Courtesy of Shelley Tidaback    
 
 Midwest Edition Electronic Newsletter
 
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Merchandising/Business Operations Cattle Show Chow Red Flannel Horse

August 16, 2007
Volume 2, Number 8

Wow another month has flown by, here it is County Fair time. Hope you are out supporting all your Show Chow customers and watching them win the show!

You should have received information about the San Antonio EXPO in the mail, let me know whether you plan on attending or not. We have two new dealerships that have opened in August:  Turtle Mountain Fleet Farm in Belcourt and Diamond W Animal Essentials in Bismarck.  Hopefully, you will get to meet them soon. The professional merchandiser will be in the Bismarck store the last week of August, and I would like to invite you to come and learn from her.  Those who were involved in the Minot project know what a valuable experience this is.

See you soon and in the meantime Good Selling!

Shelley
Shelley Tidaback
Land O'Lakes Purina Feed

(406) 939-1101
E-Mail:  sjtidaback@landolakes.com

 


Calendar

August 21-23   RETAIL SOLUTIONS EXPO
, Nashville Convention Center, Nashville, TN.   Registration Deadline:
                August 3, 2007.  Expo & Conference, $75; Expo Only, $25.  Reserve your room early!  Click Here for details!

September 10-12   RETAIL SOLUTIONS EXPO, San Antonio Convention Center, San Antonio, TX.  Registration Deadline: 
                August 27, 2007.  Expo & Conference, $75; Expo Only, $25.  Reserve your room early!  Click Here for details!

September 27-30
   2007 SHOW CHOW FITTING CHALLENGE, Qwest Center, Omaha, NE.  If you are interested in
                joining us to partner on this event, please contact Fran Minnaert at (402) 650-6150.  Entry deadline is August 17th
                See Show Chow section below for more details on this event.   



 

 


Red Flannel- Cost to Feed

To assist in figuring the cost to feed our Red Flannel™ brand pet food, please see the chart provided by Dedham Co-Op which gives you cost/pound and cost/day for feeding Red flannel Prime, Active or Hi-Pro.  Click Here to view/print this informative chart.

And . . . for additional information on the Red Flannel™ line, check our website at www.pminutrition.com.

Promote Red Flannel™ In Your Store

  
• Train your store employees.
   • Build displays in high traffic areas and on end caps -- don’t forget signage.
   • Detail shelves.
   • Advertise.
   • Put up the POS including the Frequent Purchase Shelf Talker. Fill in the net price by taking advantage of the 7th FREE bag.
   • Make sure you remind your customers to transition over “slowly” from old PMI and/or other competitive pet foods.

Pet Food Price Increase

Unfortunately, the higher quality ingredients in pet foods have increased in price over the past year.  You will note that there will be modest price increases on our pet foods, although we will not be increasing prices on our Exclusives® at this time.  For more details, Click Here.
 


 

                       Strategy® Fall Blitz Promotion

              This is a fantastic deal that is available to Better Animals®
                  
dealers ONLY . . .

                           
4National print ad campaigns
                             4P-O-S kit
                             4Print media reimbursement
                             4Feeding Trial
                             4Strategy credit on new prospects
                             4Prospecting kit 

                                    Click Here for details.
 


Purina Horse Website Updated

4
Star Performers added in tool bar - This is a complete list of all of our National Ambassadors with photos and bios included.
       Click Here


4
Senior Horse Tales - This is a list of winners and their stories.  Great testimonials plus you can link to the gallery where there
       are over 600 stories from last Horse Health Fairs.   Click Here        To go to gallery, Click Here.

4 New Free Balance Block added to products - The new product sheet features our new Block.  Click Here
 

Horse Health Fairs

Don't miss the opportunity to hold a Horse Health Fair!  Click Here for more details on how to participate.  Click Here to view/print sign-up form, then fill in all required information and fax to the attention of Cindy Hoelzer at (314) 317-5276.  
 


 

 


Retail Is Detail!

77% of consumers say they would spend an average of 21% more $'s if a store was remodeled or renewed in line with the features they want and value.  A recent consumer study indicated the following features were important:

                                                #1 - Store staff have the most influence in how consumers perceive a store.
                                                #2 - Restrooms -- it is true that customers judge you about how well your
                                                        restrooms are constructed and maintained.

Other items of high importance to the customer are:

                                                        Store Layout            Noise Level
                                                        Temperature            Parking Lot
                                                        Lighting                    Flooring

Even if a new store remodel or construction is not in your immediate plans, be sure to cover the basics . . .
                                                ê Staff training and morale are still #1 to the customer.
                                                ê Provide good lighting in a comfortable shopping environment
                                                       and clean restrooms.

If you would like help evaluating your current store or are interested in enhancing your retail presence, give us a call!

Paul Homb
Retail Development, Land O'Lakes Purina Feed
(815) 541-3406
     E-Mail:  phomb@landolakes.com


Animal Makeover™ TV

Feedback and initial results of our Animal Makeover™ TV series on RFD-TV are impressive.  Feedback from consumer response to RFD is overwhelmingly positive, and we have had over 600,000 hits to our website!  We continue to add over 600 new names each week to our list of prospects.  Our Better Animals Program dealers are also realizing a positive effect -- they are up over 11,000 tons through June.

We are working right now on the story lines and format for the next new season of shows for 2008.  In the meantime, the attached show synopsis describes the next set of thirteen episodes in our initial series.  Click Here for descriptions of these shows. 

Remember, programs air on RFD-TV on Tuesdays at 7:00 pm CST -- plus you can view clips from the shows and find additional resources at our website, www.BetterAnimals.com.

 

Show Chow Winners!

It is State Fair time for many of you...and we'd love to know if you have winners from your state. Click Here to view our August issue of the Better Animals® Show Series Spotlight Newsletter.

A recent Grand 4T Fyer Show Chow winner is Lauren Lange, age 11, now a two-time Grand Champion winner!  Click Here for some great pictures of Lauren and Little Gray and Carman, Grand Champion Chianina Breeding Heifer.

Show Chow Awards Program

For pictures and stories on more Show Chow winners and awards program details, visit www.betteranimalsshowseries.com.  If you have a Grand Champion or Reserved Grand Champion at your County Fair, Click Here to redeem your prizes on line.

New Commercial Goat Products

Check out our new Commercial Goat Products . . . all products are not yet inventoried everywhere, so be sure to check availability at your plant first.
Click on name to view product information . . .
 

T-CM Dairy Goat Conc.
T-Kid Goat Grower 16
T-Kid Goat Grower 16 R20
T-Kid Goat Str-Gwr 18 R20

T-Kid Goat Str-Gwr 18
T-Dairy Goat Parlor 16
T-Dairy Goat Parlor 18
T-Total Goat Lactation 18%


2007 Show Chow Fitting Challenge

Ak-Sar-Ben 4-H Livestock Exposition will be presenting the 2007 Show Chow Fitting Challenge at the Qwest Center in Omaha, NE September 27-30.  Teams are comprised of three 4-H exhibitors from the same county.  To enter, you can visit their website at www.aksarben.orgClick Here to view detailed flyer.

Entry deadline is August 17th
($30 entry fee per team).  To view/print details on contest and Show Chow Fitting Challenge rules, Click Here.



Cattle Feeding - Producer Proofs

Remember to think about collecting proofs as your producers wean and creep feed calves -- or as they use our cattle starting products.


 
Stack 'Em High, Watch 'Em Fly!

Order Early!  Be sure you don't miss this Wildlife Block & Mineral Promotion, $1.00 OFF!  First Order Date: August 1, 2007, Last Shipment Date:  September 28, 2007.  PE # 0416.  (PE is not automated, so please advise your customer service department when you wish to use this promotion.)  A recent market study showed that 22% of hunters use wildlife blocks and minerals and nature lovers like them, too.  Build a display in a high traffic area, end cap or front of store, then add brochures/signage.  This will get customers thinking about purchasing in the fall (pre-sell) -- and you can cross-sell with other wildlife items.  Click Here for details/promotional voucher.  Click Here for product pictures/descriptions.

Have A Block Party, Outdoor Style!

Many clubs have made good money by selling our Wildlife blocks.  The Wildlife blocks can be great fund-raisers.  Click Here for details and suggestions on this great concept.   Click Here to view/print Wild Block Fund-Raiser Order Sheet.
 


Heritage Trading August Specials

Take advantage of the August sale on Heritage Trading's Animal Care products.  Click Here to view/print August sale flyer.

To place an order, call Heritage Trading Company at (888) 669-6050 Opt. 3 or fax to (800) 435-2070.

Spread The Word . . . mmmmmmmMazuri®!

There are many local clubs interested in Mazuri® and need a place to purchase product. Consider attending or hosting club meetings and shows for a variety of species. Check with your local water gardening clubs for koi diet business, 4-H clubs for small animal business, bird clubs for small bird, parrot, and even softbill business, reptile and amphibian clubs, alpaca clubs, etc.

Many cities have garden pond tours, bird shows, guinea pig (Cavy) shows, alpaca shows, llama shows, and reptile shows. These are typically great locations to setup a booth, sell Mazuri®  products, and hand out business cards with your store information. Many people do not know where Mazuri®  products can be purchased. Hanging a Mazuri®  banner outside and advertising Mazuri®  in your community papers will also guide customers in the right direction!

Mazuri® Alpaca Growth and Repro Diet 56CD Product Update

Growth and Repro product manufactured after September 1st, 2007 will contain loose shredded beet pulp.  Dr. Norm Evans, leading alpaca veterinarian, has suggested the addition of loose shredded beet pulp as a high quality fiber source.  Watch the Mazuri®  website "What's New" section for the latest updates.

Mazuri® New Baby Bird Handfeeding Product

Perfect for most bird breeders, the Hand Feeding Formula is a complete diet designed to promote optimal growth and development for most frugivorous and granivorous birds from the day of hatch through weaning.  The product is packaged in resealable pails (see photos attached) and will be displayed at the Nashville and San Antonio Feed Expos.  A complete spec sheet can be found under the "What's New" section on the Mazuri® website.
Click Here for bucket photos.

Visit our Mazuri® website at  www.mazuri.com.
 


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