February/March 2021
Volume 45, No 2
TOP RIDERS MUCK OUT TOO!
Favourite stable tools revealed
ETN is the official media partner of BETA International
NAMES IN THE FRAME
Who’s shortlisted for 2021 BETA Business Awards?
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BOOT BRAND ON WAY TO NEW OWNER
The Original Muck Boot Company is set to be sold. Ohio, US based Rocky Brands has agreed to acquire the performance and lifestyle footwear business of Honeywell International. The acquisition, which includes The Original Muck Boot Company, is for a purchase price of $230 million (£167.7m). Rubber and neoprene boots from The Original Muck Boot Company have long been a favourite with horsey and outdoor consumers. The brand’s most recent UK distributor is Gardiners, with every indication that the arrangement is to continue. The acquisition is likely be completed by the end of the first quarter, Darren Layard, director at Honeywell Global Retail in London, told ETN. “In the meantime, it’s business as usual with Rocky Brands and Honeywell continuing to work as separate, independent companies,” he added. “Should the transaction complete as expected, we do not envisage any changes to our go-to-market model for The Original Muck Boot Company in the UK.” Rocky Brands is also set to acquire XTRATUF, Servus, NEOS and Ranger footwear from Honeywell International.
Win back your order Abbey England is offering new and returning customers the
Brexit and Covid: double-whammy As the UK embarked upon its post-Brexit era, reports of delayed shipments, time consuming and costly paperwork and additional customs costs reverberated around the trade. Retailers told ETN they were having difficulty sourcing their usual stock of imported products; distributors were struggling with containers caught in log-jams at ports. The BETA office was inundated with calls from anxious member companies facing new tariffs and paperwork. Executive director Claire Williams issued regular bullet-ins of advice as fresh regulations unfolded for importers and exporters. BETA also ran surgeries and seminars to keep retail and trade members informed. The UK’s departure from the EU coincided with a resurgence in coronavirus infections, compounding many business’s difficulties as they continued to grapple with social distancing and staff working from home. Meanwhile, although some UK manufacturers were experiencing problems importing raw materials or components, others were busier than ever. “The double-whammy of Covid and Brexit is causing shortages, delays and additional costs, all of which are giving huge problems for consumers and retailers in the UK,” said James Todhunter of Yaris Equestrian, whose horse wear factory is in Cumbria. In January, Yaris moved from its rural premises on a stud to a larger factory in Kendal. As well as increasing capacity, it’s enabled the company to take on two more machinists.
chance to win back the value of their BioThane orders. Winning buyers will be able to offset up to £250 against their next BioThane order, until the end of March. The synthetic coated webbing is available from Abbey England in 30 colours and nine sizes.
BUSINESS AS USUAL FOLLOWING SALE
KBIS British Equestrian Insurance has been sold to Specialist Risk Group, whose portfolio includes Lloyd’s broker Miles Smith and The Underwriting Exchange (TUE). Guy and Liz Prest acquired KBIS in 1991, building it into one of the most familiar names on the UK equestrian scene. The independent insurer covers horses, property, liability and motor vehicles. Following the sale, KBIS will continue to be run by the existing management and staff based at its Berkshire offices. Guy Prest said the deal “will allow us to grow with a wider range of products in our equestrian insurance niche; and TUE gives us the perfect vehicle to expand our business in the Republic of Ireland.” Warren Downey, Group CEO of SRG, added: “KBIS’s sector expertise is exactly what we want to develop within the Group, as we continue in our pursuit to become the natural home for specialist people and businesses.” 6 | EQUESTRIAN TRADE NEWS FEBRUARY/MARCH 2021
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ETN REPORTING | ETN
TURNING BACK THE PAGES…
For four decades, ETN has reported on the equestrian trade. So let’s look back at the news, people and products that were making headlines this month five, ten, 20 and 30 years ago. In February/March 2016, ETN reported:
In February/March 2011, ETN reported:
l Nick Gray retired FIVE following the sale of YEARS his gifts business Grays AGO... of Shenstone to longstanding employee Greg Copeland. l Staffordshire saddlery Hoofs at Heart opened a new branch in the Heart of the Country Shopping Village near Lichfield. The new store was three times bigger than the old shop, director Karren Rawlins told ETN. Paralympic dressage rider Ricky Balshaw did the honours at the official opening. l Total Confidence Live, a new sister show to Your Horse Live, was launched by Bauer Media. The event, to which attendees could bring their own horses for clinics with experts, was to take place at the South of England showground. But as ETN went to press, it was called off. l ETN reported from BETA International which had run in January (instead of February) for the first time. The move to earlier dates had “well and truly paid off” wrote editor Liz Benwell. Tracey Woods of distributor Westgate EFI added that a show in January “has really worked in our favour.”
l Libbys Tack was sold; the deal included the Libbys RS-tor safety aid. New owner and managing director Lee Buck said the brand would now be made in his Norfolk factory alongside PolyPads. Peter Cleall TEN had already acquired the YEARS Libbys show unit and AGO... was trading as Libbys International on the show circuit. l Men Behaving Badly actor Martin Clunes appeared with horse whisperer Monty Roberts during BETA International 2011. The pair had just starred in a hit TV documentary called Horsepower. l Thorowgood Ltd became Fairfax Saddles Ltd. The Walsall manufacturer, run by Rupert and Vanessa Fairfax, encompassed the Kent & Masters, Fairfax, Thorowgood and Prolite brands. l The EU was considering a ban on creosote, the product used to treat wooden fences and stables. Concerned parties were lobbying their MEPs.
In February/March 2001, ETN reported:
In February/March 1991, ETN reported:
20 YEARS AGO...
l Vale Brothers acquired Edward Goddard which had been making whips in Walsall since 1887. l A fire caused £100,000 worth of damage at Oxfordshire retailer Arena Saddlery. Anna de Verteuil, who ran the store attached to Blewbury Equestrian Centre, told ETN she had lost her premises, stock and paperwork. Eighty horses were evacuated from the adjacent stable yard. Anna told ETN that she was insured and hoped to re-open the business. l Norma Smithson, who had retired from her sales job with Finest Brands International, became BETA’s first regional field officer. l Equilbrium Products’ Net Relief muzzle net was approved by British Dressage for use in competition. l Albion Saddlemakers invested £1 million in a new, openplan factory in Bridgeman Street, Walsall. The company said it wanted to introduce more automation to reduce time taken on non-skilled tasks, freeing staff to concentrate on craftsmanship.
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l West Cumberland 30 Farmers (WCF) YEARS began opening 26 AGO... ‘shop in shop’ Ride & Groom departments across its retail network. This month saw new outlets unveiled in WCF’s Hexham and Penrith stores. l David Dyer, proprietor of Kent based Frogpool Manor Saddlery, told ETN that the only way to beat the recession was to be positive. His answer had been to run a Christmas Fayre, followed by a series of special offers – including 25% off saddles, with an Easter Festival featuring top riders to come. l In jobs news, Ian Mitchell replaced Roger Welsby as agent for Mascot clothing in the East Midlands; Jane Tarte joined the team at Mars Oil; and Roger Whittle took on the East Anglia agency for Allen & Caswell. l Body protectors became compulsory for flat jockeys who were given a 1lb weight allowance to compensate for wearing the garments. l BTS Television was offering to make videos for equestrian companies. “Our ten-minute films make ideal marketing packages,” they said. The cost? “Under £1,500…”
EQUESTRIAN TRADE NEWS FEBRUARY/MARCH 2021 | 25
ETN | BETA BUSINESS AWARDS
Celebrating industry heroes
This year’s BETA Business Awards will be presented in an online ceremony on 11 March.
T
he finalists of the 2021 BETA Business Awards – which recognise the outstanding achievements of individuals and companies in the equestrian industry - have been announced. “After an incredibly challenging year for us all, I am thrilled that the awards have been so positively received,” said BETA executive director Claire Williams. “We have had a huge number of nominations across the board, which really shows that, in times like these, members of our industry are keen to rally and support one another. “Of course, we have had to make slight changes to the awards’ format. The presentation of winners will now take place online but, otherwise, it is all systems go as we celebrate those industry heroes who really have gone above and beyond over the past 12 months. “We would like to congratulate all our finalists, who have done incredibly well to get this far, and wish them the very best of luck.”
THE FINALISTS ARE:
SEIB Retailer of the Year An award for tack shops and feed merchants that is divided into two categories: Equestrian Retail Store and Online/Mail Order Retailer. Equestrian Retail Store • RB Equestrian – Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire • The Millwheel Tack Shop and GG Feeds - Warfield, Berkshire • The Tack Shop Milnathort - Kinross • First Choice Horse Supplies – Larkhall, South Lanarkshire • Redpost Equestrian – Totnes, Devon • Barnyard Pet & Equestrian Supplies – Northwich, Cheshire Online/Mail Order Retailer • GS Equestrian – Paignton, Devon • Redpost Equestrian – Totnes, Devon • Urban Horse – Alston, Cumbria • RB Equestrian – Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire • Online for Equine/Highfield Equestrian – Shirleywich, Staffordshire • Equus England – Stevenage, Hertfordshire STUBBS ENGLAND Nutritional Helpline of the Year Presented to a company considered to offer excellence in nutritional advice and service to customers. • Science Supplements – Hartwell, Northamptonshire • TopSpec Equine – Thirsk, North Yorkshire • Baileys Horse Feeds – Braintree, Essex • Spillers – Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire • Dengie Horse Feeds – Maldon, Essex • Simple System Horse Feeds – Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk 40 | EQUESTRIAN TRADE NEWS FEBRUARY/MARCH 2021
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY DATES FOR YOUR DIARY BETA Equestrian Export Award An award open to companies of all sizes that have shown substantial and sustained increases in export activity over a three-year period. • Equine Products UK – Newcastle-upon-Tyne • Science Supplements – Hartwell, Northamptonshire
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
Weatherbeeta Group Retail Employee of the Year Celebrating employees showing excellent customer service, great product knowledge and a passion for professional retailing. • Anna Harding – Aivly Country Store, Ringwood, Hampshire • Jasmin Khan – Cork Farm Equestrian, Ashford, Kent • Lucy Chandler – TFM Countrystore, Whisby, Lincolnshire • Georgia Copley – R&R Country, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
TSM Marketing Effectiveness Award An award that marks effective communications and the increased value a company’s marketing campaign has brought to its brands. • The Saddle Bank – Peterborough, Cambridgeshire • Science Supplements – Hartwell, Northamptonshire • Horslyx/Caltech – Wigton, Cumbria
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY DATES FOR YOUR DIARY DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
Citation Supplier of the Year Awarded to the manufacturer, wholesaler or distributor judged to offer the best in delivery, customer service, product knowledge and awareness of retailer requirements. • Weatherbeeta – Banbury, Oxfordshire • Battles – Lincoln • Bliss of London – Walsall, Staffordshire • Perry Equestrian – Cradley Heath, Staffordshire
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY DATES FOR YOUR DIARY DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
The BETA Business Awards were launched in 2004 and have grown to become prestigious industry accolades and a landmark in the equestrian calendar. Categories are designed to reflect the changing face of this vibrant sector. This year, however, the coronavirus pandemic has resulted in the Equine Careers Sales Representative of the Year and Equestrian Event of the Year supported by Henson Franklyn categories being held over until 2022. The winners of the 2021 BETA Business Awards will be announced in an online ceremony at 4pm on Thursday 11 March. Further details are available from the BETA office, telephone 01937 587062 or email agy@beta-uk.org.
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