An
animal registry is a central bureau where information concerning certain
categories of animals is stored in a computer bank and made available to owners
in various fashions.
Member
clients provide details of their animals (breed, size, individual
identification, lineage, age, sex and owner interests, such as sales, breeding
or showing. The registry is not equivalent to official registration, but may
lend a degree of "class" to animals (and members) that are listed.
Your
customer benefit by having their animals listed (registered) -- its sort of a
status symbol in registering their animals that may help increase their value.
The
bigger your registry grows, the more of as status symbol it might become! Your
primary service, however, is listing of animals, owners, events and sorts of
information contained in the registry data files.
A
computer is a must these days, but you don't need an expensive one to start
with. Just make sure you get one with ample megabytes' on the hard disk and a
good data base program. The minimum cost for an adequate setup, including
programs should be in the $1000 range.
When
people join your registry you send them form to fill out for animals they wish
to register. There could also be provisions for herds or flocks or any
information the owners feel is important. Since you can manufacture your own
forms on your computer, you will be able to accommodate all of your clients.
The
spaces in your forms hold information that equates to fields in your computer
program, so the information can be typed in from the form and then sorted as
needed.
The
membership fee may include an initial group of animals to be registered, with
additions being considered on an individual basis.. In return, you send out
membership cards (for the owners) and a computer generated certificate of
registration for each animal or group of animals ( a fancy printout of the
information sent in by the owner).
members
receive a monthly (or so) newsletter and/or listing, and may request specific
information or listings at any time at any time (for a fee, of course). The
newsletter has information about shows, results of contests, auctions and
member comments, wants and a section for animals for sale.
Examples
for one-time listings are Hereford Bulls for sale; red Dobermans listed or at
stud, and owners of llamas or ostriches in the state. It takes only a few
moments to obtain sorts of this type of information, so service can be fast and
the price, reasonable. This information, however, can be extremely helpful to
members.
There
are many good reasons to register pets and stock animals: planning, breeding,
selling, trading, consultation, etc. The information (data bank) is set up by
animal and then breeds. It includes pedigree (if any), description, name (if
applicable), owner interests, location plus anything else them member thinks
should be noted, such as training or special markings.
Clients
automatically receive an initial listing of the category in which their animals
are listed and can order (and pay for) additional sorts of information at any
time. Computer sorts can quickly find any information listed -- such as a 2
year old brindle female boxer for sale under $200, or a complete list of all
longhorn bulls.
Other
possibilities include lists of breeders (who handles what), specialized
veterinarians, animal hospitals, burial facilities, special shows, sales and
fairs of interest to the breeder.
Some
breeders or suppliers would gladly pay to be included (advertise or just
receive mention) in listings that are routinely sent to potential customers.
Some might even pay to have their advertisements included in all mailings.
Fees
are charged for membership (retainer) and for registration of animals. The
individual animal registration fee should include disposition (note when it is
sold or dies and retire the record), but not re-registration to a different
owner.
The
new owner would need to become a member to receive member benefits and continue
the animals registration. Additional income is realized from sales of requested
listings and sales of information to non-members.
One
way to start an animal registration business is to set up your computer for
listings of subjects of interest to your potential customers, as suggested above.
Then
place ads in animal related publications and contact as many animal as you can.
Offer an introductory price for listing their animals and for copies of
information you have on file.
Of
course, you won't have extensive listings at first, but you can supply these at
a later (promised) date, after your bank has grown.
Be
sure to give official listings certificates for each animal. Ideally, you
should use at least 24 pin dot matrix printer, assuming you can't yet afford a
laser jet. The certificates may not sound like it to you, but they ARE
IMPORTANT -- they are "proof" of registration!
A
cheaper alternative method is to work with a printer to provide commercially
printed certificates that you fill out with a typewriter and sign with a
flourish!
Be
sure to display your registry name prominently in any case; date and sign each
certificate.
Although
you may be well versed in the subject, it is a good idea to subscribe to animal
and breeder trade journals for the animals you list. This way you will stay
current and always be in a position to plan your sales activities according to
the needs of the industry.
For
example, letting your clients know about forthcoming events that might affect
them. This information is excellent filler material for your newsletters.
Alternative
applications include compiling and renting specialized mailing lists, mailing
out specialized information to your membership (which is a valuable special
interest group), data bank searches, arranging meetings between interested parties,
disseminating information on behalf of clients and offering technical books for
sale.
Another
interesting alternative is to keep total track of high value animals that are
not eligible for purebred status.
An
example word be Longhorn cattle, certain breeds of llama or ostrich -- where
your registry could track the lineage and provide a unique and valuable service
to breeders with large investments.
Possible
problem area: be careful not to say or infer in your correspondence That
animals listed in your service are registered purebreds - which might cause
trouble.
You
don't register the animal as a purebred, Democrat or Republication -- you
simply make an official entry (anyone can use the word "register" so
long as they don't intend to mislead.
With
your register, you simply enter data about an animal or flock into YOUR records
and provide statistical sorts of information to your clients.
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