Author: sgrobosky

Changes Coming in February

VITALIZE® ALIMEND® UPC CODES CHANGES COMING

Beginning February 1, 2023, Vitalize® Alimend® products will feature an updated UPC. Please reference the table below for changes.

CHANGES TO AMAFERM BAG

As part of the rebranding of Amaferm to AO-Biotics® Amaferm®, the bag design will be updated. This change will begin in mid-February, but will be a rolling change as bag inventory is depleted.

CHANGES COMING IN MARCH 2023

CHANGES FOR SURE CHAMP® EXTREME WITH CLARIFLY®

Sure Champ® Extreme with ClariFly® will now labeled for sheep and goats in addition to cattle and pigs. In addition, we are discontinuing the 25-pound bucket of Sure Champ Extreme and introducing a 25-pound bag of Sure Champ Extreme with ClariFly, in addition to the existing 40-pound bag. Watch for this on the March price list.

AO-BIOTICS® EQE ADDED TO BACKYARD BOOST® DAILY ESSENTIALS

Starting March 1, AO-Biotics® EQE will be added to the Backyard Boost® Daily Essentials, in addition to Amaferm®. This will be a rolling change as inventory of the current stock is sold. However, as dealers get the new product, it will be a great marketing tool, especially for added egg quality and more sellable eggs.

Effective Action: Use Relationships to Ensure Producer Meeting Success

Any time you get a group of like-minded people in a room to talk about solving their challenges, you have the potential to host a successful producer meeting. Use existing relationships to create an even more rewarding meeting. There are a few ways that using these relationships when planning your next producer meeting can help build your business. Let’s explore.


Cooperate with another agricultural company.
Co-host your next producer meeting with another complementary agricultural company. The companies might have some overlap in customers, but each will likely have some unique customers who could benefit from the other company’s products and services. Perhaps you could partner with a genetics company or a show supply company, depending on what BioZyme® products you are talking about. Cooperating on a producer meeting splits the cost of the meeting and exposes a wider audience to your products.


Building on these already established relationships give you a leg up. It shows your potential customers that you are easy to get along with. It also provides an unspoken endorsement on the products and services you provide.


Encourage your customers to bring a guest.
Your customers are probably going to attend, but you could offer an incentive for bringing a guest who has the potential to become a new customer. Send a text reminder a few days before the meeting and let those within a set radius know that you will offer an incentive to those who bring a guest. If the newcomer becomes a customer, perhaps that incentive becomes even greater, like a percentage off your current customer’s order, like a discount for referrals.


Engage with the audience.
It’s always good to get the crowd engaged. Since the room consists of your customers, you should know their challenges and successes. Of course, the first topic to discuss is AO-Biotics® Amaferm®, but after that, mention how a certain product has impacted a particular crowd member’s conception or rate of gain. People like to be recognized and know that you care about their results.

Call upon your allies.
Word-of-mouth and testimonials go a long way in building trust and securing new customers. If there is a local veterinarian or a highly respected producer who has had success with the products, ask them for a few comments. It is always good to hear from a third party about the benefits of the products, without a hard sell.


Producer meetings are an efficient way to show appreciation to current customers and establish relationships with potential customers. Building on current relationships at these meetings makes them even more effective. Like any other enterprise, use your resources, count on your relationships and use those relationships to grow your customer base.

Customer Retention is a Wise Investment

As a youngster, you might have heard, “make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver, and the other’s gold.” Substitute the word friend with customer, and the same rings true. Retaining customers is a very important part of business and a wise investment if you want to watch your business continue to grow.

Returning customers give you the opportunity to provide ongoing value, develop more personalized relationships, create brand advocates, gain referrals and earn positive word-of-mouth marketing. In addition, research shows that 68% of new customers come from current ones, making it a smart move for your customers and your bottom line to keep current customers coming back.

We’re not insinuating that growing new customers isn’t important. However, it is important to invest in the current customer base that typically will spend 67% more than new customers. And it costs 16 times more to drum up new customers than it does to keep a repeat customer. Here are four ways you can invest wisely in those golden repeat customers.

Customer Outreach
Regardless of if you use a quick phone call, text or email, be sure to communicate with your customers on a regular basis. Your time can be the lowest cost
investment you make to retain a customer. Keep track of their orders, and if you notice it has been a while since they ordered a particular product, give them a call. Perhaps their daughter scored the winning basket at last Friday’s basketball game,
so start the conversation with a congratulations, and then move into asking if they were running low on VitaFerm® Concept•Aid® since you know they are preparing for calving season. Customer outreach is vital to retaining customers; it lets them know you care and that you really are keeping up on their program.

Customer Appreciation
Everyone enjoys being shown some appreciation and that includes your valued repeat customers. If you are hosting a customer appreciation event like an open house or an anniversary sale, be sure your local customers are aware of any promotions or sales. Provide them with a chance to come into your store, visit, shop and take advantage of any appreciation that you are showing. It will make a
difference in their return.

Customer Service
Retaining customers in not always about providing the best products at the best price. It might also be about providing the best services. Perhaps they can get the same products at a neighboring town, but you stay open later to serve those who have 8 to 5 jobs. Maybe the customer likes that you help load the product into their truck, whereas your competitor just expects the customer to load the product into
their own truck. Service, both large and small, adds up and means something to the customer.

Loyalty Programs
Now, it probably doesn’t make sense to have a “punch card” for a mineral program; however, if you have a customer who is buying large quantities of product from you, you might want to show some appreciation in some form. Perhaps with every
pallet, they get some swag, or some Vita Charge® Gel or a percentage off their next pallet. For every customer they refer that purchases a certain amount, they could receive a new cap and pair of gloves. Loyalty matters and rewarding loyalty will keep your customers returning and spending money with you.

Yes, investing time and money in your golden or current customers will pay in the long-term. One online article said that 80% of future profits come from 20% of current customers. Retain your current customers, and watch your business grow.

Tell Everyone: Audio is Becoming More Relevant in Marketing

Marketing involves all five of the senses, and that includes auditory. As the technology becomes more affordable and easier to access, there is no reason not to lean on more audio technology in your marketing strategies. It takes only 0.146 seconds for a human being to hear and interpret a sound. This makes sound a direct avenue to a customer’s emotions and can lead to increased brand recognition for your business.


Nearly 80% of Americans listen to some audio every day. This includes podcasts, radios and other music streaming outlets. It seems like most people are tuned in to some type of audio, so it seems logical to promote your business using audio as a way to complement your marketing strategy. According to Man Made Music, a company focused on sonic branding, music can lead to a 46% increase in brand favorability.


Here are some ways you can use audio to build recognition and help in your marketing.


Radio Ads
A Nielsen study showed that 92% of the U.S. population listens to the radio weekly, 5% more than the population that watches television. So, radio advertising is likely an effective form of promotion, especially in rural areas where many dealers are located. BioZyme® has 30-second radio scripts written for several products and can write scripts for any product or scenario by submitting a marketing request. We typically suggest you use your own voice, or the local broadcaster records it as there is credibility with a local voice.


In Store Music
Playing music in the store while customers are shopping, helps convey emotions, influence consumer behavior and tell your brand story. For example, most fast food or convenience stores play fast-paced music because they want customers to move quickly so they can reap more business. On the other hand, a retail store selling clothing, home decor or even nutritional supplements might play a slower music to encourage browsing, question asking and more shopping.


Podcasts
Podcasts are an opportunity to offer education about your goods and services that a company offers. But take heed, podcasts take planning and implementation. You will want to have several recorded and ready to air before you actually release them. You will want to promote your podcast heavily on your social media and in your store
and be sure to ask for feedback after the first one airs.


Remember marketing involves all five of the senses. When you do incorporate audio, be sure to tie it into the other strategies you are using. It typically takes seven
impressions to make a sale, so be sure to include audio in your marketing strategy

#MasterDealer Monday

Congratulations to the following dealers for completing the Master Dealer Training Program, Chapters 3 & 4 in December. We know that you are fully committed to your businesses!

Master Dealer Chapter 3

  • Cordell Farm & Ranch   
  • Kings Angus Farm          
  • Reiss Seed Inc   

Master Dealer Chapter 4

  • Herbert Show Feeds      
  • Darlington Feed, LLC     
  • Lazy JB Cattle Works     
  • Reiss Seed Inc   

Two Minutes in January

As we enter a new year, it seems like a good time to set some new goals. I prefer the term goals over resolutions, because the average resolution lasts 32 days. I sure hope I can stick with something I want to achieve longer than just a month. 

A new year also means new changes in leadership following the November elections, like getting a new Speaker of the House. Following are a few hot topics impacting agriculture from Washington, D.C.  

It’s the year of the farm bill, and Rep. Glenn Thompson (R-Pa.), the new House Ag Committee Chairman is already hosting a farm bill listening session in his home state in January. With just six months until Congress breaks for summer recess, Thompson wants to act on getting a farm bill passed that “prioritizes the needs of the farmers, ranchers and foresters,” according to one media report.  

Another news bit from D.C. that impacts you and your customers is the looming definition of WOTUS (Waters of the United States). Late in 2022, an interim definition from EPA was introduced. The new rule would give federal protection to large waterways, like interstate rivers and streams and wetlands that are adjacent to them. Wetlands would be considered adjacent if they are connected to those larger waterways with “relatively permanent” surface water connections, or if they have a “significant” hydrologic or ecological “nexus” to those protected tributaries. This is definitely something to keep watching in the headlines of your local farm publications and the online newsletters you receive. 

Finally, technology is getting even bigger and more advanced each day. According to an article in Farm Journal’s PORK, Dragonfly Aerospace launched its first imaging satellite from the SpaceX launch site in Cape Canaveral, Fla., this month. “Named EOS SAT-1, this is the first of seven ag-specific satellites to be launched over the next three years, which is boasted to be the first such constellation focused on image data collection for agriculture. The constellation will maintain low Earth orbit and collect imagery for EOS Data Analytics with the goal of collecting high-quality data for crop monitoring, application mapping, soil moisture, yield prediction and biomass levels.” 

Technology is everywhere. Even places we don’t think about. 

A Day in the Life of BioZyme Employee Dan Delaney

Title: Inventory Coordinator

Number of Years at BioZyme: 35 (I started when I was 10 😊)

Describe a “typical” day in your job: Every ingredient we use is tested for various things depending on the ingredient. I pull a sample from each inbound ingredient and take to the lab for testing. Once the lab approves it, I can unload it or in the case of bagged product I will put it away in its proper place. In the case of bulk ingredients, I have to set it up in the receiving system and make sure the ingredient is going into the correct bin. It takes roughly an hour to unload each truck. Almost every morning there is at least one truck sitting here ready to unload. A typical day we’ll have around 4 trucks but have had as many as 8. Usually get 2 or 3 bagged ingredients each day as well. Medicated ingredients take special care, they are kept separate, and we have to keep records on its usage. Also, I will take inventory of both finished goods and ingredients to make sure we are staying on track. Every day is different and keeps me on my toes, I enjoy it a lot.

What is the most interesting thing you ever have done at BioZyme: Back when we had our own trucks and drivers, I would put together the loads, route the trucks and dispatch the drivers. It was VERY challenging, but it was nice when things came together, and I enjoyed working with customers and sales people to make things happen.

Share a funny story about one of your days at work: Hmmm oh my there have been a few! lol, I guess if I had to pick an all-time favorite it would be the day we had a belly dancer for Butch’s (Ehlert) 60th birthday.

What has been one of the biggest challenges: I think we are completing the new space in the warehouse literally just in time. It has been challenging finding space to store inbound ingredients and other inputs, and we were chomping at the bit to get to use the new space. Honestly on the day they gave us the go ahead that we could use the new space we had so much stuff coming in I’m not sure where we would have put it all. It has been a welcomed relief to have the new space.

Why is care that comes full circle important to what you do? Being at the beginning of process and knowing that each individual ingredient is going to be blended with others to make up our products that will ultimately be consumed by an animal is an important step. We can’t make great products if we don’t start with great ingredients.

What is something you enjoy doing outside of the office? Volleyball is my favorite, and I play competitively but also like golf, disc golf, corn hole, riding my motorcycle and listening to live music. Hanging out with friends and family.

We are thankful for long-term, caring employees like Dan as part of the BioZyme family!

Know your Checkbook: Customer Retention is a Wise Investment

As a youngster, you might have heard, “make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver, and the other’s gold.” Substitute the word friend with customer, and the same rings true. Retaining customers is a very important part of business and a wise investment if you want to watch your business continue to grow.

Returning customers give you the opportunity to provide ongoing value, develop more personalized relationships, create brand advocates, gain referrals and earn positive word-of-mouth marketing. In addition, research shows that 68% of new customers come from current ones, making it a smart move for your customers and your bottom line to keep current customers coming back.

We’re not insinuating that growing new customers isn’t important. However, it is important to invest in the current customer base that typically will spend 67% more than new customers. And it costs 16 times more to drum up new customers than it does to keep a repeat customer. Here are four ways you can invest wisely in those golden repeat customers.

Customer Outreach
Regardless of if you use a quick phone call, text or email, be sure to communicate with your customers on a regular basis. Your time can be the lowest cost investment you make to retain a customer. Keep track of their orders, and if you notice it has been a while since they ordered a particular product, give them a call. Perhaps their daughter scored the winning basket at last Friday’s basketball game, so start the conversation with a congratulations, and then move into asking if they were running low on VitaFerm® Concept•Aid® since you know they are preparing for calving season. Customer outreach is vital to retaining customers; it lets them know you care and that you really are keeping up on their program.

Customer Appreciation
Everyone enjoys being shown some appreciation and that includes your valued repeat customers. If you are hosting a customer appreciation event like an open house or an anniversary sale, be sure your local customers are aware of any promotions or sales. Provide them with a chance to come into your store, visit, shop and take advantage of any appreciation that you are showing. It will make a difference in their return.

Customer Service
Retaining customers in not always about providing the best products at the best price. It might also be about providing the best services. Perhaps they can get the same products at a neighboring town, but you stay open later to serve those who have 8 to 5 jobs. Maybe the customer likes that you help load the product into their truck, whereas your competitor just expects the customer to load the product into
their own truck. Service, both large and small, adds up and means something to the customer.

Loyalty Programs
Now, it probably doesn’t make sense to have a “punch card” for a mineral program; however, if you have a customer who is buying large quantities of product from you, you might want to show some appreciation in some form. Perhaps with every pallet, they get some swag, or some Vita Charge® Gel or a percentage off their next pallet. For every customer they refer that purchases a certain amount, they could receive a new cap and pair of gloves. Loyalty matters and rewarding loyalty will keep your customers returning and spending money with you.

Yes, investing time and money in your golden or current customers will pay in the long-term. One online article said that 80% of future profits come from 20% of current customers. Retain your current customers, and watch your business grow.