W&E; Today provides retailers and manufacturers with education and ideas that provoke innovation in the Western and English markets.
Issue link: http://wetoday.epubxp.com/i/235944
PUBLISHER'S forum Fast … Forward! "Peace of Mind" "Whassup" "Peaceful Waters" Limited Editions from $75 @ Tim Cox Fine Art 8 Western & English Today 2014 is already shaping up to be an exciting year for our industry: Normandy, France, will host the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, August 23 through September 7, shining an international spotlight on equines and equestrians. Title sponsor Alltech leapt onto the world stage in 2010 with their sponsorship of the 2010 WEG in their hometown of Lexington, Kentucky — an event that garnered unprecedented media coverage for equestrian sports in the U.S., including 6-and-a-half hours of live coverage by NBC, 30 hours by the Universal Sports Network and such infuential, wide-reaching newspapers and magazines as the New York Times and Sports Illustrated. Many of these news outlets will be covering the 2014 WEG, as well, and as Marty Bauman, director of media services and operations for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games stated at that year's American Horse Publications annual seminar, the "ripple efect" of that bodes well for both Western and English horse sport. "When people get exposed to horses, they stay," Bauman stated. "It's a fact." Other portentious signs of excitement and growth are burbling to the forefront: As Carol Gustafson relates in this issue's feature "Crossover!" beginning on page 38, American equestrians' passing fancy with learning a new discipline for themselves and their mounts has been spurred forward by prominent dressage diva Anky Van Grunsven's plunge into reining. Today, the crossover movement is thriving, providing a welcome lif to saddle and tack manufacturers as more riders challenge themselves to master disciplines on both sides of the Western/English divide. Tis trend is helping to create yet another ripple efect in the fashion arena: On page 10 of this issue, you'll fnd an example of Tasha Polizzi's breakthough Sporting Woman Collection, which draws from both Western and English traditions, as well as those of fy fshing and wingshooting. Look for our in-depth profle of Tasha Polizzi in the 2014 Late Spring issue. Tose of you retailers who fy into Denver for the WESA Market have most likely noticed the two Western stores in the Denver International Airport, Spirit of the Red Horse and Way Out West. And if you fy into Dallas' Love Field, you'll see the brand-spankin'new Billy Bob's Texas store there: In the feature "Reach Fer the Sky, Pardner!" starting on page 48, John H. Ostdick goes behind the scenes with these retailers who have successfully mastered the art and the business of operating a thriving airport concession — a trend that seems to be on the rise as more airports seek out locally sourced products and local, iconic brands as part of their store mix. Adding to all of these signs of excitement and growth are the continued explosive trends of social media, digital publishing and ever-evolving ways to "hug and hold" existing customers, and to fnd new ones. Keep up with Western & English Today for more on that! Susan L. Ebert, Associate Publisher & Editor sebert@wetoday.com