truly is a one stop shop for all things equestrian. You even have feed - this is the most complete Tack Store I’ve ever seen. How does your team determine the mix of inventory?
Sherrin and Ames Krebs Q&A with Ames and Sherrin Krebs of Franklin Horse Supply JC: Wow! Ames and Sherrin, Franklin Horse Supply has fast become the go to place for any/all equestrian needs You’re also the owners of the Franklin and Columbia Kubota dealerships, can you tell our readers a little about what makes Franklin Horse Supply special and tell a little about how the idea for the store came about... AK/SK: Well Johnny, we are the only locally-owned tack shop in Franklin, and that makes us unique. We also are a feed store. We offer products and services that cater to the needs of the modern horse enthusiast and we are growing every day. We just launched dubarry of Ireland boots and apparel, as well as Smathers and Branson needlepoint products, and we are building our inventory of hunt apparel. And Sherrin and I are really trying to create a store that not only meets the needs of the local horse-loving community, but also inspires our customers to ride more and get their children and friends involved in riding. I hope that our enthusiasm as a family and as an organization is apparent to everyone who walks in the door at Franklin Horse Supply.
JC: I have a great friend who’s daughter rides hunter/jumper and fox hunts and all she talks about is your store, she says it’s a blast just going there...and she’s only eleven. What makes Franklin Horse Supply so fun for kids? AK/SK: I think it is just a fact that when a young person enjoys riding, they love their horse. And when they love their horse, their enthusiasm for anything that makes their riding experience more enjoyable, or makes their horse more comfortable or more beautiful, is practically without limit. So it is very common for young people to just gush about their experience at Franklin Horse Supply. We have a young staff that loves to ride and care for their horses, and they all enjoy the enthusiasm of the young folks that visit us. We all know that enthusiastic young riders are the key to the future of our industry, and we will do anything in our power to make their experience a positive one. A case in point is the upcoming event we are having on December 6th Hot Chocolate and a Story with Santa and Mrs Claus. We hope your readers will come out for this wonderful event. JC: As I shop around your store, I see that you have both english and western riding items and accessories. This
AK/SK: Our approach to inventory is to order items that our staff, as experienced horsemen, know will be needed by the many disciplines that our customers participate in. We also order many items, and indeed entire lines, such as dubarry of Ireland and Smathers and Branson needlepoint products, because they are things that Sherrin and I would like to have. If we think they are desirable, we are betting others will as well. We want to offer products that are not available anywhere else in our area. One thing we have learned from our equipment business is that quality sells itself. JC: Does Franklin Horse Supply have a mobile version of the store that travels to horse shows, rodeo’s, etc? If so, what geographical radius does Franklin Horse Supply cover from a travel standpoint? I can see how a mobile version of the store would be popular wherever it popped up...
polo player. Sherrin and I are vocal proponents of building a polo venue at Harlinsdale Farm, and we hope that plans move forward quickly to make that a reality. If it does, Franklin Horse Supply will be a sponsor of the polo instruction programs that will be a big part of polo at Harlinsdale. Bringing polo to Harlinsdale would be a great addition to the social and sporting life of our community. JC: Thanks for your time, Ames and Sherrin. I’ve had a blast at Franklin Horse Supply and this new needlepoint flask I just picked up here will come in handy this winter. AK/SK: Sherrin and I are pleased to see you again, Johnny. You are looking dapper as always. But as I told Catherine Darnell many years ago: “You should have worn tweed.” The weather is perfect for it... and don’t forget ~ “We get you Ready to Ride!”
AK/SK: We do have a mobile tack store, and our customers are never surprised to see us at their favorite event. Please stop by when you see us out in the field. JC: It’s definitely not hard to see why you’re Middle Tennessee’s Premier Equestrian Lifestyle Center - it truly is a Lifestyle Center and it feels good just being there - you have brands such as Smathers and Branson Needlepoint, DuBarry of Ireland and numerous well known and trusted brands in the industry. I can even see non-riders wearing some of these fashionable items - I bet you get your fair share of shoppers that just appreciate the quality and craftsmanship of the products you sell. AK/SK: We do have customers come in every day who either no longer ride or have never ridden a horse. Most residents of our area live here because they love the land and the country lifestyle, and our apparel, boots and gift items reflect that lifestyle. It never surprises me to have customers come in who just appreciate the quality and timeless elegance of many of the items that we sell. JC: In closing, are there plans for Franklin Horse Supply to add any items that pertain to additional equestrian related sports? I know that you’ve recently added an enormous amount of items for the foxhunting community. AK/SK: We are adding a line of hunt apparel, as we speak, so that our foxhunting customers have a local shop to patronize. We are also planning to add equipment and apparel for the
Photos courtesy of Bagwell Macy Advertising/PR CoolSprings Galleria is located at 1800 Galleria Blvd in Franklin Ph: 615-771-2128 Find them on the web at www.coolspringsgalleria.com or at Facebook.com/CoolSpringsGalleria Franklin Horse Supply is located at 1561 Columbia Ave in Franklin Ph: 615-790-7860 Find them on the web at www.franklinhorse.com or like them on FB at Franklin Horse Supply
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