Jimmy Gifford uses his e-mail and Web site as business tools for scheduling shoeing appointments, answering questions about general customer concerns and communicating with other farriers about hoof problems.

E-mail and the Web site benefit his shoeing business because they save time, develop good customer relations and are cost effective. Gifford, an American Farrier’s Association Certified Farrier, is from Alexandria, La., but technology allows him to quickly help other farriers worldwide. 

Don’t Leave A Message

Gifford encourages his customers to use e-mail to contact him and schedule shoeing appointments because he believes it works better than an answering machine. 

“With e-mail, I know who it is and what they want because it’s down in black and white. There’s no confusion,” says Gifford. Here’s an example:

Hi Jimmy, 

Just wondering when you can come over to trim the horses.  If you can’t come in the next 2 weeks, please let me know because the hooves are getting a little long. 

Thanks, Sandy.

There are also a lot of horse owners who refuse to talk or leave a message on Gifford’s answering machine. Those who do leave a message, often talk too fast and can’t be understood.

“I have to ask myself, ‘What did he say? What was that number?’” says Gifford.  

Best of all, e-mail lets Gifford respond to clients any time, day or night. For once, he can help his clients according to his schedule and not have to work around their schedules.

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