AETA, where Tack Stores Choose their Merhandise

American Equestrian Trade Association show

Maybe you have wondered why your tack store or feed store is choosing some products that you like over others.  How do they acquire all of the catalogues of the companies with which they do business?  AETA, http://www.aeta.us puts on huge trade shows through the year and encourages ATEA members to register as buyers and to attend the show free of charge. Vendors may spend thousands of dollars to display their products and supply information. Orders are taken at this time for the helmets and britches and saddles that you may choose from  your tack store.  And,  buyers move through the show with rolling suitcases stuffed with samples and catalogues and ideas for new products, such as a new riding shirt out by San Soleil with a sun screen in the fabric.

I attend these shows for various reasons.  I am an on-line retailer with http://www.horseflynet.com and I am a buyer of advertising from magazines who have booths at these events.  This is a chance for me to talk to editors and management of the magazines. It is great meeting them face to face. Therefore, I come to the show as a buyer with a large ID around my neck telling the world who I am.  We get an AETA gift bag filled with goodies.  Best product this year, in my opinion, were the new plaid socks given to us by http://www.tuffrider.com.  They are cozy and warm but pretty for winter.  Kerrit did a well positioned style show right in the middle of the front of the building that was easy to view and Kerry was there to answer questions, http://www.kerrit.com is featured in the picture above.

The other draw for attending a show such as AETA is the seminars.  This year the trade association offered two excellent presenters.  They did a Social Media Marketing course for the horse industry.  This is the wave of the future, yet it is not easy to find coaching on the subject much less classes on that subject.  I would like to thank Lisa Kemp, http://www.kempequine.com and Chad Mendell, http://www.cowdogmedia.com for 4 and 1/2 hours of inspiring information and ideas on social media. Yes, I learned one or two things. One suggestion was don’t make your blog too long.  So I am finised.