to give buyers a voice for what they want, expect, and need to grow and improve their businesses and to be more active in the shows. This will help all manufacturers! We are offering unified support and are actively inviting wholesale accounts to take advantage of show specials, to attend more shows, and otherwise voice their opinions, thoughts, beliefs, wants and needs.

How We Can Help Your Business
You may have read that there are only 5,000 to 10,000 "core" stores in this industry that the "trade magazines" mail to, yet there are an estimated 46,000+ industry buyers and decision-makers in the U.S. So, what is a "core" store? The answer depends on who you talk to, but, basically, a core store is one that is well-established and spends a whole lot of money every year, well up into the six figure range at least.

So, what about the thousands of "mom & pop" stores that may someday grow into a "core" store? Each of them may not be big now, but, together, they make millions of dollars in wholesale purchases. While all manufacturers love the big accounts and the big orders, it's the tens of thousands of "little guys" with a dream and goal to succeed that help keep this industry alive and growing. Our mailing list includes over 21,000 owner, buyers & decision-makers in this industry. We do our best to mail to the actual buyers and decision-makers whenever possible, and while not perfect, we believe we have the most complete and up-to-date list in this industry gathered over the last seven years, which is constantly maintained, appended, and updated. We're positive that our mailing list is the strongest, most complete, and best in this industry.

What does this mean for you? That we can put your information in front of more qualified decision-makers than any other single effort on this planet!

Direct advertising has definite benefits. We mail three direct mailers per year with positive results. We've signed more new accounts and received more reorders of our products with the our mailers than we did during most market shows, for a fraction of the cost. This cost-effective approach works. To learn more, go to the Marketing section of this site.

We have set up FREE forums on the Internet that you are welcome to participate in, where you can talk with others in the industry. We also provide FREE articles and information to keep you well-informed. If you are a legitimate business in this industry, you are already a member! Simply log onto TackStoreInfo.com and register. It's FREE!

We all need to work together to bring the buyers back. Our goal is to make KMS something you want to invest in on a regular basis, to help us continue growing this co-op marketing concept and get more show participation.

Sincerely,

Terry Mercer - President, MD's Choice, Inc.
Ralph D'Agosta - President, America's Acres Safety Products & Equipment