“Upon the subject of education. . . I can only say that I view it as the most important subject which we as a people may be engaged in.” – Abraham Lincoln
Too many companies seem to believe that ignorance makes for the best customers. Actually, the more informed and empowered customers are, the more satisfied and confident they are with their choice of you. And that kind of confidence almost always leads to loyalty. In the end, isn’t that what all of this is really about?
By only reaching people to convert them into customers, you are limiting your potential to generate new customers. So, if you want to change how people perceive you, you need to distinguish yourself as a leading educational voice.
Customer education doesn’t just boil down to one or two small benefits. Its positive effects are numerous. They’re also intertwined, and when done well, it feeds a much bigger machine, helping to fuel your business’s growth.
To begin assessing the needs of your customer education initiative you must know your customers’ pain points, then you can develop a plan to help overcome these. For this, you’ll need the right tools and resources to help.
There are a wide variety of first-class tools available through BioZyme in our Online Dealer Center. These will help you deliver efficient and effective training. The below graphic is a good visual to keep your education track on course.
On May 1, BioZyme® will launch two new Vitalize® products. Vitalize Blazin’ is a product developed for horses to support normal recovery from heat stress and exertion. It is available in a 64 oz and 32 oz bottle. Additionally, Vitalize JumpStart will be added to the price list and serve as a nutritional boost to support the immune system of foals, weanlings and young horses. It is available in a 1-gallon jug. Blazin’ and JumpStart will be offered in a liquid form, designed to be used as a top dress and drench, respectively.
On April 1, BioZyme launched VitaFerm® Concept•Aid® 5/S HEAT® with Clarifly®. This product will only be available in registered states. The states we have received approval for are: Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
PRICING UPDATES
According to the March 31 Wall Street Journal, makers of everything from diapers to cereal are starting to feel the strain of higher prices on literally everything. Cheerios™ maker General Mills said it will raise prices to partly offset higher freight and manufacturing costs, in addition to rising commodity prices. J.M. Smucker Co. said it recently raised prices for its Jif® peanut butter and that it might do the same with pet snacks because of higher shipping costs. Global supply chains, which were already experiencing a crunch due to the Covid-19 pandemic, have seen additional supply disruptions. The February freeze that triggered mass blackouts in Texas led to chemical plant shutdowns and caused a shortage of the raw materials needed for almost everything. As a result, prices for polyethylene, polypropylene and other chemical compounds reached their highest levels in years. The maker of Gillette® razors and Tide detergent cited rising costs for raw materials, such as resin and pulp, and higher expenses to transport goods in their price increases. The point is that almost everything is going up in price. BioZyme has been hit hard by these same dynamics. We received notice this month that things that rarely change in price are all going up. This includes bags, mineral oil, ink, labels, ingredients, fuel surcharges, pallets, the plywood in between the tub layers (this one has gone up this year from $13 to $95) and the list goes on and on. We are trying to do everything in our power to keep these changes under control, but you should know that this is an unprecedented time in our history as it is for all of us. So, hang in there with this and we will all survive together and remember it is not how we stand in moments of comfort and convenience, but how we stand during times of challenge that really matter.
SHIPPING UPDATES
EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY: Due to consistent service delays, high damage rates and a change to their freight claim reimbursement policy, BioZyme, Inc is no longer shipping products with Dohrn Transfer Company. Customers and Area Sales Managers [ASM] can still choose to use Dohrn Transfer Company for shipping LTL orders. However, both the Customer and the ASM must sign a Release of Liability for each order for which Dohrn Transfer Company will be used.
FREIGHT CLAIM REMINDER: Please remember that you MUST notate what was damaged and sign the DRIVER’S copy of the delivery receipt in order to submit a freight claim. The freight companies deny our claims when the delivery receipt is not signed, and we cannot provide a credit on denied claims.
EMPLOYEE UPDATES
Carrie Butley has joined BioZyme as the new Concetti Bagging Operator.
CHANGES COMING IN JUNE 2021
ORDERING UPDATES
Starting on June 1, 10 lb. bags of Vitalize® Digest More®Plus can only be ordered in a case quantity of 4 instead of as single bags.
CHANGES COMING IN JULY 2021
PRODUCT UPDATE
On July 1, the Vitalize® Alimend® and Vitalize® Alimend®K9 labels will be getting updated to comply with NASC standards. Though the presentation of the labels will look different, the formula and ingredients will remain the same. The feeding directions will be changed to mL (instead of ounces), but the feeding rate will not change.
Care that comes full circle is more than a motto. It’s the way we live, taking care of the livestock and animals that take care of us – livestock that provide a livelihood and protein products to feed the world and companion animals that provide joy and friendships to many. An ideal candidate for a BioZyme® dealer is a veterinarian – they are providing care to animals in multiple ways – both preventative care to keep the animals healthy and restorative care when an animal needs healed.
Maryville Vet Clinic, LLC, Maryville, Missouri, has been a BioZyme dealer since the 1980s. Dr. David Frueh and his original veterinary partner were dealers, and when Dr. Frueh became a single-vet practice, he liked the products so well, he continued to sell them. Today, all three veterinarians within the practice, Dr. Frueh, Dr. Patrick O’Connell and Dr. Gina Stoll, like the benefits of the products and recommend them to their clients.
“Here, we try the product first. We never want our customers to be the guinea pig. So, if there’s a new product or a different product we feed it to our own cattle. Dr. Frueh has seen how products like the Concept•Aid® has increased conception rates and how the condition of his cows has benefitted from the mineral. He’s a believer in the product. Once you see how the product works, it really sells itself,” said Stacy Liebhart, Office Manager of the Clinic.
Liebhart said that 90% of their practice is large animals, and a majority of those clients are cattle producers. Therefore, they have formulated a nutrition program they recommend their customers stay on throughout the year to maximize their herds’ health. Their program includes the VitaFerm® HEAT® mineral.
From January through about March or April, during the bulk of calving, customers are recommended to feed VitaFerm Concept•Aid® 10; then during grass tetany season, they advise switching to VitaFerm Concept•Aid Mag/S. During the hottest months of the year, which can vary from May or June to September or November, it’s HEAT season, and that is when they sell and advise their customers to use VitaFerm HEAT. Once the temperatures consistently cool down, they put their cows back on the regular VitaFerm Concept•Aid.
Just like with any new product, Liebhart said the doctors tried the HEAT line when it was introduced. She said they were conservative with their first order of HEAT mineral to feed their own cows, but it didn’t take them long to see the benefits and wanted to get more to offer their clients right away.
“It only took one pallet of mineral and they were like wow this stuff works, and now that’s all we recommend during the summer months. So just like all products we had to make sure it worked before we recommended it to our customers,” she said.
Liebhart said their dealership is unique as their main source of income isn’t from supplement sales; however, those sales have made the animals that the doctors take care healthier and more productive over time.
She also recommends for every dealership, regardless of its situation to stay current on all the BioZyme products, which she says is her responsibility. She often recommends the products that she knows will work well to the doctors during various seasons because she is the one who makes the time to keep up on all the training. For instance, during calving she often recommends Vita Charge® Clench Gel to accompany treatments for scours or Vita Charge Gel when a calf is has digestive issues or Vita Charge Drench at weaning.
From preventative health care to making an animal feel its best, veterinarians are busy people. They work on animals big and small, and they make great BioZyme dealers, providing that care that comes full circle. Thanks for being fantastic dealers, Maryville Vet Clinic!
Just because some beef producers think that green grass means less need for supplementation (this is totally not true), doesn’t mean your business needs to slow down in the summer. Here are some ideas to make the summer work for you instead of against you.
Find other ways to bring in revenue Your sales don’t have to grind to a complete halt during the off-season. Diversify your business offerings and see if you can sell related or complementary products and services. Determine the other needs of your customers and find ways to fulfill them even when your main business isn’t in season. May I note that most horse owners love to supplement their “pet” all year long, so please consider the Vitalize® brand. We’ve been through this diversification drill in these letters before; note, I won’t give up on helping us all remember to do this.
Build your community Social media gives you tons of opportunities to connect with people all year, so keep your blog and social accounts active. Keep publishing blog posts and posting updates on all of the channels your customers follow. Use your downtime to come up with great content that can educate your customers. Doing so helps you build authority, strengthens your community and ensures that people will remember you when it comes time to do business again in the fall.
Reach out to the media Publications usually plan their articles months in advance, so if you want to land a magazine feature just in time for the peak season, you’ll have to reach out NOW.
Attend networking and educational events Use the slow months to broaden your knowledge and network. Virtual conferences and even local business events can help you gain new partnerships and skills that you can use in your business, so don’t pass up the chance to attend them.
Get feedback The off-season could be the perfect time to get feedback and reviews from your customers. Consider getting in touch with people who purchased from you and ask them what they thought of your products.
Business may be seasonal, but your commitment to it shouldn’t be. Put these tips into action and find ways to thrive. I find summer to be one of the most inspiring times of year. It’s a great time to allow yourself to create things you might not normally create—or make progress in directions you wouldn’t otherwise prioritize. For me, summer has always been about picking goals that are less directly correlated with professional success, and more about self. It’s my way of maintaining some sort of connection to that child-like feeling of “summer vacation.”
You asked, we listened. The ultimate summer breeding mineral is here! VitaFerm Concept•Aid 5/S HEAT with ClariFly is now available and ready to order! This mineral package combines the benefits of Concept•Aid to get cows bred with the proven effectiveness of the HEAT package for summer grazing and NOW added 4-fly control with ClariFly! ClariFly helps control horn flies, face flies, stable flies and house flies in the larval stages.
On April 1, BioZyme® will launch VitaFerm® Concept•Aid® 5/S HEAT® with Clarifly®. This product will only be available in registered states. The states we have received approval for are: Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin. We will update the Product Center in the Online Dealer Center as we receive additional approvals.
On March 1, BioZyme® launched a DuraFerm® Goat Concept•Aid® Protein Tub:
A breeding mineral with 20% natural protein in a cooked tub for goats specifically designed to target cycling, embryo production and conception when fed 30 days prior to kidding through breeding. Especially beneficial in A.I. and E.T. breeding programs.
This product will be on the March 1 price list but will not start shipping out until March 15.
On February 1, BioZyme launched a new brand, Backyard Boost®. Backyard Boost is a line of natural products that are purposefully crafted to support the health, wellbeing and productivity of poultry. Backyard Boost uses only the highest quality components and proprietary ingredients proven to support a flourishing flock. Two products will be included in the initial launch:
Backyard Boost Daily Essentials is a pelleted, natural protein supplement fully fortified with a prebiotic, vitamins, minerals and organic trace minerals to maximize growth and egg production and support overall flock health. Available in 2.5# and 10#.
Backyard Boost Defense is a liquid supplement that promotes feed and water intake during times of stress and recovery to help support digestive health and a healthy inflammatory response. Available in 16 oz.
PRODUCT UPDATES
On January 1, 2021 we changed from Altosid (1-fly claim) to ClariFly (4-fly claim) in all of our IGR products. The registration process of the new ingredient requires product name changes to several products as well as new product numbers:
VitaFerm® Concept•Aid® 5/S IGR will now be 85317 VitaFerm® Concept•Aid® 5/S with Clarifly®
VitaFerm® HEAT® IGR will now be 10991 VitaFerm® HEAT® with Clarifly®
VitaFerm® Concept•Aid® 5/S CTC 3G IGR will now be 85001 VitaFerm® Concept•Aid® 5/S CTC 3G with Clarifly®
We have received approval and can begin selling these products in the following states: Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin. We will update the Product Center in the Online Dealer Center as we receive additional approvals.
PRODUCT CHANGES
Vitalize® Equine Digest More® Plus 10# will begin shipping in a slightly different bag once current bag inventory is depleted. This change is due to our current bag being discontinued by the supplier.
ORDERING UPDATES
When submitting Customer Pickup orders, instead of defaulting to “I want it as soon as possible,” the order system now requires you to select a date that the order will be picked up. Any orders that are not picked up within 5 business days of the requested pick up date will incur additional storage fees of $10 per pallet, per day.
SHIPPING UPDATES
EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY: Due to consistent service delays, high damage rates and a change to their freight claim reimbursement policy, BioZyme, Inc is no longer shipping products with Dohrn Transfer Company. Customers and Area Sales Managers [ASM] can still choose to use Dohrn Transfer Company for shipping LTL orders. However, both the Customer and the ASM must sign a Release of Liability for each order for which Dohrn Transfer Company will be used.
FREIGHT CLAIM REMINDER: Please remember that you MUST notate what was damaged and sign the DRIVER’S copy of the delivery receipt in order to submit a freight claim. The freight companies deny our claims when the delivery receipt is not signed, and we cannot provide a credit on denied claims.
EMPLOYEE UPDATES
Ryan Hoefling has joined BioZyme as the new Lab Manager.
CHANGES COMING IN MAY 2021
NEW PRODUCTS
Starting May 1, two new Vitalize products will be available for purchase. Vitalize Blazin’ is product developed for horses to support normal recovery from heat stress and exertion. Additionally, Vitalize JumpStart will be added to the price list and serve as a nutritional boost to support the immune system of foals, weanlings, and young horses. Blazin’ and JumpStart will be offered in a liquid form, designed to be used as a top dress and drench, respectively.
Have you had a chance to show your customers our new Gain Smart product quiz? This interactive quiz will help your customers find the right products for their operation. Check it out now: https://gainsmart.com/product-quiz/
This month we shine the spotlight on two individuals who represent themselves and their respective dealerships as outstanding ambassadors for the Vitalize® line. Later in March, you will have the opportunity to hear from these men as they share their passion for the Vitalize products, how they position the products to their customers and some of the benefits their customers like too.
James Smith has been involved in agriculture his entire life, starting from a very young age. He grew up in Washington state, Oklahoma and Texas, where he graduated from high school.
Horses have always been a part of his life, and he started roping calves and team roping when he was 15. He learned to shoe horses as a way to pay his rodeo entry fees and to help finance his way through college. He graduated from Oklahoma State University in 1984 with a bachelor’s in Agriculture. He was a member of the OSU rodeo team and was the team captain his senior year.
After graduation, he began his start in the feed business, working as a salesman in central Oklahoma for ACCO Feeds, selling equine, swine, cow-calf and stocker feed; however, his emphasis was working with dealers and the dairy industry. He started his career with Shawnee Milling in 1994 as territory manager, covering Oklahoma and the Texas panhandle and still sells dairy, cow-calf, stocker and equine nutritional products.
Horses remain a passion for James. His wife Dawn’s parents are heavily involved in the Quarter horse breeding business with Belle Mere Farm in Norman, Oklahoma, standing great stallions like Easy Jet, Bully Bullion, Mr. Eye Opener, Marthas Six Moon and many more. They often breed as many as 1,200 mares a year.
James and Dawn live in Dibble, Oklahoma, where he still sells feed and enjoys team roping. He says he has three of the best horses he has ever ridden. They also own a commercial cow-calf operation, using Angus, SimAngus and Hereford Bulls. Their family includes two grown and married daughters, one granddaughter and one more on the way.
Jason Brooks is the Vice President of Marketing for the National Roper Supply, headquartered in Decatur, Texas. A Texas native, Jason attended Texas Tech University where he received his Master’s of Business Administration and bachelor’s in Finance and Business Economics.
Jason started working at NRS in 2007 as the Head of the NRS Buying Team before moving into his role as VP of Marketing.
Growing up, his family ran a purebred cow-calf operation in Texas where he developed his passion not only for the cattle industry but the equine industry as well. While at Texas Tech, Jason trained saddle horses and team roped; to this day he is currently still a competitive team roper.
Jason and his family reside in Krum, Texas, where they are actively involved in all aspects of the animal agricultural industry. He is a proud stock show dad and thinks there is no better place to raise his family than on the back of a horse and in the showring.
Be sure to tune in, March 18 to learn more about Jason and James, their enthusiasm for the equine industry and how they market and position the Vitalize products to their customers. We are blessed to have industry professionals that use and understand the products that work as dealers in our network, providing care that comes full circle.
By now you are probably aware of the variety of products that Vitalize® offers in the equine line for that good gut feeling. If not, we encourage you to review the November issue of VISION, visit the Product Center on the Online Dealer Center or go to www.vitalizeeq.com. Currently, eight great Vitalize and Hyaluronex® products available to you and your customers that can benefit the digestive and joint health of a horse.
Greatness doesn’t always happen inside the arena. Greatness happens in the horse, in the barn, on the long haul. Greatness happens where you make it happen, and that is why we have rounded up some folks to share their stories about the great things that Vitalize has done for them.
The Marketing Team utilizes 37 industry experts that use and promote the Vitalize to help position products through the Vitalize Ambassador program. People like to hear from their peers, and they develop a certain level of trust. According to one Nielsen report, a 92% level of trust exists among peers, much more than with any other group. Although it is generally fairly simple to get product testimonials, the equine industry is much more visible with the variety and number of competitions both in the English and Western disciplines. The ambassadors are not only passionate about the products, successful at what they do, but are respected within the industry and are usually active on at least one social media platform where they can share their thoughts and ideas with the masses.
Professionals like 10-time Olympic show jumper Ian Millar, his son Jonathan and his daughter, Amy, also an Olympic show jumper, use the products. So do two former World-champion tie-down ropers, Marcos Costa and Haven Meged. Laura Kraut, Olympic Gold Medalist, and Jenni McAlister, Three-Time FEI Show Jumping World Cup Qualifier, are two of the ladies who use Vitalize and travel the international circuit. In addition to two-time NFR qualifying barrel racer Emily Miller-Beisel, other barrel racers like Megan Lyerly and Bobbi Grann use the products. Shaun Strickland, the manager at Poison Spider Ranch uses it on his ranch horses and his champion cutting horses. Eventer and equine blogger Lauren Drew and Derek Braun, the Owner/Trainer at Split Rock Farm and President and Founder of the Split Rock Jumping Tour also use and promote Vitalize.
Why?
Because they believe in the products! They have had positive experiences, and they are willing to share to share their experiences with others. See what they say.
“The Vitalize® products allow my horses to better utilize their feed and reach their full ability. I like my horses’ hair coat and their consistent performance they are giving me. The Vitalize Recovery Gel is a must! It keeps my horses eating and drinking properly while on the road. They then perform to their full potential!” – MARCOS COSTA, World Champion Tie-down Roper
“In early 2019, my #1 competition horse Quantico was struggling to come back into competition shape and generally didn’t seem comfortable in work. My vets couldn’t find anything seemingly wrong, but I felt in my gut that he just wasn’t 100%. In the summer of ‘19 I put Quantico on Vitalize® Digest More® Plus and his comfort in work started to improve over the following weeks, the discomfort in his hindgut had been overlooked for months but was finally under control! Vitalize Digest More Plus helped Quantico go from a very light workout schedule to full fitness work and competing again over the first 6 months he was on it made a huge positive change in his work ethic under saddle and truly helped him get back to the competition ring! I will continue to feed the Vitalize supplements to all of my training and competition horses to keep them feeling good from the inside out! – COTI HAUSMAN, 2017 USEA American Eventing Championships Preliminary Rider Champion
“Vitalize® Alimend® is a vital part of our horses’ daily program. With the added stomach and gastric support, I have seen a complete transformation in the consistency of my horses’ overall health, happiness and performance while using Alimend.” – DEREK BRAUN, Owner/Trainer at Split Rock Farm and President and Founder of the Split Rock Jumping Tour
“The Vitalize® products are user-friendly, as there isn’t a lot of mixing, and my horses look great. All three of my horses look better. They are staying filled out, and they are staying chilled out, which is the Amaferm® working to make their gut feel better. I can tell when my mare’s stomach is bothering her, and she doesn’t want to perform, but I haven’t had those problems since I started her on Vitalize. I’ve had my horses on the Vitalize® High Performance pellet for almost 3 years now. It’s a necessity while I’m going up and down the road! It keeps my horses looking great and feeling even better. What I’m most excited about this year is the new Vitalize Alimend®! My good mare stresses and it really doesn’t take much for her to get ulcers. I can’t tell you the last time she’s had gut trouble since I started the Alimend! It’s definitely a must-have in your feed program.” – WHITNEY DESALVO, Three-time WPRA World Champion Heeler
DeSalvo is really good about sharing the Vitalize message with young roping students. She offers a couple roping clinics throughout the year and will typically give students swag bags that include Vitalize caps and/or products. Some of the ambassadors will do giveaways on their social media or partner with another company such as a horse photographer to offer a package. These are all creative ways to spread the Vitalize message among peers.
While these ambassadors are always on the go, we like to see what your customers are doing too! Do you have loyal customers that you could deem as your local ambassadors? Do you have someone that shares the Vitalize message (or any brand message) on social media? Be sure to share that on your social media and tag us in it or share it to the Dealer Facebook page. Some of the best ideas and marketing messages come from our peers.
Using ambassadors, testimonials and word of mouth is a great way to position a product. Ask one of your loyal customers for a testimonial. Chances are, he or she will be glad to talk about the benefits of the product and if the neighbors know that person has success with it, that success will help you gain some other customers as well.
Diversification is important for long-term success
In business, diversification means branching out into other product categories or industries. While this strategy does present some risks, diversification is often viewed as a safety net against downturns in a single industry or a way to grow your business by improving its sales and increasing its clientele.
If successful, diversification has many benefits, which is why it is considered essential for the growth of every business. There are a variety of ways in which you can diversify your products. These ways can include the following methods.
Expansion An example of expansion could be a company that produces fashionable children’s shoes and diversifies its business to incorporate children’s toys. The two products have nothing in common, but as long as they are both in demand by the same consumer market, the company is sure to earn more sales.
Ancillary Services To grow a business through diversification, companies often add additional services to existing products. For instance, a car manufacturing company can offer car maintenance and repairs. The concept of goods and services alongside one another can help create steady revenue. In our industry, the service we offer is hay testing to help properly determine the protein level that needs to be supplemented based on where the herd is in the stages of production.
Brand Extension A brand extension also becomes easier with the help of diversification. Famous brands and established businesses can extend the range of products to gain more customers. Brand expansion is often quite profitable if the same standard and quality of the goods are maintained because brands usually have many loyal customers who will buy every product they introduce into the market. If you sell VitaFerm® Concept•Aid® mineral, then brand extension is easy with the tubs and with Cattleman’s Blend™ or Conserve™ in times of lower nutritional needs.
Addition of a New Line Some businesses prefer to diversify by adding new lines. These lines may bring in a different type of customer or the same customer for another reason. The Backyard Boost® line fits the bill by bringing in most all of the public. Apparently, when times are tough, people want chickens. Chick sales go up during stock market downturns and in presidential election years.
The Vita Charge® line also fits. Vita Charge addresses specific challenges, and usually during a challenge people are more likely to spend money so having all of the products in this line readily available provides significant diversification.
Many of your customers likely own multiple species. If they have cattle, they probably have horses. If they have horses, they could also have dogs. Have you thought about how you can introduce Vitalize® to these customers? Read further into this issue for more ideas.
Just Do It Considering the number of ways in which diversification can be used to expand and grow a business, it becomes clear that every booming business must eventually opt for diversification to survive and prosper.
