FOLLOW UP - Horse Treats Were a Hit! (thank you all!)

[KatyG]

Hey!
A few weeks ago, I posted here with a question about horse treats, and promised a follow up

A local show (200+ entrants) let me set up with their other vendors.
First of all, my location was perfect - next to the most popular vendor (HorsePlay), and right in front of the ring where my daughter had her events.

The first morning was reallllllllyyyyyy slow. So slow I was bummed, but figured at least “now I know this won’t be a thing”

But things picked up around 1pm. The girls (there were no boy entrants, just a couple male trainers) would swing by to see what was new at HorsePlay, then came and saw my treats. I had a jar of broken bits and messed up designs so they could take samples. More then a few simply ate them themselves, knowing they were for horses

And then when they went to their stable rest areas, they’d show other team members, so those girls would stop by.

A couple barn owners bought several gift sets to give to their borders and trainers.

And I got a wholesale account immediately.

It was a great experience. I also took photos of what had NOT sold at the end to remind me which designs to not bother with again.

I think this is going to work out!
I’m already set to donate items to local Equine NPOs for October an November.

So the next couple weeks will be looking for more local (ish) shows, creating my wholesale one sheets, and fine tuning packaging and designs.

I’m including images here so you can see what everything looked like, including booth set up, and the “Pony & Person” treat sets (one human cookie, one horse treat)(the one pictured is the one with rainbows)

Again, THANK YOU for taking the time to answer my last post - and I am open to any other suggestions as well.

Take care,
Katy

[2DogsFarm]

Those are beautiful!
Will you ever be selling online?
The only local homemade treats here are - in my opinion - overpriced & unimaginative.
Doesn’t help I met the maker & she tends to embroider on her past experience with horses

[reefy]

Those cookies are beautiful! I’ll echo the question - any chance of selling online?

[KatyG]

Here’s where I confess I am simply a Horse Girl Mom - a glorifed chauffer, if you will.

So I’ve nothing to embroider…

[KatyG]

That’s the plan!

I was looking at website templates this evening - it’s going to take a few weeks, though since I need to get decent photos of the gift sets.

Thanks for asking!

[Scribbler]

I think human plus horse cookie sets are genius especially for a horse show where everyone is running around too fast to have time to eat. I know that when I’m rushing to the feed store on my way home from work I often look longingly at the fancy dog treats expecting there to be snacks for humans on the counter, and there aren’t!

I’m in awe of the patterned icing. No idea how that’s even possible!

[KatyG]

I can’t take credit for coming up the Human/Horse sets. A friend and fellow Barn Mom suggested them. I wasn’t sure about the concept, but was pretty proud of how they turned out, and really glad I took her advice.

I figured, I obviously don’t “know everything”, but I knew the cookies were delicious, the treats were cute, and I had no reason to not try the sets out.

And just like you said, people were running around hungry.

Had I sold cookies on their own, I might have done okay as well

Again, thrilled she suggested it. Now, I’ll be making them for any future events for sure.

[Demerara_Stables]

@KatyG

I was looking at website templates this evening

I’m a huge fan of Squarespace for easy to build websites - I’ve done 3. I’m pretty sure they have great e-commerce tools too so you can take payments online.

The cookies are adorable and I do love the horse and human sets!

[KatyG]

@Demerara_Stables

Squarespace

right?! I much prefer it to other plug and plays.
It’s what I’ll be using for this site for sure.

[trubandloki]

Congratulations on your success!

One shape that might sell well is horses decorated in real color patterns. I am betting the kids would love to buy a horse cookie marked like their horse.
(The down side of that is I am not sure they would actually feed it to their horse so maybe it would not be good for repeat business.)

[clanter]

One shape that might sell well is horses decorated in real color patterns

on that line, human cookies in the likeness of the horse’s owners… then add some dog shaped cookies as most stables have a dog… then a cat?

or blank cookies with a grooming box of icing for decoration?

[2DogsFarm]

& you’d have a readymade gold mine of a customer base here!
Holidays approach & I’d love to get these for friends
So don’t forget to come back & let us know where to buy!

& Don’t downplay your role as Horsegirl Mom!
If my (non-horsy) Mom hadn’t willingly chauffered me to weekly lessons as a kid, I might not still have the Passion nearly 70yrs later

[Night_Flight]

Did you use printed rice paper? As a hobby baker, I’m impressed by the patterns and curious how you did them, because my piping is definitely not that good!

[KatyG]

@trubandloki

The down side of that is I am not sure they would actually feed it to their horse

It does feel a little cannibalistic

But they DID buy the horse head shaped ones in fun patterns.

[KatyG]

My mom and older sister are horse people - I freely admit, it skipped me somehow, but I love what it does for my girl.

[KatyG]

I don’t use printed paper. Simply because as a consumer, I never liked the texture.

I use an edible printer. It’s basically an ink jet printer with concentrated food coloring.
And then I hand pipe details.

[SBrentnall]

You might want to take a look at Shopify. They also have a ton of templates and they’re far better for e-commerce, especially as you grow.

[KatyG]

I will - thank you!