To prove that we act local but think global, Hilton Herbs has a stand at the upcoming AETA (American Equestrian Trade Association) show which takes place at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Centre, Oaks, Pennsylvania, from Saturday Jan 30th to Monday Feb 1st.  AETA describes itself as a "a not-for-profit trade association providing a strong voice for all stakeholders in the equestrian industry", thus fulfilling a similar function to the UK's British Equestrian Trade Association (BETA). Hilton Herbs' Directors, Hilary and Tony Self will be manning the stand at the AETA show.

AETA 2009

From AETA Hilary and Tony will be going 'up the road' to Hershey (where the famous American chocolate comes from) to take part in another trade show, organised by our main East coast distributor, Bradley Caldwell. BCI supply many equestrian and pet outlets and they organise two of their own trade shows (Hershey in February and Atlantic City in September) to which they invite their suppliers and their retailers.  

 The Atlantic City show is huge and always has a theme - last time Hilton Herbs took part the theme was James Bond!  Hershey is a smaller, friendlier, show and takes place at the very pleasant location of the Hershey Lodge.  Once you get used to everything being chocolate-orientated (the Hershey Lodge is on Chocolate Avenue!) its not too bad, although when we last participated we had a tin of Quality Street sweets open on the stand to show some solidarity with Cadburys, and also to show the Americans what REAL 'candy' tastes like!!

The United States is a very important (and potentially very large) market for Hilton Herbs and we have been exporting our products to the US for over ten years.  We attend 4-5 shows per year some of which are trade shows and some of which are retail shows, and upcoming shows which we are attending are Global Pet in Florida, the Equine Affaire in Columbus, Ohio, and the Rolex Three Day Event in Lexington, Kentucky.

We'll keep you posted as to how we get on and upload pics of the shows we attend.

Following hard on the heels of our successes in the Somerset Business Awards 2009, where we won Exporter of the Year and came third in the Business of the Year 1-50 Employees category, we've been short-listed for the UKTI Export Award.

This is one of twelve business awards given by BETA (British Equestrian Trade Association) and the winners will be announced at a gala dinner to be held at the National Motorcycle Museum in Birmingham on Sunday 21st February 2010.

BETA is THE equestrian trade association and membership is key if, as a manufacturer, you want to be taken seriously in the market place.  The association, headed by Claire Williams, is responsible for organising the annual BETA trade show at the NEC and, amongst other things, for representing the interests of British equestrian businesses abroad.

So, another shopping trip beckons as one can't be seen in the same posh frock twice.  Easy for the boys as it'll be DJs all round again!  Fingers crossed for another Hilton Herbs success!

Last weekend we had a stand at the RPRA "Show of the Year" at the Winter Gardens, in Blackpool.  This is only our second year at the Show and our pigeon products are a relatively new venture for us but we are really pleased with the way the products are being received by pigeon fanciers.  It goes without saying that we could never have got this far without the help we've received from our local pigeon 'guru' Mike Staddon.  Mike lives locally to us in Crewkerne, Somerset, and is a leading light in the racing pigeon world with several National and Classic wins to his credit.  His advice and help in trialling the products has been invaluable and we are indebted to him.  Mike worked with us on the stand in both 2009 and last weekend and his 'celebrity' status and his willingness to endorse the products is very important.  Additionally he is great fun to be with and is fully prepared to muck in with building and breadown of the stand.  Thanks Mike!!

Mike at Blackpool with one of his new pigeons - another potential winner!

 Unlike some other trade shows where exhibitors tend to be treated a little bit like second-class citizens, the "Show of the Year" was a pleasure to do.  Access for build-up is tricky as first of all you have to negotiate your way round Blackpool's one-way system, which we are convinced was designed over a few beers in the local pub!  Once you find the Winter Gardens you have to join a vehicle queue inside the building and then reverse up as close as possible to your stand.  However, unlike another major venue in the UK which will remain nameless, the security staff were unfailingly helpful and efficient.  Breakdown was similarly painless, although parking close by to the Winter Gardens is a pain if you have a van, so one of us had to walk back to the hotel to collect the van and park up outside - we sent Martin because he's so good at chatting up the traffic wardens!!

 Our Stand at Blackpool

All in all we had a good show, trade was down on last year but this was common to all exhibitors and it was generally felt that a combination of the show being a week earlier (ie closer to Christmas), the bad weather, and the recession, had impacted on visitor numbers.  Its a new market for Hilton Herbs so for now its a question of promoting the products and being seen at the shows rather than trying to rule the world straight away.

So, first show of the year over and we're starting to think about the next one already.  In the meantime the bosses go to the States to do a couple of trade shows there, as its a big and potentially lucrative market for Hilton Herbs, whilst we stay at home to mind the shop and plan for Crufts, our next major outing!

We did see some of the Blackpool sights! 

Tomorrow sees us off to our first retail show of the year, the Royal Pigeon Racing Association's "Show of the Year", which is held every year at the Winter Gardens, in Blackpool.  The weather has sorted itself out just in time!

Far from being an 'anorak' pastime the sport of pigeon racing is highly popular, truly international, and with prizes not to be sniffed at.  Racing pigeon breeding and training is studied and technical, and champion birds change hands for large sums of money.  However at its heart pigeon racing remains, according to the RPRA website "a sport for the whole family in a highly social environment".

The Show of the Year reunites fanciers and exhibitors from all over the world.  Fanciers see it as an opportunity to renew associations, collect ordered breeding or racing pigeons, buy new birds in pigeon auctions, and catch up on the latest gadgets, supplements, and training techniques.  Exhibitors see it as an opportunity to make contact with pigeon fanciers who, in the main, refuse to be seduced by the attractions of websites and e-commerce, preferring to meet face-to-face and to touch and feel what they want to buy (normally for cash!).

When we first considered developing our pigeon products we knew very little about racing pigeons or pigeon fanciers.  We only knew that racing pigeons had problems similar to any other furred or feathered athlete and we felt that herbs had their part to play.

Little did we know that hidden away in our home town of Crewkerne was the pigeon loft of Mike Staddon, breeder and producer of racing champions and a legend in the world of pigeon fanciers.  Mike advised us on common pigeon problems thus helping Hilary, our herbalist, select the most appropriate ingredients for our pigeon mixes.  He has trialled our products and endorses them wherever he goes.  His telephone number appears on the back of our catalogue and he is happy to talk to fellow fanciers who are considering using Hilton Herbs products for their birds.

One of the first things Mike told us was that the lovely photo we had chosen for the front of our new pigeon leaflet was in fact a feral pigeon!!  Unfortunately it was too late to change the photo at that time but, in deference to his knowledge, we have recently reprinted the pigeon leaflet with pedigree racing pigeons on the front cover!

Some of our pigeon products

So, if you are visiting The Show of the Year this weekend come and see us on Stand 41 in the Arena.  We will have a 15% show discount, plus a 33% discount on the Mike Staddon special packs.  We are also offering a 20% discount to Young Fanciers, on production of their card.  There will be the usual giveaways as well!  Additionally Mike Staddon will be the stand for the duration of the show to give advice about the best Hilton products to use.

See you there!

So, here we are again back at work, seems like only yesterday we all trooped off to a local pub, the Haselbury Mill, for our Christmas lunch.  We had a great time at the lunch, so much so that there are no suitable photos for the Blog!  Our fellow Business of the Year award-winners, Arial (makers of the Atom sports car) were on the next-door table but I think they were a bit embarrassed by the noise we made!

We were closed for a whole week between Christmas and New Year, although the time passed in a flash as it always does.  Our little corner of Somerset escaped the worse of the weather over the Christmas period but we've now got our share of snow and ice.  We had a lot of snow overnight Tuesday to Wednesday and the boss had to play taxi to a couple of staff members and collect them from home (see how keen people are to come and work here!!).

A very snowy Downclose Lane on Wednesday morning

Our container of Himalayan salt licks from Pakistan finally arrived here yesterday, 24 hours late due to the weather.  We'd cleared a path for the driver but he still managed to jack-knife his rig in the yard because he came in front-ways instead of reversing in - a common mistake with drivers who aren't familiar with our access.  He ended up having to uncouple his trailer and we off-loaded from the front of the container.  Great fun & games!

We are having problems getting our orders out as DHL didn't collect yesterday and there's a doubt as to whether they'll collect today.  Postie didn't come yesterday either and he's usually pretty determined, so, apologies to all our customers out there waiting for their orders, please be patient!

The Downclose Devons doing what Red Devons do best - eating!!

Getting in this morning was, if anything, dodgier than yesterday because the minor roads are like ice-rinks, but pretty much everyone has got in one way or another.  This is one of the reasons that Hilton Herbs thrives as a business, because everyone is so committed and no-one sees the weather as an excuse to cry off work.  Rest assured no-one's under pressure to take risks to get here, but everyone tries all the same.

Our first show of the season is just round the corner, the British Homing World "Show of the Year" at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool, Saturday 16th & Sunday 17th January.  We are Stand 41 in the Arena, so all you pigeon fanciers out there, come and visit us!  We'll have the usual special offers and 'giveaways'.  Our local pigeon fancier, Mike Staddon, who is a legend in the world of racing pigeons, will also be on the stand to chat to people and endorse our products.  If you want to download our Pigeon catalogue just CLICK HERE.

A selection of our pigeon products

May we wish you a very happy and prosperous New Year!