Business matters
Say “Thank You” By Carol Gordon, CPA
Growing up, some of us had that drummed into our heads by our parents and teachers.
I
t’s only recently that I realized how far-reaching that advice is. Whether you are a for-profit or not-for- profit business, there are strategic groups that you should remember to thank on a regular basis. For-profit equine businesses, such as instructors, barn owners, farriers, etc., are generally very mindful of thanking their customers. It’s very obvious that your customers provide the fuel that enables your 26
Summer 2020 | Riding Instructor
business to function. But you have several strategic groups that are critical to the success of your business and are sometimes forgotten when appreciation is being handed out—your vendors and your employees. Vendors provide you with mission critical goods and services. Your best lesson horse is ready the day after pulling a shoe because your farrier made your business his priority. A family member is hospitalized, so you forget to order first-cut hay
from your supplier. But she remembers and calls you. Because in these relationships, we are the customer; we feel that we should be the ones receiving the thanks—and that is true. But it’s a reciprocal relationship and our best vendors deserve our thanks. Employees keep your business running and represent you to your customers. You may be giving lessons all day, but your barn help is assisting the customer in tacking and untacking. Your boarders are interacting with the people cleaning the stalls. In these relationships, we are paying the employees, so we feel that we don’t also need to thank them. But they can go to other barns where they may feel more appreciated. So it only makes good business sense for us to be thankful for their part in the success of our business. For not-for-profit businesses (therapeutic riding, rescue, etc.,) thanking the
