| Courtesy of Lee Healy |
 |
Midwest Edition Electronic Newsletter |
| Calendar | Click-N-Print | Useful Web Sites | Questions & Comments | Contact Information |
| Merchandising/Business Operations | Cattle | Companion Animal | Horse |
May 12, 2006
Volume 1, Number 1
I'm glad to be part of a team to help you sell and service Land O'Lakes
(Purina Mills LLC) feeds through your business. I live near Mitchell, SD
and service central South Dakota for cattle as well as nearly all of South
Dakota for lifestyle feeds for the company.
Feel free to contact me about your feeding opportunities, comments for future
articles and issues important in your area. Would you like to see more on
electronic ID's, branded beef and natural beef programs, or co-products of the
corn industry?
I welcome your comments and am open to suggestions.
Lee
Lee Healy
Land O'Lakes Purina Feed
E-Mail: lhealy@landolakes.com
Calendar
May 1st First
order date for Colorful Companions 60-Day Promotion. See details in
Companion Animal section.
June 8th & 9th Extreme Performance Show Lamb Camp, Plymouth
County Fair Grounds - Lemars, IA. See details in Companion Animal section.
June 14-16 Show
Feed VIP, Honor Show Feeds & Show Chow Brand Sign-Up. See details in
Companion Animal section.
Make plans to
attend a Retail Solutions Expo this year! Two events in one! Buying
Expo and Retail
Experience Training Conference! Over 100 exhibiting
companies plus feed . . .
Buying specials, training sessions, prices and more . . . Retail Solutions Expo
-- The Total Retail Experience!
Ask your Land O'Lakes Purina Feed Representative for details. You can't
afford to stay home!
July 25-27
RETAIL SOLUTIONS EXPO - Reno, NV
Aug. 22-24 RETAIL SOLUTIONS EXPO
- Arlington, TX
Sept. 12-13 RETAIL SOLUTIONS EXPO - St. Paul, MN
Sept. 26-28 RETAIL SOLUTIONS EXPO - Savannah, GA
Business-Building Tips
Can you learn some business-building tips from a dog named Spud?
Click here to see what Spud has to say!
At Land O’Lakes Purina Feed LLC, we are committed to helping you
succeed in the competitive business that we are in. We have the tools available
to assist you in a store upgrade, business evaluation, or our concept store
program (Premier Services). If we can help you with this, please give your
salesperson or myself a call. The number one factor in the success of any
organization is the people. We appreciate that you are part of our team.
The following is a list of factors that can make a store successful. “People
like to buy from people that they like.”
10 Good Reasons Why Independent Retailers Succeed:
1. When you open the door in the morning, look at your store through your
customer's eyes!
2. Train and provide clear direction for your employees.
3. Review your financials routinely -- (daily sales charts) set targets.
4. Make your customers feel important. (Big Boxes can't do that!)
5. Have a marketing plan -- know your target.
6. Offer a product mix that fits your target (economy - mid-range -
premium).
7. Make your store interesting -- offer new products -- specials.
8. Shop your competition.
9. Continue learning by attending Retail Expos and training seminars.
10. Have fun, and your employees and customers will, too!
Retail Solutions Expos
Make plans to
attend a Retail Solutions Expo this year! (Check
the Calendar section of this newsletter for dates and places!)
Paul Homb
Retail Development, Land O'Lakes Purina Feed
(815) 541-3406
E-Mail: phomb@landolakes.com
Research
The LongView Animal Nutrition
Center at Gray Summit, MO is the premier private research facility in the Feed
Industry. Millions of animal owners benefit directly from the nutritional
expertise that comes from LongView. There is an excellent Tech bulletin on
the Purina Cattle website
that tells cattle producers about the research information generated from the LongView staff.
Click here to
view bulletin, "Producers Profit from Purina Research." While you
are there, browse the other tech bulletins as well. You are likely to find
several others that will help you also.
Fly Control Season Is Here
Wind and RainTM Fly Control minerals have become the preferred method of
providing Altosid (MTH) to various life stages of cattle. Altosid reduces fly
populations significantly if producers start feeding it before adult fly
populations are established. Starting early is the key to getting the best
results with the Wind and RainTM Fly Control products. Cattle are more comfortable,
perform better and graze more uniformly when fly populations are held in check.
The “Mineral” tab on the Cattle website lists the Wind and RainTM products that have Altosid (MTH). You will also find information on the other Purina Mineral
products offered. Technical Bulletins are provided on our Cattle website --
Click here for
bulletin on fly control
Click here for
bulletin on Altosid and horn flies
Creep Feeding
In today’s cattle economics, extra pounds weaned on a cattleman’s calf crop
mean big increases in revenue . . . but the benefits of creep feeding go beyond
extra pounds of calf weight. Saving body condition, more muscle and bone
development in the calves, more efficient use of forage resources and quicker
adaptation to the feedlot post-weaning are further reasons that producers are
looking for creep feeding options this season. The Purina cattle website has a
thorough discussion of the benefits and economics of creep feeding.
Click here to go to
creep feeding information. Invite your customers to view this website
(http://cattle.purinamills.com) as well.
They will find the discussion and research data very interesting.
Brood Cows
The demands on a brood cow are huge. We expect her to breed promptly, milk efficiently, produce a big, healthy calf at weaning and calve the following year on time and unassisted, plus she needs to move through that cycle for 7-10 years without ever taking a break. Needless to say, you can’t meet these expectations without a strong nutrition program. Mineral supplementation is a cornerstone of nutrition in the brood cow. Supplying Calcium and Phosphorus is important, but appropriate trace mineral feeding is equally as essential. On top of all that the mineral fortification needs to be delivered to the cow in a feeding package that is palatable and predictable without over consumption.
Many cattlemen have started using Wind and RainTM Mineral Tubs for those reasons. They enjoy consistent intakes plus the convenience of tub feeding plus the nutrient package is similar to the Wind and RainTM “weatherized” products. Matching the cow’s mineral needs in a convenient cooked process tub makes Wind and RainTM Mineral Tubs a feeding alternative that deserves consideration.
VIP Sign-Up
Show Feed VIP - Honor Show Feeds & Show Chow Brand - June 14, 15 & 16
Sign Up.
(Click here for details and to view VIP Sign-Up Form)
Extreme Performance Show Lamb Camp
June 8 & 9, 2006 - Plymouth County Fair Grounds - Lemars, IA -
This camp is designed for all ages of showman, from beginners to seasoned
veterans. It is designed to raise the show person's ability to exhibit at
a whole new level of competition. To learn details on this event,
click here.
Colorful Companions
Colorful Companions begins a 60-Day Promotion! First order:
May 1, 2006 -- Last ship: August 31, 2006. Three discount levels
available!
To view Colorful Companions 60-Day Promotion
flyer, click here.
Meetings Pay!
Following is a letter that Tracy Coffland received from Donnie Bloes
following a Wild Bird meeting held at his store in Jesup, IA. Two separate
meetings were held -- one in the morning and one in the evening, with a total
attendance of over 170 people! Keep in mind, Jesup is a small community of
about 2,200 people.
"Thanks for the compliments
on our Wild Bird Seminar. Honestly, I was expecting a crowd, but will
admit to being overwhelmed
by the crowd that showed up.
The total sales for the day of the seminar were up about $800 over the same day
last year. However,
since the seminar, I can
honestly say bird seed sales are up, and many of those who did not buy that
evening are coming in to buy
now. For instance, last
Saturday, I had a gal who was from Independence come in the store and bought
$136 worth of bird seed
and feeders alone. She
had never been in the store and was totally impressed and promised she would be
back. Since then, we
have also had two couples come in to
thank us for the seminar and to tell us how well they liked it. We have
received thank you
letters and many, many nice
comments being received as we meet people on the street. Already people
are asking when we will
do it again. So, yes,
it was a huge success and I want to thank you for your part in making it so.
If I was to do it differently, what I
would do is rather than give
a free 20 lb. bag away, I would probably give a free 10 lb. bag away and they
can achieve a free 20
or 50 lb. bag, depending on
the dollars they spend within the store. Just a thought!"
This is a testament to how meetings work to drive business!
Horse Care
Dr. Katie Young provides insight on "Frequently Asked Questions" on
Horse Care --
Click here to view
this interesting article.
Nature's Essentials
Because today's horses are typically limited to pastures and grains which can
have inconsistent and variable nutrient levels, horses need your help to achieve
the nutritional balance they once derived naturally. . . Complementing the Best
that Nature has to Offer . . . Nature's Essentials.
(Click here to view flyer)
Nature's Essentials Supplements Complement Nature . . . to learn more details
about this supplement line including a description of products offered,
Click here
for product details.
(To view our website on Nature's Essentials, go to
http://horse.purinamills.com, click
on "New Products" on the top right, then click on the "Nature's Essentials"
link.)
Sherman Tegtmeier, New Purina Horse Influential
We are happy to announce that Sherman Tegtmeier has joined the Purina Horse Influential Program. Sherman, a long-time Strategy customer, is available for demos and clinics in your area. Please click here for bio and picture of Sherman. You can also learn more about Sherman Tegtmeier by going to www.nereiner.com.
ResourcefulTM Brand Pet Food
The multi-particle, healthy pet food market is one of the fastest growing
segments. Check out the benefits and support programs in place for this
dog food segment.
Click here for product details.
Take advantage of this opportunity --
Click here to view house news on this pet food opportunity! Order now
and increase your pet food profits -- receive up to 16 bags FREE!
Click here for offer details and order form.
Exclusive Adult Cat Light Formula Samples (30/6 oz. case) are now available!
E1 64427
UPC 742869000349
Exclusive Pet Food - Get Fresh! Growth Drive
Remember, last ship date is July 31st for our PMI Nutrition GET
FRESH Growth Drive. Qualify for rebate for 10%, 15% or 20% growth over
same period last year.
To access Participation/Order Form and complete details, click here.
A Complimentary
Counter Flyer
With spring in the air, true garden
lovers can't help but begin planning for the sunshine ahead! What better
way to get ready for summer than with a butterfly garden? If
any of your customers are interested in creating a butterfly garden, please use
this special "Click-N-Print" section of this issue to print an
in-store flyer for your customers. You could place copies on your counter or in
the
home and garden area of your store as a complimentary item for customers.
To view the flyer click here!
(By the way, you will need Adobe's Acrobat
viewer to view this flyer and to print it out. If you need a copy of Adobe
Acrobat viewer, you can download a free copy by
clicking here.)
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