canadian wrote:
Dustin, at least your looking for ways to grow your business. You received some great advice on here, especially Gary's. Work hard, do your best work, keep learning all you can and be patient. It takes time to build a business. One day your going to make other farriers mad because folks are switching to you and willing to pay more for good work and a dependable trusted farrier.

You do not want to be the guy that people use because your prices are lower, you want to be the guy that fixes cheap work and people realize that in the long run their horses are better for it and they save a lot of headaches and Vet bills.

now is an ideal time to be making shoes . make barshoes, raised heels, really any shoe you can use in the future. i would make them in pairs and only put toe nails in(its easier to balance the shoe i find) label them up in size and when the call comes you are already prepared just put nailholes in and one impressed customer ready to spread the word. this is also ideal forging practice that will be utilised throughout your career making fitting etc easier because of this basic groundwork you have undertaken.
chris

Dustin,
Read my post in the "educated" thread I think it pertains to this one too. I myself am one of those that has broken through the 5th year and found that the patience paid off and you don't want those bottom feeders anyway. Go ahead and take their money when you can though.

everypersonisahorsetoo wrote:
Pictures please.

:D:D

What Criss said about making shoes. Spot on. You will be the guy who puts on handmades.
You will find that whom ever a client refers to you will be like that client. My best clients come from the referrals of my best clients. The opposite may be even more true. I don't even return calls sometimes when I hear on the machine that "so-and-so said to call you".
I have used the blindfold thing too. I put it on the client though, as I have the other end of the spectrum thing going that Hernando has.

Another thing. If you discount your self, you will be looked upon as lower in value. I have wanted to keep a new client and made up a reason for a discount, never heard from them again. Then I started making up some reason to charge extra for something, I'm the guy forever.
I do give discounts, after they are earned. I'll do a free trim for a barn owner who collects my money from boarders, etc.
When I get asked to a new barn and they fish around for a quantity discount, I tell them I may have to charge extra, we'll see. Then if I don't charge too much extra, they think they're ahead.